COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Room 696, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, May 15, 2003 9:47 a.m. - - - BILL 030222 - an Ordinance creating the Progress Plaza Tax Increment Financing District... - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA, Chair COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN RICHARD MARIANO COUNCILMAN MICHAEL NUTTER COUNCILMAN ANGEL ORTIZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN - - - V A R A L L O, INCORPORATED LITIGATION SUPPORT SERVICES 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 I N D E X BILL 030222 PAGE COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE ................... 3 05/15/03 - WHOLE - BILL 030222
Good morning, everyone. This is the continued public hearing on Bill No. 030222. Do we have anyone to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Madam President, I just wanted for the record for the members that weren't here yesterday with respect to the Economic Opportunity Plan and with respect to issue on the residential housing. I just want to state for the record today, we will hope to amend the Economic Opportunity Plan in the document either on the 29th or the 5th to allow passage on the 12th. The organizations who are developing the facility have agreed to have a community meeting prior to any legislative action on the amendment and get a consensus as it relates to the residential component on this development. And hopefully, it will be okay. So I just wanted to put that on the record.
Thank you. Councilman Goode. 4 05/15/03 - WHOLE - BILL 030222
Thank you, Madam President. I'm going to ask Councilman Clarke if he could actually, before we amend the Economic Opportunity Plan, amend this bill to include the present Economic Opportunity Plan so that there is an Economic Opportunity Plan attached to this legislation.
I'm saying, can we include this Economic Opportunity Plan as part of this bill that we're passing out now?
Put this version in now and then amend it later if we have to.
We can do that. Okay. I mean, my preference is to do the plan after everyone has reviewed it and is comfortable with it. But,it's okay. That's fine with me. Does everybody have a copy of the current plan?
There were plans passed out yesterday, and I don't know if anyone has a copy.
Councilman, if I may. I think Councilman Goode is saying it has to be part of the legislation in order for it to be amended later on. We need to have something that we can amend later on.
It's my understanding after talking to our people that we can amend that into the plan. But if people are okay with it, it's okay with me.
I'm sorry, Madam Chair. I apologize. What's the issue? Putting the EOP in the bill and then amending it later? (Pause.) (Discussion off the record.)
Excuse me. Councilman Clarke, what is the issue, please? Or can somebody explain what the issue is?
The question on the table now is whether or not to simply the legislation now to incorporate the Economic 6 05/15/03 - WHOLE - BILL 030222 Opportunity Plan at this point prior to reporting it out of committee or to do at a later date when the Bill is on the Calendar. I mean, I don't care.
I'm advised that it can be done either way. It can be done either today or the 29. So it's your call.
My preference is to do it when it's corrected. I just don't like putting a plan in and --
Councilman Clarke, if the will of the Body is to have a plan, with the acknowledgment that the plan is probably going to be changed, incorporated into the bill today, we can certainly do that. And I think if you're in a position prior to any proposed amendment to that plan to circulate it to Members. I mean you have -- if the Bill comes out today with a suspension, you're going to have until Thursday June 5th to make your amendment with a corrected plan. And I think 7 05/15/03 - WHOLE - BILL 030222 as long as the members have some adequate time to see what the corrected plan is, we would be in a position to be ready to go at that late date. Or you could possibly have it ready for the 29th. I mean, you have it whenever you have it. You could take it with the plan, acknowledging on the record that it's not complete. And I think you've said that and acknowledged that and you're working on trying to fix the components. But if the Members are concerned that there been a plan even if it's not correct, then why don't we just do that?
The Chair 8 05/15/03 - WHOLE - BILL 030222 recognizes Councilman Goode.
The issue I raise is not an issue of legislative process. The issue I raise is whether it's the will of this Council not to approve any project that doesn't have an Economic Opportunity Plan. And I don't think that we should even move anything out Committee without an Economic Opportunity Plan ever.
Are there any questions or comments by Members of the Committee? (No response.)
Seeing none, this will conclude our public hearing. - - - 9 05/15/03 - WHOLE - BILL 030222 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Thursday, May 15, 2003 - - - Public Meeting conducted by the Committee of the whole, held in Room 696, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: Bill 030222. - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA, Chair COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN RICHARD MARIANO COUNCILMAN MICHAEL NUTTER COUNCILMAN ANGEL ORTIZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN - - - 10 05/15/03 - WHOLE - BILL 030222
We will go into our public meeting. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Madam President, I'd like to offer an amendment. The Economic Opportunity Plan that has been circulated to Members, with the understanding that there will probably be some corrections in that plan and we will probably amend it again on the 5th, but in order to have a document prior to the passage out of this committee, I offer that amendment and request approval of the amendment, as circulated. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The Chair, again, recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam 11 05/15/03 - WHOLE - BILL 030222 President. I make a motion that Bill No. 030222, as amended, be reported out of this Committee with favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill No. 030222 be reported out of Committee, as amended, with a favorable recommendation. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. This concludes our public meeting. Thank you all very much. (Council adjourned at 9:55 a.m.) - - - 12 05/15/03 - WHOLE - BILL 030222 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 May 15, 2003, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ___________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public