And after this exchange, we're going to move on with our list of those witnesses to testify. Thank you, Councilman. This will be the last question and then we'll move to Miss Naomi Zaslow, Public Relations Director for HAPCO.
Are the homeowners going to be assessed? Councilman DiCicco had a very good point with the frontage. Are they going to be assessed due to the frontage of their property, whether they have a storm and 78 11/18/03 - FINANCE - BILL 030660 a sanitary lateral, or are they going to be assessed a flat fee and then the Water Department eats the cost for a storm and a sanitary or a larger size water --
Right now the program, as I said, isn't complete. The rate structure hasn't been developed. But it's going to be a uniform assessment, just as we do with usage and whatnot. Some people have dual laterals, storm as well as the sanitary. The others have only one sanitary which feeds in it, but they all pay the same rate. We treat them uniformly.
Thank you very much. Ms. Zaslow, Public Relations Director for HAPCO, Homeowners Association of Philadelphia. We'll have someone to pass out your testimony. Good morning. Thank you for your patience. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good morning. I'm Naomi Zaslow, Public Relations Director for 79 11/18/03 - FINANCE - BILL 030660 HAPCO, the Homeowners Association of Philadelphia. Two of my board members, Louis Austin and Harry are here to join me if you have any questions. Thank you. The Homeowners Association of Philadelphia was established 50 years ago in 1954 and has worked to preserve and maintain low and moderate income housing in Philadelphia for its more than 3,000 members. Water, as you have said, Councilwoman Blackwell, is the staff of life and a commodity whose importance cannot be questioned. As your Committee prepares to consider whether to again raise water rates, I know you will agonize, as do our members, on whether the need is great enough to impose more financial burdens on the residents of our City. As owners and managers, our members would appreciate having the cost of replacing service pipes between the connection to the water main and the curb line assumed by the City. The cost of $2,000 to $5,000, although it does not often occur, is very difficult for 80 11/18/03 - FINANCE - BILL 030660 the owners to pay, as you, Councilman O'Neill, have said, and adds to the abandonment of property and the blight that follows. HAPCO would ask for information on the number of properties needing service pipes replaced last year and the approximate cost to owners. Then we would like to know the amount of the increased water rate and the income that would generate. That would make it clear whether the cost to every property owner every year is worth the assistance it would provide to those with water main problems. We have some questions: Will the bill apply to multi-family dwellings? Is the new water rate designed to pay for the City's involvement in other things, like tearing up streets in other places? Does the Water Department recognize property owners' difficulty in paying for water? That difficulty is reflected in unpaid water bills that we know are a problem to the Department. 81 11/18/03 - FINANCE - BILL 030660 We have some suggestions, and they're only suggestions: Philadelphians pay taxes to the State of Pennsylvania. Let the State assist the Water Department. Water rates in the City have increased enormously already. Have the Water Department float a bond for needed funds and repay slowly for that purpose that you're addressing today. Or have the City impose a 1 percent sales tax and funnel funds for that purpose to the Water Department. We also ask that the Water Department stop using shut off of services that impact so severely on residents. HAPCO and its members need and appreciate the services of the Water Department, but property owners also need to be able to pay their bills. We would like to see the assistance the proposed legislation provides for water main problems, but not at a cost that exceeds the expense. Thank you for the opportunity for us to pose our questions, and we hope that 82 answers will be provided.
Thank you very much. I think they were very important and poignant questions. Certainly, we are asking the Water Department if you would respond to the Chair with regard to the issues raised, and we will make it available to Members of the Committee. Let me ask the Committee if any Members want to respond or question HAPCO? (No response.)
Thank you very much. Thank you for your testimony.
Is there anyone else here who would like to testify with regard to this Bill? (No response.)
Seeing none, the public hearing segment is now ended. COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA 83 PUBLIC MEETING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE - - - - Tuesday, November 18, 2003 - - - - Public meeting conducted by the Committee on Finance, held in Room 696, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: BILL 030660. PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL, Chair COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DICICCO COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY
We will enter into the stated meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill with regard to a motion concerning Bill 030660.
Madam President, I move that Bill No. 030660 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and also a recommendation that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to allow first reading at our next Session. (Duly seconded.)
It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 17 030660 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation, and a recommendation for suspension of the Rules so as to permit first reading at our next Session of Council. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes 85 have it, and so this bill passes. This will end our public hearing and stated meeting. We thank you all for your attendance. Let me thank Members of the Committee for their patience and all who have come to testify. We certainly look forward to working with you as we proceed. Thank you, Commissioner, as well. Thanks. (Council adjourned at 11:45 a.m.) - - - - 86 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of November 18, 2003, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: COMMITTEE ON FINANCE _________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR