Now, because of this lawsuit, you cannot collect licensing fees; is that correct?
Because of the lawsuit, they are not paying it. And what was said when Andy Ross was here was that, we will get the money. When the lawsuit is settled, and the terms of settlement are reached, then they will have to pay renewal starting April 1 of every year the license fee.
Is it just the two firms that are in the suit, or is it all billboard companies that are not paying licensing fees?
I am not sure who is paying. I know that there is $35,000 worth of fees have been paid for the licensing of billboards, but we would have to get back to you on the who is doing the paying. 158 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 I don't know if that's in the detail that we receive. I'm not sure if we would know who paid for the licenses. We will get back to you on that
But, as far as you know, the two companies that are involved in the suit are not paying any licensing fees, but they are paying taxes?
I can't answer that. There's roughly -- I know this, there are ten sign companies. And I know that a $1,062,000 has been paid through February in Revenue, to the Revenue Department, but I don't know who has been paying. I don't know where that revenue is being generated from.
We will provide the information. We will ask Revenue to provide the information to Council President Verna.
I would just like 159 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 to piggyback on what the Councilman just asked. I do notice that, in your Operating Budget, $250,000 was earmarked for 2006 for demolition of illegal billboard signs. How much of the $250,000 has been spent to date?
Nothing has been spent. But, pending the lawsuit, we may -- if the lawsuit -- I'm assuming that we will get some relief through the lawsuit, or we'll win somewhat, we will be able to remove -- someone will be removing signs.
Do you know what I can't understand? If they are illegal, they are illegal no matter what the outcome of the suit is. So, why can't we just remove them?
I'm told that we have to hold it -- you know, it's pending legislation. And I really -- I'm not qualified to comment on what we can and can't 160 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 do.
It is a pending lawsuit; it is not pending legislation. And I still --
It is pending litigation, Council President. I really don't know how -- what the answer would be.
That was fast. All right. I am going to throw the responsibility on you. I think we would all like to know, since you are working with the Law Department, if you have $250,000 appropriated for this year for the demolition of the illegal billboards. If they are illegal, our question is, why can't they simply be removed? And we would like that response in writing, please.
Yes. I will have 161 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 that request made to them, Council President.
Thank, you Madam President. Good afternoon. Let me just start first with the testimony. On of your testimony, top portion, More Efficient Work Effort, it says, "Inspectors will be equipped with information in the field that then allows them to do the follow-through required with the paperwork back in the office." Information like what? Could you provide some examples?
We are in the middle -- we call it our LICA project. And we have equipped our housing inspectors and our contractual services inspectors with tablet computers, computers in the field, that are wireless. And they are receiving -- the complaints that we receive from the public, 162 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 they receive that by census tract. An inspector was assigned to a census tract. He or she will receive their workload for the day and/or their reinspections via the internet onto their tablet. And they will make their inspection and enter the information on the tablet, and the violation notice will be processed. Whereas, in the past, they would get their complaint on paper, write it down on paper, and bring it back to the office, and have a -- the clerical staff enter the data into the system. That would take several days. When this gets up and running, and they get used to it, there's -- you know, it is a lot of agony, nice agony. It is a good feeling, because we are seeing it being done. Yesterday we entered 190 cases electronically into the system, versus the old way of having them inputted by a clerical force. And we're getting there. And we see light at the end of the tunnel. And it works. 163 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 There's problems. But, then, if it was perfect, they wouldn't need commissioners.
Real new. Okay. I know, and I am very much aware, of the good work the department has done with regards to having what I call one-stop shopping for child-care providers. What happens when an individual who is a new owner of a multiple dwelling with regards to the same -- the entire process? Is there one place the owner of a new multiple dwelling can go and get everything they need to know about to follow the rules and regulations of the department?
Let's say they are constructing it. They would start with Zoning, and they would have to start there. If they became a new owner, there's -- on the internet, it would tell them the licenses you would need. And also Deputy 164 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Commissioner Verdi's staff, who handles also the child care, would be very capable of working through landlords with issues, because his staff mostly deals with that --
-- through the licensing and through the inspection. But information, there's information available on the internet, what they would need, the licenses required.
So there is one place you can go on the internet, it is like a cliff note manual, that tells you or instructs you all of what you need to do to be in full compliance?
There is a pamphlet that I believe is on the internet that's a pamphlet, it is called "For Good Housekeeping," which would tell them what you need. We have various zoning pamphlets and various things that are on our website that bring people through it. And, I might add, in several languages. 165 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06
What is done in instances where -- in this body there are changes all the time in the code, for legitimate reasons. What happens with the update of documents like that, so that an individual who comes in after the new code?
Our codes are updated on the website. Other than the state code, which is a copyrighted code. But our regulations in the city, which would be enough for what you are talking about, for people to get through, are updated. Whenever Council changes them, we update them in a short period of time. So what you need to deal, you can either get from us by coming in, but better on the website, in your living room. And you can download it and print it out, and it is all there, walk you through it.
I have learned 166 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 that HOPO, the Homeowners Professional Organization, actually has a binder that walks people through everything they need to do, I mean everything. Does L & I have anything like that for citizens who are starting new businesses and need to be fully up to speed with what they need to know?
I think it's on our website, would give them everything they need to know to start. And the only thing that would scare me about, like, HOPCO's binder, I don't know how current it is. And I don't -- they have never asked us to review it and make sure it is current. Of course, the codes change almost, you know, weekly.
Wouldn't that be in good order, though, to have a sit-down with the leadership of that professional organization, that's in the business of what they do, to ensure that those who they are representing and those whom they are serving 167 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 are well up to speed with city code?
Deputy Commissioner Verdi meets with them on a regular basis. And I am going to ask him to look at their book and share it with Deputy Commissioner Evans to make sure what they are saying is accurate, so we can update it for them. Maybe even steal their ideas.
That would be a good measure On of your testimony, you discussed the department is committed to allowing customers to view plans and decisions made by or through the particular departments. How far along are you in developing what you are calling an inclusive electronic map via the internet?
The electronic mapping for zoning, we are receiving -- in working with the BIA, the Building Industry Association, they have donated Phase I of a zoning mapping project, which will allow anyone on the internet to click onto a property and see the zoning, including the 168 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 overlays. Phase I will get you 80 percent of the way there. Phase II, which will be done within the next year, before the end of the next year, will be funded by the city for about $150,000 -- we're not quite sure of the cost yet -- to make it a hundred percent active; where any professional, anybody sitting there, any homeowner on the internet, could click onto the property and know the zoning classification and all the overlays.
Now, that's wonderful, and that's important. But we know with citizens, it is education, education, education. What steps are taken to help citizens understand that that service, which is good and valuable and important, is even available for them?
When it goes live, I will promise that we will put out a very -- Council will be informed and demonstrated and trained on how to use it. And the citizens, we will put press releases out, and there will be a how-to on 169 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 the site as to how it use it. It will be well publicized. And the industry that will use it, they are waiting for it. They can't wait. And they know it will be there. And it will relieve a lot of the pressure on L & I staff, where people have to come to us to ask what they can find out on the map, which will free up a lot of our plans review people to do the actual review and approvals or disapprovals, so we can move the process along. Right now our staff has to get up and go to the back and read a map -- it is colored in by our staff -- versus just sitting at their desk and seeing what the overlay is and all the other parts of the zoning requirement for that parcel. It will be a huge boost in our productivity.
I know for sure successful developers will know that. Heads of CDCs can benefit from that kind of information, as well. 170 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06
Absolutely. Everybody will. The Managing Director has made it a commitment that we will get this done.
On your testimony, you talk about a guide Doing Business With the City.
Yes. Could you just provide a copy of that to the Chair?
And then on you discuss -- in fact, it has been raised already -- the reconfiguration of the public area in the concourse. What has prompted this new development? What was the spark?
The bright idea I had when I asked Deputy Commissioner Evans to be a Deputy Commissioner. And she worked down there her whole adult life and asked if that could be one of 171 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 the priorities we undertake. And then I went to -- both of us went to the Managing Director. And he agrees completely that we have to show our face to the best we can to the public and organize the concourse in a way where people -- it is a more pleasant experience than it is now.
Sure. So to that end, and for what it is worth, it might be valuable to have a conversation with Myrtle Levitz, as well, whose organization is in the business of increasing tourism. Separate from the Philadelphia Visitors' and Convention Bureau, she is in the business of just boosting tourism for the city, and that type of information is helpful to her. Once you come up with the master plan, if you will, it is helpful to her, the actual publications that they put out on a regular basis.
I will ask Ms. Evans to undertake that. That's a great idea. Thank you. 172 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06
In your measurements, there are two line items that stand out to me, the clean seal and lots treated. And the numbers in 2003 were 800, but the target for FY '07 is 180. Help me understand that huge difference. What has happened?
In '03, the department was actually doing lot cleaning as one of the only forces doing it. Under the NTI program, the NTI lot cleaning program, under the Managing Director's guidance, treats the lots. The lots that L & I treats -- if we are on a block cleaning and sealing a property, which is still our responsibility, and there is a lot next-door or on the block, we will clean that, also. On the theory that, you know, people don't realize there is two programs. And instead of having the NTI portion come and clean that lot, we will treat it because we are there. So that's the lots that -- that's 173 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 why the difference between '03 and now, is because there is different people doing it.
I see. What are your priorities for the next months, given what you have mentioned 7 already with regards to the automation website 8 efforts? And you now mentioned the 9 reconfiguration of the public access area of 10 the concourse. 11 What are the 1, 2, and 3 priorities 12 of L & I in the next 12 months?
To improve the -- to continue to improve our LICA project.
To improve and increase the availability of online services that we offer for our computerization project; to be able to come back next year and testify that all eight-sheet signs have been removed; and public safety, to work with the Fire Department and staff to have a safer Philadelphia.
Talk about 174 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 that. You said to work with the Fire Department. What triggers the need to do that in a strategic kind of way?
We have been working with the Fire Department for the last two or three years, where we were experiencing several fires in homeless shelters. We put together a task force to check the zoning folders. Under the direction of the MDO, Fire, L & I have been going out making an inspection of all the shelters to make sure that the people living there are safe and to get corrections made that need to be done. In the prior year, we did all the senior citizen homes in Philadelphia, with the Fire Department, L & I task force.
As a result of that focus, has there been an impact that you can see?
Yes. Yes. The last fire -- which, you never want to have a fire. But, when you do, you want the alarm systems 175 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 to be working. The alarm system worked, and everybody got out safely. That's how, you know, we measure successes. Our job is to make sure the alarms work so people get out in a safe manner, and I think that we have been successful in that. And we will strive to make that, probably, our number one priority. Public safety is always foremost. You go to bed at night thinking, have you done everything you can to make sure people are safe, and that's a good feeling.
With the priority around the automation piece, somewhere in your testimony I read that L & I can break the trend of -- do you believe it can break the trend of 50 percent satisfaction rate amongst customers, given the fact that you have now set the new automation effort as a priority for the coming year?
I happen to believe that if L & I, because we are an enforcement agency, is more than 50/50, then something might be wrong. 176 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 If 85 percent of people like what we are doing, because we are regulating -- don't forget, we write violations. When it is 50/50, we are in a good place. I really believe it needs to be there. We are like a referee. You can only please one team at a time, not both. And if we're 50/50, we're in a very good place. That's where we should be.
I would agree with that with this one footnote, having served some time on the Tax Review Board, and heard how citizens come there anguished because, in their eyes, they haven't been treated fairly, purely from a notification standpoint. So I would agree with that, only to the extent that notifying citizens in a way that's whatever you define it to be is handled with the level of integrity.
That's what the LICA project hopefully will do for us, it will make us more efficient. We have seen the beginning of it, 177 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 now we just have to complete it through to the end. And it will make us more efficient and enable the inspectors to concentrate on the public safety aspects of their duties.
Thank you for your testimony. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Madam President. Commissioner, this thing with the billboards just isn't going to go away easily. And I don't mean to stay on this thing. But I understand from conversations -- I checked my notes from the last time we discussed this, and now you are telling us about the lawsuit. Isn't there normally, when there is a lawsuit or a court order, there is -- what you mentioned before on the testimony was that you used the word "stay of enforcement." I don't believe that any stay of enforcement is 178 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 associated with this court or this legal challenge to the licensing of billboards.
I believe the -- I don't know that I used that term. If I did, I wasn't speaking from a standpoint where I have been told it has been a stay. And that's a question that, really, the Law Department needs to answer for me. I can't answer it.
It is kind of comical that we would allow these organizations to stop paying their licensing fees, if we don't know whether or not there has been a stay. I mean, I would like to have a business where I could just stop paying fees, licensing fees.
We had to promulgate regulations. And we just had them through Public Property announced for the 30-day period. And renewal period for the license fee is April of every year now. That was not defined in the ordinance that was passed. And we, at the suggestion of the Law 179 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Department, had that done. So now, with April 1 being the date that they are due, then the enforcement process could begin. And at that point we would seek the advice of the Law Department. And when you bring in the lawsuits and the federal and the State Courts, I'm not of the ability to answer as to what we can do. I really don't know how to answer that.
All right. Well, fair enough. Let's switch gears, since the Streets Department is going to follow. And, in all fairness, I did tell you that I wasn't going to dig in too hard on this dumpster thing today. But, now, I really just want to -- I don't want to talk about the successes or the failures. But I just would like you or one of your associates, the legislation that was passed here in Council to license dumpsters and dumpster companies in the City of Philadelphia. As you know, Councilwoman Blackwell 180 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 asked a question about how long a dumpster can sit in the right-of-way. What urged me to address this issue was the fact that you would be on an innercity street, or on a Center City street, and you would wonder why there was a backup of traffic. In the operating lane was a dumpster. No reflective devices, nothing. We got the legislation through. Now I'm a bit confused. There are some issues with the lack of response of owners, the dumpster companies. But could you take a minute and explain, so my colleagues will understand and I will understand, what exactly the requirement is of dumpster companies. You indicated to Councilwoman Blackwell that it wasn't an L & I issue, that it was a Streets Department issue. What does L & I do? What does the Streets Department do? And why aren't we a little further ahead here than we should be?
We license dumpsters on private property, the dumpsters from trash. 181 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 The construction dumpsters that are on the street during a project are approved by the Streets Department, and L & I does not in any way license them.
So the dumpster legislation, L & I -- don't the companies have to come to you to get the license?
Dominic Verdi, Deputy Commissioner, Licenses and Inspections. What we do is license the company to have the dumpsters. The approval on the location, and as far as the enforcement, is either through Streets Department or Police Department, I'm not sure which.
I don't have the ordinance in front of me. What our discussion was earlier, that we do have approximately 116 companies, 8 of which are now licensed. And the letters have gone out. We gave them a substantial amount of time to comply. And violations are going to follow 182 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 within the next two weeks.
Who is doing that, L & I or -- in other words, are you going to cite them for their lack of response to the ordinance? But whose job is it, who should be out there now? Should it be the Streets Department out there now, when there is a dumpster that is not appropriately licensed? What should be happening today of this date by the Streets Department or L & I?
Again, our job is to license the company. The issue with whether or not the dumpster is on the street in the right location or approved for that location would be the Streets Department.
Okay. Well, the Streets Department is next. So they are, obviously, going to, hopefully, be prepared to answer the question. That we only have 8 or 10 of the 116 businesses that do business in the city that have complied with the legislation. They are 183 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 still dropping their cans on the city streets. And I want to hear from the Streets Department. You apparently have done your part. But you are going to make sure that the rest of these companies realize that they need to conform with the L & I piece of this.
And the enforcement side is the Streets Department. And I want to hear from the Commissioner what the Streets Department is doing about the ordinance that requires the dumpster companies to be licensed; and, if they are not, what they are doing about it. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
You are welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. Certainly I wanted to say thank you to this department. We called -- there are a 184 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 myriad of things and issues that we call on every day, and they are always responsive. And I wanted to say thank you.
Are there any other questions or comments? None. Thank you all very much.
If you would remain, please, because our next -- MR. McPHERSON: Board of L & I Review.
Are you going to testify? Who is testifying? Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good afternoon. My name is Fran Burns. I am Deputy Commissioner of Administration. The Board of Licenses and Inspections Review is requesting a total Fiscal Year 2007 budget of $219,278 in the 185 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 city's General Fund. The General Fund budget represents an increase of $15,257 from Fiscal Year '06 estimated obligations. The Fiscal Year '07 request will fund three full0time General Fund positions, comparable to the Fiscal Year '06 authorized General Fund position level. I will be happy to answer any questions you have at this time.
Thank you. I don't have any questions. Members of the committee have any questions? Next. MR. McPHERSON: Board of Building Standards.
Good afternoon. Again, my name is Fran Burns, Deputy Commissioner for Administration. The Board of Building Standards is requesting a total Fiscal Year 2007 budget of $109,552 in the city's General Fund. The General Fund budget represents a decrease of $6,552 from Fiscal Year 2006 estimated 186 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 obligations. The Fiscal Year 2007 request will fund two full0time General Fund positions, comparable to the Fiscal Year 2006 authorized General Fund position level. Again, I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Thank you. Are there any questions from members of the committee? MR. McPHERSON: Zoning Board of adjustments.
Lastly, again, my name is Fran Burns, Deputy Commissioner for Administration. The Zoning Board of Adjustment is requesting a total Fiscal Year 2007 budget of $449,252 in the city's General Fund. The General Fund budget represents an increase of $11,555 from Fiscal Year 2006 estimated obligations. The Fiscal Year 2007 request will fund five full-time General Fund positions, comparable to the Fiscal Year 2006 authorized 187 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 General Fund position level. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you. Any questions from members of the committee? That's unusual. Job well done.
Thank you. MR. McPHERSON: The next department is the Streets Department.
Good afternoon. Thank you for your patience. Please identify yourself, for the record, proceed with your testimony. Commissioner, we do have copies of your written testimony. If you would be kind enough, I would ask you to abbreviate them. The stenographer will be given a copy, and she will transcribe them in full. Thank you.
Thank you. Good afternoon, Council President Verna and members of City Council. I am Clarena Tolson, Commissioner of the Streets Department, and I am here today to present testimony on behalf of the Department's proposed 2007 Operating 188 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Budget. We request a General Fund appropriation of $128 million and an All Funds appropriation of $161 million. Our proposed budget reflects a net General Fund increase of $4.7 million from 2006 estimated obligations. This consists primarily of a $3.1 million increase in personal services, a $2.1 increase in purchase services, and a decrease of $660,000 in equipment. For sanitation, the FY 2007 budget request is $106 million for all funds. This includes $95 million in General Fund. This also reflects an increase in the purchase of services for disposal contracts. Sanitation will continue to provide a variety of programs designed to collect and dispose of trash, as well as recyclables, from the waste stream. For our transportation services, the Highway Engineering Bureau of Survey and Designs, Traffic, and Streetlighting Units provide the department's transportation 189 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 services. The FY 2007 budget request for the transportation group is $49 million for all funds, with $27 million in General Fund allocations. The employees of the Streets Department, I would like to say in conclusion, continue to work diligently in the delivery of our services to our citizens and neighborhoods and to improve the quality of life in our city by providing clean and safe streets. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Commissioner. On of your detail, you are reflecting a $900,000 increase in Class 100 for Hot in Place. Can you tell us what this is for?
Yes. The Hot in Place program is one for resurfacing of our city streets. This is a system that we tested previously, and it worked quite successfully where we applied it appropriately. And in this coming year we want to do 500,000 square yards of street resurfacing 190 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 through the Hot in Place system. It is a system that provides a great deal of convenience for our citizens. It allows for the milling process and the resurfacing process to happen all at one time, versus being spanned over two, four, five weeks of time. It provides a road surface that is quite spectacular and is equivalent to our traditional resurfacing. And, additionally, it allows us to save approximately percent 13 of the cost. 14
If my memory 15 serves me correctly, I believe, when this was 16 last tried, they were not able to get around 17 the manhole covers and the corners. 18 How has that changed? 19
The system that we are 20 talking about using does allow us to go around 21 manhole covers, utility covers. It doesn't 22 require the disruption, which we need right 23 now, for the utilities to come in and raise 24 the utility covers. 25 Instead, there is a system within 191 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 the -- it is called a hip train that allows for alignment of the boxes. It is a very fast, swift process. There are systems that can only be used on major thorofares, roadways where there are not utility covers. The one that we are talking about here, though, to use would not have that as an impediment.
Are we going to have to purchase that type of equipment?
No, we will not be purchasing the equipment. It will be a lease arrangement with the -- a partnership, of sorts, with the firm to do this. So we will have our employees, as well, our employees using someone else's equipment.
And the $900,000, that's an increase in Class 100, is that for --
The personnel that will support this. The personnel, the staffing within the Streets Department to support this.
So would they be 192 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 additional personnel?
And how many additional personnel would we be getting for the $900,000 increase?
It is a fairly large piece of equipment. It can only be used on certain type streets, very broad and wide streets. It was used on Pattison Avenue several years ago. You need a street where it can accommodate a long piece of equipment, and you want to take a long run. So when we did Pattison Avenue, I 193 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 will say, from 21st Street through 13th Street, something like that, a long stretch of road, also very wide, to accommodate the large train. It would not be suitable for some of our smaller residential streets. It would not fit.
So we have one train. And how many employees would operate it?
We are going to require that -- the whole team to do that. Because --
It is a fairly large train. If you could imagine, on the front end it is tearing up the street; milling, as we would call it. And on the back end, it is relaying the material. So by the time that the train goes by -- it is a very long train. By the time that the train goes by, the entire street is done. But there are processes that are 194 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 happening in the interim, whether it be the removal of materials, the melting or heating of the asphalt, application, and then making sure that the final product is appropriate.
So they would not be able to use this on smaller streets, the secondary streets; is that what you are saying?
No, the smaller streets it would not fit. It would be a wonderful thing if it could, but it is too large for that.
On of your testimony, you mention refuse collection services at condominiums. Can you tell us the procedure as to how these properties apply for the services?
Yes. The condominium process is, we started with a field audit to confirm addresses that we receive from the Board of Revision of Taxes. After firming up those lists -- and I would say that there was some points that need to be clarified, addresses that were 195 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 inaccurate or locations that needed to be input into the system -- we prepared information packets and application forms for the property owners or the management firms. We also completed site visits to each of the facilities to determine what type of services we thought they might need; as well, developed collection agreements and provided mailings to all of the 178 firms or condominiums that did not have a management firm. And we have been collecting those collection agreements for the last several months.
On of your testimony, you show that you will eliminate your ditch restoration backlog. Can you state for the record how you will accomplish this?
Yes. We are quite excited about an initiative that is called Operation Smooth Streets. Through this initiative, we will be addressing our pothole and ditch problem that we have in the city. 196 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 And I say, "problem," in that, because of the weather that we experience here, our severe winters, and then the spring, we have road deterioration from unplanned work through potholes and also planned work through the ditches. The ditches, for the most part, cannot be addressed during the wintertime because of the extreme cold, and our materials for reconstruction would not be applied properly if used during that time. So we will be beginning this April launching Operation Smooth Streets, with our focus on reducing the ditch restoration time from over 90 days to 30 days. We are working with not only city employees, but also our utilities, our right-of-way users, who create ditches, as well. And we have developed protocols that will allow for the ditches to be restored in a timely manner; whether it be through our tracking, our communication or coordinating with our other users and the city agencies. 197 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Within our budget, we have an investment of personnel and equipment to support that effort. It will take us several months to catch up on our backlog. And, after that, probably beginning in July, we will be in the position that we can maintain our 30-day standard.
On of the city's Quarterly City Manager's Report, it states that the sanitation division, the average for employees' sick leave usage is 30 days. Would you say this is an accurate figure? And, if so, what measures are being taken to reduce it?
Okay. I think that 198 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 that, if I am reading this properly, it says, "annualized leave days." So that would be all leave?
Okay. Yes, I see. It is sick leave usage, 30 days in sanitation. Within that, it includes some of our long-term sick. Meaning, we have over 50 employees who have been out sick over a collective 1,200 days. Within sanitation, let's say you and I may come to work with a sprained ankle. Within sanitation, a sprained ankle means you cannot work. A cold or the flu, you do not come into work. But, more importantly, 50 people accounting for over a thousand days, I think over 1,200 days, for a long-term sick, could be a broken arm, a broken leg, things like that, which are included in this calculation. We have done calculations that exclude some of our long-term sick, and this number comes down dramatically. The 30 comes 199 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 down dramatically.
I have my own question on that. But, Councilman Rizzo, did you want to be recognized?
Thank you, Madam President. Commissioner, good afternoon, and your staff. First of all, thank you for your department's help in the legislation that passed here in Council in reference to dumpsters that are placed upon the right-of-way. So I kind of set you up earlier with L & I to be prepared for this question. I am really disappointed that, of the 116 vendors that do business in the City of Philadelphia, that only 8 have come aboard and got the required licenses from L & I. Well, first of all, could you explain to me, are you up to speed to start 200 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 doing what I believe is Streets Department's responsibility for the enforcement of lack of compliance?
Please explain -- I am sorry. Please explain what you believe the Streets Department responsibility is to assure that the legislation that passed unanimously here in this body is being implemented and enforced.
Yes. It is the Streets Department's responsibility to enforce the requirements with regard to dumpsters and dumpster placement, dumpster maintenance. To that end, we have issued several thousand violations last year. Those violations included dumpster maintenance problems; as well as, we began just this year with the permit, having the proper permit. So we have been ramping up, after our discussions some months ago on the permit, we have been ramping up that effort and had numerous dialogues, meetings with the vendor 201 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 association, to make it clear that this is coming, and now it is here. We had some debates and some concern with them about some of the requirements, but that has not stopped us from moving ahead. And they are continuing to wish to work with us to reconcile some of the differences. They initially expressed some concern about, say, the tarping. We have said that's required. It is a safety issue, it is required. They have expressed some concern about the cleanliness issue, the graffiti and things like that. For us, again, that is a required. We don't believe that it is appropriate to have large boxes on the street, which, basically, would be graffiti billboards. And we have said to the vendors that it is required. I know that the Law Department is working with one vendor right now with regard to the number of tickets that they have 202 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 gotten, because we have started taking a very heavy hand with this over the last year.
Commissioner, can I just stop you for one second. I am not talking about private dumpsters now. I am talking about the legislation that was passed regulating dumpsters in the right-of-way.
My data, unfortunately, doesn't segregate; it talks about dumpsters in terms of the tickets.
But my legislation is the most recent, the one that passed late last year.
And I waited until the beginning of the new licensing cycle patiently for it to be implemented and also to be enforced. So I just want to make sure. Now you are telling me you have some 203 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 issues where you can't separate them. And I think you need to do that, be able to identify the construction dumpsters that are on the right-of-way. I am talking about in Center City, where a vendor drops a dumpster in the operating lane on Spruce, Pine Street, no 9 reflective devices on it, just a very unsafe condition. That's what got my attention early on. And I recollect that there was a serious issue where someone crashed into one of these dumpsters and was seriously injured. So what I need to hear from you is, now that we have an ordinance to give you the ability -- I don't think there really should be a whole lot of debate. The ordinance is the ordinance. Okay? It is very clear. Your department, along with L & I, worked on a bill that was going to give you the ability to do something about these dumpsters that are just being dropped all over the place and creating an unsightly and a dangerous condition for many, many months. 204 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Earlier Councilwoman Blackwell asked a question. She may be here, but I want to follow up. Oh, there she is. Do you mind if I ask?
If a contractor -- I go occasionally for dinner over at the Vesper Club on Sydenham Street. And I notice there have been dumpsters sitting there in that street for six, eight months. I don't know even know if they are still there. How long can a person put a dumpster outside of their property? I mean, isn't there a period of time where -- do they get a permit? Part of the legislation, I think, requires that. How long can they just put a dumpster there? This one here has been like a permanent fixture for a year.
A construction dumpster can be placed for a maximum of one year for their permit.
One year. That's 205 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 assuming that work is going on for one year. If it is a location where the work is not going on, they should not have a dumpster that's allowed to sit past that. That is a problem.
So if a person wants to take an operating lane like on Pine or Spruce Street, I mean, they just can't come in and say, I want to dump a dumpster in front of a building and tie up an operating lane, without some scrutiny; isn't that correct? Isn't the Police Department part of it? How can you just take a lane?
With the construction, it does become challenging. As part of the process, we do have reviews within the right-of-way group. And there is some consultation and advice to the Police Department. We try to make sure that they are in legitimate locations, that they are at locations that only abut -- where possible, only abut the property that is being developed or worked on. Sometimes that's not possible. 206 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 It is a big concern for us. And, to some extent, we can work closer with the Council people to advise them of things that are happening in their districts. I think some of that advice has gone out, but maybe we should do a little bit more.
So we have an ordinance. L & I needs to do what they need to do to get the rest of them licensed, and you need to start an active enforcement program on the right-of-way, the construction dumpsters that are in the right-of-way. Fair enough?
The last question. Last budget hearing, I forget which Council member brought up the fact that there are trash receptacles missing in action. And I have seen your people out placing them. And I like the fact that they have the cable, and they have them around a light post so somebody doesn't take it home to a souvenir, or whatever, or move it to another location. But, there are still many missing. 207 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Now, I sent you an e-mail back on the 15th of February telling you about the one that was missing in front of the MSB Building in the mid block. And you indicated that one of your staff, Mr. Mercer, would have it there that week. It is still not there. I'm not really concerned about that one. But, from what I am hearing from people, that around areas like convenience stores -- and I know they are supposed to have their own receptacle, but a person doesn't stand outside a convenience store and drink all of their coffee. Have you reduced the number of trash receptacles? And are the ones that are missing being replaced, or have you decided not to put them out there? Because, Commissioner, I think most people will put trash in a receptacle, if there is one available. And if we are cutting back on them for budgetary reasons or some other reason, I would like to know.
Yes. We have actually 208 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 increased our number of baskets. I remember ancient history, when I started, we did some survey work, and we had probably under 200 baskets in Center City. And probably as many more outside of Center City, the entire rest of the city. We now have over 1,800 baskets around the city. We have removed this year 50 of them. That's always done at the request of the adjacent property owner. That's the only time that we will take one out. Because we usually place them because we think that we need it. However, if the adjacent property owner makes a request to have the can moved, then we will remove those. But, we don't like to remove them.
What Commissioner in the MSB asked for the can to be removed in the mid block?
I don't know that. 209 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06
That one is gone. And, according to your e-mail, it was supposed to be put back, and it never was.
I will check. That went up to the staff person not having done their work, as opposed to a desire not having the can. That's an important location for us, and we would need to have that location filled with a can. But I am just suggesting that, out of the 1,800, the 50 that we have removed were at the request of the adjacent property owner.
You are the Streets Department. If a person complains, I mean, that easily you will just take a container away, because somebody complains?
Unfortunately, because of the large number of cans that we have around the city, we have another problem that goes along with trash cans, and that is that trash cans become magnets for trash. And particularly where we have residential areas that are nearby, whether 210 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 they be apartments or houses, people know that the can is going to get serviced at a frequency that is greater than trash collection. And when that happens, they bring their trash out regularly to the can. And sometimes the adjacent property owner is then left with illegal dumping on their property quite regularly, and becomes annoyed with it. And I think that any of us in the same position would probably understand. You know, you want to be community-minded, but at some point when you have vermin and grease and other things on your property because your neighbors are putting their trash out, and sometimes it is not when the trash is being collected, when they have issues and concerns with that, we usually relent after some time and remove the can.
Thank you, Commissioner. Madam President, I think my time is up, and I will come around again. But my next round I want to talk about the relationship 211 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 between PennDOT and the Streets Department. Thanks.
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, everyone. Top part of of your testimony, you mention that there are currently six properties that have signed up for the curbside collection services. The remaining five locations require dumpster service. Could you simply provide to the Chair who they are, who those properties are?
Yes, provide it to the Chair. Considerable amount of your testimony is given to recycling. And that 212 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 continues to be one of my favorite topics, as well, so I have a number of questions around recycling. First tell me, tell us, how many officers are in the SWEEP program, how often they patrol, and -- period. Let's start there.
There are five officers who are dedicated to recycling in the SWEEP program.
Is that a relatively new development, or has it always been the case?
Most of us are familiar with the city comptroller's report of May 27, 2005, where a number of findings, I guess, would be a fair way to characterize this, findings regarding where our city is and where our city could be with regards to recycling. So I would like to walk through a few of those findings. One of the key findings in that report is the availability of what they call 213 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 single-stream material processing technology, and the opportunity it presents to our city to expand recycling in a significant way. It appears that, based on the city comptroller's findings, that would be at no 7 added cost to the city. And your testimony indicates that there has been RFP processing of recyclables contract, which is set to begin on July 1. Could you please provide to the Chair who those lists of respondents are?
As soon as the responses come in, we will gladly provide that. We recently released the information requesting the information. We have not gotten the information back as yet. But our expectation is that we will be in a good position to move ahead, or hopeful that we are be in a good position, with the pricing to move ahead beginning July.
And when you say, "recently," that means what the last week, the last month? 214 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06
No; no. That was -- we had our prebid meeting on March 7, and five vendors showed up.
Okay. Very recent. Okay. You said five vendors showed up?
Are you at liberty to say if any of them were from Philadelphia?
There is a mild bias in this body to provide opportunity first to those who live in the County of Philadelphia. The good news is that the department has a newly -- appointed a recycling coordinator. What considerations have been discussed or are anticipated that will move the department to be in better compliance with the city ordinance around recycling?
We have some -- we are 215 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 excited about some opportunities that we believe are going to present themselves quite soon. First you mentioned the single stream. We pilot the single-stream program beginning in the fall of 2004 to about 5,600 households. From that piloting, we saw that there was increase in the average set-out from the households in that area. So, we were quite pleased with those results. Which is why we have taken the time to do further analysis to determine what the opportunities may be with the single-stream program. Additionally, we believe that we have positioned ourselves such that, when the pricing comes in -- we expect it to come in, I guess, beginning of May for single stream? When the pricing comes in the beginning of May, that we have positioned ourselves such that we can purchase the equipment that will be required to go along with single stream. 216 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 That was one of the issues we had with the comptroller's report, that it did not acknowledge that you have -- a different type of requirement was required, equipment that we did not have. And we will be purchasing the compactors. We have already begun the purchase of compactors that can support that system. And we believe, with the expertise that our new recycling coordinator, who is in the audience today -- she can stand up, if she would like -- her name is Joan Higgins, from Glendale. She is here. Certainly she is not going to be here to testify, she has only been here a couple of days. But she brings with her a wealth of knowledge about the start-up of the recycling business and also the maintenance of it from her community. So, we are excited about our participation in our program. Additionally, we have a pretty neat education campaign that's kicking off in about two weeks, maintaining our Know What and Know 217 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 How System of information with regard to recycling. We are continuing to encourage residents to understand what the requirements are. That we certainly believe that many do understand, but we want to reinforce what is required of them in order to have a successful recycling program.
Given that all citizens are bombarded with information and every department wants their issue to get through and resinate, what does that campaign entail? What partners are in place to really make sure that the goals of the campaign resinate?
Yes. I would like to mention that Carlton Williams, who was our recycling coordinator in the interim, while we were without one within our department, developed in a great way the educational campaign working with our contractor. And one of the components of that is a door-to-door notion, where he has street 218 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 teams that will be knocking on doors encouraging people to get out and recycle. And these street teams will be people who come from the community. So that it is not a stranger from another end of town telling you what you need to do in your community, but somebody who is from the community that's been incorporated into the education program. And we think that's going to be a very successful element in the end.
So they will report to the recycling coordinator or to the six professionals that you talked about or to Mr. Carlton? Who will they report to?
Carlton Williams only managed that position in the interim. We now have Joan Higgins here. So, she will be managing the recycling program in total.