We have made 14 proposals that are formal and open 15 proposals to the FOP and to the 16 firefighters for changes in such areas as 17 contributions for pensions. We've made 18 proposals for changes in work rules 19 governing overtime. We think that there 20 are a number of areas there that as we go 21 through the process with the unions, we 22 may be able to come up with solutions 23 that they can live with and we can live 24 with that will reduce the cost of 25 per-employee compensation. I mean, 203 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. that's part of our challenge in this round of negotiations. So we have not yet formally exchanged proposals with AFSCME. We expect to do that in the next couple of weeks, but the proposals that were exchanged with police and fire I think demonstrate some of the areas we think that there's an opportunity to capture some significant money.
Well, in the worst-case scenario, if they're not received -- unions, everybody feels squeezed on this economy -- what happens then, since these are part of your budget figures?
Again, that's part of the Administration's, I assume, alternative plans for how to deal with it if we can't close the gap in other ways. I mean, my job is to sit with the labor unions and to see if we can agree on ways that we can in fact close the gap and see if we can approach those target numbers. 204 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.
Thank you. You touched on it briefly there. Many of the things that exist now in the contract, police, fire, who actually puts the list that you negotiate to put in or to extract from a contract? Do the operating departments submit a list to you and you negotiate those things in or out? How does that work?
Well, for police and fire, it's a combination of factors. One is, we sit with the Finance Director, the Chief of Staff, the Managing Director to identify some areas that we think that there's a possibility to get savings. We also do sit with the Fire Commissioner and his senior staff to identify things that they think if we change them in the contract, they would be helpful and help 205 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. them bring costs down. When we talk about the civilian unions, we do survey the departments and we ask them for ideas. We ask them for things that they found that are problems. We review our grievance history during the year. We review the kinds of decisions that have come out and that have cost us money to try to identify areas that we think we can get savings or improve operations by putting them into our proposals.
The reason I ask that, I keep -- every time we ask a question why is something -- why is this done the way it is, well, the Administration comes back and says, It's in the contract. Well, if it's in the contract and they agree that certain things could be better done in a different way, is it the Police Department or Fire Department that comes back and says, We'd like you to try to get this out of our contract? 206 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.
Yes. I mean, they'll come to us and they'll say, We'd like a change in the way that overtime is paid for court appearance in the Police Department. But since it's an economic benefit, we negotiate with the union. If they don't agree with us, we have to put our case on at arbitration and hope for the best results.
Okay. An example: What about jobs that are done by uniform police officers that could be done by civilians; is that an economic benefit?
It's not, but it's an issue of bargaining unit work, where if a union typically and traditionally performs a certain set of duties, you have to work to get their agreement to take those duties away from them. We have had some language in the past to give us some rights to broaden civilianization, but it's something that we do have to work out through the 207 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. negotiation process, and if we can't get it there, we have to try to get it through the interest arbitration process.
You're welcome. Are there any other questions of this witness? (No response.)
Thank you. MR. McPHERSON: The next department is the Mayor's Office of Community Services. (Witnesses approached witness table.)
Good afternoon. Welcome. Kindly identify 208 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good afternoon, Council President Verna and members of City Council. , Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Community Services. Today I will provide you with a brief description of the work that this agency does and present the proposed Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2010. The Mayor's Office of Community Services requests a Fiscal Year 2010 appropriation of $17,289,477. This figure includes a potential $6 million stimulus allocation, which is demonstrated in the budget detail as split between Class 100 and Class 200, all from the Grants Revenue Fund. The Mayor's Office of Community Services is the Community Action Agency for the City and County of Philadelphia. We are 100 percent grant funded. None of our dollars come from the General Fund. 209 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. Our major grant is Community Service Block Grant, which requires us to provide services to individuals and families that live at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level. An applicant's income may not exceed 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. A family or individual's income is to be based on the total family unit income for the 30-day period immediately prior to the date of service. In Fiscal Year 2009, MOCS provided services to 55,134 people. Beginning July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008, MOCS was under a six-month contract and provided services during this period to 32,991 individuals. To provide these services and oversee subcontracts, MOCS has a staff of 72, ten of which are bilingual. The following are the programs and services that MOCS provides directly or supports with grants: The Community Engagement Unit 210 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. staff is deployed to target high crime in low-income neighborhoods to facilitate and support the wide range of activities related to initiatives which are designed to reduce the devastation that has plagued these neighborhoods in recent times. CEU staff, Community Engagement Unit staff, assists residents with a menu of services and supports designed to strengthen families and communities. These services include preparation of federal and state income tax returns, a completion of entitlement applications for LIHEAP, Crisis and completion of senior citizen entitlement applications for PACE, property tax/rent rebates and water discounts. The CEU staff also provides residents with the necessary referrals to emergency services and/or linkages to meet their needs. The Community Engagement staff also helps to organize neighborhoods by identifying and 211 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. recruiting individuals interested in becoming block captains, Town Watch members or neighborhood advocates to ensure that the Philadelphia's low-income individuals feel empowered to take ownership of their communities. In cases where individuals are unable to advocate for themselves, trained staff will act as their voice, providing them with the skills, supports and resources necessary to tackle the issues affecting their families and communities. Participation in our Fatherhood Initiative Program results in responsible fathers who demonstrate a new understanding of their role as parents. This program annually offers 609 custodial fathers a safe environment, where the men come together with trained staff to identify what their children need in a father. As they move through the 12 weeks of workshops, they discover how to approach fatherhood with the newly developed skills that enable them to 212 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. guide, protect and financially provide for their children. Charged with meeting critical community needs, the Foster Grandparent Program is strengthening communities by utilizing untapped resources of older adults, mobilizing them to serve in local schools and community-based organizations, filling significant gaps and enabling these organizations to expand their capacity.
Over 110 foster grandparents volunteer, representing the diversity of Philadelphia neighborhoods. They are on the front lines of service, providing loving support to this most special population. Our WorkWise Program provides job readiness classes and job placement for TANF recipients who are referred by the County Assistance Office. TANF recipients referred to this program are some of the program's most vulnerable, because they have been unsuccessful in other programs, have successful health 213 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. issues or have children who have been classified as incorrigible. In addition to the programs that we provide and support directly, MOCS also engages with subcontractors for the following programs and services: The North Philadelphia Human Services Development Corporation provides limited case management, linkages and emergency services to residents of North Philadelphia. The Campaign for Working Families provides technical support to MOCS during the income tax season. Workforce 2000 provides low-income individuals with International Computer Drivers License training. Office of Supportive Housing, through this partnership MOCS, supports the services offered at three shelters. The Department of Health Lead Abatement Program, we support this program by MOU, or Memorandum of Understanding, which we support lead abatement of services for at-risk families. The Department of 214 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. Recreation with MOCS, we support six older adult centers located throughout the City of Philadelphia. Philadelphia Gas Works, as a result of this contract, the Philadelphia Gas Works provides grants to 300 low-income families whose gas services have been terminated or may be terminated for non-payment. And with the Office of Housing and Community Development, we work closely with them with the mortgage foreclosure and housing counseling for 250 households. We sometimes have special events. In the last year, the agency hosted a variety of special programs targeted at youth enrichment activities. These programs included trips to the Philadelphia Zoo and to the Please Touch Museum and provided low-income families with toys, school supplies and gift certificates for food. We estimate that we have reached nearly 2,500 young people through these one-time programs. For our future program plans, 215 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. we do anticipate additional funding as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. However, we have yet to receive concrete guidance on how those funds will be allocated at the local level. An increase in CSBG funds as a result of the recovery may result in as much as 6 million in additional local CSBG fundings, which is noted in the Five-Year Plan. One thing we know for sure is that the new Recovery Act dollars will allow us to serve individuals and families at or below 200 percent of the poverty level. This expands the pool of individuals and families -- this expands the pool of Philadelphians eligible for our services and represents an exciting opportunity. We look forward to hearing more about this funding from our state and federal partners in the coming weeks. While we await further detail on the recovery funding, our work continues. One program that MOCS will be piloting is the program to address 216 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. critical food shortage issues. Philabundance will pilot the Choice Food Cupboard program in partnership with the Mayor's Office of Community Services in the basement of the Philadelphia Library, the Lehigh branch at 2700 North 6th Street. This program will offer individuals and families the opportunity to select items they need from the cupboard instead of just receiving a generic bag or box of food that they may not need or like. In addition to the free items available in the pantry, the CFC will also have staple food items available for sale at low prices for clients to purchase using food stamps or credit or debit cards.
And just to make mention of that, that would probably be a second phase of the food cupboard. This mixture of free and for-purchase products will allow clients to maximize their ability to feed their families affordably. MOCS is also conducting a needs 217 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. assessment with the assistance of Temple University. Once the needs assessment is completed, we plan to identify and develop programs and services to fill the gaps identified by the assessment. We have completed a study of best practices by Community Action Agencies across the country and have identified several program areas of interest. They include employment and training programs for non-custodial parents, family literacy programs, financial literacy programs, micro-enterprise programs for ex-offenders, youth employment projects and youth scholarship programs as well. I will be happy to answer any questions that you or any other member of Council may have. Thank you.
Thank you very much. You are requesting $6,744,000 in personal services for FY10, correct?
Can you tell us what employee benefits they are entitled to?
Well, the 72 full-time employees are entitled to all the benefits that the City has. These are all exempt employees or employees with the exempt status. So health benefits -- well, the full range of health benefits that the City offers to most employees.
Well, you're also requesting $311,000 in fringe benefits for FY10, correct?
Our calculation is that this represents only 4.81 percent of your payroll. This doesn't even cover the City's share for Social Security. Can you tell us who 219 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. pays the difference in these costs?
Actually, the Mayor's Office of Community Services through our grants actually pays a lot of the additional fringe benefits.
Excuse me for one minute. (Witness approached witness table.)
We pay that portion, and the balance is covered by the City of Philadelphia.
Well, why doesn't the grant cover the full cost of employee benefits? (Witness approached witness table.)
My name is Mary Mariner. I'm with the Mayor's Office of Community Services. And the reason that the grant doesn't pick it up is because of an administrative cap with the grant.
What happens is, the grant has very little flexibility, and the City -- because the City gets this Community Service Block Grant money, the City puts something toward, so to speak, toward the operation of the grant. So the percentage that the City pays for our benefits is their in-kind for the grant. (Witness approached witness table.)
Sorry for the delay. Now, last year we had an opportunity to cover fringes. Was that the total fringes? 221 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.
Could you just answer. Please take a microphone and respond.
Shirley Miller, Fiscal Director, Mayor's Office of Community Services. In the previous years, the grantor did give us the opportunity to pay additional monies towards our fringe benefits. So we did pay about 60 percent of the total fringe benefits for our agency.
Could you not reduce your administrative cost to where the grant covers 100 percent of the total cost?
We could do that, but we would have to put in place a cost allocation plan certified by the federal government, and we have not done that as of yet.
Do you plan to do that, and if you do, when do you plan to do it? 222 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.
Well, we can actually pursue that and put that together. We can go over the guidelines and get back to you with when we would be able to look at doing something like that. We're going to review the guidelines so that we can come up with if we would be able to do that and reduce those administrative costs.
I'd suggest you review your administrative costs, too.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. 223 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. In light of the fact that we have a recession, I think that it's more important that anti-poverty programs like yours be in full effect and be geared up to deal with some of the onslaught of newly determined poor people, and I wanted to know if you've seen an uptick in some of the people needing services from your agency over the course of the last months. 12
Primarily, yes, 13 we have, and it primarily has been the 14 working poor. 15
And would you say percentage-wise how much of an increase have you experienced over the last --
I would have to get you the percentage. I will happily get that for you.
Are you working with -- I heard some of the people that you're working with, like the Recreation Department to provide 224 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. services, senior centers to provide services. I was wondering what your relationship is with the Philadelphia Housing Authority. Do you have a relationship with them?
Are you able to look at -- I mean, obviously when people live in public housing, they are probably in concert with your guidelines, 125 percent below the poverty guideline.
So there might be some synergy with programs that might be available?
What I'd like you to do is consider Abbotsford projects, housing projects, which we had an opportunity to go up there. They have a brand new community center there, brand new community center. One of the 225 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. problems they have is an inability to provide program dollars for young people in that center as well as seniors in that center, because those are the two dominant populations there, young people and seniors. There's no after-school program there. There's nothing like that, a feeding program there, and I think it would make a perfect match between some resources and particularly pathways out of poverty into work training, work programs. So I'd like to see if you would consider taking a look at that. And we're pulling together a meeting with interested stakeholders and I wanted to know if your agency would participate in that.
Thank you. We have a list of stakeholders that we're looking to have partnerships with. We were planning to reach out with PHA to have some discussions in the future. One of the things that we really want to do, it would be great to look at the 226 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. asset-building portion of -- financial literacy is a part we really need. We feel like we really need to focus on as one of the things that's very important. When we look at some of the best practices models that we've seen across the country, a lot of the Community Action Agencies are non-profit and privates, and they actually develop all their programs dealing with housing, housing counseling, housing issues themselves. But we see the opportunity to work with PHA to develop that.
We're going to ask you to participate in that and we look forward to working with you on it. Another opportunity I understand in the stimulus package particularly surrounding your work with seniors, there is money for telemedicine, which is -- I mentioned this to the Mayor's commission for seniors. This might be another opportunity for your program to go into a joint venture with 227 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. probably PCA, Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging, or one of the youth programs and be able to provide that kind of access to medical care for people that meet your poverty guidelines. And I think in light of the fact that we're having problems particular with health centers and figuring out how to fund them, telemedicine is a time that has come, and innovative projects like this could be sought after and used in low-income areas in a way that we haven't seen in the past. So I would encourage you guys to take advantage of that. A couple of other pieces. Our formula for reimbursement for CDBG dollars is based on that poverty level within the City of Philadelphia. I think it's hovering around percent of the 21 population. 22
Is your funding based on that as well? 228 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.
So to what degree are we working with the Census Bureau to get an accurate count? Because often we are undercounted in urban areas and, therefore, we aren't drawing down as much money from the federal government as we could get if we got an accurate count, and I wanted to know if there is any working relationship with you and the Census Bureau.
Yeah. We recently started to work with them around four months ago.
We are working with them on several levels. One is employment for our clients, for the people who come to us, obviously employment opportunities. The other opportunity is, we certainly will be an outreach arm to get the word out. We'll 229 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. work with the Census Bureau, as we did in 2000 and as we did ten years prior to that. So we have a history of working with them, and we will be using our Community Engagement Unit as an outreach arm and to get the word out about the importance of the census and using some community forums to get the community involved in the census to take the stigma away.
Interesting, an eligible fund that the Census Bureau will pay for is a gathering -- and I don't want to use the word "party" -- a gathering for people who are in underserved, undercounted client levels, whether they are ex-offenders, whether they are people with physical disabilities.
They will pay for gatherings to try to bring those people in to get a fair count.
Usually community 230 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. forums, yes.
And then finally, I know one near and dear to Councilwoman Reynolds Brown, in what way are you working to find pathways into the green economy and for folk who are in underserved communities? (Witness approached witness table.)
We just want to add that Izzy Colon has been working with the Census Bureau as well and just wanted to say a couple points.
My name is Isreal "Izzy" Colon and I work with the Mayor's Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs and I'm a member of the MOCS, some of you as 231 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. well, some of the Councilmembers. Yes, the census issue. I think that's very important, Councilman, because we are in fact developing our own operational plan to look at how we can reach some of those hard-to-count areas that were evidenced in 2000. The MOCS has already started establishing the basic relationships like everyone else. I'm assuming that the Council has already had some discussion with the Census as well. The question for us is how do we develop a comprehensive plan that will be a citywide initiative, and those things are already in the works. So you're going to hear a lot about the census and how we reach. We did not do -- despite what the US Census says, even though there was an improvement in the response rate in 1990, in 2000 our response rate was about 56 percent. Now --
Fifty-six 232 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. percent of --
Fifty-six percent was the response rate, including the long form. Now, as you know, in 2000 they had a short form that was sent out as well as a long form. That's the average. The long form was sent out to one in six members of the residents of the City. But this year I think the Census thought about it quite well, and that's going to change. I think it's only going to be a short form this time. They are spending about $15 billion this year. So you know it's going to be one of the most expensive census in history. And I expect that Philadelphia is going to get its fair share of the resources that are needed to reach out in those communities that traditionally have been missed. And we know who they are.
It's my understanding that they've hired close to a thousand people to do this count, and I would encourage any of my colleagues to 233 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. find out how their particular district or areas --
Actually, in 2000 there was 7,000 enumerated hired in the region. The thousand you're talking about is the beginning now, because I think what they're doing now is addressing verifications. They gear up, and, yes, the trick to the census is getting people from the neighborhood. This is not a hierarchical strategy. It can't be from the up down. It has to be from the neighborhoods, people that you know. And I would think that the Council, every District Councilmember would have a vested interest, not only because it engages neighbors and gets jobs, right, and brings in additional dollars to areas that are needed, but as you know, the census is primary data used for reapportionment.
Just one last question. If you had to break it down by the ten districts, which district 234 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. would represent the highest population of people under the poverty guidelines in the City of Philadelphia?
In this body, that is an important statistic that has been drilled in all members' heads.
I'm sure you're going to hear which one before the day is done. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning, Mayor's Office. It's clear that your office is indeed a safety net for those that are living on 235 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. the margin and struggle to take care of their family. Let me first follow up on the question raised by Councilman Jones, and the statement has been made that it behooves all of us to start early to capture the attention of citizens, because this ultimately does impact federal dollars to come from DC. So with that being said, you're working on a strategic plan around PREP and revving up for the census? What did I hear the answer was to that question?
Well, there's a combination of things that go along with that, and I'd like to, if I may, go to a broader picture which ties into census. We and the Administration are developing an overarching poverty strategy to encompass all the issues particularly around poverty in the City of Philadelphia that we face. As you know, with our needs assessment, as was mentioned earlier, we have met with Temple University, and they are providing 236 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. the needs assessment to us at no cost. They are training our people. They're going to train volunteers so that we can get that actually started, who consists of having forums and focus groups, along with surveys, which will help us to get the plans started. Once we move the needs assessment forward, developing the strategic plan and working with all those stakeholders, particularly with the Census Bureau to identify those areas, that's a huge part of what we're doing with this entire strategic plan. So part of what we're doing is working with the census group, and it's a very important part, but we have a much broader picture that we're trying to do.
That's, I'm sure, a very noble undertaking. My immediate response would be, we know what the problems are. I mean, we know that we have an abysmal dropout rate. We know that we got 4,000 children in foster 237 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. care. We know we don't have all the people in after-school programming. So it's important that we do that and gather information. I guess my only argument would be -- I guess the good news is, we don't have to pay for it and hear and get the expertise of the Temple University. So I'll leave that there. Let's, if we would, go to -- is your office included in -- well, let me look at this way. Six thousand dollars are coming for the recovery funds.
Six million. Is it too premature to say how you anticipate using those dollars?
Let me narrow the question. Any consideration being given to capturing those on the fringes, those underemployed when it comes to connecting them with the Office of Sustainability and the strategy they 238 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. are rolling out around green jobs?
Yeah. I think that when we take a look at it, certainly one of the things that we'd like to do is -- and that's under strong consideration -- is to develop an additional job training program that would encompass the green job situation. We've met with and had discussions with a number of people, particularly -- if you're familiar with -- and as a matter of fact, I shouldn't even ask if you're familiar with. I should tell you that you definitely are familiar with Dr. Raquel Pinderhughes, because you actually played a part in bringing her into the City over a year ago to discuss the green job situation, sustainability issues. We've actually had maybe it was a two-hour conference call with her to help us kind of get some direction. One of the things that -- prior to knowing that these dollars are actually going to come in, we were 239 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. looking at some of the things that would help us do what we do better, and one of the things that we noted very early is the job training program that we actually have is extremely limited. Since it deals with TANF recipients and it deals with referrals from the County Assistance Office, if someone has need, they can't get immediate need from there. They have to go into that system and actually be referred. So to us, that's a gap. So to be able to develop a strong job training module -- and we believe that the program that Dr. Pinderhughes put together, that Pinderhughes model kind of fits with what we'd like to do, so we've been looking at that. That doesn't mean that tomorrow we're going to have that in place.
But it's one of the things that we're looking at, we're discussing, we're working with that. We've also had discussions with 240 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. the Sustainable Business Network as well, who likes the concept, likes the idea and is also interested in working with us as a stakeholder and possibly a partner to help develop that. And all these discussions, although we've had these discussions, these discussions are small and tight for us, but they've been larger discussions that that's a part of with the Administration on the whole.
Well, the ask would be that you keep Councilmembers informed as you go forward and how and what you plan to do around this whole new world and new industry called green jobs.
Thank you. I only have a very fast question. Where are the six older adult 241 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. centers located and are there any located in the Northeast?
There's one located on Castor Avenue in the Far Northeast; Juniata, the one in Juniata Park; the Mann Center at 5th and Allegheny; South Philadelphia; the Martin Luther King Center; and the West Oak Lane Senior Center.
Thank you, Madam President. I think it's important to note that the Mayor's Office of Community Services' funding is one based on our poverty, and it's the agency that's supposed to focus in on our anti-poverty 242 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. efforts. With that said, it is going to be one of those departments that potentially can receive the most grant money through the stimulus. In fact, in your own estimates, the $6 million, which is a 72 percent increase on your budget, what would you consider are going to be the top projects that you're going to undertake with that new money, whether it's to support existing projects or new projects?
Well, it's definitely to support what we have. Some of the things that we'd like to do certainly with the job -- the green job discussion, those dollars could be a kick-off to initiate that development, and if we do it right, which we will, we will be eligible for other dollars from the weatherization stream. We also have had some discussions for a need for the Mayor's Office of Community Services to do more 243 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. in the community and be more present in the community. There was a time in which there were multiple offices or satellite offices throughout the City of Philadelphia, and for different reasons over the years, they've dwindled from -- 9
-- to one 11 satellite office, which happens to be at 12 6th and Lehigh.
But, I mean, that's just -- that's one idea. We feel that one of the programs that we lack in adult education, GED-type program, we don't have. We've met with the Center for Literacy and had some discussions around that, and a lot of these discussions occurred prior to knowing that these dollars were actually coming. So I think we have a number of things that we are looking to do that the money 244 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. will actually help us do and put in place and actually help the population that we serve.
As it relates to your green jobs, what have been your discussions with our own Office of Sustainability? Where do you see those jobs and how are you guys going to help create a pipeline?
Well, we've had a number of discussions with them and have been very active. As a matter of fact, when we had the discussion with Dr. Pinderhughes -- Dr. Pinderhughes is out of California and apparently has been given the credit for coining the phrase "green jobs" -- she mentioned our own Dr. Mark Alan Hughes as someone we needed to work with. I'm not sure if she realized that he was heading the City of Philadelphia's Sustainability Office. So we met with them. We also have shared the research that we have done, letting them know that we've been looking at the 245 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. Pinderhughes model, which he was familiar with as well. So I think that the opportunity is there. I think that we're definitely in the pipeline.
One of the issues that came up in last year's budget was the fact that the Mayor's Office had kind of become the place where a lot of different positions were kind of in the budget line. What progress have you made in moving some of those folks to the departments, the fact that we had a lot of staff at MOCS that wasn't MOCS necessarily?
Right. Well, I think in all fairness, being brand new when we last met in this forum, one of the things that we found was that there were a large number of employees in other portions that were actually attributed to our office because of the payroll number, the payroll code. So they weren't actually coming off the grant and 246 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. actually weren't even a part of -- they weren't even expenditure transfers. But one of the things that we actually did, we were paying a number of the -- the Mayor's Action Center and the state was really talking to us about that quite often. One of the things is, we're federal dollars, we're regulated by the state and we answer to the City. So in order to fix some of that, that office was dissolved, and that really helped us a lot with the state, and they appreciated that. (Bell rung.)
Okay. I wanted to know how was the MOCS office relating to our 3-1-1 center and constituent services. I wanted to know, is there an articulated kind of flow? 247 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.
Well, we are another tool. When a call comes into 3-1-1 and they need services, particular services that we provide, then they will direct those people to us. A number of our people have been trained in the 3-1-1 system, and periodically we have assisted 3-1-1 in calls. That was very early in its beginning.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
I just 248 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. have a couple questions just for some clarity. I know you mentioned that in the future, you'll basically be looking at doing employment and training programs.
Do you still fund employment and training programs? I do know that there were programs in the past you used to get funded under MOCS. Do you still do that, or you have your own?
Currently, we don't have any additional programs funded for employment and training, but you're correct, in the past we have funded programs like Impact Services, JEVS, those different types of programs. We currently do not fund any of those programs, as our resources are all allocated elsewhere.
When you get your anticipated stimulus dollars, do you think that might be something that 249 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. you might start up again or will you be training people in the area of green jobs?
Well, although we've talked about green jobs as a singular entity today, initially we were looking at a job training program, and I think that we're looking at developing a job training program that has a green job component. So I would say yes. I don't know if we would fund others or partner with others. Those are all under consideration.
So if you do green training, job training for green jobs, have you decided what specific type of training you'll do?
Just one note, in going back to our stimulus dollars, we're still kind of waiting on the guidance from the state on what we're actually going to be able to do.
Right. Oh, okay. 250 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.
But having said that, there are -- and I probably would like to send a list to you. We have, is it, about types of jobs that come out. 6
About 20 types 8 that come out of the green job 9 categories, from -- some are kind of 10 along the lines of carpentry, some are 11 bike repair, and then the more detailed 12 like solar panel installations and -- 13
-- heater repair, 15 changing of the electrical grids. 16 There's a whole range, and what we would 17 look at, just to kind of give you an idea 18 if we were, we would probably go with 19 more along the lines of carpentry items 20 first. They are -- it's easier to train people to pick that skill up. And then once they learn that, we feel that they will be able to move to the next level. And for costs, the type of job -- these type of jobs generate about $15 per hour, 251 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. and in the next level that they would move to, it actually goes to about $25 an hour.
Well, that's really good. So if we have someone, a constituent, that's interested in getting started, should we refer them to your office, or what should we do?
Certainly you can refer them to us for discussions. There's not a program at present.
But to give them some direction and type of things that they should look at, we certainly would be able to do that.
Right. And maybe you'd be building a waiting list or some type of list that when something gets started, you'll be outreaching to folk. You know why? 252 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. Because, see, everybody in the world keeps talking about green jobs. Well, people need to make it real. We're going to have green jobs. We either are or we're not, and if we are, how do we get people into the whole process, how do they get involved so that when these jobs are created or their training programs start, that they will already be there, they'll be enrolled or at least on a list somewhere. You understand what I'm saying?
So I just want to be able to absolutely refer our constituents. We have people looking for jobs all over the place. We get more calls now than we've gotten in years, and we want to refer people to the right -- we want to put them in the right direction. This morning I asked a question about the Empowerment Zone, and are you still getting funding from the 253 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. Empowerment Zone? (Bell rung.)
I must still answer that. It's a pass-through for us. We don't get the dollars. We don't use the dollars. It just shows up on our budget. And the reason why that is is because in the past, it did come through MOCS. That has not been changed. It's something that has to be dealt with, and will be.
So it just shows up on your budget, but it's not actually money?
No. It shows up on the budget. It's money. It's just not our money. We don't get to utilize it. It's a pass-through.
So it actually -- presently, the Empowerment Zone money is in the Commerce Department.
Commerce, 254 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. okay. Okay. That's what we were told. I just have one short question.
In the MOCS Office, not just you but everybody always says, it talks about the 125 percent federal poverty guidelines.
What exactly does that mean? How does that translate into dollars and cents? It says an applicant's income may not exceed 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, and then the new number that you may be able to do under the Recovery Act dollars is 200 percent.
I can give you -- let's say for a family of four, the 125 percent of the poverty guideline would be $26,500. That would be the amount that that family receives that would make them eligible.
That's 255 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. under the 125?
Right. For the 200 percent, I will be able to get back to you with that.
Okay. Because -- all right. Because I think it's easier -- well, it's easier when -- I just asked a couple of my staff members downstairs if they understood what the 125 percent meant, and they did not. So actually we pulled the 2009 Health and Human Service Poverty Guidelines out of the Internet right before I came up just so we can at least get a look at the guidelines, the dollar amount. But sometimes when you do that, people don't quite understand what that means. We've been hearing that for years and years and years.
Sure. And I guess what we'll do in our conversations is to give examples. Like one family is about 13,000, so...
All 256 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. right. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Unless you have time for me to ask more questions, I'm finished.
Thank you. Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The testimony on notes that the Community Engagement Unit helps citizens prepare federal and state tax returns, LIHEAP and Crisis utility grants, PACE, property tax/rent rebates and water discounts. How many clients did CEU assist last year in applying for these programs?
In the CEU unit working? 257 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc.
Okay. So obviously I'm looking to see how many people ten people are serving on an annual basis. So is CEU the central point of contact within government for citizens seeking benefits?
So what's the interaction between CEU and BenePhilly that the Mayor launched last year?
With BenePhiladelphia we actually helped with the planning. We did not participate in the actual implementation. We helped with the planning of it.
So where does BenePhilly's funding come from right now; do you know?
Not your 258 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. office?
So isn't BenePhilly's function to basically help people sign up for all these programs? Like when any person comes in seeking benefits, the purpose of BenePhilly is to have them sign up for every single available program? (Witness approached witness table.)
Councilman, I'm Pauline Abernathy from the Mayor's Office. With the BenePhilly initiative, particularly that of last fall, the funding all came from the state through the Department of Aging, and it was a specific targeted initiative, that phase of it, to focus on senior citizens who, using state databases, we could tell were likely eligible for one or more of four programs, federal and state benefit 259 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. programs, and then we mailed them letters, did robo calls and then followed up with a proactive outreach over the phone and enrolled them in many times over the phone rather than having them send paperwork backwards and forwards and have to go to the office. So that's what the BenePhilly initiative last fall was about. We're in the process of raising public and private money to continue that and expand it, because it was so successful, and are working closely with MOCS to do that.
Their testimony just a second ago was that they weren't aware of what was going on with BenePhilly.
Well, right now, for a variety of reasons, partly based on when benefit deadlines are, we're not doing active proactive calling 260 4/6/09 - WHOLE - BILL 090212, etc. right now. We'll start up again with a variety of different initiatives as the year progresses.