Waddell Ridley, Assistant Vice-President of Government 69 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. and Community Relations, Saint Joe's University. We have been working with the Wynnefield Residents Association and their body. We had not worked with, on this particular project, Rexford Road separately, although we have had communications with Peter Rescorl from the Rexford Road as well.
I'll leave that there for now. Let's go to this equal opportunity plan.
Before we go there. So you have not reached an agreement with Overbrook Farms?
That is correct. Actually, there were 13 points on the table and we reached agreements on at least ten out of the 13, and we are still working through the top three. 70 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc.
Do you believe we should move forward before you reach agreement with Overbrook Farms?
I do. I believe that the issues that have been raised are issues that are longstanding and require a lot of work in order to get those things done.
You know I have a particular interest in Overbrook Farms.
You know I have a particular interest in Overbrook Farms.
My parents live there, and I wanted to know which issues within that agreement are still outstanding.
Okay. The first issue is the issue of 5920 City Avenue. At 5920 City Avenue is a property that the University purchased through Sheriff's sale ten years, years. 12
About ten years 15 ago. Initially the thought was to expand the Overbrook townhomes, and we were met with opposition. We took that off the table. We've met with the Overbrook Farms Club to discuss the different types of uses for that property, and we had not come to any solution with that. In addition, when we purchased the property, the property was in disarray, and what the Overbrook Farms Club would like to see us do is renovate 72 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. that property to, I guess, its former glory. One of the limits that we face is that there has been a petition filed, but it has not met its resolution for historical designation. This has been in limbo probably for about three or four years and kind of limits the type of things that you can actually do. So what we proposed to do immediately is to encapsulate the building, which would be to repair the roof, downspouts, remove the boards from windows and secure those windows from the interior of the property and improve the outward appearance, but we have to do that in conjunction with the Historical Commission, because although there hasn't been a ruling on that petition, we are still under their purview. So that's one. And then as a second part to that, to come up with a plan to renovate and utilize that property, we would still have to meet and get consensus with the community as well. We've had a couple of other 73 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. ideas on the table. One was to use it for administrative offices and possibly kind of like to curate some of our museum-quality artifacts, but that's still a discussion that we're waiting to have in total. A part of that discussion we have to do in conjunction with that property's most nearest neighbor, which is the State Representative Louise Bishop Williams.
There was a request that we be in compliance with the Educational Housing District bill. We believe we have met that and will continue to meet that. But they ask that once we do, that we provide an e-mail certificate or some sort of statement saying that we do. We agree that we will do that. To increase our security and areas that have had more impact with 74 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. student behavior, and we have done that and we've done that in the Wynnefield section at 52nd and Church Road, and we also will add an additional security force, including a police team on the 200 block -- 2000 of North 63rd Street. We were asked to grant permission to allow the Overbrook Farms Club to provide a corner -- a sign on the corner at 63rd and City Avenue. We agreed to do that. We were asked to assist with the traffic study, and we will agree to cooperate and assist with that traffic study, acknowledging that previously when the study started, we were not involved in it, but we have designated at least two people to be a part of that study. We were asked to support the Overbrook Farms Club if they decide to create a neighborhood improvement district. We agree that we would do that and not oppose that in any way. Part of that discussion was that they're looking 75 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. to find funding for their facade treatments and lighting, streetscape and things of that nature, and all those things will benefit the University as well. Additional lighting is going to provide safety, and we've been actually working on an extended lighting plan, which we haven't had an opportunity to disclose due to we haven't identified full funding for the project. We were asked to -- well, there were three things that -- maybe four things that kind of grouped together that are kind of along the lines of economic development, in which the University is glad to be a stakeholder in economic development in the community. However, we are stakeholders in the Wynnefield Overbrook Revitalization Corporation. It is not a part of or a department of the University, but we actually have funded it probably for the last five years, and in the last two years, we have supplied the salary for the Executive Director, 76 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. and we feel that through that vehicle, we will be able to help to do more extensive economic development by being a major partner and stakeholder. We were asked -- well, I could -- we were asked to hang the Overbrook Farms banners. They have a number of historical banners throughout the community, and we actually had been doing that for years. Maybe the last two years we had not, but we were asked -- we recently took the banners down for them, and we will every year put those banners up as they request. Going back to kind of development, they ask that we help to develop the corner property, the Pacifical building at 63rd and Woodbine, and that's something that we feel that would happen through our involvement with the Wynnefield Overbrook Revitalization Corporation. We were asked to replace a damaged magnolia tree. That tree has 77 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. been replaced and it's there. I would say that the outstanding issues that they asked, other than the property at 5920, were to create an off-campus parking lot. And Wynnefield and Overbrook, those communities, including Lower Merion if you want to add it into the mix, are extremely landlocked and we don't have that land to be able to designate an area to build a parking lot. However, we are dedicated to working with the community and finding these sources to create additional parking to improve the parking situation, although we've added parking over the years with the building of our parking lot.
With regard to parking specifically, even with this proposed building built, the University will have a surplus of over 800 -- 843 to be precise -- spaces per the Zoning Code. So there will be a parking surplus. We're also taking acknowledgement of the 78 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. community's concern about student parking off campus, so we are going to be reemphasizing with the new student class and continuing to reemphasize and work with the local police department to make sure that freshmen and sophomores do not bring cars not only to campus but to near campus to park off campus.
And just to add to that, our Vice-President of Student Life, Cary Anderson, is actually here and would be able to speak to some concepts around improving the present parking regulations that we have for our students. And then, finally, we were asked to agree to allow the installation of a playground in a lot that's adjacent to green space next to our Wynnewood Hall facility, and at this particular time, we find that we are more willing to identify additional recreation sources and facilities. We had an idea that we heard that we support in that quite possibly we could look at Morris Park, which is maybe 79 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. two blocks away from the site, maybe three blocks away from the site, and have discussions with the City of Philadelphia and Parks and Recreation to see if there could be a playground or a tot lot built at that location. But that's just one idea. We're willing to have a number of discussions and continue having discussions. Quite simply, Saint Joe's University has been a community partner for a very long time. We've worked with Overbrook Farms Club, sometimes extremely well, sometimes not as well as one might like, but we definitely want to be a partner and do a better job than what we've done in the past, and look forward to working with them in the future. So these discussions, some of these discussions are discussions that will be ongoing discussions.
Thank you. Since we did not have an executed agreement, I just wanted to make sure 80 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. that we got all of that on the record. So thank you.
Thank you, Councilman Goode. So you've mentioned a number of additional questions I was going to raise, so let me back up, put the EOP plan on the shelf for the moment. What penalties are given for students, freshmen, who continue to violate parking rules in neighborhoods? I hear that you give orientation and you emphasize, but we know with incoming freshmen, there are challenges. So what procedural, programmatic steps are in place to make it plain to incoming students that Saint Joseph wants to be a good neighbor and we need your help to 81 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. make that happen?
Good morning. My name is Cary Anderson and I serve as the Vice-President for Student Life, and that enforcement, if you will, falls under my area. And to be quite honest, until recent -- and I'm relatively new to the University -- the challenge was that the message that students got was that you shouldn't bring cars to campus, and what we're doing now is, we're saying you should not bring cars with you to the university. And there's a difference in that.
Correct. So that's the first piece. So that message is being conveyed to the students and to the students' parents in the summer as well as the parents throughout the year through our newsletter. Now, once we know that that information is there, the other thing 82 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. that we have added to our rules and regulations, if you will, is a fine system for people that bring their cars into the community and park in the community. That has not been the case yet. So what will happen is, it will be a sliding scale based on the number of incidents in that particular situation, with the goal of getting the car, first of all, out of the community. So the car will be moved onto our campus and there will be, quote/unquote, a storage fee until that car can get home. The issue --
Just a point of information. How do you identify the car?
Well, that's going to be the issue. If someone is parked blocking a driveway or something along those lines, we pick up that. When it comes to us in that information --
One of the suggestions I would make -- and similar 83 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. to what's happened in South Philly at the sports complex -- there was a system implemented outside of the normal permit parking process which provided stickers for the folks who live in the special service district boundaries of the stadium complex. Those stickers will allow police to identify who can come in and out of the neighborhood during events. I'm wondering whether or not, at a much more inexpensive way, Saint Joe's could provide stickers to Wynnefield, Overbrook Park residents, and then when you see a car without the sticker, you can yank it right away.
Yes. And one of the challenges of that is that there are students that live in the areas as well, that legitimately live there and can have a car, and they also have guests and they have visitors. And we don't have a limited period of time like a game or something along those times, but we need 84 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. to think --
At least if you use the permit parking process without the permit parking fee, because everybody freaks out about paying the $35, I mean if you have legitimate residents in the community and they had permit parking there, they would be eligible for a sticker. But if you provide a process for the neighbors to apply and you provide the sticker, you can identify the offending cars quite quickly and tow them off the street. I mean, I would --
What I would suggest doing is getting a hold of the Executive Director of the sports complex special service district. We can provide the name -- I forget the guy's name -- and number and maybe you could talk to them and see what they did, because they followed similar to what the permit parking process for the Parking 85 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. Authority is, but they didn't implement it exactly. They came up with their own little sticker, which the University could print up at relatively inexpensive cost and be able to identify those cars much quicker than you do now.
I would urge you to do that, because in the interest of full disclosure, I'm a neighbor in that community and inasmuch as the presence of Patty Martin, Joan Chrestay and Waddell has made a huge difference, we still have a long way to go. So on -- there's still enormous parking issues in that community, so I would urge you to take up Councilman Jim Kenney's recommendation. And welcome aboard, because the history is not a pretty picture, to the head of Student Services. You've talked about the kind of orientation given to incoming freshmen. 86 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. What type of penalties, enforcement measures do you put in place for owners of property who buy property precisely and only to rent to students in the neighborhood? And when you're notified that that's the case, what does the University do in matters like that? What is your internal administrative procedure to deal with owners of property who rent to students and you've been fully notified of that?
I guess I don't quite understand the question. I apologize.
And this is why I'm having difficulty, and maybe you could -- it's not -- it's my understanding that it's not illegal for people to own a home and rent to a student. So as long I guess I wouldn't -- I'm not sure what --
That's our 87 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. understanding as well, but we have too many instances where that's the case. And then I know of a very specific instance where the University has been notified and neighboring homeowners actually filed a lawsuit and went to court because there was, some might argue, dissatisfaction with the role of the University. And so the question becomes, does the University have a role? Do you believe you have a role in instances where you know students are occupying single homes?
Oh, yes. Right. I misunderstood the question. I thought the question was what we do with the homeowner, meaning the landlord, versus what we do with the students. Is the question about students?
Okay. Yes, we do address students in those particular situations. It was made mention of earlier that we have -- we employ 88 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. off-duty Philadelphia police officers to help patrol the area. And so when we get a call -- and one of the things that we do is, we try to work with the neighbors to know that they should be calling our public safety so that we can dispatch these officers that have jurisdiction there to gather the names of the individuals who are living in the home that are causing the disruption. So most of the time we'll have that information, but sometimes we may not and we may not know which students are at that home at that moment. Once we have those names, then what we do is, we have those students come in and meet with our Office of Community Standards, which is a judicial affairs, if you will, disciplinary body, and they deal with those particular students. And it ranges, depending on the particular circumstances, anywhere from some type of a warning or service or a fine to educational programs. We have 89 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. someone on staff now that will meet with students that have a party, for example, and one of the things that we do is, this individual speaks to them about their responsibility as a host and liabilities and all of those types of things so that they understand that piece as well. So there's an educational piece and then there's a punitive piece as well. And so that's what we're doing now. And what we try to do is monitor repeat situations. The problem being that you have a group of students, they'll have an issue, then we won't have any more issues and then the next year a new group of students move into the exact same house, they have it and it seems like the University is not doing anything.
Just to add to that, one, for the point of clarification, the off-duty police officers are actually police officers. They drive a police car, they're dressed in police uniforms and they have complete 90 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. police responsibilities. So it's not an off-duty officer that we just happen to employ that comes and works for us for a couple of hours. This is a person who has police -- has total police responsibility. They can arrest a person. They can do everything that the police officers -- they are. Also, sometimes if there is an emergency, they have to answer that call and leave a site. Secondly, the other thing that we do in these circumstances and we seek to do more of and feel really good about it, we've been working very closely with Councilman Jones' office in trying to come up with different ways for us to increase our contact with the community and with students and with residents at different times. So in the beginning of the year, when students return, where they're probably at a friskier time, we plan to have our public safety team, police department, as well as L&I 91 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. officials out there so that we can send a message quick and very fast. And in the past, we might not have done it that way, but we also plan to increase those type of touches. So where maybe that happened once or twice before a year, it will probably happen five or six times. And that message is going to be sent that unruly behavior is not going to be tolerated, and it should not be.
Okay, then. I thank you for that. Point of information.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to follow up on something you just said. Are these officers of yours, are they Philadelphia police officers?
I'm not finished the EOP. Thank you for that. I want to go back to the centerpiece of this discussion, and that's the EOP plan. Do you have a professional on board at the University who will be responsible for the compliance with the EOP plan? Let me ask it differently. Who in the University is going to stay on top of the EOP plan and ensure that what's put in writing actually ultimately happens?
My office, 93 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. Administrative Services, who is responsible for construction on campus, will be responsible for that, with the developer, who is Campus Apartments, and whoever -- if it's a contractor or a construction manager will also play a major role in compliance with this.
I've done this in the past on other projects. An example would be when we built the residence halls at 54th and City Avenue. We did have an EOP plan and we worked with the contractor and with the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition to make sure we were complying with what the University said and for contracts and minority participation on the job.
Well, what grade would you have given you on that project?
What grade 94 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. would you have given the University on that project?
I would say a B. Our goals were percent contracts and 6 28 percent minority participation, and we 7 got pretty close to both of those 8 percentages. 9
Okay, 10 then. On Page -- it might be the document, you mention that you'll be 12 reaching out to -- what you don't mention 13 are local churches, the Wynnefield 14 Residents Association the Overbrook Farms 15 Club and even the Rexford Road 16 Association for meeting these criteria 17 under Item C. You mention a number of 18 items under letter C. So my sense is 19 that it's too general, and the ask would 20 be that you make that more specific. 21 You also mention in here has 22 there been any -- you mention job fairs. 23 So give me a back story on how you 24 envision that happening. 25
Well, at this 95 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. point already, I wouldn't call it a job fair, but just towards the end of March, we had a meet and greet with minority contractors. As far as job fairs, working with Campus Apartments and the contractor, putting together what I'll call a community outreach program, setting up, I'll say -- I would say several outreach meetings, in the beginning talking about contract opportunities, employment and training opportunities. And this is just not in the beginning, but even during the progress of the project.
We're very much aware of their track record and commitment in this area. Just a few lasting questions. You mention on the last page -- next to the last page of this document -- third from the last, a number of organizations, 96 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. including OIC, Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition, Lucien Blackwell Apprenticeship Program. You do not mention the American Cities Foundation, which is another non-profit that sits right in Wynnefield's backyard that, if made aware of these type of efforts, could assist with your employment benchmarks and outreach. So I would ask that you begin to include them in your outreach efforts, knowing that they can help you meet your goals. With regard to the oversight committee, you do offer specifics about remedies and penalties. What are the reporting procedures for the oversight committee? Because it's good to meet and have the meetings, but what type of reporting will be a part of this EOP activity? Are you reporting back to the District Councilperson? Are you reporting back to the head of the Rules Committee? Where does the reporting happen for other stakeholders that are 97 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. not a part of the oversight committee?
Well, there'll be a monthly report, and at this time, my understanding is that we would report back to the District Councilperson's office.
Okay. I believe that might be it, Mr. Chairman. Let me close by where I started. When you consider the fact that Wynnefield has a population of 47,000 and at least 90 percent, or 36,000, is African American, why does it matter to have a Board of Trustees and/or administration that looks like the community where it sits?
I can tell you from what I know the makeup of the Board. A certain percentage of that Board have to be Jesuits in the order, some other who are alums. We've certainly in the past so many years been making a concerted effort to get more -- have more women on the Board, and I think we've 98 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. been -- got successful there. Persons of color, we continue -- as we said, we have two. I know one of Philadelphia residents, being Bruce Crawley. And it's an ongoing process that every year is reviewed with a committee of the Board, when people do come off the Board and their terms are up, who the next Board member should be, and that is all taken into consideration.
I can add just one other thing is from the issues of diversity, I'm thinking maybe it was about five years ago, about four or five years ago, the University thought enough of the issue of diversity to add a Diversity Director, who has been working with the University and working through these type things. So it's not something that has fallen on deaf ears. It's something the University takes very seriously.
We thank you all for your testimony. Know that -- 99 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc.
-- there are many of us who continue to pay attention to the progress of the relationship between the University and the neighbors. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning. It is morning, isn't it? Yeah, just barely. I just want to get an overview of the area in question. Could you tell me what the property consists of today? Is it mostly, the property that you plan to redevelop, is it mostly residential homes on it or is it a mixture of commercial, residential?
It's part of 100 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. the campus?
Yes, it is. It's part of our campus on the corner of City Avenue and Cardinal Avenue.
That's what I was just getting confused with. What is this property at 5920?
It's involved because the University purchased it so many years ago, with intention to do something and to renovate it, and it hasn't happened to date.
But this has nothing to do with the project that you 101 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. want to put up today, right?
Not physically, but Overbrook Farms Club and others are concerned going forward what the University does with the property.
Thank you. I think the land you're talking about on Cardinal Avenue is a field that Mayor Nutter and I used to practice football on at the Prep back in 1972 to '76. Is that the field there?
You're going to build on it now. Anyway, any other questions for these witnesses? Councilman Goode.
Just a couple more questions regarding the economic opportunity plan. First and foremost, you talked about one project 102 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. that required a plan. Were there other projects that required an EOP?
We did not have other EOPs with some of our other projects, but what we have in our contracts, whether again it's a CM or a GC, part of our contract states those goals and the 28 and the percent. 10
So was the 11 EOP consistent with previous contract 12 language or was that EOP the most 13 ambitious? 14
I would say 15 previously to the residence halls on City 16 Avenue we didn't have an EOP plan. 17 That's when we started. And since then, 18 we've put language in our contracts 19 consistent with -- 20
So are these 23 goals comparable or more aggressive than 24 that project? 25
The goals in 103 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. this project will be more aggressive.
So how do you plan to meet these goals if you didn't meet the previous goals?
More -- working harder at it and working with Campus Apartments, who have a track record, and what we've learned --
No, they were not. And what we've learned since that project and over the years of opportunity plans and providing the opportunities for participation in contracts over the years, we've learned a lot in the University of getting better at it each time.
Okay. More specifically, there are goals set within here in terms of workforce to pull from 104 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. the zip codes 19131 and 19151. How serious are you about that and what have you done so far to specifically try to meet those goals?
Well, we haven't done an outreach yet, but we intend to do an outreach in those zip codes.
But you are aware that the economic opportunity plan asks that you target those zip codes in terms of employment opportunities?
Well, again, through outreach and trying to find out -- and I say "trying to find out" -- I would say residents who are union members, are in the unions who reside in those zips. 105 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc.
Okay. Well, in addition to that, we're going to be working very closely with the Councilman's office, our District Councilperson. I can tell you that we know and can identify other community organizations, churches and groups in the 31 and 51 areas. We also, I think -- we're working right now with the Mayor's Office of Community Services. We're looking to do a job fair in August that we will host with them on our campus, and we'll probably use that same mechanism, in addition to the other mechanisms of having job fairs with other organizations and tying in with the WIB, OIC, et cetera. Whoever we need to work with to try to meet those goals, we're going to work with those. And quite honestly, if we find that we need more assistance, probably knock on your door.
Okay. Because there's also a goal set for apprentices, too. So they need not be 106 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. union members yet per se.
Thank you. Any other questions for these witnesses? (No response.)
Seeing none, anyone else to testify on this bill? (Witness approached witness table.)
Hello. My name is Stephanie Kindt. I'm a resident of Overbrook Farms. Thanks so much for hearing my testimony today. There are a few points that I'd like to make, but first I'd just overall 107 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. like to say that it feels like there's a disconnect between the University and their Plan 2020 and Plan 2010 and the vision and the mission that's in the public domain in terms of their strategy for the future and their day-to-day actions. It feels as if they say the right things, but when it comes down to it, things aren't followed through. And it also feels as though Overbrook Farms and Wynnefield are definitely a periphery. The University sits in a circle that's drawn, and inside it's perfect and beautiful and I enjoy it. I run on the track and my kids swim at the Hawk Hill program. But outside of it, there's no trickle effect. Except for 5920, it's not in the circle for some reason. So 5920, although it's a University property, it sits at the historic Overbrook Farms dwelling that's been decaying for the past ten years. The plan was to demolish it, I imagine for new dorms, but the community opposed 108 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. that, so that's -- and the University has not worked with us. I've not seen any proposals in the past ten years that I've lived there for redevelopment of that structure. So I think that we definitely have the same goals on paper, but when it comes to actually working it out, we have some kind of a disconnect. So I'm here to urge you to give us more time, give us more time to work on the agreement, that they have met with us four times in the past two months, which is fabulous. We're finally engaging. Give us more time to negotiate. Saint Joe's at this point will not agree to any formal contract. It all needs to be in a memorandum of understanding, which really isn't binding per se. So it's problematic for us, especially in the past when things haven't been followed through. So we would really like to get to something 109 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. that would be binding.
Can I just ask you a question relative to the recommendation for delay?
While I'm well aware over my time of being here of lots of issues relative to community and university, whether it's Temple, Penn, Saint Joe's, LaSalle, there's always that tension, and sometimes it's good tension, sometimes it's not. Do you believe the delay in the building of the dorms for freshmen would exacerbate the problem? Because if they're not available for next year's class or whenever they're ready, wouldn't that more than likely create a situation where there would be more kids living in the neighborhood as opposed to living on campus?
It's my understanding that given the numbers when they play out, it's not going to 110 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. significantly impact the number of students that are living in the residence at all. It more closely fits Saint Joe's plans to expand to add more students, 50 per year, with the flexibility of increasing that number each year.
Their initial testimony was that one of the purposes obviously is to improve the attractiveness of kids coming to the school, because that's how they survive.
Right. And I completely agree, but in terms of engaging with community and planning for impact of how additional students and additional buildings and additional students who aren't allowed to bring cars but do -- and I love that sticker idea. That is an awesome idea.
I have Mr. Jalosinski's number for the special services district I'll give to them before they leave.
Yeah. So the struggle has been for the past year and a half to get a handle on all these issues. And to have no 8 facts and data, no traffic planning studies, not even a call back from Saint Joe's, it's frustrating. And I understand that it's a large organization, so it's a lot of moving parts, people don't communicate, but if you have a project of this nature and it's this important, I would think that you would engage the community much earlier on, especially when you are aware that there are traffic and parking studies happening. So I think -- is it possible that we could work things out quickly? I'm not sure. I don't know, but if it comes out of Committee, I feel like Overbrook Farms loses leverage, so does Wynnefield, so does Curtis Jones, Councilman Jones. 112 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. So that's my feeling right now.
Ma'am, just on the issue of leverage, I mean, even if it comes out of Committee, it's still up to the District Councilperson whether he wants to call it up for a final vote. And I'm sure, knowing Councilman Jones, he's going to make sure the community is continuously being engaged. So, I mean, just coming out of Committee today doesn't end the issue. I'm sure -- he has three staff members here, so I'm sure they're listening, and I'm sure Councilman Jones will do his best to make sure you guys are engaged.
Just very quickly, while it might be possible that 113 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. you were trying to negotiate a memorandum of understanding and if not educated, you might think someone could just throw that in the trash, but that's not really possible now, because the point to that memorandum of understanding were just put into the record. So this is a formal record with Saint Joe's on the record saying which issues were supposed to be resolved and what they were going to do about it.
I share your concerns. I've been where you are, but as Councilman Goode just stipulated, it is because of the memorandum of understanding that I am supporting it moving out of Committee, period.
Thank you 114 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. very much. Any more questions for this witness? (No response.)
Seeing none, that will conclude our public hearing. We will now convene a public meeting, and the Chair recognizes Councilmember DiCicco for a motion on Bill No. 100199. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 17 100199 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation, that the rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.)
There are 115 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. none opposed. Bill No. 100199 reported out of this Committee favorably, with a request for rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Goode for a motion to approve the amendments to Bill No. 10 100200.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the amendment to Bill No. 100200 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill 100200 will be amended accordingly. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode on a motion for the amended bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill 100200, 116 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. as amended, be reported out of the Committee with a favorable recommendation, the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill 100200, as amended, reported out of this Committee favorably and a request made for rules suspension to allow first reading at our next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Greenlee on a motion for Bill 100287.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 23 100287 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and the rules of Council be suspended to allow 117 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 100287 reported out of this Committee favorably and a request made for rules suspension to allow first reading at our next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilmember DiCicco on Bill No. 100311. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill 100311 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation, that the rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor? 118 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. (Aye.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 100311 will be reported out of this Committee favorably and a request made for rules suspension to allow first reading at our next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Reynolds Brown on a motion to amend Bill 100377.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill 100377 be amended. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 100377 will be amended accordingly. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Reynolds Brown for a motion on the amended bill. 119 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill 100377, as amended, be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 100377, as amended, reported out of this Committee favorably and a request made for rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Greenlee for a motion to amend Bill No. 100222.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the adoption of the amendment to Bill No. 100222. (Duly seconded.) 120 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc.
There are none opposed. Bill No. 100222 will be amended accordingly. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Greenlee for a motion on the amended bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill 14 100222, as amended, be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and the rules of Council be suspended to allow for first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 100222, as 121 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. amended, reported out of this Committee favorably and a request made for rules suspension to allow first reading at our next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Goode on a motion to amend Bill 100367.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the amendment to Bill No. 100367 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 100367 will be amended accordingly. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Goode.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 24 100367, as amended, be reported out of the Committee with a favorable 122 6/8/10 - RULES - BILL 100199, etc. recommendation and the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
There are none opposed. Bill No. 100367, as amended, reported out of this Committee favorably and a request made for rules suspension to allow first reading at our next Council session. That concludes the business of the Rules Committee. Thank you for your time and attention. (Committee on Rules concluded at 12:05 p.m.) - - - 123 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on June 8, 2010, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. -------------------- MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)