COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, May 26, 2026 1:15 p.m. PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN RUE LANDAU, CHAIR COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA, VICE-CHAIR COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN NICOLAS O'ROURKE COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS
Good afternoon, everyone. I note that the hour has come for the Committee on Information and Technology Services. Ms. Rusli, will you please call the roll to take attendance. Members that are in attendance, will you indicate that you are present when your name is called.
I note a quorum of the Committee is present and this hearing is now called to order. Does anybody have any opening remarks? (No response.)
Okay. This is the public hearing of the Committee on Technology and Information Services regarding Bill 2 Nos. 260385 and 260386. Will the Clerk please read the titles of the bills.
Bill No. 6 260385, an ordinance authorizing the Chief Information Officer, on behalf of the City, to enter into a multi-year agreement to purchase support for mainframe and database software protocols and applications, under certain terms and conditions. And Bill No. 260386, an ordinance authorizing the Chief Information Officer, on behalf of the City, to enter into a multi- year agreement to purchase licenses for email, cloud services, the enterprise software, data services, security software and other related computing products and services, under certain terms and conditions. Ms. Rusli, will you please call the first panel we have to testify this morning on Bill No. 3 260385 and Bill No. 260386.
Melissa Scott, Chief Information Officer of the Office of Innovation and Technology. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. Please state your name and proceed with your testimony, and thank you for being here.
Thank you very much for having me. Melissa Scott, Chief Information Officer. Good afternoon, Chair Landau and Vice-Chair Squilla and members of the Committee of Technology and Information Services. I'm Melissa Scott, Chief Information Officer. Joining me today are Idris Abdul- Zahir, Chief Support Services Officer; Dan Rothman, Chief Technology Officer and Deputy CIO for Public Safety; and Chris Donato, Chief Financial Officer. I'm here today to testify regarding Bill No. 260385, authorizing the Chief Information Officer, on behalf of the City, to enter into a multi-year agreement to purchase support for mainframe and database software protocols and applications. The current pricing structure for this support projects annual cost increase 50 percent each year for the next three years. (Inaudible) has proposed for the most cost-effective manner in which to acquire the support. This protocol will ensure the cost will not increase annually during the multi-year agreement based on cost projections. For this support, OIT average annual savings of approximately 215,000 over the life of the multi-year agreement. In furtherance of this request, negotiating a multi-year agreement streamlines certain administrative processes that would otherwise occur annually. This efficiency allows OIT, the Law Department, and the Procurement Department staff resources to work on other administrative functions. For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Committee pass this bill with a suspension of the rules, permitting its first reading at the next Council session. I am happy to answer the Committee's questions.
Thank you. Are there any questions from the Committee? (No response.)
Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. Thank you also for outlining the savings that the city will have if entering into a multi-year agreement. It's pretty important since costs are rising and rising right now. Thank you.
I am here to testify on Bill No. 260386, permitting the Office of Innovation and Technology to enter into a multi-year agreement for up to 60 months with a provider of email, cloud services, enterprise software, data services, security software and other related computing products and services. The current four-year agreement expires July 31, 2026, and a new multi-year agreement is needed to continue taking advantage of the discounted pricing this type of agreement offers, compared to purchasing these licenses on multiple, single-year terms over the same period. In addition, a multi-year agreement will keep unit pricing for all license types consistent for the entire period of the agreement, thus avoiding any price increases the publisher announces for its general customer base during the term of the agreement. From a financial perspective, it is estimated that the City saved approximately $800,000 over all four years by entering into the current four-year agreement. Under a new multi-year agreement currently in discussion, it is estimated that the City’s savings will exceed $500,000 per year based on the publisher’s publicly announced pricing being offered to the publisher’s general customer base. In furtherance of this request, negotiating a multi-year agreement streamlines certain administrative processes that would otherwise occur annually. This efficiency allows OIT, the Law Department, and the Procurement Department staff resources to work on other administrative functions. For these reasons, I respectfully request that the Committee pass this bill with a suspension of the rules, permitting its first reading at the next Council session. I am happy to answer the Committee's questions.
Thank you so much. Any questions for the panel from the committee? (No response.)
Thank you. The Chair recognizes the presence of Councilmember Nic O'Rourke. And again, thank you very much for outlining the terms of the agreement and making sure that the City is saving money going forward. It's very important. Seeing no questions from the Committee, are there any further witnesses for testimony?
Okay. Are there any individuals who registered to testify on public comment? You will have no longer than two minutes. I ask are there any additional speakers signed up? (No response.)
This concludes the public hearing on Bill Nos. 260385 and 260386. We will now go into a public meeting to consider the action to be taken on these bills. Will the Clerk please call the roll.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on Bill No. 260385.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill No. 19 260385 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation to further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit the first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 260385 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of the bills at the next session of Council. All those in favor of the bill will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The bill will be reported to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation with the request that the ruling of Council be suspended as to permit first reading at the next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on Bill No. 260386.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill No. 10 260386 be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit the first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 260386 be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. All those in favor of the bill signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Bill No. 260386 will be reported to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation with the request that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading at the next session of Council. There being no further questions from members of the Committee and no other witnesses to testify, this concludes the business before the Committee on Technology and Information Services today. Thank you all very much for your attendance. (Committee on Technology and Information Services concluded at 1:25 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. _______________________________ TANEHA CARROLL