The 150,000 in '03 includes fencing and athletic field renovations and improvements.
Well, then what about on , item number -- line item number 51, number 1, "Facility Improvements." These are improvements to items such as parking, lighting, play field and paths will be made to various park facilities. There's no money listed in that item until FY '06.
It's a question of what -- the amount of money that's available, as I understand it, for FY '02 for the Fairmount Park Commission for this function.
Well, what about FY '03? Again, I am simply trying to understand what the process and procedure is and how you go about evaluating the facility and how the discussion takes place when you're going to get a budget, and we have two critical items here in an agency that has a lot of facilities that get a lot 189 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS of use, and notwithstanding the individual items, and I'm glad, whether it's the Tabor Rams or anybody else that are listed individually, we have citywide line items here that have no money in them for four or five years from now.
And things do happen outside of the context of this book, because as perfect as it might be, stuff happens.
Where will you get the dollars from to do what needs to get done in the outgoing years?
Even though it's not shown in the program, we will be requesting additional dollars for this line item and the development of the '03 Capital Budget.
Okay. Let's talk about a couple specific facilities. Let's talk about Belmont Mansion, let's talk about Dustine Lake, let's talk about Papa Playground and those facilities and what's going on with them and when the last time anybody used those facilities and saw some of the conditions over there. 190 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS
As you may know, in the FY '01 budget, we did receive a million dollars for improvement to the Belmont Mansion. It's my understanding in conversations with the Capital Program Office that that work -- we're near selection or approval of a design consultant. That work will initiate this spring. That's about a six-month design process. That work could begin this calendar year and take us through the remaining part of the '02 fiscal year. As we develop -- our plan at this point is as we develop the '03 budget, we would be in a better position to identify the additional dollars to what we believe will be the complete restoration of the interior of Belmont Mansion. The amount of funding available today will complete the exterior.
What do you expect the rest of the dollars are which are needed to complete this project? How long have we been working on Belmont Mansion? 191 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS
Yeah. I mean, I could give you a specific start date, but I would --
Okay. What's the estimate on the dollars needed to finish the project?
Yeah, until we finish the design, our estimate is that we will need approximately another half a million dollars in '03 to complete the project. That could be a conservative estimate.
And was a request made of City Planning or CPO for additional dollars or even an identification of a ballpark figure that might be needed in out-years?
I think we've had -- I think the way we've left it, Councilman, is that we've asked for further discussions with the Capital Budget Office to hone in on that specific 192 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS dollar amount. I mean, they are aware that the money that we have in hand now most likely will not complete this project. And I think we enjoy their support in wishing to complete this project and in joining with us to identify the necessary funds.
Well, tell me what the comfort level is to the ladies over at the American Women's Heritage Society in terms of the confidence level we have in getting a final completion to this project if we don't have all of our dollars identified.
I mean, isn't this a situation that we've been in on a number of occasions. As we get a few dollars here and then we get a few dollars there and then we don't have enough money in hand to do all of things that we want tot to do and so, therefore, we rachet the project down to meet the dollars that we have, as opposed to coming to the conclusion and biting the bullet on, This is the entire scope of the project, these are all of the dollars that are 193 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS needed, get them identified, encumbered, and squared away for that particular project, and give a comfort level to folks who -- there's been a tremendous amount of back-and-forth, there's enough stuff on all sides of this one that can smear everybody. The question is, when are we going to get it finished, when will it be over? There are, you know, there are much more complicated projects that the City puts dollars in that never run into this level of stop-and-start, maybe could have, should have, would have, we're thinking about doing something else, we're talking to those folks over there, we're trying to identify this over there. And these are the projects that, again, the citizens of this city participate in, use at a very high level, but don't seem to get the attention that they need and the commitment that they need that give people a comfort level that someone is really in charge of this project and really cares about this project and that they're not wondering from week to week and month to month and year to year, is it really going to happen 194 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS this time? It is tiring.
Well, I've been dealing with it as long as you have, Councilman.
And we certainly wish this project would be completed, and I feel, again, very confident that we will complete this project. To answer your question directly, it will be completed in two years. Meanwhile, the folks who are occupying the facility should have a comfort level, and I speak with them frequently, that they have unfettered right to that property. They can use it in a manner consistent with the almost $2 million worth of improvements that we have -- that the City of Philadelphia has put into this property. And we look forward to executing a long-term lease with them so that we can ensure that this project will be -- this property will be used in a manner that you and I and they have discussed over all these years. So, I mean, I think we're getting close to the end on this construction project. Twenty months from now, we can all put this to bed. 195 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS
Mr. Tustin, do you have something you'd like to share?
Yes, Councilman. I thought maybe I could shed a little light on the project as well. When the Fairmount Park group came to work with the Capital Program Office, we sat down to try to get the history because the project had been ongoing prior to them joining us. And I'm sure, as you know, the building dates back to the late 1600s. It's gone through probably a half a dozen changes in the course of those last 300 years. As the director already said, there had been a substantial amount of money invested in what they call "the cottage buildings" and to renovate over the years so that the vendor could come back and use those buildings as well. There was a lot of indecision as to how the main building should be handled, whether it should remain a three-story structure, which is not how it was originally built; it was built as a two-story structure. And one of the iterations of the changes to the building, they added a third tore story, and this is well over a hundred years 196 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS ago. And as you may know, that story actually -- the weight of that third story was creating major problems with the structure below.
It was imperative that we have a structural assessment done of the building before we do anything.
Which we have done and is completed now. And from that point on, we then had to look at what's the best way to put this back into proper condition.
Do you say "at this point" as in at this point but at another point, it might be someone else? Or is CPO taking full responsibility for this project, and are you the person that I should talk to on a regular basis, and are you in concurrence with the statements made by Mr. Mifflin, and are you providing an assurance today that the project is going to be 197 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS done within some reasonable time frame that's about a year and a half to two years away? Is that your testimony here today?
My testimony here today is that the Capital Program Office is in charge of the project, I am the person that you can call for any issues concerning that, and I will be glad to respond to any questions you may have. We are just about ready to start the design process, as Mr. Mifflin has already said. We're going to do a full design of the building, not just the exterior. When we put the project out for bid, it will be put out as a base bid with add alternates so that we will know if in fact we need more other than the million dollars that we have right now. Exactly how much more money we will need and so that next year at this time, if we need more money, we'll be able to come back to request it in the Capital Budget for additional funds. At this point in time, quite frankly, I'm not in total agreement that we need a half a million dollars more to complete the project. I don't think we're far enough long with the design 198 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS to really know that, but I do know that the design, once it gets completed within the next six to eight months, and once we go out for bid, we will have real hard numbers on what we're going to need to complete the facility. We will start the project in construction, we will spend the million dollars that we have right now to do that work and follow the next fiscal year. If we get additional monies for that project, if we need additional monies and we get additional monies, we will do, through a change order process, the additional work needed to complete the project. So we're not going to go through another design process, another bidding process. It will all be behind us.
Okay. I will be in such with you about that shortly and I would appreciate it if you would keep me up to date on a regular basis about the project. I don't want any more surprises about this, and I am tired of going back and forth with the departments and agencies about this particular project. I have had it.
I'll be happy to keep you 199 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS informed.
Mr. Mifflin, subsequent to this hearing, if you could provide some additional information with regard to what's going on with improvements at Memorial Hall. The project listed on is the Black Road Parking Lot, and what I'd like to talk you to you about are two last items, which are the design work that you have listed on for the 100 Steps Project. I have a constituent who has sent me a letter which I committed to him with the Chair's approval to have his full testimony entered into the record. He could not be here this afternoon. What is going on with the 100 Steps Project and what's 25,000 going to do for that project? I assume that it costs more than $25,000 to repair these historic steps.
That's correct. This $25,000 is for design. Construction dollars will follow, and we'll develop that specific request for the '03 budget. 200 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS Meanwhile, having received, I believe, the same correspondence you have, I've asked Park staff to perform any emergency repair work appropriate or necessary until the Capital Budget work can be brought on line.
Thank you. With regard to the $300,000 for the 2600 street trees, is the pending zip code rule still in effect and what's the location of the 2600 trees and do you have an analysis by Council district of where these trees are?
The answer to all three of that was yes. Zip code still is in place. Yes, we have all locations, and it is broken down by Councilmatic District.
Okay. If you could ready forward that to the Chair, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam 201 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS Chair. Before I start questioning of the Fairmount Park, could somebody explain to me what the zip code rule is?
You have to live in one of the Philadelphia zip codes to be a Philadelphia City Council, that's the zip code rule. (Laughter.)
Do you want that answer? Okay. The City Controller has determined that the removal of a street tree, a dead and dangerous tree, in and of itself does not constitute a capital expenditure. It must be married with the planting of a tree. And oftentimes, it's not physically possible to put the tree right back in the same location from where the tree was removed. And oftentimes it's not even possible to put it on the same block face. So in agreement with the City Solicitor's Office and the City Controller's Office, it's been agreed that if we remove a tree in a certain zip code, we have to replace it in the same zip code.
Okay. I'd ask if 202 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS it's possible for someone from the Recreation Department who deals with capital issues to be present at the table with Commissioner Mifflin on questions I have relative to athletic fields.
Is someone coming forward? UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: Yes. (Witnesses come forward.)
Gentlemen, excuse me. Commissioner, the Fairmount Park Commission testified that they have a hundred athletic fields. Is that accurate, Mr. Mifflin?
Could you tell me how many athletic -- when I say "athletic fields," I mean grass fields that either baseball, football, or soccer are played that are part of the Recreation Department's responsibility.
My name is Eric Iffrig (ph.), with the Recreation Department. I believe the number is around 450.
Could the Recreation Department explain the process that they implement or use to monitor the condition of 203 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS fields and to deal with their either renovation or ongoing maintenance seasonally. Here's my concern. A number of athletic associations within the City use the Recreation Department and Fairmount Park Commission fields, and considering -- for the course of their program, along with Recreation Department programs themselves. Considering the amount of use that an individual field gets, the condition of that field for the course of the year can vary, from extremely attractive to terrible. One of the frustrations that I have in dealing with some of the athletic groups throughout the City is that, again, partly due to the amount of use a particular field gets for varying activities, our field conditions comparative to the suburbs can be sometimes quite embarrassing. We have athletic groups that go out into the suburbs to play, whether it's Wade football, Pop Water football, baseball or soccer, and experience pretty plush fields that they play on and don't have a problem with bald spots and injuries as a result of the kinds of things that happen when our kids use the field. 204 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS And the reverse is true, that when some of these suburban league teams come into Philadelphia, it can from time to time be embarrassing as to the comments that they make as a result of, Boy, the poor kids in the City really have it bad there, they've got 'em playing on cinders, so to speak, as opposed to playing on an adequate athletic field. ), the back stops, the fencing. We do battle vandalism probably more than some suburban communities do, and we probably get a lot more use from even an adult softball leagues, kid football leagues, youth soccer program. The question I have of both agencies is, what do we do to coordinate both continuing watchfulness of the fields, what condition they're in, its ongoing maintenance, and then determination as to what needs to be replaced, when it needs to be replaced? And is there coordination between Recreation, Fairmount Park, and even the School District? I don't know if 205 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS they're here 'cause I don't think it's their time yet, but the School District has a number of athletic fields that are used by various segments of City-sponsored, school-sponsored, and private athletic association-sponsored events. Is there a kind of clearinghouse for information, a clearinghouse for the ordering of dirt and seed and the white -- they don't use lime anymore, but whatever it is they -- the paint that they paint the fields in and athletic facilities. Is there any kind of coordination at all? And how do we proceed with trying to keep these fields in the best condition possibly? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Hi, good evening. My name is Vic Richard and I'm the Recreation Commissioner for the record. And thank you for your questions Councilman Kenney. I too would like to agree with some of the statements that you made relative to the comparison between the suburbs and the urban challenges. The first thing I would like to put on the table, the challenges in an urban environment in which we live in are ten times as greater. One of the most disheartening factors 206 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS is, and you mentioned capital projects, and also listening to Councilman Nutter, is you may be midway or halfway through a capital improvement or either regular maintenance, and prior to the project being completed, it's totally demolished and vandalized. So those are one of the things that I would like to address as far as the degree of difficulty of the job of maintaining. I don't need to sit here or tell you or anyone else in this room or in this city, quite naturally, the dollar amount that it takes to maintain the level that we would like to have. On the other part, relative to the degree of the difficulty to the job, can we do the job? Yes.
Are we capable of doing the job? Yes. But to a certain degree -- based, once again, on the amount of manpower and also the money that it takes in order to buy the equipment, the materials, and the things that you need. Let's go to another aspect of this as well, what I like to deem as the City versus the country, or the urban versus the suburb. It is very difficult for the police to police all of the 207 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS parks that this city has. I just need to put it out on the table. I would never expect the police to keep all of the vandals out of the parks; it's virtually impossible. I couldn't expect the police to keep the three-wheelers, the motor cross bikes, the four-wheelers, also the fighting of the dogs, and all of the things that occur in a park. We can only police to it a certain extent. In my office right now, I personally took down from Bellfield Recreation Center a child swing that had been cut in half intentionally that was metal-reinforced and covered with rubber, and I intentionally brought it down to have a meeting with my maintenance crew as a preventive measure. Not only was it sawed in half intentionally, but it was totally bitten and eaten by dogs, where they the take pit bulls and the rottweilers and use them to swing the dogs around in the air. So you, know, how do we stop it, can we stop it? To a certain extent, yes, we can. Would we like every field to look that way? Sure we would, but there's a price tag to it. You get what you pay. Let me go a step further. Right now, 208 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS the Department is in the process of having printed out all new rules-and-regulations signs that will be posted at every facility. And I'd like to compliment Councilman Nutter for helping us to work on that initiative so that we will give the police more leverage for when they go to the facility. " I don't have a problem standing up here saying that we wouldn't want dogs on the park. Now, on the other hand, I do need to be sensitive, as a pet lover myself, yeah. Now, where do you take the dog? So yes, we need to develop more dog tracks. But we don't want the kids playing soccer or little league football or baseball and/or the adults falling in waste from animals. So what do we do? We lock up every person that brings a dog to the park, or if the dog is on the park and the dog's on leash. At the same time, when do we close down the parks? So yes, all of these proactive initiatives are in place. I hope I answered some of your questions. What did I forget? )
Well, what I'm looking for more is the issue of coordination, you know, amongst those agencies -- and I wish the School District were here because I know there's a significant number of athletic facilities, grass facilities -- on how we, number one, coordinate in order to save money by knowing what each various agency is doing. And, number two, what our program is or process is for determining when a field needs to be aerated, when a field needs to be seeded, when the Dimatex needs to be replaced, when a pitcher's mound needs to be replaced, when we need to do the back stop. When is the -- what is the Recreation Department's monthly, quarterly, semiannual process of field evaluation? And the other part of that question is, because of the changing neighborhoods in our city, some neighborhoods are a lot less populated or populated at all, compared to what it was, say, in 1950 or '60. Are those fields still a part of the system? And do we need to do something else with those fields as opposed to trying to maintain them as ballfields or football fields. I mean, do we 210 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS reevaluate our recreational park system from a fields -- an athletic field perspective along with our Fairmount Park system to determine whether or not they're even servicing people anymore, those particular fields? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: In the eight months that I've been here, this is an initiative we need to take. Are where we need to be as of yet, I can tell, definitely not. We have to bring to the table -- and that's going to be a part of the mission of the blight initiative, along with the Planning Commission for the dual utilization between the school system the Rec system and also Fairmount Park as well. For me to sit here and tell you specific sites that we need to either reevaluate or change from football, baseball, or basketball. What I can sit here and tell you from my own aspect from the Rec Department, we are doing it quarterly, mostly during the spring and the summer months. Quite naturally, we're not in a winter mode. And our biggest response has been in the particular neighborhoods with the high-volume 211 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS uses the soccer, whether it's for the little children or an adult league. The same with the baseball facility and/or softball for adults and children as well. Can we do a better job? Yes, we must do a better job. What will it take to make the tough political decisions?
Councilman, I'd like to comment on a couple of the points. Of the hundred athletic fields that we have in Fairmount Park, I'm actually kind of proud of our fields. We've invested a lot in training in our employees, we've sent them annually to turf maintenance schools and athletic field improvement schools. They're all certified applicators, pretty high-skilled. Working with Fleet Management, we've brought more aerators. And through the years, we've established partnerships with the athletic associations, the big athletics associations across the City. And quite frankly, without their support, the fields wouldn't even look as good as they do. And if we have an area where a field has been not used as much, not permitted as much, 212 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS and the fields are permitted, so we have an idea of who's using them. And as Commissioner Richman said, some of our problems is enforcement of rules and regulations. If we can go right back after that field is finished and find debris or find misuse, we'll yank the permit. You know, so we're trying to be very conscientious of those who take out permits to use Fairmount Park fields. And I'll also mention that neither the School District or the Fairmount Park Commission or PDR charge for the permits for field use. I don't know a suburb around that does not charge. I mean, you get a field permit with a fee. And not that a fee is the panacea to solve all of the issues. Quite frankly, I'm on the other side of the fence on that because with the support of the athletic associations, the last thing I want to do now is start charging them for, you know, all of the volunteer effort that they do in keeping the fields in good condition. There is cooperation and coordination. There is -- again, I mentioned the Recreation Coordination Committee, which is made up of School District, the Department of Recreation, and 213 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS Fairmount Park, and we talk about field use, we ensure that things are not falling through the cracks. It does come down to resources. I mean, I think, as you've pointed out, we're doing the very best we can. We've got state-of-the-art equipment, we've got trained personnel. We're working with the community, and I think we're doing a good job.
Now, the new equipment and such, are they able to be shared between Recreation and Fairmount Park?
Well, you know, admittedly, the equipment that I have, we pretty much occupy most of the time. But, you know, I mean, I recall instances, even just last year, where we were putting in a field on an old Water Department property over at 29th and Cambria. You know, it wasn't our property. We sent the equipment over, we did the job. There's a field, the Amanda Rec Center, 33rd and Diamond. It's PDR 214 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS but it's in the Fairmount Park, so I maintain the field. So, you know, there are certainly instances where equipment gets shared.
Is there similar cooperation with the School District at all or --
It's a little different with the School District. You know, I'm thinking of Lincoln High School and Frankford High and Roxborough, all of the community high schools that have their field use. It's their field first, and if there's some time left over, we get access to it. Not to denigrate the School District, but quite frankly, I think there's issues that are on my plate about gymnasium use and facility use after school, and I think we could talk more intelligently about them than field use, quite frankly.
I guess my suggestion is whether or not it happens now, you can tell me it does or doesn't. Is there continual meetings or regular meetings with staff, maintenance staff, capital staff from at least -- not the three agencies, including the School 215 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS District, but at least the Department of Rec and the Fairmount Park Commission? I mean, what you have are a number of skilled, dedicated people who can share ideas as to maybe what needs to be done or something that was read in a trade journal that talks about a different style of grass seed or something that kind of -- most of the people I know that are involved in this kind of activity are very interested in what it is they do and they take great pride in how their facilities look. But I'm wondering if there's really any kind of interface and discussion that goes on between all of these people who are basically doing the same thing for two different agencies.
Yes. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: We have a great working relationship. There's nothing that I couldn't ask Fairmount Park for, or vice versa. That's been proved. Whether it's equipment -- except for money probably, we'll probably fight over money with each other, but yes. Also, the interaction with the maintenance facility as well, along with the great volunteer effort from the Friends groups and 216 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS advisory councils and a lot of great leadership and also financial backing with the Horticultural Society here as well. So we have a very outstanding working relationship.
Commissioner Richard, I sensed in your testimony when you first came an extreme level of frustration with the issue of vandalism and the like. And could you explain to me what your experience was in New Orleans as far as -- I'm sure there were vandalism problems, but to what extent were they and how were they dealt with? It seemed from the tenor of your response that you were -- you felt like you weren't in Kansas anymore. (Laughter.)
It seemed it was very shocking for you to see the level of vandalism you know. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: No, it's not shocking. I'm originally from New Orleans, but I've worked in about 10 or 11 other different cities across the United States in my previous year, prior to coming to government.
I'm sorry, you came 217 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS from New Orleans to this job? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Right. But what I'd like to share with the body here is that the challenges are universal. The challenges in urban populations, big cities are identical. The levels of the problems are different, based on the amount of acreage, the number of properties, and also the population, but identical. Some of the educational challenges are similar as well, if I may add that. The issues with the police. And if I may, since you asked, if I got to make a decision of working on a ballfield versus maintaining or saving the structural integrity of a facility that I can use 12 months out of the year versus a park or a open field that we may only use five or six months, based on the intended use, I'm going to use the building, I'm going to use the money there, and that's the process we take in the capital portion. And if I may continue, I'd like to see some of the ways that we do business here and some of the capital projects, the structure and the process changed. I know for a fact that we could 218 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS save money. We can also probably do two jobs with the money it takes for one and also possibly complete the job in half the amount of time. And I'm not just saying this off-the-cuff; I've done it.
What would you attribute the additional cost and time compared to other experience you've had throughout this particular -- throughout the country? What here do you see that is different from what you've seen in other places that would allow you to believe that you could make such great improvement? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: The process needs to be streamlined tremendously on the capital projects. I understand that all of the District Councilpeople need to be involved, but I also believe that it needs to be done at one time. Instead of the projects being done or reevaluated on a yearly basis or whatever, it needs to be a minimum three-year outlay put out, minimum, and it needs to be stuck and adhered to with a maximum of five. And if it goes to five, within that third year period, year 4 and 5 needs to be reevaluated immediately. 219 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS In that process also as well, you need to evaluate conditions beyond control or pots of money for unforeseen circumstances, such as fires or the snow storms that might collapse trees or roofs or the plumbing issues that (indiscernible). Pots of citywide lighting money. I heard earlier today one of the Councilpeople brought issues up regarding fencing around vacant lots. Those things could be a part of the capital. Also, you put more money on the preventive side and the cost for the City will tremendously go down because you're doing routine maintenance instead of the Band-Aid trying to catch up. I've had these conversations also with a lot of other Councilmembers as well one-on-one and communicating. You can't keep putting what I call a crumb a crack or a cookie on a project. If the project today costs a million dollars and you only put a quarter of a million there and it takes you a year, each year to put a quarter for four years, the inflation index, the labor costs, and the costs of goods, and now what you had as the initial job spec is probably doubled because of 220 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS the deterioration of the preexisting. So it can be done. When we start -- I'd also like to see us also be able to do a lot of the work within the departments. I would much rather pay our City employees some of the money. We have some phenomenal skilled trade union employees within City government that can do a job just as good and even sometimes better than contractors. And those jobs that can be done, we need to put the money there, hire the people or even contract out our own people inside, buy the materials with that money, and the big stuff, you contract out.
I've seen the results of some of our contractors' work. It's not stellar. It's -- COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Well, I'm not saying all contractors.
No, no, I'm saying it. I'm saying there's a number of contractors that I've seen completed work that I went through the facility before you got here and asked basically, Would someone sign off on this work if it were their own home and they were paying the 221 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS bill themselves? I mean, I saw some horrible things that were approved and allowed to go. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Yes, sir.
What are the constraints on your ability internally, at least within your own department, to kind of coordinate and do some of this work in-house? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Well, funding, which will ultimately -- two things. The funding will dictate the skill level of employees I need and also the material I need. Other than that, we can get the job done.
But, I mean, is there any statutory constraints or regulatory constraints that keep you from doing something like this now? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: I'm not -- right now, I don't believe that we have the authority to use capital money to buy material in-house and let my people do it. Now, you know, I'm not a lawyer and I'm not proficient with all the laws. Maybe, Eric, you may be able to address the other portion of that, but I know we can produce. 222 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS
In addition to having, you know, a good, interested, and competent Recreation Commissioner, it's always nice to get somebody from out of town from time to time 'cause you get a different perspective and a different view of how things can be done. Sometimes we're a little too parochial here as far as how we look at things, and if we have people like yourself and others who have come in from other places and have had other experience, certainly we'd like to know what we need to do to kind of untie your hands so as to allow you to move forward with what you think is the right thing to do. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: The flexibility to create in the department a construction crew, to keep a lot of that money within the City. And like I said, we can buy twice the material and do two jobs with the cost of one and in half the amount of time.
Mr. Iffrig, could you tell us why Commissioner Richard can't do that? 'Cause I'm sure there's some reason, and it's not your making, that reason, but I'm sure 223 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS there's some --
I'm not sure that I can say that he can't. As he suggested, it's basically a control problem. The standing problem would be making sure that the funds for both labor and materials were actually applied to the capital project. Now, for a contractor, he does it with his accounting on his projects in the City. If the staff is not separated, you'd have to have time accounting and verification of the time and the labor that was applied to the capital projects as opposed to what was applied for the Operating Budget, and you'd also have to have that kind of confirmation on the installation of materials. We have done some of that. We haven't tried it on labor, but we have done some of that on materials before, where we purchased materials and had them installed either by our staff or by volunteer groups. We do have to verify the material that's installed, and the volunteer groups, we even have contracts with them that specify what it is and what it is that they're doing. 224 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS This year's Capital Budget, we're hoping, will give us an opportunity to start this process, at least as far as procurement of materials, because in the infrastructure request that we did make, and it is in the budget request this year, we're hoping to do several things -- particularly roofs, safety servicing, particularly back-flow preventers to protect our water services, which is a requirement. And we know we that can do these things for substantially less than contracting them out, and we think even this minor appropriation will give us the opportunity to certainly try this approach.
Before I yield to Councilmember Clarke who has a question in this regard, it seems that --
The one question I want to ask as a result of your response was that other than the accounting issues and the 225 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS delegation of work and determining what hours are put into capital and what personnel hours are put into other non-capital issues, I mean they all seem to be supervisory and accounting issues. Is there any specific statutory prohibition in the Commissioner, the head of the Projects Department Division, going out and trying to deal with some of these roof replacements, for example or -- I guess the question is, which of the trades do you have the most capable people involved in? Is it roofing, is it masonry, is it plumbing that you could try from a pilot perspective to approach that and see whether or not there is such (indiscernible). COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Well, we know that there would be. And particularly again, on the infrastructure line, we mentioned specifically the installation of back-flow preventers. Our plumbing unit is highly competent, has done a lot of quality repairs, and is certified on back-flow preventer installation, which is a requirement that. We know that we can buy the products at lower than contractors charge us, as they normally come in on change orders and we don't have to pay 226 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS the prevailing trade rate. We do pay the agreed-contract union City rate for our plumbers, and we know that we can do this work, and we have on occasion done it, minor occasion. This would codify it -- or we would attempt to codify it within this process. If there is not -- roofing could be done, many of the trades could be done. The one I suggest is the one that I know would be a (indiscernible) process --
And are we moving forward to attempt to get that done in-house as a rule?
If we are funded for the purchase of the materials, this would be a significant program is what we're shooting for.
And is that funding available in this particular proposal?
So what you need from a funding standpoint to purchase materials to do this stuff, this particular chore in-house is within this budget? 227 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS
Councilman, I know Councilman Kenney yielded, but let me just make a statement, please. We have had witnesses sitting here since 1:30 this afternoon and we can certainly call back people from the Administration at a later date or after our witnesses testify. So it's your call. So at this time I recognize Councilman Clarke.
I just wanted to add very briefly with respects to Councilman Kenney's questioning that the Commissioner and Mr. Iffrig and I had actually had that discussion two, three weeks ago with respects to the in-house workforce, and we had actually had asked them to look at the Philadelphia Housing Authority in terms of a framework. We do have this problem as it relates to civil service, which is not a burden as it relates to the Housing Authority's ability. But they had a similar problem, and 228 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS what they did is they looked at their workforce and they determined that they had substantial skilled individuals within the in-house workforce. And as a result of that, they are now out there rehabilitating houses, as opposed to contracting those services out. And they've got to a point where they're actually doing three or four different projects throughout the City of Philadelphia. They also use that same workforce, internal workforce to rehabilitate more than 400 units of scattered-site housing. So I'd ask that that framework be put in place in terms of how we organizationally do the framework, then we have to get around this whole legal issue with respects to the civil service requirements, as opposed to prevailing wages. But that is a good idea and I just wanted to say, Councilman Kenney, I'm glad you brought that up today. Thank you, ma'am.
Thank you. To the Councilmembers who have been waiting, would you have objection if we heard from 229 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS the community that has been waiting, or do you want to be heard now? Because we could always call back the Administration at a later date.
Madam Chair, I think I can get this done in five minutes.
Mr. Mifflin and Commissioner Richard, would you just hang in there with me a minute. In reference to , Bill Mifflin, that addresses the (indiscernible) House, and this is a proof of a park building that has been used effectively for, I believe, almost a hundred years by the Canoe Club, and I know that you're aware you of all of the controversy associated with that building, the problems with the building being condemned. I'd like to know, you have $120,000 in there to repair that building that was condemned. I'd like to know, is that 120 enough to do what you need to do there?
The $120,000 is not enough money to completely restore the building. It is enough money to address the code violations and to stop the water penetration into the 230 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS building.
The 120,000 and the repairs you just described to address the code violations will allow the building to be reoccupied by its tenant?
Commissioner Richard, earlier this afternoon we discussed the fact that many of the community parks, as I call them, are under your jurisdiction, and my colleague Councilman Nutter pointed out that you and the Fairmount Park Commission really need to get together to see who would be best equipped to deal with the maintenance of those facilities. I'm led to believe that you're a program organization and Fairmount Park Commission is really more into the maintenance and care of these facilities, so I would hope that you would pursue, with the Fairmount Park Commission, trying to decide if some of those facilities would be more appropriate -- I'm not suggesting all -- that maybe some of them would be more appropriate to be under their jurisdiction than yours. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Not a problem. 231 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS Our goal to better serve the population, so we're open.
Okay. The other question I have of both Bill Mifflin and the Recreation Commissioner, I'd like to know how you're doing with energy management. I'd like to point out that a few years ago, I mentioned that many of the lights at recreation facilities and Fairmount Park facilities are left on from sunset to sunrise, and the answer was that the technology wasn't there and security lighting was required to protect the facility. There was no way to give the facilities minimum light for security purposes, so the only alternative was to leave them all on. That's a hard sell to tell the people in the community that you're spinning that electric meter unnecessarily to light up a ballfield that that is totally covered with a foot of snow. So I'm hoping that there's been some effort to try to address that issue.
I know in all of our Fairmount Park capital projects, we are using photo cells and other timers that, often in 232 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS concert with the community, is setting the established time when the lights will go off.
Also, last quick question, and this should take two minutes, and if we need to talk about this after, Bill Mifflin, we can do that. Could you describe the -- could you tell us about the money that the Fairmount Park Commission has that's from donations. I understand there might be 8, 9, $10 million sitting there. Is any of that money used for capital programs? What do you do, and where is this money that's given by friends of this and if someone dies and it's given to the Fairmount Park Commission, could you tell us how much money you have there and how it's managed?
The commissioners of Fairmount Park are responsible for more than 30 trust funds collectively. Your numbers are about right -- or maybe they're a little high. With each of the funds, there are very specific discrete expenditures that are permitted. Most of them are for capital. The expenditures, there are -- some are for buildings, 233 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS some are for gardens, some are for particular geographic areas in the park, and the park staff usually performs the work or we, in some instances, will contract out if we do not have the skills to perform that work. They run the gamut from putting on a new roof to repairing doorways and windows to performing landscape improvements, and as an example, the Glen Eddie Rock Garden.
So you have now in trust funds about $8 million, 9 million?
Is the Capital Programs Office aware of this fund of this fund, of this money? How do you decide what you take out of the fund? Is it just putting out fires, emergencies?
Each fund doesn't have, you know, hundreds of thousands of dollars on an annual basis available for improvements, but those that do, we will work in concert with. It's not unlikely to see a capital line item that will have private money in it, City money, and other -- maybe even State money. So the decision is made 234 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS as to best leverage the limited dollars.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mifflin. Seven minutes, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Thank you very much. Gentlemen, thank you very much.
Our next witness is Michael Cooley. (Witness comes forward.)
Hello. Thank you so much for your patience. I appreciate you staying and testifying.
We'd like to thank you, Council President Verna, and all of City Council for allowing us the opportunity to speak.
You're going to have to introduce yourself for the record.
My name is James Nolan, of Nolan Properties. And this is my partner, Mike Cooley, of M. Cooley Properties. Together, we are 235 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS general partners in an entity called "Fountain Street Partners," which is the new owner of 116 Fountain Street in Manayunk. Again, we'd like to thank you for letting us have the opportunity to speak. We'd also like to thank Councilman Nutter for all of his support over the past year, we are sincerely grateful. To give you a little background, I -- can we the use of the easel for some boards?
I'd just like to give you a little background. Again, my name is Jim Nolan. I'm a fifth-generation developer in the City of Philadelphia. As far back as 1920s, my great- great-grandfather was a major contractor on the Philadelphia Broad Street Subway. In the 1930s, my great-grandfather built over 2,000 homes in the Erlin section of Philadelphia. ), was the largest architectural firm in the City of Philadelphia and designed and developed several buildings for Temple University and Drexel 236 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS University, as well as the Pennsylvania State office building down on Spring Garden Street. Most recently, my father built over a hundred homes in the Chapel Hill area of Roxborough. Today, I am here today to talk to you about a project that we intend to make our next project in Philadelphia, and that is 116 Fountain Street. If the building looks at all familiar to you, the bottom poster, it is a project that is located on the banks of the Manayunk Canal, just off of Venice Island. We come to you today with the full support of the neighborhood, all of the community groups of the neighborhood, the Commerce Department, and Councilman Nutter's office. Our intent is to take what we feel is perhaps the last truly significant piece of property that defines the Manayunk cityscape and create something very positive for the community. Our intention is to take this blighted property -- as you can see -- you can't really see the bottom picture there, but basically, this is, for all intents and purposes, an abandoned property that sits along the canal in Manayunk. 237 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS Our intention is to take this property and completely restore it and renovate it to a clean, safe, and productive facility. We intend to spend about $4 million to just get that done. We already have bank financing, everything is in place. At the end of that restoration, what we'll have is a property positioned for future development. There may be an interim use for the property -- probably bulk storage. We have several different uses that are ready, willing, and able to take the space in its interim condition. But, more importantly, the property will be put in a position where it is able to be used eventually in its highest and best use, which, we feel, after many, many months of studying, is probably an office development -- not just because the community wants it, but because it's ideally suited for it. It sits right off the R-6, the SEPTA rail line. There's actually a stop adjacent to the property. It sits in the middle of one of the most thriving and vibrant communities in the City. The workforce and labor force in that area 238 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS is incredibly dynamic, which is the most hottest resource that all of the firms are looking for now. One problem exists with this development -- I'm sorry, I'll back up. And at that point, as Councilman Nutter already stated, the project is about 100,000 square feet. It could house up to 500 employees. We've done studies, using the average high-tech salaries, and Councilman Nutter already quoted the number. This property could generate in excess, well in excess, of $1 million a year in business tax. There's one problem, and that is, we're losing our access to the site. There's one bridge that accesses the site, which is tucked very neatly in the crotch of the rail line and the canal, and it is surrounded by a hill, it's a 50-foot elevation of a hill. There's one way in, and that's a sidewalk. Without the bridge, this property might as well not exist. We have -- we've talked with City Council, or with several departments in the City government, and have looked for help. And for the most part, we've gotten a lot of support, but we 239 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS really haven't gotten the help that we need.
We have discussed the idea of replacing this bridge, which, everybody admits, is going to be functionally obsolescent in the next five years, with a two-lane bridge. And obviously, that's certainly the best-case scenario for everyone. It makes the project all that more viable, all that more attractive to high-image tenants, having a front door that goes both ways. After several months of discussions about the two-lane bridge, it became painfully obvious to us that the infinite complexity in having to get that all arranged -- the condemnation, the redesign, the federal highway funding, the list just goes on and on and on. That, coupled with the fact that that project would be almost three to five years out and then no guarantee, makes a two-lane bridge absolutely almost unsellable to any sort of tenant. I can't sell that, I can't sell it possibly in five years. I can't sign a lease, I can't get the construction, I can't go anywhere with that. I need something more immediate than that. We've talked about a single-lane 240 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS bridge. As we all know, it's been in the budget for several years, it's been swept under the carpet for whatever reason -- it doesn't fit equation that the folks go by. We can -- we -- there's never going to be a good time to add costs to the budget for a bridge, especially one that doesn't meet this equation. There will never be a good time. The budget wasn't good three, four years ago, and it probably won't be that good -- it's never good when you add a cost. As far as the property's concerned, there is a good time to do it, and that's when there's no one's there, when a property's being vacated and renovated. If we go ahead and try and redevelop this property in five years from now, when the bridge finally does reach its obsolescence and this property is fully up and running and we have to tell clients and tenants that they have no access to this property, the costs and the legal ramifications are incredible. It's absolutely infeasible. We're asking that you don't condemn us, don't take the property. We're asking that you allow us to go ahead and fulfill the mandate that 241 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS we've been charged with by the community -- that's to keep this property in a commercial capacity. I'd just like to real quickly answer a couple of questions -- or issues that were brought up by the folks before us. One was that there was a fear that they would build the bridge and no one would come. And, I'll tell you, that would be my greatest fear because I'm going to go and spend -- I don't do math that quickly, but I would say it's close to ten times as much as they are. As I said, we already have tenants in place for our interim use. There will be a business in there, whether it will be a high-tech business Day One, I don't know. But there will be a business in there, I can assure you, or I'll be abrupt and the next developer will have it and he'll bring a tenant in there that will have a business in there. And hopefully that won't happen. As far as timing, as I said before, it really makes a lot of sense being as that it's the only access to the property, that it's done when you don't need the access. If there's a tenant in there, they're going to want access to that property every single day, obviously. Now is a 242 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS great time to do it. The building is on L&I's list for condemnation. The business owner there knows it, that's a because of the part of the reason why he's leaving; the other part is that he's a manufacturing distributor and he can't operate with the inefficiencies of having to operate on five floors, so he's going to leave. When he sells the property, no one can do anything with it if it's going to be condemned. It's got to be redeveloped, which means that's the time to take advantage of replacement of the bridge at that time.
The last was the two-lane bridge, the questions concerning that, and, again, the timing and the uncertainty of it all in three to five years is just something that you can't do.
Thank you, Madam President. Mr. Cooley, what is in the building now?
The building is currently owned and occupied by a wiper manufacturer by the 243 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS name of A & B Wiper.
We have the building under agreement. We just went hard. We're set to settle in three weeks.
I'd be interested in knowing, from an L&I perspective and from a Fire Department perspective, God forbid, a building of this size winds up in a multi-alarm fire, God forbid, what the City's costs would be incurred in personnel fighting the fire, removing the rubble. I mean, there's got to be an amazing cost. And how many square feet is this building?
This building is currently approximately 165,000 square feet, and we've addressed some of the same concerns of yours, Councilman. And above and beyond all of them, we feel the biggest concern is the fact that if in fact the fire truck would be able to make it over that bridge. 244 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS
Now, I think it's -- this is just my opinion and I know it's in Councilman Nutter's district and he's clearly been working on this a long time. The potential of sending multiple-ladder engine companies into that facility on fire is just, I think, an amazing chance we'd be taking with our Fire Department personnel, plus the cost incurred in fighting it. And the options next to it seems to me to be a no-brainer. When I look at the option next to it, it seems to be a no-brainer of what we should be doing. So as a matter of fact, I'm quite amazed that you're still interested in doing business in the City at all.
We believe in the project. But just to continue to address the fire concerns, what we would be doing is upgrading the fire suppression systems. And, in fact, you can't really tell by the pictures, but right now, I believe the fire truck ladder will go five stories. So if they pull -- and you really can't 245 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS tell from these pictures, but if you pull onto the property, you could probably service about a fifth of the building, but you couldn't get anything in front of the building; between the building and the canal, that's all building. In our plan, the front of the building comes down and creates a vast parking lot in front of the building so that a fire truck with a ladder could service, you know, 360 degrees around.
Well, I would just think that if you could ever see this through the completion, the issue of fire suppression would be taken care of in the renovation and design, but that's not the issue. My main concern is looking at that's building. I've seen many of them in the City in the past and I've seen many of them fully involved in multi-alarm fires, risking the lives of residents and firefighters to boot. I mean, this is an opportunity with a very reasonable amount of money to turn something from a potential danger and hazard into something that's productive and tax-ratable and everything else. So, again, I'm surprised you're still sitting here doing business with us. 246 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS
Could you -- the economic benefits that would accrue to the City, could you detail them for me if this project gets done?
Basically, you're talking about 500 employees. We're talking about an average salary of a typical tenant that we're looking to put into this building is probably of the new-economy variety, someone that's looking for the youth and the computer savvy, shall we say, from Manayunk, somebody who's looking for young, educated labor. We're looking for a tenant that's high-image. We're looking for a type of tenant that's base salary or average salary, shall we say, is probably in the neighborhood -- and we use sources I can't quote right now, but in the 247 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS neighborhood, and well documented, probably in the 60 to $7,000 average salary range. Basically all we did is multiply the 500 times the 67 and took the wage tax out.
Do we have an estimate as to how much it would cost to fix the bridge?
Councilman, the earlier testimony was, the estimates are somewhere between and 400 and $600,000.
Because we have a paragraph here that talks about $127 million from the Economic Stimulus that are supposed to meet the goals that, in essence, support the type of activity that goes into this project. And if we have $127 million in terms of Capital Budget, 248 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS $500,000, it's "chump change," as they say in the Barrio, you know? It's not a lot of money. I don't understand why it's not in the budget.
Well, Councilman, we did have some discussion earlier about this, and I think that given that earlier discussion and the presentation, and I want to commends Mr. Nolan and Mr. Cooley for their presentation, I was left with the dialogue with the Planning Commission Director that we're going to continue some discussion about this and try to get a resolution 13 to it. But I want to assure my constituents that I will do everything possible and within the legislative process to make sure that funding is available for this bridge and to help this project along. There is no reason for us to be in the situation that we're in. And I'm, you know, I'm prepared to let the past be the past. The past would be considered this morning, and that we can move on this afternoon if. My colleagues see the merit in this, we may need to amend this Capital Budget to include dollars for this bridge.
What would be the timeline in terms of the beginning towards finish of the construction?
No, no, of the whole project. Let's say that that thing moves along, what would be the timeline in terms of construction and finish and then bringing in tenants into the complex?
We hope to settle, like I said, in March. We would probably get under construction as soon as possible thereafter, with the one exception that we would probably wait to see what was happening with the bridge because right now, the construction of the property is tricky because of the bridge. We're going to be pulling Dumpsters of rubble off the property. And so if we can't get the bridge done, that may extend the timeline, but even with the bridge replacement, it could probably take six to seven months.
How many jobs will be created once you finish? 250 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS
Well, we'll take property to its interim use, to the point where we can probably continue to use it in some sort of a warehousing capacity, bulk storage, small storage.
But let's say the project is done, you fix the bridge, you do the thing, you fix it up, how many jobs are created in terms of the process at the end of this whole thing?
We'll begin marketing the property immediately and entertaining clients or tenants as soon as possible. And the first one that we can land, you know, we don't know when that will be but --
But the building at that point will be that much closer to being able to be occupied.
Well, what will be the projection? When is fully occupied?
I think that the 251 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS earlier discussion, and at least the proposal that I have, I mean, the simpler version of this is, it has the potential to house 500 employees. Given the quality of the renovation work that we're looking at in an office park-type setting, I think my recollection is 500 employees at fairly high salaries and in excess of a million dollars in taxes being thrown off of a project for an investment by the City in the neighborhood of a half a million dollars in one-time capital expenditures.
That's almost more tax ratables than the stadiums will produce.
Oh, Councilman, you don't really want to get into a stadium discussion. I -- you know, I'd just like 2 percent of what the stadiums are getting, I'd like to have for a bridge. I'd be willing to leave it at that.
Once we finish -- once we finish the project, the table will be set, so to speak. 252 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS
The initial renovation, probably six months. If the bridge is in there, maybe seven, eight months. And at that point, the table set to start entertaining the opportunity, the possibility for a tenant to actually look at the property.
Do we have anyone else to testify? (No response.)
Our next witness is Wilkins Jones, Friends of the Free Library. (Witness comes forward.)
Good 253 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS afternoon, sir. Thank you for your patience. We appreciate your waiting.
Thank you, Madam President and members of Council. I am Wilkins Jones, the Executive Director of the Friends of the Free Library. I am here to testify on behalf of the Friends of the Free Library, its board, and members of the community served by the Library. Our advocacy of the Free Library system is driven by two overriding concerns: one, that libraries in every Philadelphia neighborhood, regardless of socioeconomic level receive the very best in liable service; and two, that we create a library system for the 21st century that keeps pace with the innovations and communications and information technology that are transforming the delivery of library services in our time. It is in this context that I offer the following testimony. On behalf of the Friends of the Widener and Walnut West Branch Libraries and their community, we are pleased to see that money for architectural and engineering service has been included in the budget for 2003. We would have 254 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS been even more pleased had construction money been included in this budget so that Friends and patrons of these libraries would be assured that a definitive commitment to rebuild and renovate has been made and that competing priorities in Fiscal Year 2003 could not derail these projects. I would like to briefly reaffirm the importance of renovating the Walnut West branch and constructing a new building for the Widener branch. The Walnut West Branch Library desperately needs its building renovated so that it can move out of its temporary cramped quarters back into its real home. The dedication and professionalism of its library staff are exemplary, but working under such severe limitations, the library cannot serve its constituency adequately. With seating for only eight persons in the main room, teachers cannot bring a class to the library with space for everyone to be seated, and there is almost no room 22 for library programming and only a fraction of the library's collection can even be shelved at its temporary quarters. The Widener Branch, located at 25th and 255 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS Lehigh in North Philadelphia is an active library whose usefulness is limited only by its current building, which formerly housed a bank. The library is fully involved in the life of the community. The library serves young people that attend schools in the neighborhood. Students 8 from Ethel Allen and the Fitzsimons Middle School 9 are especially frequent users of the library. 10 Some high school students from Dobbins who would 11 otherwise use the library are hampered by the 12 availability of only three computers at the 13 branch. Recurrent flooding in the basement often 14 interferes with after-school and other special library programming, which affects all library users. Limited shelf space for books is also an issue. Also, a new Widener Library would actually provide more than upgraded library services. It would demonstrate the City's belief in the future of this North Philadelphia community and serve as an anchor in its revitalization. With respect to the Central Library, the Friends of the Free Library are disappointed that the Fiscal Year 2002 budget does not include 256 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS money for the Central Library renovation and expansion project. As you know, during the past several years, most of the Free Library system's network of 55 neighborhoods and regional libraries have been renovated and upgraded. We are proud of the results of this massive project and we are proud of the public-private partnership that enabled it to happen, but there is clearly unfinished business. Until the Central Library is renovated and expanded, we have not completed the job of building a library system that is worthy of our world-class city. We believe there is one consideration that has sometimes neglected in our discussion of an expanded and renovated Central Library.
It is easy to forget the Library is a system or network of libraries. The distinction among neighborhood libraries, regional libraries, and the Central Library is not just about geography, but also about the depth and breadth of resources available at each level of the system. Neighborhood libraries provide convenient access to a wide range of information needs for children and adults. They are after-school havens for middle 257 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS school students, the are literacy centers for those who are learning to read. And they are, of course, the traditional lending library, where moms and dads and grandparents can check a how-to book about carpentry or cooking or the latest book discussed on Oprah. But as valuable and as important as neighborhood and regional libraries are, they simply do not have the breadth and depth of resources of the Central Library. The staff at neighborhood libraries routinely refer persons to the Central Library who are seeking information and services that they cannot properly provide at the neighborhood level, and they are able to do that because we have a network of libraries of different levels, with each level making its own unique contribution to the system. Let me put it another way. If we fail to renovate and expand the Central Library, we would be like a health care system that upgraded all of its family practice centers in the neighborhoods but failed to put money into its acute-care hospital. Family practice offices are bright, cheerful, and renovated with the latest 258 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS technology, while the acute-care hospital is overcrowded, trying to provide 21st century health care in a 19th century building. Many ailments can be treated in the family practice office, but not all. One day, the doctor will have to make a referral to the hospital with the specialists and extensive resources. What will the patient find? A hospital with a CAT scan unit in the linen closet, its operating dimly and poorly lighted, its patients' rooms crammed with more people than can be reasonably accommodated. Our Free Library system needs a Central Library that's renovated and expanded. If we put off including money for architecture and engineering services in Fiscal Year 2002's budget, we will delay by at least a year in getting started on forging the last link in the chain that comprises our library system. The Central Library is last, but certainly not the least, of the libraries in our system, and now is the time to begin our unfinished business. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your testimony. 259 2/7/01 - CAPITAL BUDGET HEARINGS May I add that for Walnut West, which is the area I represent, it's been a long battle and we've had, as you know, many Friends of Walnut West who have fought long and hard --
-- to have the original library renovated. And certainly Mr. Shelkrot's here and he would certainly agree with this, that the initial money -- the design money always comes a year before you actually do it, so those plans have to be made specific, and then you fund it after that. So we do have a commitment from Elliot Shelkrot and the Free Library and certainly the Administration to get it done.
And we thank you for your attention to that matter. Any questions from members of the committee? (No questions.)