I recollect that the heater didn't work on the pool and they couldn't use it because it was just impossible. There was this big debate back and forth between the School District and the Recreation Department on who should fix it. Finally we had to get involved and make a zillion phone calls to get a swim team that couldn't use the pool. How many swimming pools do we have that have this relationship where the School District owns the pool and you've agreed to do the maintenance? It's quite confusing to me. So I'd like to know, how many pools do we have in schools and have we ironed out the maintenance so a pool doesn't shut down because the water is 40 degrees?
We have seven indoor pools that we operate within schools. The maintenance of the pools is the responsibility of the School Board.
Is that desirable to have a swimming pool that you operate -- 1340 correct, you operate the pool?
You're a tenant, and if you need something done you need to go to the School District to get it done?
What I just described to you went on for a long period of time, trying to get the pool heater fixed.
Because you got it fixed. Thank you. But without you actually getting personally involved and having to make phone calls -- I think it even went up to as high as the school superintendent to try to get the pool fixed. Is there a way we need to fix that where you get the budget, you get the money to fix the pool? The School District is not involved at all, correct?
That would be desirable. If they would give us the proper 1341 budget and transfer it over to us with the proper staff that Carlton would need in maintenance, that would make it where we could control the facility better. But I don't know about that happening because it's within a school building. That's where the technicalities come in.
Okay. Is it getting any better? In other words, you have a program to run. If it's not a hot issue -- no pun intended -- for the School District, do we need to talk to them when they come here to be assured that we have a swimming pool that can be used as a swimming pool --
I think it wouldn't hurt if you talked to them when they come here.
It always has to come down to numerous phone calls back and forth. They cooperate, but it wouldn't hurt if there was some interest in this Chamber to make sure it helps a little faster. 1342
Good. Because it's a shame when a coach has to call a Councilmember and beg, pretty much, could you please get our heater because I have a program I'm trying to run here and we can't run it because the water is so cold that the athletes cannot swim in it.
We have a pool right now that has to be repaired. We had to shut down at 57th and Spruce, Sayre Junior High. We run that pool there.
It just went down a couple weeks ago. They're saying it won't operate again until possibly September or October. So that's where I'm saying, if there was some interest, maybe things could be done a little faster.
That's not going to happen. It's filled with water, right, or do they have to empty it out?
Okay. See, there's a perfect example of not a good relationship. You have a program. You depend on the pool. You basically are their tenant, and if they don't respond you're not able to do your program. What is that pool's name again?
How active a program and what's happened? Is it just on hold?
It's very much needed. We do a lot of our lifeguard training there in the spring.
So we have a program that's down. I'll get on that right after this session. My last question. I'm having a tough time understanding the real length of the pool program this year. Is it one week shorter than last year, or is it two weeks shorter than last year, because last year it was one week shorter than normal? So was it 1344 two weeks shorter or one week shorter? I know we had some conversation about this, and now today it's kind of like not clear to me exactly the length of the program. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: It will be a solid eight weeks. It will be one week shorter than last year, two weeks shorter than the previous year.
All right. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Normally the pools have been going all the way -- and not all of them -- until Labor Day weekend. It's not uncommon for myself or Deputy Commissioner Carapucci to say, Mr. Councilperson, sorry, we've got to close this pool, but the staff is leaving. That was one of the ways. We're still looking at if we could do part of it on the front and also part of it on the back. From what our executive staff and our aquatics operations staff and our district managers are telling us, the numbers are declining. But also, a lot of the parents, 1345 they begin to want to take a vacation or they start gearing towards getting the children back to school, and quite naturally, the majority of our lifeguard staff are college kids, and they want to try to get a break before they go back. So we're going to give it a try. Our goal was not to close any pools, and that's what we're accomplishing.
You ought to balance that. It doesn't take a college education to be a lifeguard. So you can hire some people that are available throughout the month of August. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: I don't have any problem going in front of any TV camera or to come into this Body to say, I'm sorry, but five pools right now will be delayed opening because we don't have the proper people. This is what I have done through my leadership and also with teaching and developing the staff. If they're not the right kind of people, you are not under pressure to get it open by a certain day. You have an obligation to the citizens and the 1346 children and this entire City to let me know, and for me to go out front and say, it's not opening. It's going to take us two more weeks because we don't have the right person. That may be either they're not strong in their skills as a lifeguard or they have an improper police record or they can't urinate clean in a cup. I don't have a problem standing up saying, we're going to wait, or I'm sorry. I don't have a problem asking ya'll to help us recruit.
That's something you'll get a lot of support on. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Thank you.
But I think we really have to fix this problem with the relationship with the Board of Education. To have Sayre down, a critical component in your program, not to be available is not a good situation. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. 1347 The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. Somebody testified earlier today that some cost allocations could not be made by the City because the City did not have the capacity to do it. I don't know which member of the panel did that, but to that member of the panel I address the question, do you know whether the City ever had the ability to do it?
I think there were two studies, one was an overall allocation City-wide and the other dealt with certain specified pool areas. Do you know what the cost to the City was of the allocation? What did it cost the City to get the allocation done by a private firm?
Both together. 1348 How much did the outside sourcing of that particular job cost the City?
I'd like to defer that question to the Budget Office or the Finance Department. I don't know the cost to the City for that.
I'll hold that. I'm very concerned that the cost of that process would have covered the cost of the City having in-house counsel, in-house allocating authority. I'm very concerned about the elimination of government jobs so that you can do this through private employment. I think it almost always costs much more, isn't ready when you need it to be ready and is a very expensive way to do it. Often a method is chosen in order to provide preferred job opportunities to favorite people. So if you could make a study for me as to what you know 1349 of this allocating method, I'd be very appreciative. And secondly to the Commissioner --
Councilman Cohen, excuse me. I think that information should come from the Finance Department. Would you please make sure that we get that information for the Councilman?
Well, the Finance Department will do it fully enough. It would be okay if the Recreation Department had an opportunity to make sure that all the costs were included, because I suspect it would be much cheaper if the City had that ability.
Ms. Howard, would you approach the witness table, please?
Ms. Howard, would you be able to provide the Councilman the information that he's seeking?
Yes. It's an easy question to answer. We just don't have the 1350 information with us right now.
Not just for City-wide, all the allocating that the City cannot do and had done this past year, within the last year, what did it cost the City to outsource the job? I'd like to know who did the work, because I'm very concerned about changing and outsourcing. It's just a pleasant word to cause a lot of layoffs and unhappiness and often totally unrelated to merit or cost. Secondly, I would like to commend the Commissioner. I'm sorry. I have to disagree with my colleague, Councilman DiCicco, on the value of outdoor suburban camps. As a youngster I never went outside the City for camping until I was much older. I would be prepared to be a witness to say you can't have a suburban camp atmosphere except out in the country, Frank. There's just a difference. You begin to notice it a few miles away from the City. As beautiful as the Fairmount Park is, I don't think you can have a replica of outdoor and 1351 country-wide camping unless you're in the country. I would hope the Commissioner remembers that there's more than one or at least one that's speaking up today. But I know a number of other Councilmen also share the feeling. We think it's a good thing, but at the same time we're mindful of Councilman DiCicco's economy calls because we don't like to see money wasted. I think that that's been a very valuable attribute for the City to have to offer to all the children, not just the wealthy children whose parents can give them the benefit of the suburban camp life, but to have City children go outside the City. It doesn't have to be very far but, but Camp William Penn is a delightful place to spend a little time. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome, sir. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. 1352
Speaking of Camp William Penn. In your testimony, Camp William Penn is requesting $278,000 in General Fund appropriations for FY '06. The FY '06 budget supports four full-time employees, a camp director, secretary and two property caretakers, and an additional 58 seasonal employees. What does the camp director do during the year when the camp is not in operation and what is the camp director's salary?
There is a down time for camp approximately from late October until mid February. That is my time to actually go out and begin recruiting new kids and new staff and promote Camp William Penn. There's a five month down period where I'm not actually involved with children. I'm taking care of parent requests, sending out information, doing interviews. In that five months I can go out and actually promote the camp. That is my goal in those five months.
I go out and I talk through the City. I meet organizations. I meet with parents. I go to different clubs and just promote.
Does someone request you to come to speak or do you just seek them out or does the Department give you leads?
Currently that position is vacant. Those duties are being handled by the administrative services cluster.
So it's just this year, '05, the position became vacant as a result of DROP or?
And I thought I heard the Commissioner say there was one caretaker who lives there year round.
There are approximately 700 acres that they're attending to up there. It's an impossible job for one person.
We have over 100 buildings on the camp property that need to be cared for every season. When summer is over and we've had 600 to 900 kids in this camp, we do have to do some major repairs on the property. 1355
We probably use about 85 of these buildings, yes. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: If I can give you some more details. The washing machine, the dryers, all the screens that get burst out or doors that are ripped out.
All this in five weeks? We burn out washing machines, dryers and windows get blown out in five weeks? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Well, no, we don't lose all of the washers and dryers. Some of them go down. Also all of the plumbing, all of the roofing is done, all of the cafeteria operational stuff is done. The purified water system is done by these two employees as well. The grass cutting as well. I probably might have missed a couple of things. Also, by the camp being rustic the entire plumbing system has to be blown and dropped and capped off --
Winterize it. 1356 COMMISSIONER RICHARD: -- in sections throughout the whole camp site itself.
How many caretakers, maintenance employees, do we have for the City of Philadelphia Department of Rec facilities?
160. We have 120 A and B centers. So we have a full-time staff in the As and the Bs.
I'm confused. What is your definition of a caretaker?
Taking care of 160-some odd centers that are used 365 days a 1357 year?
That have similar conditions, weather conditions, roof leaks, broken windows, fencing, gating, et cetera?
Well, there's 233 in the division, but 124 of them are considered caretaker level or positions.
So a little bit less than one per facility, if you want to break it down.
For facilities that are used 365 days year for the most part?
And we have two up in the mountains for a facility that's used five weeks a year. I understand that there's a certain amount of maintenance that has to be ongoing. So we have two. How many vehicles do they have assigned to Camp William Penn?
We have one pick-up truck and one 12-passenger van. The 12-passenger van is actually used here in the City on the off season.
And the pick-up truck, I assume, stays there year round?
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. I want to choose my words very, very carefully here. I want to commend the Commissioner for ensuring that any young person that attends any rec facility in the City or at Camp William Penn has the absolute best in terms of what the City has to offer by way of salary. So I don't care, quite frankly, if it's a Ph.D. person, when it comes 1359 to protecting young people at the facilities around this City. Yes, at the end of day you do ultimately have to speak to the leadership of the City, this legislative body and parents across this City in instances where children are not adequately protected. So kudos to you and your staff for the diligence and the attentiveness that you give when it comes to the recruitment of temporary employees, particularly during the summer. My office, like many offices in here, have helped in the recruitment of qualified, competent individuals who have more than adequately passed the test. So you need to know that we commend you for that type of -- attentiveness is the only word I can come up with when it comes to making sure that the kids in this town are protected. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Are there any other questions or comments by Members of the Committee? (No response.) 1360
Before we conclude with the Department of Recreation, I would ask Carlton Williams to approach the podium directly behind me, please. I would ask Councilwoman Brown to join him. We're sorry to say that Carlton Williams is leaving the Recreation Department and will be taking a position with the Streets Department. Councilwoman.
I am going to call Councilman Frank Rizzo, who cares about the children in this City, to join me in saluting Carlton Williams. First of all, congratulations.
You should know that we are seizing the moment today because the City Council's schedule does not permit us to be here on Thursday. To that end, City Council's City of Philadelphia's Citation honoring our very own Deputy Commissioner, Carlton Williams. 1361 The Council of the City of Philadelphia is pleased and proud to honor Deputy Commissioner Carlton Williams on the occasion of his departure after five years of outstanding and dedicated service to the Recreation Department. Whereas Carlton has served as Deputy Commissioner at the Recreation Department for five years. His hard work and dedication led to many innovative projects, ranging from the implementation of MS 2000 work order system, to the newly formed spray ground project. Whereas Deputy Commissioner Williams is leaving the Recreation Department for a unique opportunity at the Sanitation Department.
If you thought we bothered you now, wait until you join the Streets Department. Whereas throughout his tenure with the Recreation Department, Deputy Commissioner Carlton Williams consistently served the public with integrity and honor. He was a valuable employee who is well respected by his 1362 supervisors and colleagues and his presence at the Recreation Department will be sorely missed.
Therefore, by the virtue of this citation, the Council of the City of Philadelphia does hereby honor Deputy Commissioner Carlton Williams of the Recreation Department on the occasion of his departure. We thank you for all of your dedicated and outstanding service to the Recreation Department and we wish you well in your new position at the Sanitation Department. Congratulations. Signed by our very own President, Anna C. Verna, Blondell Reynolds Brown, and I am sure, supported by all the Members of this legislative body. Congratulations. (Applause.)
This is the first time I've been in City Council and have been shocked like this. I just want to thank you, Council President, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds 1363 Brown, and all of the Council Members who every day help me. Councilwoman Blackwell, who helped me do my job effectively. Again, I was in the Recreation Department for the past five years. I think that it was an honor to serve under Mayor John F. Street and his Administration. It was an honor to work with Commissioner Victor Richard. I care a lot about children, as all of you do here. It is our goal, even though we have disagreements on how things are being done, we have one purpose, to make sure it's done correctly for the benefit of our children in the City. I want to thank you, first of all, for supporting me. I look forward to continue working in the Streets Department with all of you and I'll continue to still want to have a great relationship with the Department of Recreation. You will always be cherished in my heart and I thank you and I appreciate it. (Applause.)
That 1364 concludes the public hearing of the Recreation Department. We will now hear from Atwater Kent. Good afternoon. Thank you for your patience. We all have copies of your testimony, which will be given to the stenographer. It will be transcribed in full. I would appreciate it if you would simply summarize your testimony. Thank you.
I will. Thank you, Council President Verna and Members of City Council. I am Chris Davis, Deputy Director of Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia. With me is David Seltzer, President of the Atwater Kent Board of Trustees; and David Rasner, the Mayor's appointee to the Board of Trustees. Viki Sand, Executive Director of the museum, sends her sincere regrets that she cannot be here today. On behalf of Viki Sand, the Board of Trustees and staff of the Atwater Kent Museum, allow me to say thank you to City Council for the significant restoration of funding in the City's Fiscal Year '05 budget. 1365 Your commitment to the 67-year public/private partnership between the City of Philadelphia and the museum allowed us to launch a major exhibition, education and program schedule during the past year. With City support for one quarter of our budget, the museum has leveraged the other three quarters with grants and 10 contributions from hundreds of individuals. 11 We are here to seek restoration by 12 the City Council of Class 100 funds totaling 13 $264,000 for five core positions, including 14 the executive director, curator, register, 15 municipal guard and semi-skilled laborer. 16 In addition, we are asking 17 consideration of restoration for Class 200 18 funds, totaling $5,875, providing insurance 19 for the museum collection, numbering $100,000 objects. This represents no increase from funds appropriated in Fiscal Year 2005, a year in which the museum was reduced by one staff position. All associated with the Atwater Kent Museum appreciate the efforts that are being 1366 made to maintain City support for the museum, along with the Museum of Art and other cultural organizations. The proposed reduction, a seemingly modest $19,875, if allowed to stand, places in further jeopardy, the public/private partnership that has been in place since 1938 when City officials joined with cultural leaders to create a City museum for Philadelphia. It jeopardizes the recent collaborative relationship between the City and the Board of Trustees to transform the Atwater Kent into a vibrant part of Philadelphia's heritage tourism campaign and an educational resource that encourages civic pride and civic engagement by all citizens. Continued City support for the five remaining museum positions is the critical base from which the museum is fulfilling its role as the City museum. With just two City-supported custodial and security personnel and the reduction of one staff position last year, the museum is providing general admission for the public five days 1367 each week with scheduled group programs available seven days a week. Further reduction or funding support would significantly impact the museum's strategic efforts to respond to general visitation, while making its facility available on a scheduled basis for groups of children in school or after school programs and adult tours. In addition, the loss of City supported collection insurance represents the cost of a part-time assistant to work with youth programs. Some of you have visited the Atwater Kent recently and marveled at the 1,600 square foot street map of the City that anchors the Experience Philadelphia gallery or have been mesmerized by the strong images in Small Towns, Black Lives, the photographic exhibition that connects Philadelphia with 10 rural southern New Jersey towns or checked out former Mayor Richardson Dilworth Humberg on display in the Love that Hat exhibition. On behalf of Philadelphia's history 1368 museum we urge you to restore the seemingly modest amounts that are being cut from the City budget for both the Atwater Kent and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The $20,000 that is slated to be cut from the Atwater Kent Museum budget is a significant amount of money for the museum. Philadelphia's memory in the form of 100,000 objects of City history resides at the museum, including 11,400 items of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania's art and artifact collection.
At the Atwater Kent, Philadelphia's wampum belt, the personal items of Benjamin Franklin, and Joe Frazier's boxing gloves are cared for and exhibited. Preserving these premier items of City history is the museum's mission and we hope it is the mission of every Philadelphians. Thank you, President Verna.
You're welcome. Thank you very much. I would just like some clarification if you don't mind. Are you asking for an 1369 increase of $14,000 to bring your FY '06 budget to $264,000?
We are asking for funding at last year's level, President Verna.
Now, the $14,000 that was cut, was that from a position for somebody who may have gone out on DROP, retired?
Last year when the City cut the museum's budget we lost one position. Let me just clarify. Excuse me. We are seeking Class 100 funds of $264,000 and Class 200 funds of $5,875. So the total from the current proposed allocation of $250,000 is approximately $20,000.
So in Class 100, $14,000 was deleted. Again, I'm asking, is that for one position?
Purchase of services, that's totally being eliminated?
The purchase of services I see that that's totally being eliminated?
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
My question is a direct follow-up to President Verna. The $20,000, the exact figure I have here is $19,875. Will that affect the after school learning lab? Let me ask it differently. The position that was terminated last year, what program was that position for? 1371
That position was a City position of administrative support, Councilwoman. That person's position was reassigned to other members of the staff. Further cutting this year will most definitely affect youth and after school in the learning lab, yes.
Thank you very much. I needed that clarification as well. Thank you, Madam Chair.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Madam President, we certainly would like to greet these representatives of that wonderful museum. When I see them I think of that floor that is a map of our City. Certainly many of us, we're concerned about this museum. We're concerned about the Art Museum and we really would like to find some way to do what we can to work it out. We thank you for the fine job you do and 1372 certainly are very, very concerned and really collectively would like to do all we can to make sure you have what you need.
Thank you, Councilwoman Blackwell, for those very encouraging words.
Thank you, Madam President. As a board member of the Atwater Kent Museum, who perhaps like a few other board members, unfortunately only a few, I don't do what I ought to do during the full time year in support of Atwater Kent. But I follow faithfully its activities, and every comment I hear has been a very favorable one. I think with the small funds they do a remarkable job, because I've never heard so many good things about Atwater Kent Museum. Be assured we're going to try very hard to work this problem out in City Council and you will have the support, as you see, of a number of Councilmembers strongly on your 1373 side. But may I raise one question?
You refer to the fact that the Atwater Kent Museum is a City museum. It's my understanding that in many other cities they call it officially the City museum and people know it's the City museum. But many people, when I refer to Atwater Kent, wonder what it was. Atwater Kent was a great Philadelphian at one time. But as the years developed he's not as well known. I wonder if the board has ever considered using the name, the official City of Philadelphia Museum or something like that so people will know it's the City's museum and not just a private museum? It may attract many more people because it is the history of Philadelphia over a long period of time. It's a wonderful history.
Councilman Cohen, My name is David Rasner. I'm the Mayor's appointee to the museum. I've been the 1374 Mayor's appointee since, I think, 1992. We've gone through a lot of transition, a lot of history associated with this museum. One of the issues that has been discussed in prior years is name change. Quite frankly, if you can recall back, the Atwater Kent was always known as the Atwater Kent, period. It wasn't until eight years ago or 10 years ago that we changed it to read the Atwater Kent History Museum of the City of Philadelphia. There's been discussion to name it or rename it, just a City's history museum, but that also affects our relationship with the Atwater Kent Foundation, which does support us, and the family, as well as the initial City Charter changes that formed Atwater Kent. That was formed in 1938, and I think as part of that contract with the City, the Atwater Kent name has to be there for that building. We've talked about changing that, modifying that. That has been considered. Because I think you have to be what you are, 1375 and that is the history museum of the City of Philadelphia.
I think Councilman DiCicco's fertile mind has a suggestion to offer.
Along those same lines, modifying maybe Official City of Philadelphia Atwater Kent Museum, something that includes what Councilman Cohen is saying, the words, City of Philadelphia in some shape or form.
Let's make a bargain with City Council. If we survive, then we'll change the name.
We're going to do what we have to do to get your money back.
One point that I do want to make is that we've been blessed with dedicated staff and dedicated leadership and also the strong support of City Council. We would not be there, we would not exist but for all of those things coming together. Let me point out that as our budget has dwindled and now we're at $264,000 we've 1376 leveraged -- the key word here was leveraged -- we've leveraged those funds so that our budget is over a million dollars. We receive two-thirds of our funding from other sources. That was not the case years ago when I 7 became associated with the museum. We were 8 charged with privatizing the museum, which we 9 have done. And now because of our successes 10 we keep on getting whittled away. 11 As I look at five year budgets, 12 which scares me, not just for the museum, but for the City of Philadelphia, what would the City be without its own history museum? Are we to become a relic, just close it off and mothball ourselves like other things around the City? That would be terribly unfortunate. That's not what it should be. That's sending the wrong message to the City. It's sending the wrong message to our funders, if the funders will fund us so long as the City of Philadelphia believes in us. If they feel that the City does not believe in us and cuts our funding, then we can't survive. We will not have their support. 1377
I'm certain that people that are funding you and supporting you are not likely to be paying for operating expenses?
That's correct. What we do receive our funding for now is for programming, exhibitions and other activities and we rely on the operating expenses and costs paid for by the City of Philadelphia.
I'm sorry, Councilman Cohen. I didn't mean to interrupt you, but I just wanted to get that point over.
I'm fine. We hope it will be the City museum, but it will also have Atwater Kent in the name.
In order for them to do that they're going to need appropriate funding. Thank you all so very much.
Thank you. Our last department will be the Art Museum. I know that they have been sitting 1378 here very patiently waiting. I do want to thank them for their patience.
While we're in the middle of the transition. I was able to hear and see the Atwater Kent Museum. Unfortunately I couldn't be in the room at the time. I just wanted to at least have on the record my support for them as we go through this budget process and express, at least for myself, a commitment to try to make sure that they are not hurt in this process and have the funding that they need to run a magnificent museum on behalf of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Councilman. Again, I want to thank you for your patience. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Madam President and Members of City Council, I an Ann d'Harnocourt, the Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It's an honor to appear before 1379 you today to summarize our testimony and to express our warm gratitude for the Council's action last year to restore all but $225,000 of our annual appropriation, leaving us with an appropriation of $2 million in the current Fiscal Year. With me today are Gerry Lenfest to my left, chairman of the museum's board of trustees. Further left, Cheryl McKenney-Brooker, our director of external affairs. To my right, Gail Harrity, our chief operating officer, and Kitty Corner behind her, Robert Marrone, our director of facilities and operations. With your our permission, Madam President, our chairman, Gerry Lenfest, will speak first.
Thank you very much. Madam President, and Members of the Council, I'll be very brief. This museum opened its doors 125 1380 years ago, and during that time, it's enriched the lives of citizens of the City. It's educated generations of children, especially in collaboration with the School District of Philadelphia. We've attracted visitors and tourists and have been an economic engine for the City. We've attracted and supported new generations of businesses and their employees. I really think most of these are what you know. Through the history of the museum there's been a public and a private partnership. As you know, the museum is owned by the City. The City pays for utilities and part of the maintenance and security of the museum. By the same token, it's been joined with private support through its entire 125 years. Taken together with last year's reduction in our budget, if the current budget reduction goes through, it will reduce the operating expenses of the museum by 22 percent. This has a dramatic impact on our ability to provide services and continue to be 1381 the economic engine that it has been for the City. We also feel that if the City continues its present support of the museum, that it will be a very positive message to those that give private support to the museum and continue this public and private partnership that's made this museum so successful. That closes my comments and I thank you for listening.
Thank you, Gerry. I will make a brief remark and then hand the microphone to my colleague, Gail Harrity, who has a brief Power Point presentation. I will say that we are really here today to remind us all about the history of the museum, to talk about the present and the future of this partnership that Gerry spoke so eloquently of. The museum's glorious building, 1382 which was built, as you know, by the City over a 10-year period, is the anchor of the Parkway and in many ways the icon of the City. The City's commitment to guard and maintain it while the museum corporation cares for its collections, creates great exhibitions like African Art, African Voices and Dali this year or Beauford Delaney, a great African-American painter from the South and based in New York and then Paris, and the 17th Dutch Landscape painting next fall and Andrew Wyeth, another son of Pennsylvania next spring. It reaches tens of thousands of school children each year. This partnership extends not only between the City and the museum, but between the museum and the School District of Philadelphia and dozens of other schools in the region between the museum, and so many cultural and educational institutions, large and small, from the Free Library, from the Village of the Arts and Humanities to the Point Breeze Performing Arts Center and the Mural Arts Program in every neighborhood of 1383 the City, as well as our friends at the Atwater Kent Museum. We really come before you in the same spirit as the other City supported museums. The African-American Museum of Philadelphia and the Atwater Kent Museum. We constitute treasure houses and catalysts, if you will, of the City's history, its memory, its future in the rich, diverse, creative culture that we can call Philadelphia's. If you talk about the present, we're so aware the challenges that the City faces on every front, financial in particular. But the museum wants to be part of the solution, now and long-term, to help prepare our young people, especially that creative class which embodies so much of all our future, with the tools for visual culture and expression that we all need very so much in the 21st century. We are very committed to the bright future of this great City and we know that we can get there together one step at a time. What we plead for this afternoon is not to have to take a big step backward at this 1384 crucial juncture. At a moment when so many good things are poised to happen on the Parkway, the museum must continue to set an outstanding example that we strive to do of the cultural, educational and economic impact which cultural institutions have on their cities across this country. Our funding needs to remain level at this year's $2 million appropriation in Fiscal '05. That needs to continue in FY '06 for us to be able to do that. We cannot sustain our momentum with another cut back, and we want to grow our positive impact on the City and not shrink it. The Art Museum believes, as does everyone in this room, that the future of this City lies in the hands of its young people. Kids exposed to art in the first years of school find new ways to learn faster. Youth involved with computer visualization and video projects and creative arts projects who are all over the museum these days find more job opportunities. The young graduates of Temple or Penn or any of our large array of colleges 1385 and universities are more likely to remain in a City with a vibrant cultural life. In yesterday's Inquirer, I might point out there was a story about Philadelphia now ranking seven in the country for jobs in the arts. Over 31,000 of them, a very impressive figure. For all these reasons, past, present and most of all future, we respectfully ask City Council to work with the Administration in reinstating the FY '05 appropriation for the museum in FY '06. Together with our colleagues at the Atwater Kent Museum, we want the '06 appropriation to stand at this year's level of $2 million.
We hope that you will agree that it is a good investment for this great City's future. And now Gail Harrity.
I'd like to follow-up very briefly with a presentation on the economic and educational impact of the museum. I think everybody in this group, certainly City Council, is aware that the museum is one of the City's treasures. It is 1386 one of the four largest museums in the United States, housing nearly 250,000 works of art, attracting 700 to a million visitors annually. In addition to the extraordinary permanent collection, it organizes international loan exhibitions that have great public appeal, such as the current Dali exhibition. The museum's collections are from many continents and cultures and they attract and educate visitors of all ages year in and year out, as Anna has mentioned in her testimony. I'd like to briefly touch on three areas where we believe the museum is a leader, education and outreach, tourism and hospitality, and the economic impact on the City. First, in terms of education and outreach the museum serves over 189,000 children and adults each year, with award winning programs for children which have received the Best of Philly recognition for five consecutive years. 1387 While I will not go through each of these slides, I'll be happy to provide City Councilmembers with a copy of this text. I'll just highlight a few points. One great program, for example, is the museum is a national leader in distance learning, with video conferencing to schools, reaching students and teachers in all 50 states. There are innovative programs, such as something every Sunday for families and teen docent programs. Teacher posters are provided by the museum for all schools on the arts of Asia, the African-American artists, Mexican art and women artists. The museum is recognized for its excellence in its outreach and community programs with longstanding partnerships that again have been mentioned with Point Breeze, the Free Library, Mural Arts Program. We also reach audiences around the world. Our handbook has been translated into multiple languages. We're deeply appreciative to City Council for recognizing these collaborations, 1388 such as the dance collaboration, working with over 60 dance companies, or more recently, the recognition of a program for African Art, African Voices, where the Mayor and City Council honored master director Husman Sembennay (ph) earlier this fall. Second, the museum is a leader in tourism and hospitality, which is so important for Philadelphia. It's a destination definer. We work closely with the Philadelphia Convention Visitors Bureau to attract visitors and conventions to Philadelphia. As you are aware, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development reports that the tourism industry is Philadelphia's second largest industry. The museum plays a big part in this industry, directly generating 7 to 10 percent of the annual leisure travel visitors to Philadelphia. Approximately one third of our visitors to exhibitions are motivated to visit Philadelphia because of the museum's collection and its permanent collections. The 1389 Manet exhibition, for example, and now the Dali exhibition attracted a high percentage of out-of-town visitors to Philadelphia. Tickets have been sold to visitors in every state in the country and from many different countries throughout the globe. At last count this afternoon, visitors from 9 countries have purchased tickets for the Dali 10 exhibition. So these exhibitions have a major 11 impact on Philadelphia. 12 Again, with visitors attending them, 13 spending $17 million in hotels and having a 14 direct impact of almost $180 million on the 15 City. This is the impact of just five 16 exhibitions, the Cezanne, Van Gogh, Manet, Schiaparelli, and Degas exhibitions. But year in and year out programs such as African Art, African Voices have an enormous impact. The photograph here is one Friday evening this past fall. The African Art, African Voices exhibition hosted a fashion show which drew over 900 visitors on a Friday evening alone.
The Dali exhibition just five 1390 weeks into its operation has had visitors of 100,000 and tickets issued of over 195,000 visitors. 2 million tax revenues to the City and the Commonwealth. And as mentioned, next year's exhibition schedule, so I won't go into that in great detail. I've said there's no question that next year will continue to draw visitors for the Dutch Master Landscape Painting exhibition, Beauford Delaney and the Andrew Wyeth. Our third point on economic impact is the museum is good for business. The arts are an industry that generates extraordinary economic activity, jobs and tax revenues. It's a wise investment. For every dollar spent by the museum, generates more than $4 in economic activity in the region. 1391 In FY '04 the museum and its visitors and secondary industries generated over almost $220 million in total economic activity in the region, created over 3,800 full-time equivalent jobs and generated more than $15 million in tax revenues. These figures on these slides and the following were reviewed by Urban Partners, a financial services firm, the Pennsylvania Economy League and the Americans for the Arts, all of which verified the estimates. Of that $219 million of total economic activity, roughly $112 was indirect. And I think it's important to note that approximately 75 percent of this was new spending in the region. The balance of almost $106 million was generated in indirect economic activity. Again, the museum creates jobs for the City. For every one job created by the museum, more than eight jobs are created in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. In direct employment, the museum creates a total of over 2,300 jobs and an additional indirect 1392 employment of over 1,400 jobs. To paraphrase a comment from the president of Americans for the Arts, we would just hope that this presentation would show you that at a time when government at all levels are making tough budget choices, we hope this presentation sends an important message, that support for the arts does not come at the expense of economic development. Rather, as Ann mentioned, a wise investment in the future of Philadelphia. I would like to conclude with a few slides on the history of the City's support that Mr. Lenfest mentioned in the opening statement, a longstanding public/private partnership. As you can see, up until 1994 the City supported 100 percent of the security building and maintenance costs of the City-owned building. From '96 through 2004, a nine-year period, the support was flat, and by Fiscal '05, the support for the museum represented only 36 percent of these security building and maintenance costs. 1393 Again, more detail on the exact funding amounts, but as I said, 36 percent of the total security and maintenance costs. Over the last months the museum, 6 in addressing the reductions for support from 7 the City, has had to eliminate 28 positions, 8 cutting 7 percent of its staff and eliminating 9 public hours, including the very popular 10 Wednesday evening program. Maintaining public 11 support is critical to the museum's success. 12 As Gerry had said earlier, sponsors 13 care about public access and a positive, 14 productive relationship between museums and 15 their municipalities. So a cut in public 16 support would most likely translate into a cut 17 of private support. 18 Lastly, I would like to just share these bar charts with you, which show a national comparison of municipal and county support for art museums across the country, excluding in kind support. As you can see, on the right-hand side, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Baltimore Museum, Newark Museum, the Brooklyn 1394 Museum receive in the neighborhood of $6 million per year to support their institutions. These figures are similar when one includes the in kind support for which the museum is so grateful, including utilities. But the bar charts show a similar percentage.
So we hope that this presentation gives you a little more information on the importance and educational impact and economic impact of the museum, and we request that the City Council propose an amendment to sustain our support at the Fiscal '05 level. Thank you very much.
Thank you very much. I would like to go on record again. I have consistently said that I think the Art Museum is the jewel of the City. It's our building. I can't understand what we're doing. In your testimony, Ann, you stated the Art Museum will be bringing certain exhibits to the museum next year. However, we cannot do that if faced with more budget cuts. 1395 I just want to be clear. Are you saying if the $250,000 is not restored to the museum you will not be able to move forward with the proposed exhibits?
Council President, what we are saying is that a cut that comes on the heels of last year's cut -- and again we're so grateful to City Council for its restoration of all but $225,000 to last year's appropriation. But a second cut of $250,000 would be a very major setback for the museum. As you probably know, we seek corporate sponsorship. We seek private funding for all of the exhibitions, for many of the education programs, for many of the other things that we offer the public, and it gets more and more difficult to do if we are challenged to raise more funds to keep the doors open, which has traditionally been the City's, not only obligation, but responsibility, and has been so carried out. We will try every way obviously. We want to minimize impact on the public and on 1396 our service to the public and on our service to the City, but we don't know where we would have to cut, but we clearly have to cut somewhere.
Well, the problem is not just for FY '06. The Five-Year Plan certainly indicates that the budget cuts would be $250,000 every year in the Five-Year Plan. I must say that in conversation, I guess we got the impression -- I won't say by whom -- that the Art Museum was in agreement with this proposed phase out. Did anybody on your Board agree to that?
I think I should answer that. The answer is no, Madam President. In fact, I sent a letter to the Mayor, which I think has been distributed to Members of the Council, which clearly indicates our position. If they reduce it by $2 million, that's $40 million of endowment at 5 percent. I mean, that is a major, major negative impact on the museum. Because you're correct, it's not just this year itself. 1397
No. No member of our board, and I can say that without any hesitation --
Gave anyone the impression that you were in agreement with the proposed cuts?
Thank you. Did the Administration tell you that they were doing this and, if so, what was your reaction to them?
The same reaction we just expressed, that this museum is so important as an economic driver to this City and that these cuts -- I reemphasis what's already been said. We cut 27 position. The staff of the museum is underpaid compared to other museums. We've gone down to the bare bones of operations, and further cuts would have, as Ann said, a major negative impact on the museum. 1398
As I said to the people from the Atwater Kent, if you have fund-raisers, it's certainly not going to be for the operations of the facility. So what will happen if in fact the $250,000 is actually cut from the budget? How many security people would you have to lay off? What would be the maintenance be like?
The impact is probably seven or eight positions on top of the 27 that we've already cut.
The 27 positions that have been cut, Mr. Lenfest --
Positions across the board from administrative, curatorial, maintenance, security. As our chairman has said, the museum is very leanly staffed. For example, the National Gallery, a museum of similar size in square footage has 1399 over three times the security and maintenance staff to maintain a building of that size. Last year, in order to accommodate the cut of $225,000, we eliminated a Wednesday evening program, so three hours of public program. It's estimated that had we be open for Wednesday evenings, for the Wednesday 9 evenings during the Salvador (ph) Dali 10 exhibition, this particular exhibition would 11 have had an additional economic impact on the 12 City of $4.5 million. 13 I think it's important to understand that the negative impact on the museum is much smaller than the negative impact on the City as a whole. Because to a large extent visitors are coming from out of town, and while they're buying a ticket to Salvador Dali, they are also staying in a hotel, going to restaurants, shopping in the shops. And so the economic impact on the City as a whole would be far greater than on the museum specifically. But it would require additional elimination of positions, elimination of public hours or an elimination of programs. 1400
I notice 6 that $15.6 million in tax revenues go to the 7 City and to the Commonwealth. Does the museum 8 receive any money whatsoever from the 9 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania? 10
We receive 11 funding through the Pennsylvania Council on 12 the Arts. I think last year it was almost 13 approximately $380,000. This is within their 14 funding organization that covers the entire 15 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And we have, as 16 well, received recently a single major capital 17 grant. But the funding for operations comes 18 through the Pennsylvania Council On the Arts. If I might add one thing which is germane to that question, Madam President, is that we really applaud the Mayor's initiative on regional funding. We think that that is a very good and thoughtful thing to proceed with. But we also know that in order for regional funding to work, and this is true in 1401 all the cities where it pertains, which it does in a number of cities across the country, the City needs to maintain its share of that support for cultural institutions and invite the surrounding counties to join the City in so doing.
Ann, I'd like you to clarify something for me. With the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, when they give you an appropriation, is that simply for capital improvements or is it for operational purposes?
The Pennsylvania Council On the Arts grant for approximately, as we said, for $380,000 is for operations.
Do they give anything at all toward the Capital Budget?
They have. They have recently made a commitment for major capital support. Of course we are very grateful to the City over many years for its capital support as well, and need both of them to make the changes possible to our buildings 1402 that they will allow.
We have been concentrating, I guess, for the last two years about the operating budget. I don't think too many of us have concentrated on the Capital Budget for the Art Museum. What are the needs in the Capital Budget?
And it's never had maintenance. The deferred maintenance is a staggering number, close to $200 million.
I asked and you told. I see that we have a number of Councilmen that would like to be recognized. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. Good evening. Let me start off by 1403 first underscoring President Verna's opening remarks in that the Art Museum really is a jewel. The presentation you gave, which was thorough and descriptive, just underscores why we as Members of this legislative body have to do what I call, figure it out. I need to go on record to let you know that I am prepared and willing and stand ready to work with the District Councilperson and the majority leader and President Verna for us to figure it out.
Secondly, you began to answer President Verna's question with regards to what the proposed cut means. I'm always interested in how and if this will impact educational outreach programs, which I think are extremely diverse and very rich and cover every world of this City. Could you please speak to that?