Does the22 firm subcontract with disadvantaged23 businesses?24
Was there a2 disadvantaged business participation goal3 in the RFP?4
That was the goal9 in the contract. It was a best effort,10 so there really wasn't --11
How has the15 participation goal changed with that16 particular contract during your tenure?17
Well, it was sort18 of before I got here, so there's been no19 change since I've been here. The20 contract's up for renewal now?21
Well, that22 sort of leads to the question of what23 does renewal mean? In other words, if24 there's an RFP that's put out that says25 233 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 best efforts and there were2 subcontracting opportunities and there3 are no goals put in the contact, as the4 renewal process goes around, isn't there5 still an obligation to see whether --6 (Indiscernible; parties talking7 over each other.)8
Within the9 General Asphalt contract, there are10 subcontract opportunities for materials,11 so General Asphalt with contract with12 minority contractors, whether it's piping13 or anything like that.14
And these15 are questions I'm asking of every16 department because we're finding that17 contracts that are renewable contracts,18 if it's not done right during the RFP19 process, if it's not done right in the20 initial contract, and then in the first21 year, goals are not met or new22 opportunities are not discovered, then23 there is no opportunity if people are not24 doing what needs to be done during the25 234 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 renewal process.2
Right. And I'll3 just say -- I'll say that we've done a4 lot of work particularly in this past5 year as contracts come up of what it's6 goes going to take for us to sort of7 improve these numbers.8 What you don't see in here are9 two contracts that are one hundred10 percent minority-owned and another one11 that has participation in the HVAC system12 in the Central. Both of those are going13 to improve our numbers dramatically.14
And you're15 about to bid this contract again anyway,16 right?17
Okay, thank19 you.20 Thank you, Madam President.21 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:22 You're welcome.23 The Chair recognizes Councilman24 Greenlee.25 235 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371
First I6 want to note for the record,7 Miss Reardon, that you came here at an8 interesting time for the libraries, and I9 know you were sort of the target for a10 lot of people's wrath on the proposed11 closing and all. Despite all of that,12 you stayed.13 (Laughter.)14
And we're15 glad you did, and you clearly have made16 some great innovations since you've been17 there. I didn't know some of the these18 things that you outlined in your19 testimony, and I just want to sort of20 mention two.21 One is the program dealing with22 the, I guess, new arrivals to23 Philadelphia, International Adults.24
We do have an8 interest among our library employees as9 well. So in addition to the work that10 we're doing particularly with the English11 as a Second Language Conversation12 Roundtable, which are volunteers that13 we've trained to host these roundtables,14 we have staff that have -- not everybody,15 but a number of -- over a hundred staff16 that among them speak 32 languages.17 So as new Americans come in and18 they come into the Library, we are able19 to sort of call the staff members that20 can speak that language so that we're21 servicing that customer better.22
And I23 know you also make library branches24 available for other organizations too to25 237 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 work on that issue. I know a little2 about that 'cause that's what my wife3 does, and she uses Wyoming branch a lot4 for that.5
And it's a major6 initiative of the Mayor's Commission on7 Literacy as well.8
I have to tell you,9 Councilman, I grew up in the Wyoming10 Branch.11
Okay.12 And the other thing I want to mention is13 that I was not aware of that hot spot14 program. How long has that going on now?15
We opened our16 first hot spot in February. That was17 funded by the Knight Foundation, and it's18 an idea that its time was due, and it's a19 whole focus of the Free Library of20 Philadelphia to get to -- to sort of21 hyper-locally work with our communities.22 And the idea here is that23 through a partnership, there's -- the24 partnership has to have the space and25 238 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 keep the equipment safe and clean and a2 safe environment. And we will introduce3 the technology and we bring in the work4 study students mostly under the program5 and train everybody who wants to learn6 how to use a computer.7 So our very first one was8 Heavenly Hall. And within the first9 three weeks of it opening, we had 29510 people come into that piece, that tiny,11 little space.12
How did13 decide on the locations? I mean, they14 sound like great locations and they're15 spread out.16
Exactly. This is17 really the work of the project manager18 Khaleef Aye, who is the project19 coordinator. Khaleef in particular20 interviewed over 40 agencies and went to21 visit every single one of these sites22 and, I think, felt that the partnership23 would be best, you know, in people who24 were just yearning for this type of --25 239 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 and willing to commit to their2 responsibility to the partnership.3
Yeah, it4 shows a tremendous -- I mean, just that5 whole outreach is --6
Well, now we7 know, you know, depending upon funding8 and so forth, we know what the next four9 are going to be and the next four are10 going to be.11
Okay,16 thank you.17 Thank you, Madam President.18 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:19 You're welcome.20 The Chair recognizes21 Councilwoman Brown.22
Thank you,23 Madam President.24 Good afternoon.25 240 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371
Welcome3 back.4 Last year, I raised a number of5 questions around your efforts to help6 both the board and staff look more like7 Philadelphia.8
So why10 don't you seize the moment and give us an11 update on what you've been able to do.12
Well, I think the13 face of the board is substantially14 Philadelphia. I think that we're nearly15 50 percent, 48 percent of the board are16 people of color. And then we have a17 couple of open positions.18 And so, we work closely with19 the Mayor's Office as well as our own20 governance to really make sure that the21 people in place are very reflective of22 Philadelphia and their thinking and the23 emerging businesses and how we're going24 to drive economy in this city.25 241 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371
Staff is a4 little -- you know, my management team is5 still about only 25 percent persons of6 color, but we're working on that one as7 well.8 And, again, it is the work of9 our training department, through10 succession planning, to begin identifying11 staff across the spectrum, across titles12 to begin really developing their skill13 sets so they're moving through and moving14 into the more administrative titles that15 we have.16
And we20 know it takes strong leadership for sure,21 but you have to just dig down and be very22 strategic in making that kind of paradigm23 change.24 Are you a victim of the Civil25 242 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 Service process in the City of2 Philadelphia when it comes to staff?3
I think that we6 have -- it's certainly not getting in the7 way of our succession program planning at8 all.9 It really does take the staff10 to really want to get -- the motivation11 of the staff to say I'm really interested12 in some of these senior positions. Some13 staff want to move through and take14 advantage of the programs that we're15 offering, and some staff are perfectly16 happy and prefer to be working, you know,17 with the public, in a branch location,18 and administration doesn't interest them.19
Okay.20 With the One Book One Philadelphia,21 which, I think, has just taken on many22 different legs in a good way under your23 leadership, speak to us about the24 connection or link with our schools, not25 243 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 just public schools, but charter and2 Catholic schools as well.3
The whole purpose4 of the program is to really drive5 literacy across the City, but6 specifically with the schools, the7 steering committee has a number of8 10th-grade teachers that participate in9 the selection of the material, and those10 teachers, those educators are very much a11 part of the process.12 We have a number of educators13 from the Community College as well as14 10th-grade teachers in the system because15 the book has to be readable at a16 10th-grade level so that you are getting17 a number of high schools involved in the18 process as well as the adults so it has a19 very teen as well as adult focus.20 COUNCILWOMAN BROWN:21 Historically has that been the criteria?22
Oh, okay.24 I did not know that.25 244 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371
All right.3 You speak in your testimony about hot4 spots.5
Okay. So11 provide some more detail, if you can,12 what the demand has been, who uses them,13 and is demand properly served by opening14 the centers for 20 hours a week, do you15 think?16
Well, the 2017 hours a week is based upon the funding we18 have available to hire the work-study19 students that participate in the program.20 I think that what we've done21 was test an idea in four locations. And22 just in the three weeks, as I said, just23 in the three weeks that Heavenly Hall was24 open, we had 275 folk come through the25 245 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 door and 213 just getting onto the2 computer for the first time, so it was3 highly exploratory. And then folks4 coming in for businesses, introduction to5 computing, and job seekers.6 And in the first couple of days7 the Village of the Arts was the second to8 come online. And just in one day, we had9 17 people coming through the door without10 even having a major announcement on the11 program.12 So we have a great story of a13 woman that came in. She traveled from14 Southwest Philadelphia to Heavenly Hall15 at 40th and Poplar to get on the computer16 to produce her résumé and develop a17 business card and apply for a job online.18 She had a job interview within three days19 and a week later had a job.20 So, I mean, that's kind of the21 point. That's where the Library reaches22 deeper into --23 COUNCILWOMAN BROWN:24 (Indiscernible.)25 246 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371
So if you10 had to look to the greatest achievement,11 given the goals that you set by you or12 the board and needed to report back, what13 would that be?14
I think15 stabilizing library hours. So, no doubt16 about it. That's been critical. People17 need to know that their library is open18 and available.19 And I think that when you span20 the full week so that at any point in21 time during Monday through Saturday, you22 can get to a neighborhood library23 somewhere within your region as well as24 four nights a week, I think that's been25 247 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 probably the biggest accomplishment.2
Okay.3 And, of course, the other side of that4 would be -- your brightest challenge over5 the next twelve months might be what?6
Oh, honestly,7 fundraising for the Central Library8 project. We have a big chunk of change9 to raise there.10
On the Library16 side, I would say I really would like to17 raise sufficient funds to improve our18 collections budget. Our collections19 budget has diminished by nearly 5020 percent, with largely cuts from the21 State. We've lost over 30 percent22 funding from the Commonwealth. And to23 build back that budget is going to be24 critical.25 248 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 You know, when you have the2 Mayor's Commission on Literacy and the3 work Dr. Renyi going to do and the work4 that we want to do, you have to have5 viable collections, and I think that6 that's ultimately important.7 Whether it's the physical8 tactile material or in the case of the9 electronic downloads, we're10 approaching -- ten to fifteen percent of11 our budget is now electronic media.12 So when you think about brain13 (indiscernible), which is the after-14 school tutorial, people can come online15 24/7, a child can get on and get support16 for after-school or any of the Dun &17 Bradstreet downloads. You know, so18 that's where the virtual library, the19 24/7 service, I think, is going to be20 most important.21
Okay. Two22 more. What yield or outcome do you want23 to have at the end of that National24 Literacy Summit?25 249 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371
What we would2 like is to some idea of pilots, you know,3 where we've heard a fabulous idea and go4 to the foundations here in the City to5 fund some of those pilots so that we can6 begin introducing those types of profound7 services here in the City.8
And then9 my last question is a follow-up to10 Councilman Goode. In your testimony, you11 mentioned that you were able to triple12 the participation of minority and women13 contractors from 4.1 percent to 1514 percent.15 Share with us what you did16 structurally to achieve that level of17 progress.18
I think I19 actually have to give a lot of credit to20 Bill Fleming, who is our administrative21 services director, who was just very22 focused on getting involved in how the23 contracts are being developed. And so --24 and how much of a percentage of25 250 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 subcontracting can be done through2 minority participation.3 Plus just getting in -- I think4 it's just sheer involvement in the5 process and making sure that we're6 opening the doors to more participation.7
Thank you,17 Madam Chair.18 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:19 You're welcome.20 The Chair recognizes Councilman21 Rizzo.22
Thank you.23 I just want to go back over --24 I first thought that you were talking25 251 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 about hot spots inside of our libraries,2 but you're talking about other3 facilities.4
Okay. Let's7 talk about the Library facilities. If a8 person has -- and most people today are9 hooked up to wireless laptops. If they10 visit a library, can they get online with11 their laptop?12
Absolutely.13 Every single one of our Library14 facilities are wireless and able.15
Do they?16 That's terrific.17 What about the wired computers;18 are they gifted from Comcast or --19
And almost all of24 our -- 90 percent of our25 252 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 telecommunications support is e-rate2 eligible. So we receive about $850,0003 in e-rate reimbursements because of the4 telecommunications network that we have5 in place.6
Wasn't there7 some -- maybe one of my colleagues can8 help me. I thought that there was some9 deal, when we brought cable to the City,10 that there was some service provided for11 free for libraries.12
Yes. And it13 precedes me, but Comcast was very much a14 partner with the libraries in bringing15 some cable programming to our16 neighborhood libraries.17 I'm getting a bunch of nods.18 So, yes, Comcast was a provider of early19 cable into the neighborhood libraries.20 I'm forgetting the name of the program.21 But subsequent to that, when we22 built out the network, the very big,23 high-speed network that we have in place,24 that was a relationship with Verizon.25 253 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371
So the2 original -- I don't want to use the word3 "deal," but the original arrangements for4 Comcast as a cable provider, which I5 believe was a part of the legislation,6 the legislative package, we're not taking7 advantage of that?8
You know what? I9 don't know. I think what I need to do is10 find out more and get back to you.11
Because it12 would be a shame that if they have some13 commitment to the Library and we're not14 taking advantage of that commitment.15
I would hope24 that that arrangement -- I don't think25 254 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371 that it had any length of time. I2 thought it was a permanent relationship.3
Well, many of our4 libraries do have cable access in order5 to bring programming to the --6
Okay. We'll7 see how it goes then because maybe it's8 just something that we can resurrect if9 it's --10
Right. The cable11 access is very different from the12 high-speed Internet access that13 Verizon -- they're two very different14 types of technologies that are in place.15 And so, one is the very16 high-speed broadband fiber optic network17 that --18
I understand19 that, but Comcast has pretty fast stuff20 too.21
Okay,24 thanks.25 255 4.6.11 COMM. OF THE WHOLE - BILL 1101371
Are2 there any other questions from members of3 the committee?4 (No further questions.)5 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:6 Seeing none, I thank you very much.7
Thank10 you. I'll be around for a while.11 Thank you for all of the12 wonderful work do you.13
This15 committee will stand in recess until16 Monday, April the 11th, at 10 a.m.17 Thank you.18 (Proceedings end at 3:19 p.m.)19 * * *20 21 22 23 24 25 256 C E R T I F I C A T E2 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the4 proceedings of the City of Philadelphia Council5 Committee of the Whole are contained fully and6 accurately in the stenographic notes taken by7 me on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, and that this8 is a true and correct statement of same.9 10 _________________________________ JOSEPHINE CARDILLO Registered Professional Reporter15 (The foregoing certification of21 this transcript does not apply to any22 reproduction of the same by any means, unless23 under the direct control and/or supervision of24 the certifying reporter.)25