So the question was to what extent is the City using the database that they provided and preventative maintenance program that they provided to the City? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: That wasn't necessarily a preventative maintenance program. It strictly identified corrections that were necessary to various pieces of equipment, and I do believe -- and I won't speak for the Commissioner on that -- our Facilities area did attack a number of those issues. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Joan Schlotterbeck, Public Property Commissioner. Councilman, we did indeed start right away with any detailed information that they provided us that we could do in-house, so to speak, with the tradespeople that work for me, for our department. We also -- the idea is and will continue to be that we partner up 224 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 with our capital arm so that we have continuing dialogue, standards, equipments, uniform, and the way we provide services will hopefully in the future blend together so that will be -- it will be seamless, and that's the intent.
Okay. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: So we upgraded like --
Is the information you just spoke about in terms of doing the analysis, is any of that in writing? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: We basically took all the information, re-categorized it. It's in spreadsheet form. And for your information also, all the Category problems identified in the report were looked at both by Capital -- the Capital area and the Facilities area and they were taken care of, if in fact they were problems. Not all of them were, though. 225 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213
Will you please provide anything in writing in this regard about the PICA report, your own analysis of the situation that currently exists to the Chair prior to the testimony that Public Property will give so that we have an opportunity to review it and ask you some more detailed questions about it. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Sure. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: Yes.
Thank you. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have two questions. One is regarding the Commerce Department's commercial development project funding for neighborhood commercial centers. I 226 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 could just --
Just hang on. He's walking up here. So you might hang on to the question so you don't have to repeat yourself. (Witness approached witness table.)
Are you ready? Because my clock is ticking, I think. You have to turn it off. Okay. In the Five-Year Plan when you talk about the Commerce activities in the Capital Budget, it talks about -- it says basically that you're going to be doing $3 million in projects for improvements, such as curbs, sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and others, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to what we are putting into the Naval Yard, and I just want to know, how many projects do you really think we can fund with 3 million? Because you know streetscape takes a lot of money. You 227 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 can use $3 million in a flash. And then also, just about how many commercial corridors are there in Philadelphia citywide and how much are you going to be -- how many projects are you actually going to fund and is there a maximum amount that these projects can get? I believe you put an RFP out not long ago regarding this, correct? I think you put an RFP out not long ago regarding the commercial development money or the commercial corridor money. So I'll let you answer that. Then I have some comments to make about the Naval Yard that happens to be in Council President Verna's district. DEPUTY
Okay. Let me -- Andy Altman, Deputy Mayor for Commerce and Economic Development. Let me start with maybe going back. Actually, Councilmember Green had inquired earlier about the Econsult study. I think there are -- and I'm going to get this number wrong, 228 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Councilmember, but I think I want to say at least 120. I mean, easily over 100 commercial corridors when you look throughout the City that we've identified. And actually, the Planning Office, the Planning Department has done a study of corridors as well. Does that strike you as roughly --
120 or more. So you're right. The need is substantial for commercial corridors. I mean, they are, as you know, in very different states, and they're very long. I mean, Germantown Avenue corridor is ten miles. I mean, more than that. Let me just add, I mentioned earlier that's not reflected here because some of these dollars are some -- as you can see, there's a combination of state money and federal money and then what's 229 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 in the Capital Program dollars. In the next -- between now and January, we will be spending down what's remaining of the commercial corridor bond money. That's about, as I was saying earlier, something about $30 million that's remaining, all of which is on track to be spent, a portion of which is included in some of these funds that have different matching grants. But those probably cover, I want to say, 30 corridors roughly distributed throughout Council districts. It might be 40 different projects. I can get you the exact number. And those have all, as you know, been worked on, identified with the Councilmembers as to where those expenditures are. You raise a very good point, though, that when those dollars are expended this year, we don't have that same level to continue those investments, whether that's Germantown or Ogontz or Lansdowne or many of the corridors, 230 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Girard Avenue, where we're making investments, and the dollars shown here are, you're right, are a small amount relative to what the demand is. It was, again, just -- I think that's something we need to look at. Unfortunately, as much as we'd like federal recovery dollars, there's not a great source of money for commercial corridors. There's some Community Development Block grant that will be coming in. That's about $14 million of a one-time stimulus, but there are many -- right now we'll be talking to Councilmembers about how to use that and balance between housing and commercial development. But you make a very good point and --
And one of the reasons why that just stuck out at me is that I guess I've been in Council now about 14 years and it just seems like for the last 12 years, minimally 12 years, we have put so much money into the 231 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Navy Yard, and I guess for myself -- and maybe other people might want it too -- I'd like to get an update on what is happening at the Navy Yard, because so much of the City dollars go there. And I knew it was important to begin to renovate it and to keep it in good use, but when does it stop? I mean, it seems like it's a priority, and as a result of that then we don't have -- I think some of those dollars could actually go into neighborhood corridors. Small businesses employ so many people in Philadelphia. What's happening at the Navy Yard? What businesses are there? Have jobs been created? What's going on, and when will our priorities and policies begin to focus and continue to focus on neighborhood commercial corridors and -- I mean, I know the Navy Yard is big. I've been there twice, but what is going on there? So much of our resources go there, and I need them to go on Germantown Avenue. 232 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 DEPUTY
I don't want to admit any bias to Germantown, having grown up there. However, I will say that we should probably ask the Industrial Development Corporation that runs the Navy Yard to give you the full update on what's happening there. I don't know if there's a representative here who wants to do that. There have been a number -- there's been a lot of progress at the Navy Yard. Many of those investments are starting to pay off. (Bell rung.) DEPUTY
The Urban Outfitters headquarters, for example, is probably one of the most successful developments there. I think it's close to a thousand jobs, and they're actually looking to expand, and that's a significant job base that has grown there. There are a number of technology companies that are located 233 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 there. The Ben Franklin Partnership is located at the Navy Yard. The Mayor on Friday, we announced that actually a financial services firm, Penn Capital, is going to be moving from New Jersey to the Navy Yard with 60 employees. And a number of our business attraction efforts, firms from out of the City, are very interested when we take them to the Navy Yard, see it as a great site for either new construction or going into some of the renovated buildings, but as soon as you take them to the Urban Outfitters, as soon as you take them down to that site, which is about 1,200 acres, which is about, as was talked about earlier, about the size of the Central Business District, they see a huge opportunity there. As you know, it has about -- access to the airport within ten minutes. It has access to 95. It has visibility from the freeway, and, of course, it's on the water. 234 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 So in a way, it's a different segment of our economic development program. I don't see it as either/or, because in a way it's a good -- it's a huge land base that is attracting jobs to the City, and those folks are -- actually, many of those employees -- I don't have the numbers now from Urban Outfitters, but when I visited, are living in the City and wage taxes and it's really been a significant benefit. We also -- many of the dollars that we put in for the Navy Yard, as I understand it, are leveraging a lot of federal and other infrastructure dollars. So we talked, for example, about the federal recovery. We're hoping to apply for money to create an Energy Research Institute. It could be about $60 million that we'll aggressively compete for. So I think it's -- I would say it's an important economic development investment. Likewise, I think the investments in the corridors are very 235 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 important. We've been fortunate to have had this resource of the commercial corridor bond money that's put over what will complete 30 million. It's probably put at least close to $50-some million, $60 million into the corridors, and I think we'll have to in the future look for some new sources. So it's not as if we haven't given attention to that and it's been an either/or, but you correctly identified that in the future we do need to look at this. But I think the investments in the Navy Yard are continuing to pay off. I'd be happy to get you from PIDC more detailed information about the job creation, but it's truly impressive. You should -- a visit to the Urban Outfitters I think tells the story quite well.
So does it go like this: There's a business in the Navy Yard that's there and they have employment opportunities. Does that message get conveyed to, let's just say, 236 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 the workforce development arm -- I can't remember -- over on JFK? DEPUTY
Yeah, the Workforce Investment Board and the Workforce Development Corporation.
And then they will then help do the recruitment to fill those vacancies; is that the way it's working here? DEPUTY
Well, we're trying where there are matches, we try to -- as I understand, we're trying to evolve the job training efforts where there are openings, and there are also job training dollars that we use and workforce dollars to try to connect, where we can, the opportunities that come in. And every company that comes in, we obviously talk to them about the jobs they have available and see if we can connect them to some of our workforce needs. I can get you -- I can look at the data on that, but --
We 237 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 haven't had that type of meeting. We had a briefing a while back on just the whole process of the workforce development and employment referrals, et cetera. Many offices, people call us all the time looking for employment, and we like -- we have a board in my office where actually each week we put a package together of employment opps that are available, because now more than ever, people are calling. So we want to make sure -- I would like to be informed when there's openings so that we can appropriately refer our constituents to it. I don't think we get that much information from that part of City government. DEPUTY
Okay. We would be happy to facilitate that with PIDC and with all the opportunities. I mean, PIDC is creating -- makes a number of loans to small businesses and is very involved not only in the Navy Yard, but they have an emerging growth fund that 238 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 goes to fund small businesses, as well as their bond programs that helps with non-profits. So we can -- I will talk to them and provide information how to connect those opportunities.
All right. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. Just one question. On of the document, you mention the play area improvements. As we approach summer, what are the appropriate ways in which residents can secure funding for these neighborhood play areas? Can you discuss what criteria you might have in place that talks about how you will approach the rehabilitation of the play areas? 239 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 (Witness approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. Mark Focht, Executive Director of Fairmount Park. Councilwoman, the play area improvements that are referenced in our plan here are based upon assessments our staff has done of the 43 playgrounds that are within the Fairmount Park system. We have a staff crew that goes around and maintains our playgrounds, makes replacement parts and minor repairs, and then if a project needs to be elevated to a capital level, it is. And as you see by the levels of funding throughout each of the years, a full playground these days costs around $200,000 to $250,000 with the required federal safety surface and all of the other federal requirements. So this is looking at replacing about one of our playgrounds 240 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 each year.
So that's complete capital replacement. If there's specific needs that a community or a park or yourself have for a playground, they can certainly e-mail my office and I will route that to our playground repair crew.
At what point might a District Councilperson weigh in in that process? I'm just curious. I'm at-large, but I'm curious to know when that connect happens.
At any point in time. I mean, we meet regularly. Stephanie Craighead, who is our Director of Capital Projects, who just had to step out of the room, she meets regularly with Councilmembers if there's a playground repair in their district. We recently replaced a playground at 26th and Pennsylvania Avenue in Councilman Clarke's district. We've done a number of them. We're doing one right now up in 241 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Tacony Creek Park.
So then let me seize the moment. Discuss for me the procurement process for that. Because, again, in relying on this document that I'll be looking at for each department, the numbers don't look favorable for Fairmount Park. So help me understand what the process is for ensuring that there's a level playing ground for women and people of color when it comes to accessing contracting opportunities.
Well, if it's a capital project, it's bid through Public Property, the former Capital Program Office, bid through their set process, and participation is set by the Office of -- the OEO that was spoken about earlier. So a bid will be assembled. It will go from Public Property to OEO. They'll set the percentages, and then it's let by Public Property.
And that 242 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 process became effective when? I think that goes back to Councilman Green's question. When did that new process become effective where Public Property is intimately involved in the process?
Well, when Public Property took over the responsibilities of the Capital Program Office.
Okay. (Witness approached witness table.) COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Joan Schlotterbeck, Public Property Commissioner. Councilwoman, the process is no 21 different for capital than it is for any contracts. I mean, we take the lead from the OEO office. And project-by-project opportunities vary depending on what we're procuring or what service we're 243 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 interested in engaging someone in. So it depends. But we take the lead from them, and from what I understand, this being just six months into this responsibility, that we do a pretty darn good job of meeting the goals that they set for us.
Then help me understand, then. This is broken down by department, but I hear you tell me that the process starts in OEO. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: I mean, the department or the agency looks for something to procure or some service, and then we go through the process of reaching out to OEO and we talk about what we're doing, and together with the department, the agency, they set the goals.
Then is it fair then to have a document that holds departments responsible if the ball starts at the OEO office? That's what I'm trying to get my arms around. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: 244 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Well, I think it's not just one office. I think together we all have to understand what we're trying to accomplish and then do the best we can to engage as many people as we can, minority, disabled, disadvantaged. So I'm not trying to say it's one person's responsibility. It's a collective effort, I would say, but we do get the goals set by that office. But it's usually after meetings and conversations and understanding what we're trying to do.
Okay. I hear what you're saying. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Am I not making myself clear? Because I'm not trying to be --
Well, because ultimately someone has to be held responsible for us not meeting these goals, and if I hear OEO, it starts in OEO, yet each department is listed here as a stand-alone entity, where is the 245 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 accountability placed? And I'm not able to get my arms around that based on your testimony. So that requires more homework on my part, and as departments come before me and as I have a sit-down with the Office of Equal Opportunity, I expect that I will have a better understanding, because ultimately someone has to be responsible for these numbers. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Do you mind if I ask you what you're looking at, because you actually referenced --
This is Minority Business Enterprise Council, Participation By Department, Third Quarter, Fiscal 2008, and it lists all of the departments' actual percentage, highest to lowest. And your department, quite frankly, is soaring, but looking at many of the others, you have zero MBE/WBE. (Bell rung.)
So in instances like that where there's zero 246 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 percent participation and there have been some contracting dollars, I'm at a loss in understanding where is the disconnect. So I need to understand how it works and then connect the dots to how and who is ultimately held responsible. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: And you got the list from the Office of OEO or did you get it from --
I got the list from my guru on this topic, which will be Councilman Goode. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: All right. Thank you.
Because I remember -- I'm looking back at my notes and I believe Councilwoman Miller asked for a report, which we said we would get, on 2006 to 2009, and we ought to look at 247 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 the composite picture. I think that's important to do.
Madam President, I actually was going to ask about my bridge, but I got that answer earlier. But as I'm stalling, I'm sure I can think of something else to ask. Actually, with respect to the bridge -- and, again, I want to particularly thank Commissioner Tolson, because I know I've been talking to her about that considerably. The funding will be available in FY11, so that's calendar year '10. Given the condition of the bridge -- and I guess I'm getting ready to get greedy -- is there any way, shape or form that that process can be expedited or phased in? Because the bridge -- Commissioner, I know you've 248 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 seen it. It is, I think, frankly speaking, in jeopardy of actually collapsing in certain portions. I mean, it's just that bad, and I'm not sure that it will last for a whole year. (Witness approached witness table.) COMMISSION TOLSON: Councilman, given the --
Introduce yourself first. COMMISSIONER TOLSON: My name is Clarena Tolson, Commissioner of the Department of Streets. Councilman, given the planning efforts that are required in designing and constructing, repairing a bridge, it is not possible to speed up our efforts or change the timeline that we're working on. You're correct in the time that you gave, and we're going to do our best to stick to that timeline on schedule and on budget.
I 249 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 understand it's over the northeast rail corridor and that complicates it, but I guess at some point we may actually want to consider closing it to vehicular traffic. And I know that's not a good thing, but it is really bad. COMMISSION TOLSON: Closure of a bridge is something that we don't take very lightly. It is inspected regularly, and we will make sure that we have a current inspection or do one very shortly for you to ensure that there are no 14 problems. Should we believe that there is a safety issue or a concern, we will do what is required, and if closure is required, then we'll do that.
Okay. I actually was going to ask a question, but I don't see my friend here. There is an issue -- and I'll bring it up briefly -- about swimming pools. There are proposed to be fortunately a number more pools proposed to be opened than we originally had anticipated, and that's assuming that 250 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 this budget gets voted on, and that's, to a large degree, a lot of assumptions. If those pools are offline for a sustained period of time, which unfortunately probably will be the case, I want to know about the possible mothballing of pools or just direct abandonment, exactly how that works. Because given the financial situation, I just realistically don't think we'll ever open up 73, 74, 75 pools again. So I really would like to have a sense of that strategy. (Witness approached witness table.)
Councilmember, Steve Agostini. Originally when we were looking at the proposal for pools, we had not come to a conclusion as to the number of pools and we thought we were still working with 11. We raised that number, as you know, in the proposed budget to an additional 35. We know that there is 251 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 some capital work that needs to be done. I think there's some filters and some other work that needs to be done for some of them. We're going to have to go back and do an assessment to get a handle on the mothballing of those, as you've put it, that are not going to be funded for the summer that's forthcoming and get a sense of what that's going to cost us and what kind of improvements. We did not include some of those elements, because the Capital Plan got completed before we had made our final decisions with respect to the budget that was brought before you.
I think some of it has to be operating and I think some of it has to be capital, and that's one of the things we have to assess now. I think in some cases we're talking about 20,000 to 50,000 per pool in some of the repairs that we have to do. 252 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213
Okay. I'll wait until we get into -- although it is somewhat a capital issue, I'm going to want to have a relatively extensive conversation about conversions, and I understand actually I'd asked the Commissioner to get me some information on -- they call them spray grounds now. I know they used to be called spray pools. Different Administration, different name. But it's basically an alternative to swimming pools, and I'm going to want to have some extensive conversations about some of those that may either be mothballed or taken offline forever.
Councilmember, we'll go back and in advance of the Recreation hearing, we'll try to have that for you.
253 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 You're welcome. I would like to go back to a couple questions that I had asked earlier. Division of Technology, Line 25, network infrastructure stabilization and enhancement, will someone explain what this means and how the $3.6 million in new funds is to be used? (Witness approached witness table.)
Council Chair, I'm Allan Frank, the Chief Information Officer. And relative to that capital request, very specifically in Fiscal Year '10, what we're proposing to do is several things to actually improve and upgrade our network and some of the hardware components of the City. Very specifically, we're looking to replace some of our, it's called, disk storage equipment that stores the data of the City. This equipment routinely has to be refreshed. Unfortunately, the life isn't forever, and so a lot of this equipment 254 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 relates to storage. In addition, we're also ensuring that we can do adequate back-up and recovery of our systems should the computers go down and so forth. So there's also monies allocated to make sure that we can do appropriate disaster recovery. The other thing that we're doing -- and which really is 2 million of the total balance -- relates to, frankly, rebuilding our network equipment across the City, which would allow us to be able to increase the speed of our network across all of our facilities. In particular, we're very focused in public safety again to make sure that the Police, Fire and our entire public safety network is up to speed, but also the overall speed of the network, including City Hall and all the other buildings. So what that requires is, we're literally going floor by floor, closet by closet, ripping out equipment to make 255 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 sure that, again, we refresh it, and this will also provide a base for us now to be able to build more efficiencies through systems on top of that. So on the most part, the money is for refreshing of the equipment, surrounding back-up, as well as the network, as well as asset management software to allow us to track all of the pieces of equipment in the City.
It was being reported on TV last evening that there's supposed to be a national virus in the computers tomorrow.
Well, we'll see what happens tomorrow since the whole world really doesn't --
-- exactly know 256 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 what's going to happen. But, yes, the City makes sure that we updated our virus protection throughout the City and that our firewalls and so forth are all patched so that the software itself is up to speed. With that said, it's somewhat unknowable actually what will actually occur tomorrow, but we routinely make sure that our virus protection is up to date. But things do happen.
Thank you. While Mr. Frank is up here, does anyone have any questions he or she would like to ask? Councilman Green.
My question really is, you gave quite a detailed sort 257 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 of forward-looking blueprint when you were before the joint Committee on Labor and Civil Service and Technology. I think that was in December.
And obviously I support your efforts in this area. I think it's very important investments the City needs to make, and it doesn't look to me like -- is that whole plan contemplated being financed by mostly operating dollars rather than any capital dollars? Because there's very little sort of Division of Technology capital projects' money over the course of the six-year Capital Plan.
I'm looking over a five-year period of time. It's a combination of capital as well as, frankly, reinvested savings, which what we'll do is, as we generate savings, we'll be able to leverage that back to invest in the technology. So both those components we're looking at over the 258 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 five-year period to allow us to be able to make some of the investments.
Are there any things that you're doing in terms of projects? For example, one of your plans was to replace 843 servers with approximately 40 servers or 60 servers, something like that.
Is that something that we could do with capital dollars and not operating dollars so that we have more -- I'm just thinking this from a budgetary perspective why we're not using more capital dollars for the changes in infrastructure you're intending to go with so that we can have more money in our Operating Budget.
Councilmember, one of the reasons that we don't have more money is that we have certain capital eligibility guidelines, for which some of the elements of the Plan we simply can't spend capital dollars on, 259 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 and that is a rule that's promulgated both by the Controller's Office and the Budget Office and it is intended to be sure that we're not borrowing for assets that have a useful life of two to three years.
-- with an explanation of what in Mr. Frank's five-year plan can and can't be financed with capital dollars and why --
Just to give you a flavor for that, there is a replacement cycle for desktop computers that we're not going to be able to use capital funding for. There are -- some of the sort of basic wiring we're not going to 260 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 be able to use capital dollars for, but we'll put that in writing for you.
Well, I'm looking at the big picture plan that Mr. Frank has outlined, and many of those investments are capital dollars that far exceed what's in this Capital Budget and I think even under your guidelines probably would meet the criteria. I'm not trying to get in a debate. I'd like to understand. It's okay if we haven't thought of it. Let's think of it now and see if we can add it.
We would welcome another set of eyes, because we went over this in some detail. Mr. Frank's current finance person used to be my Deputy for Capital, so she is probably one of the most familiar with that in the City right now. And we tried to in some cases stretch the rules. But another set of eyes looking at it is always helpful.
I appreciate that. With 30 years of strategic 261 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 underinvestment, I think we can put some capital dollars to work, hopefully.
Thank you. Are there any other questions of Mr. Frank? (No response.)
I'd like to go back to the Free Library. (Witness approached witness table.)
Thank you. I had asked earlier, the total amount requested for the Library in FY2010 Capital Budget is $14,687,000, of which only 965,000 is new funding. The balance of 13,722,000 goes as far back as 2002. 262 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213
My question is and will continue to be, why does it take so long to spend your funds?
Chris Donato. I can speak to the Central Library renovations carryforward lines from FY04, 5 and 6. I know those projects are actually in process of being under contract now and should be obligated by the end of this fiscal year.
So all this money has to do with the Central Library?
No; just from FY04, FY05 and FY06, the funding designated for Central Library. The money from FY02 is from a completed project.
From FY02 is a completed project, and they're also using that towards IT renovations at the 263 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Central Library. All that money should be gone by the end of this fiscal year.
I don't know if you'd be able to answer this question. The Eastwick Library has been closed because it apparently has a faulty boiler. Is that being repaired? When will the library be open? Can someone tell me that? (Witness approached witness table.)
The library will be reopened, we believe, in April and it's dependent on the weather, and the boiler has not been repaired.
I don't know the 264 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 answer to that question. It will hopefully be repaired before the next winter season.
I'm smiling and you're smiling. It's my understanding Eastwick was supposed to have been one of the libraries that was supposed to be closed. Now that the libraries are remaining open, I think this has to remain open, too.
And I don't know that -- yes. Did you want to respond? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: Yes. Councilwoman, the money for Eastwick, I understand -- I spoke with our Project Director -- was slated for FY11, but we may be able to move some money around from the carryforward funding and get that done.
How much does a boiler cost? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: 265 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Usually I use about $5 a square foot, but I'm not sure of the square footage of that library.
I'm sure you'll find the money. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: Yes, ma'am.
Thank you, Madam President. I just have a quick question. Are all City-owned buildings properly cleaned and presentable, well maintained and in good repair? (Witness approached witness table.)
Doctor, while the Commissioner is coming up, do you think this budget will have to be amended so that I make absolutely certain that the money for the boiler is in the budget?
I will rely on my 266 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 colleagues in the Capital Budget Office on that issue, but I hear you and I believe they hear you in terms of the importance of that boiler.
I know people hear, but will they do? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Joan Schlotterbeck, Public Property Commissioner. I heard you loud and clear, and we will do.
The reason I asked that question, Your Honor -- and it was somewhat rhetorical, because we all know the answer -- Eastwick is certainly not well maintained and in good repair, as one example. There are many other buildings in the City like that. I just would point the Capital Program Office and the Administration to Home Rule Charter 5-900, Functions of the Department of Public Property. "The 267 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Department shall keep clean and presentable, maintain and repair all City buildings and grounds." That is a Charter-mandated requirement for any facility that we own, and so I just -- that is something that an enterprising Councilperson could bring a writ of mandamus about to require the City to fulfill its Charter-mandated obligation. So I just want to stress that the President's -- I wanted to bring home the President's point to your Charter-mandated duties. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioner, since I have her up there, last year there was a lot of discussion around the facilities assessment in the City and the task force 268 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 that would even include the School District around facilities and stuff. You don't have to make the presentation now, but is there anything that you will be reporting on when you testify and can we have that before your testimony? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: We have been discussing it in-house. We've also been meeting with the School District on what, if anything, we have in common and how could we have economies. I will do my best to have something before I come before you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Yes, Madam President. I'm curious to know if there are any departments here that have used MBE/WBEs in a prime contracting opportunity, with the exclusion of 269 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 cleaning contracts. Any department head that can say, yes, we have engaged an MBE, WBE or DBE -- COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: I have. I have.
-- in prime contracts, separate from cleaning contracts? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: U.S. Facilities is a full-service facilities contract inclusive of custodial, but it's full service.
And full service? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Meaning maintenance, management, pest control, window washing, the whole ball of wax. They're a professional firm. It's a minority firm. So my three buildings in downtown Center City are serviced by them.
So that's one department out of 39. Any in the professional or construction areas at all 270 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 by any department head? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: We have folks coming forward. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: Councilwoman, I know your numbers were somewhat different than the ones I have in front of me, because I think -- I believe your numbers are coming from the citywide -- on a citywide basis, but from the Department of Public Property, as far as in FY09 so far, my numbers have us contracting 35 percent MBEC on the professional services side, and, yes, there are occasions where we use --
In a prime capacity? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: In the prime capacity, yes. I have two. I'm just looking through my listing here right now.
Okay. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: The only one I have for FY09 right now is PEZS Architects. That's for a $230,000 271 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 contract. I also have some for smaller orders with Arroyo Engineers, PEZS, CDA Architecture, Schiller and Hearst.
I thank you for that. Sir. COMMISSIONER GIORLA: Councilwoman Brown, Lou Giorla, Commissioner of Prisons. We also employ U.S. Facilities in the capacity of maintenance at two of our newer facilities, Curran Fromhold and Riverside, and they are the prime maintenance contractor at those sites.
Councilwoman, Mark Focht, Fairmount Park. We have traditionally and continually employ on a consultant side for design contracts for many of our projects women or minority-owned firms, such as Synterra Partners Landscape Architects, Logarapi Scapti (ph) 272 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Landscape Architects, who is a woman-owned firm.
Now, that's important to know, because this document does not reflect that fact.
Well, we currently have contracts right now with Logarapi Scapti, who is a woman-certified firm.
So I will amend my letter that is going to the Mayor to ask about prime, because it was essentially focusing on subcontractors that are MBE/WBEs. I think we as a city need to recognize what you have already, that there are people who are MBE and WBEs who have the capacity to do prime work. So that's helpful to know. Thank you very much. DEPUTY
Good afternoon, Councilwoman. Everett Gillison, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety. I'm sure that you're aware that we have the Temple Group, who is going to be the prime, and for the Youth Study 273 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Center building that we have already, they're already as the prime CM on that project as we're going forward. So they are the -- and it's a minority contractor going forward on that particular project, which is a huge project. It's basically our first one in this Administration being pushed out in a major way.
So we've heard from four departments. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KNAPPICK: One other one, Councilwoman. Kelly Mallow is the prime for the President's House as well.
Okay. All right, then. I thank you all. It's extremely informative. DEPUTY
Councilwoman, if that was a document that you're going to actually -- did you send that to the Mayor? Because I will ask the Mayor for a copy of it.
It's an MBEC document, June '06. This here says, 274 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Participation by Department, Third Quarter, Fiscal Year 2008. 2008. But it is an MBEC document. DEPUTY
You're welcome. Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I wanted to verify, because there has been some talk back and forth, that the Philadelphia Nursing Home is okay, because we know we have no place to send all of those people, that it will remain open. (Witness approached witness table.)
Thank you for asking the question. Don Schwarz. 275 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 At the moment there is no plan to close the Nursing Home.
Doctor, while you're up there, I had asked a question earlier and I don't know that I got an answer that I really understood.
Thank you. On Lines 37 and 37-A, I believe that is $1.8 million for Health Department equipment and repair, and each line is requesting $1.8 million in CR funding. What is the source of these funds and can you tell us where it's budgeted in the Operating Budget, please. 276 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213
Okay. So this is the authorization for expenditure for repairs at the health centers. The funding at the moment doesn't exist. This is the authorization. The appropriation would come at year end, which is one of the reasons for the sequential carryover. When the Health Department has revenue in excess of expectation, we ask Council at the end of the year to appropriate dollars for -- to move dollars into Class 800 for these repairs, and it's how many of the repairs have been done at the health centers. The revenue is generated by the health centers. We have gone through the PICA report for the Health Department, gone through each of the health centers, reinspected all of the findings of PICA and prioritized them, and we will use that prioritized list in the future to determine next in line, if you will, for 277 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 repairs.
Thank you. Any questions of Dr. Schwarz while he's at the table? (No response.)
Thank you, Madam President. I believe you asked some questions that required Frank Punzo or somebody to --
So I had some questions along the same lines, if you want to ask yours first, Madam President.
I think for the Fire Department. Was it 278 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 for the Fire Department? DEPUTY
That's correct. That's correct. Good afternoon, Madam President.
Lines 31 and 31-A, fire computer communication system improvement, total $4 million in CR. Were these funds budgeted for in the Operating Budget and what is their funding source? DEPUTY
As to the identification of the funds, they will be used in order to upgrade not only the Fire CAD, the computer-assisted dispatch, but also to upgrade the ability of the Fire Department data systems to actually do realtime data analysis instead of what has been done traditionally, which is a compilation of 279 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 things by hand. We have now tried to put this into realtime and upgrading the fire systems. We have a current contract that we are trying to get done, both with Northrop Grumman as well as others, with the Department of Technology to help us move the fire from an old system and to basically bring it into the 21st century. That's the way that we are trying to use this, and this money is going to allow us to be able to push that source funding forward. As for the identification of what the fund is for, I'll defer to my colleague, Mr. Agostini.
Madam President, the line item -- it's in Class 800 in the Public Property budget, and it is representative of the 9-1-1 fees that are collected by the state and then sent to 280 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 the City, both the land line and the wireless funds.
How much of that money was carried over from '09?
We don't have the current balance, but we'll provide that to you.
Thank you, Madam President. I have very similar questions on , and that relates to the approximately 21 million in CR funding for 2010 and then the additional 50 million in CR funding through 2015 and where those funds are in the Operating Budget. 281 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 DEPUTY
As far as the 800 megahertz system improvements, obviously we have introduced legislation in order to explain to Council how we are going to -- how the Administration plans on making this rather critical public safety upgrade. There is an aspect of taking the current bill with Motorola and they have -- we're working out the details on the financing for that particular matter. We know that we've identified two different ways of going forward on financing, but I believe the financing itself has been that we will probably end up doing a lease with taking certain 9-1-1 monies and using that as a base in order to go forward, so we will be able to capitalize this in a four-year period. So we're going to be able to have this upgrade being paid for going forward using, again, certain portions of that 9-1-1 money and also the wireless money going forward, as we explained. And all of that will be explained in a 282 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 hearing that I'm sure we're going to have before Council hopefully within the next month or so, because we'd like to get going.
Well, could you explain to me what the upgrade is? DEPUTY
It is moving -- it actually has three or four different moving parts. The first part of it is that as a result of the change in the federal regulations in 2010 and 2011, you have to have the 800 megahertz area as a public safety arena. It's been put together. So we have to move certain parts of the airwaves that are just going to be designated for public safety matters. Currently, our police radio, our fire systems don't operate underground. This system will enable us to upgrade that.
I'm sorry. So just to clarify on your last point, we currently are -- you're saying our police radio system is not currently on 800 283 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 megahertz? DEPUTY
It is -- we are going to the 800 megahertz system. Currently, we're on an analog system and we're going to be moving to the 800 megahertz.
The 800 megahertz is digital and that -- okay. So we're going to go from whatever we're on to 800 megahertz digital? DEPUTY
So what happens is that we have -- this is a multi-tiered matter. We've been working with the school system in order to get certain bandwidth that they will be relinquishing so we'll be able to move certain of our public safety areas to the School District bandwidth. That's going to be part of the Prison's network. We will also be able to use the Police and 284 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 Fire. Their upgrade will allow them not only to have interoperability capabilities, but also above ground and below ground. All of this is happening with an upgrade that's coming on that we're scheduling to put before Council so that we can explain not only all the financing, but how we're doing it, what it will enable us to do and everything else. And I believe that we're at the point of trying to get that before Council within the next month.
Well, this area is of particular interest of mine. You should know that we have fiber. SEPTA owns fiber that's already in every subway. The current proposal by Motorola is far too expensive, considering that SEPTA has fiber that is 70 percent dark that we can ride on to get down into the subways, et cetera. So I would offer you the opportunity to sit down with me before that hearing and describe what's going 285 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 on, what you're proposing in detail, so that you're not surprised by questions at the hearing, because this is an area that I've had interest in for some significant period of time. DEPUTY
I will take that opportunity, Councilman, and I thank you for it. I can tell you that this has been something that, again, I've been actually making sure that we're going out in the right way for some time now myself, and we are trying to make sure that all of our -- that we've answered all the questions. So I'd be glad to take that opportunity.
Most importantly is, I don't want to get stuck with -- even though there's going to be an IP system, I don't want to get stuck with a Motorola-only IP system. In other words, I want to make sure we get radios and other things that allow us to change vendors should we wish in the future. And I understand that the contract that 286 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 you're currently looking at would essentially be IP but would be Motorola-only IP, so that it wouldn't be interoperable with other agencies. It won't allow us to talk to the state and federal government on just an IP-based system where we could switch over and be able to talk to everybody. The radios don't have that. That's the sort of information and dialogue I'd like to have prior to the hearing so I can understand where you're coming from or maybe even give you some thoughts. I was in the industry for a number of years. DEPUTY
Thank you. Any further questions? (No response.)
Seeing none, this Committee will stand in 287 3/31/09 - WHOLE - BILLS 090212, 090213 recess until tomorrow evening at 5:00 p.m. at Ritter Hall in the Walk Auditorium of Temple on Cecil B. Moore Avenue between 13th Street and Broad Street. Thank you very much.
Thank you. (Committee of the Whole recessed at 3:45 p.m.) - - - 288 CERTIFICATE WE HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by us upon the foregoing matter on March 31, 2009, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ------------------------------ JOSEPHINE CARDILLO RPR-Notary Public ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporters.)