Could you take 19 this list of recreation facilities? 20
I can't go -- I wouldn't be able to give it to you right now. But there's a couple... 321 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
I mean, do you know of any facility on this list period --
Excuse me. -- that would be -- that would be closed, without regard to our current fiscal condition, but because the facility is obsolete. And can you just go through the list and tell us how many on here you know would be closed anyway simply because they're obsolete?
Okay. Starting here on , Franklin Pool would not operate because it's totally demolished.
You're starting with pools or you're starting with recreation.
If you take a look at the second one, you'll see Franklin. We have a facility there. I know the pool cannot operate because it's totally been demolished. It was ripped out, and we wouldn't be able to operate that. , Conshohocken wouldn't -- We haven't operated that building in about 13 years. The outside area, obviously, we're 14 not going to change anything, but that 15 facility itself, it's a closed building for 16 many years, even though it's a viable 17 outdoor area. 18
What else? . There's nothing on that page. And that's about it. 323 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
Thank you. And Commissioner, so you're expecting in the final copy you give to us by Thursday morning that will be retyped, that you will also give us a final determination of which properties would have been closed because of being obsolete versus because of fiscal condition?
Commissioner, therein lies the problem. When Councilman Goode walks through this list, and we make the delineation and, you know, maybe something will change between now and Thursday when the list gets put together... I mean, this is the same conversation that we had in my office a couple weeks ago, that there is a distinction between closing a facility because we can't operate it versus creating if not manufacturing lists of facilities to 324 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 respond to a financial crisis. So, when you say that Conshohocken, which I knew the Councilman was going to be very familiar with, we haven't operated with a person, that facility, in over 7 years. 8 It has old play equipment which we 9 just authorized $150,000 of capital 10 investment for new play equipment. It's 11 got a basketball court that we rehabbed a 12 couple years ago. That doesn't need 13 anything from anybody. 14 It's got a small ball field that 15 people play on when they want to. And I 16 assume that the department cuts the grass. 17 The building, no great shakes; kind 18 of ugly; maybe should be torn down; maybe 19 shouldn't. The roof is a mess, pigeons 20 hanging out and all of that. 21 But it totally ignores the fact that 22 there's been a significant change in use at 23 that facility over the last 20 years, an 24 influx of new parents or relatively new 25 parents into the neighborhood, with small 325 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 kids which is why we're making the investment in the play equipment. They're not asking for a person, and there's nothing to do with the building. Now, we've had some discussion about whether it's going to be fixed up for possible storage of, you know, equipment or bats or balls or anything like that. But I mean, it is a perfect example of what do you get out of, quote unquote, closing a facility that's already closed. I mean, you can't kill something twice. So, are we going to just padlock it, and then tell the people, well, you got this rec center down the street from your house, but now no one can use it because somehow we're going to get some savings that will never materialize because there's no body there to take away to save any money? (Applause.) .
The neighbors are prepared to keep doing what they're doing. They keep the place generally 326 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 clean. All they ask is that we come by and pick up the trash, take down the dead trees, fix the fence that's in poor shape, and the bricks that are a mess. And they'll pretty much be done with us. I mean, it -- it... What? What? MR CARAPUCCI: One of the ideas, Councilman, about adding Conshohocken and Wyndamere on the list just for the building was that we would be able to fix the outside, up make that even nicer. And we thought that would be the least painful, since it hasn't been operating in years. 16 And we were afraid that possibly 17 that building might become like some of the 18 other buildings where the kids might break 19 in. And it was the least painful for us to 20 recommend to you.
I understand that, and I appreciate that. And I know you're, you know, looking out for my feelings. The issue here is... But that's 327 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 something that we would do anyway. There was money allocated to deal with that roof a long time ago. It never got done. There's nothing else to do there. So when these lists start being composed, and we start talking about, well, we're going to close this, we're going to sell that, we're going to lease that, and the other thing, all you do is generate a firestorm of feedback from people which, in the normal course of our regular business, if we were going to do something with the building, we would have done it. It wouldn't be on some closure list because you can't close a place twice. It makes no sense. This plan is not ready. We're not ready for prime time here. And we're going to take people through a whole host of anxieties and aggravations between now and the end of this fiscal year. The plan is not going to be ready in any scale to do anything. And this is a process that actually takes, I think, a 328 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 significant period of time. It's not going to happen in the pressure cooker environment of the next 70 days in a fiscal crisis. It's just not going to happen. This is something that should have started a year ago or would be started now to do something next year. Now, I understand why it didn't happen last year. I'm familiar with the calendar. I, you know, pay attention to some of the circumstances and situations around here, and why we talk about what we talk about, and when we talk about and when we don't talk about it. You know, the middle of election season is probably not the time to start talking about 5 ice rinks, swimming 19 pools, 40 summer camps, and 40 recreation 20 centers. I get that. But you're not going to get it done in the next 70 days. I mean, come on. I mean, we just -- You know, so we're having our private conversations. We're having public conversations. 329 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 The President asked you, you know, I mean, where is the public in this? There are a bunch of people sitting here at this hearing, other folks watching trying to figure out what's going on. I don't know what they're going to take out of this display here today, and everybody will be waiting for the new, you know, word perfect, you know, word document, whatever you're going to type it on list. But I guess my question now would be, then what? What's going to happen after Thursday? And the list that the Councilman talked about and the list that's been asked about, when that comes in Thursday by lunchtime, then what?
If I don't have the money in my budget to open up all of the facilities, the list that I'm going to present on Thursday is going to be properties and operational things that I will have to do to maintain the budget, to work within the dollars that have been 330 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 appropriated. And I will continue to work with the community and also with the Council.
Well, I know you were talking, and I think I understand most of the words that you were saying. Let me make sure that at my level I'm understanding this. I thought what I heard you say is, if you don't have the money in your budget to operate these facilities, then you won't operate these facilities. Is that what you're saying?
If I'm not given the money to hire the employees seasonally that I need to hire for either the pools, the camps or whatever, the list that I will provide on Thursday will be the recommended facilities in order for me to operate within the monies that have been appropriated, yes, sir.
Meaning that you won't operate the facilities that are on any of those now collection of lists. 331 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
Okay. All right. I heard you. Thank you, Madam President. I have some other questions, but I'll come back.
Thank you. Councilman DiCicco, you wanted to be recognized. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: No, no further questions. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Commissioner, I'd like to talk about a existing facility. A year ago I got a letter in reference to the Kingsessing Rec Center. And it says it has a football field which is badly in need of some attention. Also, looking for possible... Well, the point here is, what is the existing condition of some of the -- I guess we call them A facilities or facilities like I'm describing here, a football field that 332 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 potentially is a dangerous environment to play football on? Has this facility been taken care of or is it in still the shape that the constituent wrote the letter? And you know, it's interesting -- and I hope we're doing this -- apparently this advisory council applied and received a few thousand dollars from the National Football League. And I know I sent you some information over about the NFL providing some lighting and some grants for some City recreation facilities. So, what's the condition of that field? And I'd just like to use that as an example of some of the problems that you're experiencing, trying to keep these facilities in good condition?
Good afternoon, Councilman. 333 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 I'm glad you spoke at Kingsessing in reference to there's been a specific amount of money that's been allocated for the exterior grounds. As you may recall, about two years ago we completely renovated and made a team center out of the Kingsessing Recreation Center and the interior. Our next goal was to try to improve the outside and exterior grounds which included the pool, renovation of the pool, installation of new play equipment, as well as the basketball courts, tennis courts and, of course, the ball field. Recently, last year, we were awarded a grant in the amount of $925,000, along with a state grant, about maybe $135,000, and some small City subsidy dollars that go along with it, to try to fix the entire outside exterior grounds. That money right now and the amount of the project cost about $1.7 million to completely rehab. We are about $1.3 million in, and we are currently looking 334 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 for other dollars to complete the facility. The field is a part of it, as well as the -- the -- general, the play equipment, and the basketball courts, and the tennis courts. So we do expect to make full renovations of the --
So by next football season we should be seeing a new playing surface there or a reconditioned one or whatever you call it?
Well, given the capital program process, I don't think next -- next season we will be able to do that because of construction would be starting, and the bid documents have to be awarded, and so forth.
Well, you would hope you would do that work off season, wouldn't you?
And to answer your question in general, right now that's been 335 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 a big concern of our department, in terms of the amount of work that we do on football fields and ball fields in general. We've worked on an initiative with the Streets Department, to try to free up some of our equipment operators so that we can operate other machinery to work with ball fields, and so forth. But the Streets Department would then pick up our trash and free up our operators to do other responsibilities, like maintaining ball fields, maintaining football fields, and soccer fields, and so forth.
And we do -- I believe the Administration... I know at least at one time we had grants office, a group of people that would be looking for every bit of outside funding. Mr. Dubow, do we still do that? Are we looking? Because I hear about these NFL grants, this grant, that grant. Then when I ask the question, everybody acts surprised that there's such an initiative 336 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 out there. Are we aware of this NFL program that helps light and helps maintain some of these types of facilities?
We have a grant center in the Managing Director's Office. And I'll check with them to see whether they know about --
Because I sent the Commissioner over the info about the NFL wanting to spend some money on upgrades to some of these facilities. And I hope... I mean, that's...
...Square, one if there's money out there. You'll get back to the Chair with that?
That's a question, right? Thanks. Thank you, Madam Chair.
You're welcome. Councilman DiCicco, your lights on 337 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 again. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Yes. I'm sorry. I failed to mention something. I just want to say to the Commissioner. I think Councilman Nutter and maybe Councilman Ramos mentioned this earlier. We go through this every day of the week 365 days a year. (Alarm sounds) That's a quick five minutes. Anyway, you know, we don't envy this position you're in. And, you know, we all have to deal with this budget issue and try to figure out how to get it to where it's reasonable and less painful, as I said earlier. But I do want to take this opportunity. A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of going to the Katie Curlin Wheelchair Tournament up at the University of St. Joseph's University. My prior experience was about a month or two before that. And I believe it's Councilman Nutter's District in the Caversaw House in Fairmount Park. And it 338 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 was a very moving experience. And I do want to take this time to thank you, Commissioner and your Department. For those of you who have never attended one of the wheelchair tournaments, I would certainly encourage you to do so. And the fact of the matter is that all of the employees from the Department of Recreation, who spend a considerable amount of time throughout the year, do it as a pro bono. There is no cost to the City. There's no overtime. There's straight time costs. It is all volunteer work by the department. So I wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge that, and thank you for all you and the rest of your employees...
Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: ...for all the fine work you've done. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. 339 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
And I would like to echo what Councilman DiCicco has just said. I've been here for a long time, and I can tell you that I have the greatest admiration for your staff. They do work very, very hard. They are truly, truly excellent public servants. And believe me, during the course of these hearings it is not that we are trying to be obstructionists in what it is that you are trying to do. However, I will say, and I will reiterate what I said earlier, that I think the community should have been a part of this. I really mean that. Councilman Nutter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. One more question. And I know you may find that hard to believe. Commissioner, a couple items. You talked about the spray pool issue earlier. I think you told us that it would cost $75,000 per facility but that the capital 340 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 fund for that had not been identified. Can I... I don't want to make any assumptions, so tell me where you've identified a pool to be closed and you propose to have a spray pool, tell me about the logistics of... You've identified a particular pool. You want to replace it with a spray pool. Will you keep it open until the construction time comes to install the new facility or would there potentially be a gap in time between closure and the new installation?
Your honor, I would say there would be both scenarios in the places where we do have the physical plant, what we could do to install simultaneous to the demo...
...that we should do that. And quite naturally, we would have capital projects, planning. The community would be on the forefront of doing the actual design, the same way in their 341 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 design, and built the exact same way that the play structures are. And then there may be certain situations, if we're going to use the same ground that a pool is on. But my recommendation would be that if possible we maintain the pool through that summer. And my recommendation is that the construction will be done in the off season, and we would lose no service time to the children.
Well, I understand that. But given the fact that you don't have any money for this item, you're not going to do any spray pools this year, right?
Are you anticipating some capital dollars coming to you in a capital budget that's smaller than it was last year?
Not at the present, sir. 342 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
All right. So it is highly unlikely that you are going to have any capital dollars in FY '05 to deal with spray pools.
At the present time there's no money appropriated, that's correct, sir.
And when you tell us that the cost is $75,000, I have to believe that that is just for the spray pool equipment and installation. What's the cost of taking the swimming pool out of service which I again would assume -- I mean, what are you going to do, fill them in? Or are you going to dig them all out and bring the facility back up to grade? What's the cost of... Before you get to installation of the spray pool, what's the cost of preparing the site to be ready for the spray pool?
It would -- It would be both, exactly like you said. Depending -- It would go on a per. I don't 343 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 have the hard numbers available for the fill-in. But I also know that in our discussions, and working with some of the manufacturers, that the preexisting pool, pump and filtration, and some of the plumbing could be tied in. But I'm not available to give you the hard numbers.
All right. Well, I think we'd need to see a full plan for that. Let me move to purchasing or leasing of a City recreation facility. Who would be responsible for -- responsible under that arrangement for capital improvements for that facility?
The City would 344 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 maintain those recommendations. The recommendation would be that the capital improvements for any facility that would be in a transfer lease, that the recommendations, we would maintain the capital improvements.
Okay. Can you provide to the Chair a plan that lays out... This goes back to the question that you responded to a while ago to Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. If your proposal goes forward some how, some way, if a significant majority of us completely lose our minds... (Laughter.)
...and allow this to go forward... But, you know, anything could happen on any given day... I'd like to see a plan that demonstrates to us your statement, the verification of your statement that services will continue to be provided, no diminution in services, because I'd like to understand where you 345 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 think all of these children are going to go. I'd like to understand the capacity of the remaining centers to absorb kids coming from another location, any additional costs that will be incurred as a result of having to increase staff, programs, facilities at those centers because you closed something a block away, two blocks away, whatever the case maybe. So I'd like to understand the full impact on the system, and any additional cost that would arise as a result of closing facilities, for whatever the reason is. Councilman Goode talked about because of obsolescence or budget problems. And I want to see what the actual financials are at the end of that process because there will be additional costs. Lastly, how much money did the Recreation Department spend last year or in the last fiscal year for capital improvements to all of its facilities?
I'd need to get back 346 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 to you to give you the complete number. I don't have that available. I'm sorry.
Give me... Give me an estimate. Give me a ballpark figure.
Tell me what the level of work has been, related to minority, female and disadvantaged businesses in the context of capital improvements at City recreation facilities.
I would probably need somebody from Capital to assist on answering that, sir.
Capital from your staff or the CPO, the Capital Programs Office?
We don't have capital staff in-house. Myself, along with Deputy Commissioner Williams, do the Capital. Within the Capital Department, there's a 347 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 division responsible for just Capital.
Myself, along with Deputy Commissioner Williams. We work very closely with managing the capital projects pieces.
So in that context, you can't tell me in a ballpark figure a hundred million, two hundred million; I mean, some sense of what the capital expenditures were in the last fiscal year for improvements to recreation facilities?
I would have it, but I don't have that number sitting in the back 348 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 of my head. And I don't want to speculate. I apologize, sir.
I understand. Are you aware of... Can you name any minority, female or disadvantaged businesses who provide capital improvement services to the Recreation Department?
I know there was a company Centera that bid, but I'm not positive off the top of my head, sir, if they've done any work.
I'm fairly familiar with that firm. I think they primarily provide more in the landscaping and kind of street improvements. I'm talking about play equipment, cement, metal, steel. I mean, I'm talking about construction activity at our centers: Roofing, renovation, anything.
Excuse me, Councilman. My relationship with them, no, I don't recall any... any minority, female participation participating in those activities that you mention. 349 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
Thank you, Madam President. To Councilman's Nutter's important questions, especially in the environment where this issue of MBE WBE participation is an abysmal disgrace, can we ask the Capital Program Office to return so that explicit, accurate answers can be gotten, specifically to Councilman Nutter's questions?
During the capital hearing, the Capital Program Office was asked to give a response on participation. And we'll ask them... Okay. They've 350 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 submitted that answer. We'll ask them to break out Recreation, too, so you can see it by that department.
There was -- The Capital Program Office was asked during the capital budget hearing to give an answer on participation rates...
...for capital projects. And that answer, as I understand it, has been sent to the Chair.
Does this mean all capital projects? 351 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
Yes. And when I say that they will then give a break-out, we'll ask them to go back and split out Recreation.
Whatever we have received has been distributed, so I don't think we've received that information yet.
I'm actually up to date on my mail, so I don't have anything.
But we will get Miss Ortiz, to be absolutely certain.
I understand that you were a little while ago. We'll check to see what happened.
All right. Are you still in your... 352 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
Is it appropriate to have the Capital Program Office return, Madam President? And could we have a sidebar about that?
Well, we need to get Procurement back as well, and we might as well bring the MBEC in for added measure. I mean, bring the whole crew. It's a mess. It's a mess.
I have one last question. Councilman Reynolds Brown worked very hard a number of years ago -- not that they she hasn't worked hard in the interim, but... on this particular issue. And I'd like to, now that the projects are actually complete, I'd like to better understand 353 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 where we are with the... I raised during the Art Museum discussion. But I think it's even... It's actually that much more pertinent for the Recreation Department. The Recreation Department until, I guess, a couple weeks ago, maintained the largest recreation facility in the City of Philadelphia called Veterans Stadium. It's recently imploded. Council President and others worked on that. That facility was 30 years old. It was inadequate for the users, who are in many instances quite overpaid, but that's a different discussion for another day. We built or participated in the construction of two brand new facilities. We have a $6 million annual and growing obligation for one of the facilities. And similar to the Art Museum, we're talking about closing recreation facilities that serve children. $6 million a year for adults, who in many instances act like children... But we're going to close 354 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 facilities for children because we have no 3 money. (Applause.)
I said it earlier; I'll say it again. That is in fact a disgrace. But out of that... This goes to the work of my colleague... there was money provided for programs for children. Now, I don't know all of the details. I don't know where it is. I don't know what the dollars could be used for, but I know that they were for children. It's a million a year from each facility. It's $2 million a year for 30 years. And I don't know what the other plans may be, but it seems to me that before we even think about closing a facility, we should be exploring all possible sources of funding. And so now I'd like to understand, do we have those dollars in hand? What can they be used for? Who's in control of 355 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 them? And then depending on those responses, I may have a few other questions. What's the story?
As I remember, that those dollars do not come to us. They go to... And I forget --
I'd like to try to respond to some of my colleague's questions. At the insistence of the bond counsel during those negotiations, they required that none of those dollars be returned to a City government agency. The bottom line, after looking at several agencies in the City -- And none of those dollars could go to an entity that had an elected official on their board. So those dollars are now at the house, at the Philadelphia Foundation. And it is the Philadelphia Foundation's principal responsibility to release RFP's 356 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 to provide for program areas in five areas: After school programs, arts and cultural programs, athletic programs, parenting workshops, and early childhood programs. And having met with the head of the Philadelphia Foundation about a month ago, that first RFP was let some time earlier in the year. And that's where we are with that first $1 million that is now in the fund. So currently they only have $1 million that came from the Eagles last November.
So the Rec Department, City government, the Mayor's Office, none of us... We are now, because of the way the legislation was crafted, are completely removed from the distribution of those dollars. It all rests with the Philadelphia Foundation.
Well, thank you, Councilwoman, for the update because I hadn't heard anything about it. 357 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 I think, though, I'd still go back to the fundamental premise that if we could figure out a way four years ago to support the sports teams -- And I voted for that -- with a or so year commitment with the 7 kind of funding for at least one of the 8 stadiums, and somehow now find ourselves in 9 a situation of closing recreation 10 facilities for children, while supporting, 11 you know, basically a palace of 12 recreational activity for adults, I think 13 we've got our priorities completely spun 14 around. 15 (Applause.) 16
And we need to 17 figure out a different solution to this. 18 But I don't think this plan, as I 19 said earlier, is ready. We're going to 20 take people through a very painful exercise to not have very much accomplished, you know, when we're finished with the exercise. And I think that in the context of what we do with some of the adult type 358 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 facilities, we really need to check ourselves about what we're doing with children's facilities. So, I look forward to getting all the lists, and all the data, and all the information. I would assume, Madam Chair, that we're probably not finished with Recreation. You should... The Chair will give you direction. But you should probably anticipate coming back. And I very much would like to see the information about the Capital Program, as it relates to the Recreation Department, the total amount of dollars spent over the last two fiscal years. I'd like to see all of the contractors who have been involved. I want to know what dollar amounts they received. I want to know what the work was that they did, and what the demographic profile is for those companies. And I'd also ask that Capital Program, as well as Procurement and MBEC 359 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 all come back so that we can get a complete picture of what's going on. Thank you, Madam President.
And I would like to stand corrected. We did get some responses from the Capital Program Office. And it was distributed to all Council members on April 15th and signed for. I don't know that it has the information that the Councilwoman was asking. But we did get some information from them. Gentlemen, thank you all so very much. Mr. Dubow, smile. We do love you.
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, members of the City Council.
And you will be in touch with us? 360 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
Camp William Penn is next. Oh, Commissioner, before I forget to ask you, what happened to the employees that had been working at the Vet Stadium?
Some of those employees transferred to... Some went to the Water Department; some went to the Airport. I know one or two went to Public Property. Do you know how many we retained? UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We had 14.
We had 14 left of I want to say the 29 or 30 that were there. Yes, ma'am. Most of them went to --
Thank you. 361 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
I would like to take a moment and introduce our new Camp Director, Mike Shelton for Camp William Penn. Mike.
Camp William Penn is requesting a total of $283,384 in General Fund appropriations for fiscal year '05. The '05 budget supports four full-time employees. And I'd like to make a correction in my testimony. It's not 40. It's 60 seasonal employees to staff Camp William Penn during the camping season starting July 1 of '04, ending August 13th of '04. In FY '04 Camp William Penn continued to provide one five-day encampment and three eight-day encampments for boys and girls ages 8 through 12. In '04, 565 children attended the 362 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 camp. We plan to accommodate 720 campers in '05. Camp William Penn plans to sustain its recruitment efforts, to attract additional campers through our recreation centers for the '04 camp season. Camp staff will continue to send press releases announcing the camp opportunities to community newspapers, social service agencies, and public and parochial elementary schools. Located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains on a 671 acre camp site, camp William Penn introduces urban youth to a myriad of outdoor activities that can be enjoyed during a residential camping experience. Campers may row, swim a seven-acre lake, hike through the woods, and participate in different activities such as sports, arts and crafts, and outdoor activities. The campers learn a sense of self-reliance by participating in camping 363 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 activities, such as pitching their tents and cooking around the campfire. They also experience the ultimate camping experience, sitting around the campfire and exchanging stories. Youth from all neighborhoods across Philadelphia attend Camp William Penn. It is an especially attractive summer activity for children who otherwise might not have an opportunity to attend a residential summer camp. Camp William Penn retains an average of 50 percent of its staff from year to year. Staff is recruited from local colleges and universities, and must be at least years of age, pass a child line 18 background check, Pennsylvania State Police records check, and drug and alcohol testing as well. Once hired, all staff participates in a six-day training and orientation week at the camp site prior to the arrival of our campers. That week includes CPR and first aid 364 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 training, fire and safety orientation procedures for proper responses, several types of emergencies, proper camper management techniques to minimize problem behavior, and to maintain camp discipline. There's also a review of the camp schedule of activities and program planning and implementation. Staff orientation for this year will be from July 2nd to July 7th, with our first campers arriving on July 8th. The last encampment will end August the 13th of '04. I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you for letting us present our budget for Camp William Penn, and we'll be glad to answer any questions at this time.
Thank you, Madam Chair. In FY '04 we had 565 campers. How does this compare to the three previous years? Is there an increase, decrease or 365 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 not?
We had a decrease. In the summer of '01 we had 669. In the summer of '02 we had 627. Breakdown of boys and girls: In '01 one we had 371 and 298 with girls. In '02 we had 327 and 300. We had a camp management change. Our previous camp director retired and Michael was selected through a very vigorous interview process. And I believe Michael had approximately two months or less to take over the camp. So along with myself, Deputy Commissioner Coles, Deputy Commissioner Williams, Deputy Commissioner Carapucci, and a lot of diligent work by Bill Mifflin, we pulled it off, but... Bill Mifflin, along with Michael out front. I can turn over the mike over to Mike right now, and let him speak in reference to a lot of the things that they're doing right now in order eo enhance and improve on the services, along with also a new board and diversity as well. 366 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
I appreciate that. Could you also speak to the outreach efforts you will be doing new and/or different that will move you to the 720 level you want to achieve.
When I took over this position, I realized that... Oh, I'm sorry. Michael Shelton, Director of Camp William Penn. When I took over this position, I realized that the recruitment process that was in place was extremely tedious and very complicated for parents to follow. So the first line was to actually simplify this. So we have been hearing many compliments from people that we have simplified the procedure. It's very user friendly. So that was our first step.
...so I can follow you. 367 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
Okay. So our first step was to make our application process much more user friendly. So that was step one. Number two, we are attempting to reach out to communities that normally would not attend summer camp. So we have had our materials translated into Spanish. We've had our materials translated into Chinese, so we're trying to reach communities not normally served by Camp William Penn.
Very good. You already mentioned private schools and parochial schools. And I'm sure you're using rec centers, since that's a natural base to touch young people, correct?
Okay. Let me encourage you to do that. There are many 368 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 members of the clergy of all denominations who want a safe haven for young people during the summer, and welcome that kind of information, and use the City Councilperson's offices for that as well. So if you would, make sure that we get bundles of information now, so that we have the next month or so to get it out to the worlds that we touch.
Thank you, Madam Councilwoman. You're correct. Yes, we're going to do a mail out to all of the clergy. We have the list of all of the clergy for the entire City. Michael mentioned that we had the brochure translated into Spanish. We also have the brochure translated into Asian as well. So, those are some of the things that we're doing different this year, along with the new board that has been put in place, and the diversity of the new board for the camp as well.
That's 369 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 encouraging. MBE WBE does have a presence -- Minority and women presence is felt at that level.
The makeup of the board, off of memory at one meeting myself, there's an Asian female. I don't know the Latino person as of yet. There's a black male, a black female, and we have a Caucasian, white, the whole bit; yes, ma'am.
One other suggestion to consider. There are a number of professional organization in the City that have a lot of activities for and about kids, that care about kids, that will jump at information, like your Panheletic which is your fraternities and sororities, you know, the MBA's, the black MBA's, CPA's, call it. To the extent that they have that information, they are more than willing to send it out to their membership because they're parents as well. So consider using the professional organization world in the 370 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 City additionally when you want to do the outreach piece.
That's it for me, Madam President, with regards to William Penn.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll be brief. Commissioner, I have not had the pleasure of going to Camp William Penn. But I wanted to ask you. I'm sorry. I haven't had the pleasure of going to Camp William Penn. But I wanted to ask you: The season is July 1 to August 13?
And I guess when we think about not only our budget situation, but even thinking back to the testimony about... from Fairmount Park and 371 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 their need to generate revenues or create revenue enhancing opportunities, what goes on at the camp for the other ten months?
The camp is closed, dormant most of the time. It's... At the present condition, with the plumbing and the way it's a rustic facility, so we have to blow out all of the lines and get rid of it. Those are some of the things that we're looking at exploring now. I'll let Bill Mifflin talk about some of the challenges or I guess recommendations that I'm having him and Michael to do, especially with the school system and wanting to use the place more and expose more children. I have the exact same feelings that you have, too, Your Honor, that we can do more.
Before we get to Mr. Mifflin, I mean, I think the last time I was in the Poconos I was 12. I don't remember where it was. I know people seem 372 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 to go there at all times of the year, you know, summer, winter, fall, you know, spring. And I've never really been good with acreage, but 671 acres sounds like a lot of ground. Is this a pretty big place?
Okay. And some of the other... I don't want to call them resorts. But some of the other places that people go in the Poconos... I mean, can you give me a sense of how large they are in comparison to Camp William Penn?
My knowledge is limited. I know they have some facilities. Bill can talk more. Some facilities are smaller. We are a larger one in that particular area where we are, at East Stroudsburg. Three-fourths of the property, I would say, is undeveloped. And I'm going off of my practical... not having it measured out. Or either I would say two-thirds is undeveloped and one-third or 373 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 either one-fourth of the facility is where the camp is actually run. Some of -- Some of my recommendations and challenges to Michael and Bill since coming aboard, is to take a look at the possibility of: Can we develop some sort of outdoor environmental camps and make it part of the school system, where we come in and teach or make a presentation, not on an every-day curriculum; and then towards the end of the school year, start bringing up either the middle school or the high school children to the camp to use it, in a one-day event, to teach them what -- to give them the practical ap from the theory that has been presented in the classroom.
Well, I think all of that is very exciting. And certainly any additional opportunities, whatever the season may be, for young people would be wonderful. I guess I'm thinking about this more from an entrepreneurial standpoint and a 374 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04 revenue enhancement standpoint. And I would be intrigued to know, for instance, have we ever tried to determine the value of this property?
...the COUNCILMAN presented as well. Bill can talk a little bit more because that's a charge that he has right now: Not only assessing it, but also to take a look at doing cultivating and selling some of the lumber there, not fitting it out. And I'll let Bill talk about that. But I appreciate you bringing up that question as well, but also some of the conversations and charges that I have been entertaining with Bill and Michael is to... And I'm not there yet; we just started talking about this... is the possibility of creating a corporate retreat. 375 Whole - Operating Budget - 4/20/04
...on a part of the facility. And yes, we've discussed it. We are not there yet. I'll let Bill talk about where he is now, but I appreciate you bringing that out, sir.