So what process will you use in the bid solicitation for the remaining $13 million to ensure that these concerns that you have heard over the last two days will be rectified?
Well, everyone feels really good about the set of bid numbers that have come in within the last two months. And we can, for example, we can use that as a benchmark. And if the District Council agrees, you know, we are reject all bids. I mean, it is a consultive process.
Let me ask you this: Since you have indicated that Council Members have signed off on the remaining $13 million worth of bids, is there a process that we, essentially, can get a second bite at the 657 RESOLUTION NO. 040095 - 3/29/04 apple to ensure that some of the concerns that were raised, i.e., another process of sign off by Council Members? So we signed off just a little form we did, you know, understanding primarily -- I was primarily dealing with location and things of that nature, not paying a whole lot of attention to some of the cost-related issues that have come out over the last couple of days. As we move ahead in this process, since you haven't done any bid solicitations or you haven't awarded any contracts prior to any of that activity being signed off, can you come back to those Council Members who are in that loophole of sign-off and assure that the concerns raised over the last two days have been addressed?
Well, what we can do, once we have opened the bids, say we put it out and get numbers back, we open the bids, and that's a public record, what they are. The city always, in all of its solicitation, reserves the right to reject all 658 RESOLUTION NO. 040095 - 3/29/04 bids. And, you know, we can evaluate them and say the costs are looking too high.
I am not asking you about the city; I am asking you about Council Members. So the Council Members who are traditionally in this process of sign-off will have an opportunity to be involved in this process. And if they are not comfortable with some of the pricing issues, some of the participation issues, then those Council Members can, through written form or whatever, say, I am not comfortable with this, the participation goal, I am not comfortable with this, whatever, before we proceed on the award of contracts? We can be in a position to have input into that process?
Yes, within the confines of the Charter. Because the Charter does outline how you --
I understand. We were able to have a form early on 659 RESOLUTION NO. 040095 - 3/29/04 that I was told didn't conform with the charter, but we ended up doing it anyway. And I would like to see a similar approach as we move ahead on the -- if we move ahead on the remaining million. 7 Is that something that -- 8
We would be happy to 9 work with you and the Procurement 10 Commissioner, and with Council and the 11 Procurement Commissioner, to make sure we add 12 that as a step in the process. 13
Thank you, Madam President. Ms. Smith, did you testify to the fact just now that the $25 million that you are requesting in additional money, some of those contracts with been awarded?
We selected the contractor. Then the contractor has to submit 660 RESOLUTION NO. 040095 - 3/29/04 information to conform his contract. Then before we give the notice to proceed, we have to make sure the resource to pay that contract is in place.
So you are not currently under legal contract for any portion of that $25 million?
You mean is there executed contract? I'm not sure if there is an executed contract.
So you can't execute a contract without having the money.
Right. We need to have the money in place to award the contract.
Madam Chair, would it be out of hand if I would request, our Fire Commissioner, who has been sitting here since o'clock, and I think it is awful that he has to sit here because we don't know how long we are going to be from here on in. 661 RESOLUTION NO. 040095 - 3/29/04
And the Police Commissioner. It just doesn't seem right that we are holding them up for three hours.
I have one other question. The other question is, with regard to this process, you are not planning on floating any bonds for this money; this is money that is technically already in the bank, which you withdraw on the next day?
So the timing question is whether you can draw down this money as of this Friday, or you can draw down this money two weeks later; is that correct?
The question is, in terms of our process, whether you can draw 662 RESOLUTION NO. 040095 - 3/29/04 down this money as quickly as Friday or two weeks from Friday?
That's correct. We could, after we -- well, there is one other -- I forgot. There is one other thing that we need to do. There was a companion ordinance to this called the appropriation -- to also increase the appropriation authority by $25 million. And we still actually have to have a hearing on that piece, too. I almost forgot about it.
So technically you probably can't draw down this money until two weeks from Friday?
Thank you. Any other questions from members of the committee? Anyone else to testify on this resolution? Seeing none, this will conclude our Public Hearing. 663 RESOLUTION NO. 040095 - 3/29/04 (Public Hearing adjourned.) 664 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING of the JOINT COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE and HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND THE HOMELESS - - - Monday, March 29, 2004 - - - Public Meeting conducted by the Joint Committees on Whole and Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless, held in Room 400, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: RESOLUTION: 040095 - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JUAN F. RAMOS COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILMAN FRANK J. DI CICCO COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO 665 PUBLIC MEETING - 3/29/04
We will now go into our public meeting. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that resolution number --
Thank you. I move that we adopt the amendment to replace Exhibit D with regard to Resolution 17 No. 040095. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be approved. All in favor will say aye. All those opposed?
The ayes have it. And the record will indicate that Councilman Cohen has abstained. 666 PUBLIC MEETING - 3/29/04 Again, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Resolution No. 6 040095 as amended be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Resolution No. 040095 as amended be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation. All in favor will say aye. Those opposed?
Councilman Goode is voting nay. Am I correct, sir? And Councilman Cohen is abstaining. The record will so reflect. And Councilman Clarke, who was not in the room, wants to be recorded aye. To the Commissioners, we do apologize, but this too was a very important issue. We never thought it would take as long as it did. This concludes the public meeting. 667 PUBLIC MEETING - 3/29/04 Thank you all very much for your patience. (Whereupon the Public Meeting adjourned at 4:05 p.m.) - - - 668 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Monday March 29, 2004, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE and HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND THE HOMELESS _________________________ DEBRA A. WHITEHEAD