Okay. On of your testimony, some numbers are discussed that seem to focus on, based on -- are those numbers based only on talking with residents in Chestnut Hill and East Oak Lane? 219 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Let me turn to it real quick. The key performance measurements, it speaks to the percent of recycling collected on time and the citizen survey, which numbers are quite impressive. So my question, are these targeted neighborhoods, or just Chestnut Hill and East Oak Lane? I need to get a handle on what the universe was.
Let me try to catch up with you, Councilwoman. I don't think my is the same as yours.
And they are great grades in the area of percent of recycling collected on time. And further down, second from the bottom, the citizen survey, which speaks to the percent satisfied with recycling collection. So my question is, what 220 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 neighborhoods does that information come from?
I am sorry it took so long to catch up with you. I was looking on the wrong page. Both of those categories are related to citywide information. They are not targeted to any community or any pilot area. So citizen satisfaction for in '05 at 85 percent is the citywide average, using whatever...
So the good news is, where recycling exists, the citizen satisfaction is great. But the bad news, as best I can determine -- and, really, using the comptroller's report as one, just one measuring stick -- is that we are not at a place where we could be with regards to recycling. Would you agree with that assessment?
The 85 percent is 221 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 citywide, and recycling is available citywide. The comptroller's report, I think, tries to address opportunities to improve the system. There were some assumptions that were erroneous in that report with regard to recovery and the revenue rates and the absence of the costs to raise the additional revenue. But what the intent is, to try to look at ways to improve it and try to get even higher diversion than what we have right now. And our diversion is very low, so we need to get it higher.
So you would disagree with the conclusion that 13 out of the provisions -- the recycling program is 18 out of compliance on 13 out of the 18 provisions? You would disagree with that conclusion?
Councilwoman, may I 222 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 look into that? I don't have that to respond properly.
A couple of more questions on recycling. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has a lot of money, millions of dollars, available for these types of programs. Does our city currently take advantage of or access, for example, the Waste Management Planning Grant or the County Recycling Coordinator Grant or Recycling Performance Grants currently administered by the Commonwealth?
Yes, indeed. In fact, in Fiscal '06, I believe that we have a grant budget of about $5 million.
My final, I guess it would be, statement on recycling is that, a number of us share that interest here. I will be calling for hearings on 223 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 where we are with recycling, where we want to go, what we can do better. And I will be introducing a resolution asking -- making that request to the President tomorrow, with hopes that we will have hearings some time in the fall, and then some time thereafter look to see how we can maximize the findings in the report that you believe are fairly attributed. And then, ultimately, a plan that moves us to a different and better place when it comes to recycling. So I wanted to put you on notice that that is forthcoming, where I will be introducing that tomorrow.
We are taking turns, so I will come back around and talk about school traffic lights. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Good afternoon, Commissioner, Deputy 224 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Commissioner, and all. Albeit Councilman Rizzo was asking some questions, I was distracted in another area. And I wanted to ask about dumpsters. My staff gave me a complaint about a dumpster that's been in front of a property that's facing our Malcolm X Park, the park that I love so much in my area, that's been there for a year and a half. They say that the owner has a proper permit, it is covered with graffiti. And they want to know, if it has a permit, how many renewals can they get? And if there is something we can do or should do or if I should introduce legislation, or just what can be done.
If they are not doing construction/renovation work at that site, and it is just a dumpster that's laying, we can certainly work to address the business owner to make sure that they remove the dumpster. If they are just slow in doing their work, we will have to start to look at limiting their time lines, such that they will 225 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 lose their permit. Because we can revoke a permit, as well.
Can an individual get one indefinitely, if they are working, or does it last a year? Or, what are the rules for a dumpster?
It can last up to a year, so a person can reapply and get another one. However, if you say that it is a year and a half, and it is an eyesore, it sounds as if -- and if it is not moving, it is always the same dumpster there, it sounds like it may just be abandoned and left behind.
Thank you. I will submit the address to Carlton, your Deputy Commissioner, Carlton Williams. Thank you very much, Madam President.
You are welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. I just wanted to check with your 226 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 staff. It eliminated one of my questions.
Commissioner, the SWEEP division is in your shop; am I correct?
Are they the primary or the only responsible group that deals with refuse on sidewalks?
Is it only during trash days? Tell me what their responsibility is.
They are responsible for enforcing the Sanitation Code. So it may be the dumpsters that we were talking about earlier, the trash dumpsters; it could be household trash and debris; litter that may be on the sidewalks. All those come under the purview of SWEEP.
Residential and commercial. 227 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Now, they are not the only entity that can enforce those things; but they are the primary group within sanitation for the Sanitation Code. We also have inspectors that can enforce other things with regard to the right-of-way.
From within our highways group that deal with some of the other right-of-way issues; such as, a restaurant with outdoor furniture.
How many officers do you have to deal with that citywide?
And are they based on what, sanitation highway districts?
They move around the entire city. They work on routes, and they 228 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 are moving every day.
Are they complaint-driven, or do they have a systematic approach to monitoring the city?
It is both. They have routes that are set so we know where they are going to be tomorrow, what section of the city, where they are going to be working; and they also are complaint-driven. So that if someone has a problem or concern, they call that in, and officer can go and address that problem.
In the newer part of my district, because I now represent Fishtown and parts of Kensington, that is an area where there used to be, or still are, in some instances, a substantial amount of commercial properties, factories, old industrial facilities. And in most cases where there is vacancies associated with the operation of the building, it is no longer in operation, and a lot of cases where they are actually still operable, there doesn't seem to be any 229 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 willingness on the behalf of the property owner to sweep their sidewalks or to maintain their sidewalks in any reasonable way. That part of the area is a pretty well-knit residential community, an older community, and people are trying to take care of their sidewalks. But because of the issue with respect to the commercial properties and the debris, particularly this season, we had a lot of wind, it has just blown all over the place. But, in some instances, there are actually commercial properties that have had debris on their sidewalks so long that it has actually stabilized, so it can't even be blown by the wind. Who handles that part of the area? Because it is, like, quite ridiculous.
That would be SWEEP. SWEEP would be the perfect group to be contacted. And the way that would work, citizens would call in to our customer service line, they don't need to know all the numbers 230 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 within the department, call in to our customer service line at 686-5560, complain that they have a neighbor or a problem location, where are people are not sweeping their sidewalks. And, from that, we would have SWEEP go out to make contact with the property owners and see what they could do to address -- educate and address that location.
Okay. Well, I am kind of bringing it to your attention today.
-- have people look over there and find out why people don't feel the need?
We have done that on behalf of other Council people. We will gladly do that.
And I know Councilwoman Reynolds Brown and Councilman 231 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Rizzo were talking about the recycling program. Early on in the initial pilot program, there were certain incentives provided for participation. And that was, actually, offered in exchange for me allowing my trash date to be eliminated. I didn't participate in that, but my trash date was taken anyway. So, in retrospect, I might as well have taken the gifts; right? Is that program still in place in any way, shape, or form, or is it just a pilot program to get people to engage, or is that an ongoing program where people in the geographical area agree to participate in an aggressive way in a program for recycling? Because I get asked this, that's why I am bringing this up. People want to know can they get the IKEA gift certificates. And I guess that happened as a result of the new IKEA being built on Delaware Avenue. Everybody wants to go to IKEA now. Are we still doing that? 232 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06
Yes. The one that you initially mentioned was one where the department was developing its own system. But, we did not implement one. And, in fact, we instead partnered with an organization called Recycle Bank. And we have been working with them in about 2,500 households in the Northwest section of the city. We applied their incentive program on top of our single-stream pilot program in Chestnut Hill and West Oak Lane. That pilot continues.
So where would we call? If an area is interested in participating, where would they call?
They can certainly contact our offices. It is duly noted that, given we had discussions about it previously, that you are interested in it. We are presently in discussions with them, talking about the possibility of expanding the pilot and testing it. There are some concerns because 233 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 presently it is an inefficient system and it has some increased costs to it. But we are working with the vendor, because they have some interest in ensuring that the city is risk-free, in a sense. And we are trying to negotiate that with them now. So that, if we were to engage in an extended pilot, that it would be without expense or risk to the city.
Commissioner, I want to thank you for agreeing to participate and work with us on a large-scale cleanup program. It is really, really needed out there. The debris is just getting out of control. So I want to thank you for agreeing to participate in that major cleanup.
You are welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you. 234 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, Streets Department. I just want to start off by thanking you for all your help in helping me assist my constituents. I need to just follow up on a question. And I wasn't listening, and I know you answered it just a few minutes ago. But, what is the status of expanding the recycling incentive program? Because you know that I know that in Chestnut Hill it has been very successful. And, in fact, some of the residents where it is not included in Chestnut Hill are calling for it. But, other people really want this. So what is the -- it has been a pilot for how long?
And we are talking about expanding it further as a pilot. When does the pilot end?
We have had very good results with the pilot program, to the extent that we have seen recycling tonnage as a net, 235 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 as a macro system, increase in the pilot area. Though Chestnut Hill was our highest participation area previously, it has just gotten a little bit higher. And the West Oak Lane area has seen a significant increase in its tonnage in the pilot area where we are applying the single-stream pilot, as well as the recycle bank incentive on top of that. We are looking -- let me back up a second to say so, it has been very successful in terms of the product, getting the materials from those communities. What we have to address further is the efficiency of the collection system. It is done by using a container, along with a scale. And that process is a little slower than a bag or a can process. So we want to work with the vendors to try to improve that, to make the system as good as it can be. We are continuing with discussions with the vendor, we are negotiating expanding that pilot program. It is presently at 2,500 households, and we would like to see that 236 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 maybe quadruple to a much larger size in going to other sections of the city, to include communities that maybe are not the top recyclers already. And I think that we -- I am hopeful that we will be very successful in that negotiation. But, we do continue in those dialogues.
So once you sort of, in a sense, improve the speed and efficiency of actually picking it up, then you will determine how it can be expanded?
Well, the pilot will be an expansion in and of itself. So, we are look at doing a broader pilot area. Where we are right now in Chestnut Hill, there are -- the houses are fairly far apart, and there is a great deal of participation. The average weight, I think, is around 21, 22 pounds per set-out. That's not the norm; that's the highest that we have in the city. And we want to be able to apply it 237 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 in other sections of the city where we may have a more normalized participation rate and also tonnage rate. Additionally, the area that's in the West Oak Lane, that, we get into more twins and some rows, and it had probably a more average recycling rate. So we want to just expand that to other locations, other places. As recycling is offered citywide, we are interested in seeing it can be applied in environments where, you know, people may be challenged with placement of a can, challenged with participating fully already. So we want to incent new people to recycle and to also recycle more.
Speaking of pilots. Several years ago, when we started the street-cleaning activities in the various districts, what's the probability of that expanding further than the test areas? I know we have had a couple of changes, because I requested them. But we still get calls from other parts of our 238 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 district that want to get that street cleaning.
The resources are limited. We had some Council districts that did not want to have the street cleaning occur in them because the citizens did not wish to move their cars, and we were able to kind of reshuffle. However, the resources are limited, so our ability to expand on a great scale does not exist. I would be happy, though, to look at any boundary that you might have. So that, if we could consider it, we will gladly do that.
That's good. Thank you. Commissioner, I received this letter from a constituent. And I know that my office has called and talked about this particular problem as it relates to the SWEEP program. And I really don't know what goes on with that program. But one of the biggest complaints is that people are getting tickets 239 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 for putting out trash, I guess, in an incorrect manner, even though most of them say that, you know, they are just putting out trash the same way they have been putting it out for years. But they get this -- they get cited. And you know that they don't get the copy of the citation for five or six months. And by then they are outraged. They can't even remember what happened five months ago and why they are getting cited. But these are the types of letters. I got this in the mail yesterday. This goes on and on and on. So at some point what is happening here? Maybe there needs to be a different system. I don't really know. People are saying they are putting their trash out correctly, they are getting cited. And this one particular woman has gotten cited over and over again. She pays the tickets. She doesn't request a hearing because she is disabled and really can't get in town so easy. 240 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 But there seems to be something wrong with the system where people are given a ticket today and won't get the actual citation for months and months, maybe six months from now. And I know that's a Carlton question, isn't it?
No. I was looking for a Halls, actually. We recognize that there is some concern -- and we share the concern, too -- with regard to the notice that citizens have, having a timely notice. Our first desire is to maybe make contact with the citizen to see if they can take care of their property. However, if we cannot, and ultimately a warning or a violation notice is written, we have heard that people have not gotten their notice from the department that issues it in a manner that's timely enough for the citizens to be able to correct their actions. What we have done is modify how we give the ticket. We are still writing the 241 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 same ticket; however, now we created a kind of a simple paper process. We now leave a flier of sorts behind in the door. So it is not the official ticket, per se, but it is a notice that says, we were past your property, and there is a violation, a violation has been issued, and it is for the following reason. Kind of gives a quick check-off. And with that, that check-off, it allows people to have immediate notice of a problem that they may have.
Who is the department that actually mails out the ticket?
That's part of the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication in the Finance Department.
Right. So I think that we have improved the process. We have met with them and talked about what we could do to improve our system and process to make the process a little more 242 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 smooth. They have also considered some things that they can do to improve the process. So I think the issue that you are describing may be beginning to come to a close. Because over the last, I would say, six months, we have dramatically changed the system, in the sense of starting to leave a flier in the door that says, here was your problem, or actually being able to issue the ticket and leave it in the door.
That's good. Because one of the suggestions that this constituent makes is, couldn't they put something in your door, even though most people are denying that they are putting their trash out incorrectly. I am a big supporter of trying to keep Philadelphia streets clean. And I think if people are disposing of their trash -- not just residents, but businesses -- in an incorrect manner, that we need to address that. 243 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 But I am glad to hear that you are working on the system. And if it is 9th and Filbert, Department of Finance, that's the culprit who is sending these tickets out so late, then we will probably need to talk to them. I know we had a meeting scheduled to talk to the Streets Department, and I guess 9th and Filbert. Not with me, but one of my staff members, who was actually out sick. Or, she was either out due to the death of her daughter. But I wanted to bring this up to date because we constantly continue to get these letters and phone calls from unhappy constituents regarding these notifications. But anything that we can do to get our streets of Philadelphia cleaner, you know, get our citizens to shovel and sweep and take care of weeds --
-- and those other things, I am more than happy to support. But it just makes it -- makes me 244 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 feel bad when people say, you know, okay, if I didn't do this right, how come it took them six months to tell me. So...
As I said, we have worked with the Finance Department in recent months. So I think that some of what you may hear about is maybe a little bit older. Because in recent months, that system has been changed and modified. We made changes to our system and process, and so has the Finance Department through the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication.
Councilwoman, I do appreciate your being an advocate. Because I think that only when we are serious about issues, and we are willing to step out there and do what needs to be done and stand strong and firm on these issues, will we really see the difference. If we make excuses, we will not ever see a difference in terms of the cleanliness 245 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 of the city or any other initiative. So, I thank you.
Thank you, Madam President. Commissioner, again, first of all, I think it would be real helpful for the record, you have got a great group of people, you referred to them earlier year, your customer service group, 215-686-5560. Could you just for a minute briefly, I think there is some confusion on all that they do. I know that there was a period of time where they weren't taking streetlight assignments, but now I think you fixed all of that. Could you take a minute and just tell us all, when a citizen or visitor to our city sees a discrepancy, and even if it is a state highway, that I think we would 246 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 appreciate it if you would take a minute and go over that.
Thank you. I think that we have some of the hardest-working people in our customer service group. They are few in number; however, they receive inquiries on many varied and different requests, many which are street department services and some which are not. But their group is intended to be a one-stop shopping place where people can call to put in a request for our services. And the services range from trash not collected, or needing a household visited because of debris and litter that may be out, a pothole, a ditch that needs to be addressed, a traffic signal that may be out, or a Stop sign that is missing, an accident, some other problem that people see on the street, all those are addressed within our group. Additionally, requests that come in for our streetlighting, although we have some of our maintenance handled by a contractor, if those calls come into our customer service 247 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 system, we get them relayed to the vendor directly, such that they can go out and inspect a location the night that it is called in. So we are quite pleased with how we try to respond to the citizens. At times, you know, the load may be very heavy in terms of the calls that come in, and citizens have to be patient with us in terms of having messages come in on our answering machine. But the fact is, even at night we are retrieving our messages and entering them into the system so that everything can be addressed in a timely manner. So any request that citizens have with regard to Streets Department services, from potholes, ditches, streetlights, any problem that they may see in the roadway or sidewalk that they think needs to be investigated by a professional, they can call into our 686-5560. And if someone is on a cell phone, say driving down the street, and they see a 248 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 pothole or a ditch that they want to report, they can call in to the number star, the symbol star, FIX, F-I-X. And that, too, gets relayed to our customer service group, and they receive those calls. And should anything not be a part of the work that the Streets Department handles, they receive that information, advise the citizen that, you know, it may not be the Street Department work, it may be somebody else's. But they will, in turn, also forward that information to the appropriate entity. So if it may be something for the Police Department or Fire Department, Licenses and Inspections, or PennDOT, or some other entity, Gas Works or SEPTA, they in turn not only dispatch it to our own workers and employees, but they also get the information out to the appropriate parties outside of the Streets Department.
Commissioner, you mentioned star FIX. And I am pleased to hear, I got some information that Cingular, Verizon, Sprint now, and also Nextel have all jumped 249 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 onto the star FIX. And I think that's very helpful. It is a free call, and it goes right to the same group of people.
Yes, indeed. And thank you for your help in getting that developed. You were quite instrumental in facilitating that process, and I think maybe your brain child. So we appreciate the help that you offered there.
Thank you. And that's good. So if a person at night sees a streetlight out, even though your office is closed, they can leave a message?
That's good. Now I want to go to our relationship -- which we are going to be having hearings. I have notified the Secretary of PennDOT that we have a resolution 22 that will be heard here in this Council, in our Streets and Services Committee. And we have tied Subpoena power to that. And I know I am going to be working 250 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 closely with you to develop the hearing and the hearing date. Because I am not satisfied, and I think most citizens are not satisfied. You do a lot of work in trying to make old city streets usable. But the relationship that I personally see and have documented and have taken photographs -- so, I am doing my homework. And example. Kelly Drive, the northbound lanes at the St. Joe's boat house, have been in deteriorated condition now for almost two months. They came, PennDOT, after a delay of almost two weeks, they came out and through some cold patch into the roadway. Somebody is going to be seriously injured or killed. And I appreciate the fact that your people now know where the 380 or 390 miles of PennDOT-maintained roadways are. But I think PennDOT should be ashamed of itself in what it does in maintaining the streets that they have responsibility for. They are in terrible 251 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 condition, and their response is deplorable. And I am going to make sure that they are brought into this Council and asked what they plan to do to make their response better. I know it is very frustrating when I have to talk to a person that works in the Streets Department, no names, and they also express the same frustration and suggest to me that, here's the phone number for PennDOT, District -- 6, is it?
Here is the phone number. We can't get any response. Maybe if you call them, we can. So we are going to bring them in here. And we are going to ask the Secretary of Transportation to come here. And hopefully the Mayor Operation Safe Streets will include the state-maintained highways. Because I am not satisfied. I don't think we get our bang for our buck out of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania when it comes to their participation in cooperating with you. 252 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 I know they do a good job in cooperating with snow removal and things like that. But when you drive down a street in Philadelphia that has a worse roadway than Iraq, that's really a bad situation. So our hearings are going to be scheduled appropriately, where the people that work with you will have an opportunity to start pulling some information together on some of the problems that we have on -- is it 380 or 390 miles of road?
380 miles of roadways. And I know this is not a new issue. We have been fighting with PennDOT for years. Because I drive through and I see a sign that's very dear and close to my heart that says, this is a state highway, call a certain number. Because the city -- it is unfortunate that you, the Streets Commissioner, the people that work with you, 253 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 work so hard in trying to keep the roads maintained; and, if it is not our responsibility, the citizens of this city and the visitors should know that it is not our problem. But, we need to solve the problem together.
So you will work with me in preparation for these hearings.
You are welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. My last remaining questions are around the discussion of the priority that the department has made with regards to its safety of school children. And the progress you have made is phenomenal. We are all encouraged by that. 254 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Particularly when I recall months ago in the hearings, there was a lot of conversation and concerns raised about what was not happening around schools with regards to traffic safety. So given the progress and given the $1 million grant from the fed's Safe Route to School, could you provide to Madam President the list of the 40 schools that would be involved in construction under the Safe Route to School Program, number one; and, number two, you say currently in design construction is expected to start in FY '07 for these approximately 40 schools. So help me understand what that means. Because I am sure there is already a standing operating procedure or a formula in place that you execute when you want to put up traffic lights; right?
We have schools that have already applied for their flashers, and 255 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 we are continuing to process them. We are working on some now this year. And, with our additional funding that comes in in '07, we will do even more. So that means through '07 we have more we are doing through this year, and then through '07 another 40 we will be doing.
With the flashers, are they installed at middle schools?
With the configuration that some schools have in terms of whether they start at kindergarten or start at 6th grade, some of it has changed around. We do have them at middle schools, yes. I don't know necessarily that was our initial focus of our work. But -- because we started with the elementary schools.
Thank you. 256 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Thank you, Councilwoman.
Surely. Let me walk this through. We have a $1 million loan from the school district to take care of 50 schools through -- that have been completed, completed as of now, February '06?
And then an additional schools that will be completed 12 by the end of the school year, which is June 13 '06; correct? 14
The anticipated 16 $1 million from the feds will get us through 17 another 40. 18 The struggle I am having with this 19 is, if we know that the money is coming, 20 and -- I mean, the good news is that the number of children being hit around schools by cars has diminished significantly. But, if we know that the money is promised -- I know in government you cannot act on a promise -- why can't we act on 257 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 knowing that those dollars are committed, a press conference was held, the school district stood up, you know, ready to back up this whole initiative, why can we not get -- move along with these other 40 schools, knowing full well that those dollars are in place, they are just not here?
Well, I think, Councilwoman, we are moving along with them. We are doing the design work, there is a great deal of design, community work that goes along with it. So we have never stopped or slowed down on the flashers. It is a continuous process.
That's why we are saying we expect another between now and 20 the end of June. July begins a new fiscal year. So we are not waiting until July to start; it is just that we don't think we are going to get more than 20 done in the next four months.
So I did make a request to provide the list of those schools to Madam President, did I not?
I just want to make sure I covered everything around school safety. Do schools have the option between the traffic light, the flashing light, versus the speed bumps? Can they make the request for a choice between the two?
Okay. Finally, traffic-control devices, such as rubber strips and speed tables, are placed at various locations, again based on what the studies have identified. 259 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 Can you tell us where some of those are? Or is there a laundry list that you could just provide to Madam President?
Sure. You are touching on another topic that we are quite excited about, and that's our program that we call Slow Down Philadelphia.
Thank you very much. Slow Down Philadelphia. And that one comes out of our concern that we are seeing more and more accidents, whether they be vehicular or pedestrian accidents, occurring as a result of --
-- speeding or negligent behavior that involves some type of speeding in the city streets. And we are examining options. We are thinking out of the box with regard to the possible solutions to solving the speeding 260 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 problem. Included in that will be something called the speed table. It is not a hump. If you imagine the ones near the airport, where you have a longer strip.
They are safer for plowing, they are safer with emergency vehicles, fire engines and rescue wagons, things like that, that may have to come through with the heavy equipment. So we are looking forward to that. So we will be issuing a report on that very, very soon, talking about the various options that we are going to be putting on the table and applying around the city, including soft rumble strips and the speed tables.
And I would imagine the report would provide some information on where the hot spots are for speeding, particularly around schools? I mean, have you noticed that there has been a decrease in the number of -- speeding in schools where you have major large 261 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 intersections?
We are working with the Police Department that's applying enforcement. And that's a very important component of the education, engineering, and enforcement that changes behavior and changes conditions on our roads. So where we are seeing police participation, the speeding problem and the negligent behavior has greatly improved. So we want to do everything that we can to make sure that the children understand what they need to do; the drivers understand what they need to do; that the location is engineered as well as it can be engineered. You know, you can't make, you know, a Broad Street like a little small street. It is what it is. But, given those parameters, we can make these streets as safe as they can be in terms of the engineering appliances that are put into place. So we are encouraged, as we continue to work with the Police Department and the 262 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 school district, through the school safety committee, that the situation will greatly improve for not only pedestrians, but also the vehicles in the city.
I would ask, as you sit down with the Police Department, and in the spirit of having departments talk across each other all the time, remember the school crossing guards and the role they can play. In fact, it would make sense for them to be offered a copy of this study or a summary of the study, because it affects their world, as well, what crossing guards have to deal with speedy drivers.
Thank you for your testimony. Thank you, Madam President.
You are welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I, actually, just had a 263 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 followup question to one of Councilwoman Brown's questions. Have we been given a recent list of the schools in our districts that have received flashers?
And the other thing I just want to note of -- and I think it is really a good thing -- is that, you know, as I am driving around, I end up running into new four-way Stop signs that was not there before, and I didn't even request them. And it is amazing to me that they are coming up. What's happening? I mean, what is making the district actually put up -- the Streets Department put up four-way Stop signs?
I think that -- let me say that the department has always been putting them up. They have always examined 264 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 locations to determine whether or not they meet the warrant. And after study and evaluation, if they meet those warrants, then we are definitely applying them. We understand that sometimes the logistics or the traffic changes in the community. A request is made of us, and we will do the study and the evaluation and put them in. Sometimes it is not warranted, so we do tell people that we can't do it, on occasion. But where is it warranted, we think that -- I know that we apply them.
Thank you, Madam President. Commissioner, I want to talk about WiFi for a minute and your department's 265 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 involvement in the process. As you know, there is some controversy about the electric usage of this wireless network that's going to be attached to your light fixtures. I would like to know about a company that already has these devices that went into bankruptcy called Ricochet, I think it was, that has hundreds, if not thousands, of these units not just in Philadelphia, but many of them are in the City of Philadelphia. They are still attached to our streetlight network. Did we ever have an electric usage agreement with that company? And what is your streetlighting department's involvement with the WiFi program involving the way they are going to be installed? And I know we talked about possibly having your own work force do this work for the vendor. That's none of my business, but one thing I want you to consider. But I would like to know what your involvement, what Joe Doyle's involvement would be in the WiFi process. 266 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06
Yes. That effort, and the department's involvement, is actually led by Deputy Commissioner Mike Sakagney. And he has worked with the committee to address the Streets Department interface, meaning how the appliances would be attached to -- how and what type of appliance would be attached to our streetlights. So through rigorous review with Joseph Doyle, our Chief Streetlighting Engineer, made determination about what would be suitable or not suitable in application. So we came to agreement with regard to the type of appliance. And we further are going to be involved in a way that we think is most helpful for us, and that is the construction and inspection. We really are not interested in putting the appliances in ourselves
The time. A new business is not one that we are interested in. But we feel comfortable with being the ones 267 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 who are monitoring the construction. So we are approving the location where they can be applied. It must be a request for siting the appliances. There has to be an inspection of that location to determine that it is suitable. And then we are having -- we are doing the inspections of the installations after they are done, which we find to be -- we believe is going to be an efficient use of our time.
Well, I would hope that that's not a closed door on your people. This is not a big task. And if you are going to inspect, do all these other things, again, I said that's not -- I am part of the legislative body, you run the Streets Department. But I think we should at least give your people an opportunity to do that work. Only a suggestion. Let's talk about the network that's already there installed, already still continuing to consume energy. 268 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 When are we going to make a decision to remove those devices, and who is paying for the electricity?
They are. I have talked to the vendor, and they tell me that they are energized and they are -- Joe, can he come up here? Because I have a couple of questions for him.
I am Joseph Doyle, Chief Streetlighting Engineer for the Streets Department.
The Ricochet network, it is out there, it is attached to our structures. I'm not sure there was even an energy usage arrangement with PECO Energy. I talked to the Ricochet people. They tell me they are energized, they are using energy, they are emitting a signal, but there is no signal to be received. Do you know how many of these devices are still attached to your streetlight network? And when do you plan to remove them, 269 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 since this company is in bankruptcy or out of bankruptcy? I don't even know the circumstances at this point. But, what are you doing with that old network that's out there?
Well, what was installed on the streetlights several years ago were handled under a previous agreement with the city related to the approval for their installation. As far as the connection to PECO power, that was really handled directly through PECO. It was, actually, PECO's contractor who installed the units from the beginning in the five-county area around Philadelphia. So we were not party to whatever electrical usage, power consumption payment, whatsoever between Metrecom, which was Ricochet, and PECO itself. So, I can't answer that question.
Well, they are still out there. They are not paying you any revenue for that attachment. 270 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 I mean, are they just going to rust in place, or what's going to happen?
Councilman, apparently there are some other issues related to this on the attachment of that that I think goes back to the original bankruptcy, and I really am not privy to the details of the final resolution of the attachment.
Well, I would appreciate, since you are responsible, Commissioner, for the streetlight network, if you would ask the Law Department. Because, if they are no longer needed, let's get rid of them. And the current WiFi program, Commissioner Joe Doyle, whoever, are you involved in the deal with who pays for the electric? My question is, is the city going to pay, as far as you know, for any of the energy consumption for the WiFi project?
The Streets Department has been involved with the equipment installation and confirmation of construction. 271 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 The other aspects of the agreement, we would be kind of telling it to you secondhand. I would not want to be the one to speak to that.
Now, when we involved ourselves with WiFi, we said it wasn't going to be -- it was a private, nonprofit. Are you going to have an accounting method to be reimbursed for all the work, this inspection work and all this other work that you are going to need to do for the installation of the WiFi network? How is the Streets Department going to be reimbursed?
Michael Sakagney, Deputy Commissioner, Streets Department. We will be having meetings with finance to set that system up. That system isn't in place yet, but we will be looking at what protocols we have to put in place to have an invoicing procedure in place for us to be reimbursed.
So there is a 272 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 plan to be reimbursed for your work?
Because when somebody tells me that it is not going to cost us anything, that's when I really start paying attention.
Okay. Hold on just a second. I am sure the Commissioner will followup, because it is a question I would like answered to the Chair, on the status of the Ricochet network that's out there, and whether or not the streetlighting people can start to remove that and maybe bill them. Because I believe they are out of bankruptcy now. So to have that equipment there competing with ours, and probably they have done a lot of work -- from what I understand, in a lot of the locations that the WiFi system would like to occupy is the spots where this other network is. 273 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/15/06 So I think we need to make a decision and ask the Law Department to give you some direction on what we should do with that network.
Thank you. And I guess, for me, that's it. Thank you Madam President.
You are welcome. Are there any other questions from members of the committee? Thank you very much. This committee will stand in recess until Tuesday, March 21, at 10:00 a.m. Thank you all very much. 274 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 Wednesday, March 15, 2006, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE _________________________ DEBRA A. WHITEHEAD