COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY AND PUBLIC WORKS - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, November 29, 2006 1:20 p.m. PRESENT: COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN JUAN RAMOS COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO BILL 060799 - An ordinance authorizing the extension of the extended trial program authorized by Bill No. 051096... BILL 060801 - An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development... BILL 060858 - An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development a deed... - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2
Good afternoon. This is the Committee on Public Property and Public Works. Will the Clerk please read the title of the first bill.
Bill No. 060801, an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, for nominal consideration, a deed conveying fee simple title to a certain tract of City-owned land with the building and improvements thereon, situate in a rectangular area generally bounded by Ruth Street on the northwest, Clearfield Street on the northeast, Emerald Street on the southeast and Orleans Street on the southwest, for further conveyance to the School District of Philadelphia.
Thank you. Please note there is a quorum present. Councilman Kelly, Councilwoman Tasco, Councilman Greenlee, Councilwoman 3 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. Krajewski, Councilwoman Miller and Councilman Ramos. Thank you. Please proceed. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Good afternoon, Chairman Clarke and members of the Committee on Public Property and Public Works. My name is Joan Schlotterbeck. I'm the Commissioner for Public Property. I'm here today to testify in support of Bill No. 060801, an ordinance 13 authorizing me as the Commissioner to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development a deed, for nominal consideration, conveying fee simple title to a certain tract of City-owned land with the buildings and improvements thereon, situated in a rectangular area generally bounded by Ruth Street on the northwest, Clearfield on the northeast, Emerald on the southeast and Orleans Street on the southwest, AKA, also known as, Franklin Playground, in the City of Philadelphia 4 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. for further conveyance to the School District. This bill will enable the City to convey this property to PAID for further conveyance to the District covering all costs for remediation. The Department of Public Property supports this measure, and accordingly, I respectfully ask that City Council approve Bill No. 060801. I also ask that the rules be suspended so that the ordinance may be passed upon the second reading of Council. Thank you, and I'm happy to answer any questions anyone may have.
Thank you, Commissioner. Any questions of this witness on this particular bill by members of the Committee? Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Commissioner, I assume then that the financial arrangements have been 5 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. worked out between the District and the City? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: That is correct. What it is is that we've discovered during our negotiations that the property sits on graves. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: A cemetery. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: There's some graves. So the idea is that the School District will remediate the graves, and if there's any money left over at the end of that day, that the City will recoup those dollars. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Whatever is left of the balance. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: That is correct. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Councilman. Any other questions of this witness by members of the Committee? 6 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. (No response.)
There being none, will the Clerk please read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 060858, an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development a deed, for nominal consideration, conveying fee simple title to four adjacent parcels, situate at 1015 through Mount Vernon Street in the 14 City of Philadelphia, with the buildings 15 and improvements thereon, for further 16 conveyance at fair market value. 17 COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: 18 Good afternoon, Chairman Clarke. I'd 19 like to amend this Bill 060858. It comes 20 to my attention that we have Exhibit A 21 not included with the original submission.
Have the amendments been circulated? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: I 7 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. have them here with me. And, actually, the attachment is the description of the parcel.
So that description was not in the ordinance? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Yes. It was missed by accident.
Thank you. Please proceed with your testimony. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Good afternoon, members of the Committee on Public Works and Public Property. My name is Joan Schlotterbeck. I'm the Public Property Commissioner. I'm here today to testify in support of 060858, an ordinance 18 authorizing me as the Commissioner to execute and deliver to PAID a deed, for nominal consideration, conveying fee simple title to four adjacent parcels, situated 1015 through 21 Mount Vernon Street in the City of Philadelphia, for further conveyance at fair market value. This bill will enable the City 8 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. to convey this property to PAID for further conveyance at fair market value, with the proceeds being deposited into the General Fund. This property was considered part of Public Property surplus inventory. The Department supports this measure, and accordingly, I respectfully request that Bill No. 060858 be approved. I also ask the rules be suspended so that the ordinance may be passed upon the second reading at Council. Thank you, and I'm available to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you, Commissioner. Commissioner, this was a former playground, is my understanding? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Yes. It was called Lemon Playground.
And is in real disrepair and has been deemed surplus, as you indicated? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Absolutely. 9 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC.
My understanding is that the church is the interested party? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Is that correct? I'm going to ask my Deputy to join me.
Good afternoon. My name is John Herzins. St. Paul's Church is the intended buyer of the property. They had formerly purchased the other piece of the parcel that was part of the Lemon Playground. These particular properties should have been in that but they were omitted in the footprint title of the original ordinance.
And this is market value? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Correct.
I just have 10 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. one.
Yes. I just have one. What's the purpose or what is the church going to be using the properties for?
Thank you, Councilman. Any other questions of these witnesses by members of the Committee? (No response.)
Thank you so much. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: You're welcome.
Are you also testifying on the next bill, Commissioner? 11 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: I'm not sure.
That's Facilities Management. Okay. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: No. 8
Thank you. Will the Clerk please read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 060799, an ordinance authorizing the extension of the extended trial program authorized by Bill No. 051096 under which advance approval is given to the Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation to enter into certain contracts and transactions arising thereunder for the purchase, storage, distribution, transportation and/or transmission of natural and other gas on behalf of Philadelphia Gas Works, subject to certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. Good afternoon. 12 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee. My name is Janet Parrish. I'm the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Gas Commission and I'm here today on behalf of the Gas Commission to support Bill 060799, which does, as in the past, reflect the unanimous recommendations to Council of the Philadelphia Gas Commission, which were adopted in this case at its October 4th meeting. I have submitted written testimony, which does include a copy of the Commission's resolution and order, and you can see all the details there. I will not read it in full, but I would simply note that this bill really reflects a continuation of the work we have done with Council. There have been four prior bills addressing PGW's gas purchase agreements. This bill really marks a simple extension for two years of the current legislation -- that's Bill 13 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. 051096 -- again for another two-year period. All parties appear to be satisfied with the way in which the trial program has been working and we do recommend a further extension. We're also requesting a suspension of the rules so the first reading can occur at the next session of Council. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you. Any questions of this witness by members of the Committee? (No response.)
Thank you very much. I would just note for the record, too, that Philadelphia Gas Works did also submit written testimony in support of the bill. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Anyone else to testify on this 14 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. bill? (No response.)
There being none, thank you very much. This concludes the public hearing on the Committee of Public Property and Public Works. We will now go into the public meeting. Can I ask, Councilwoman Miller, please make a motion on Bill No. 060801. Councilwoman Miller has left. Can I ask Councilwoman Krajewski to please make a motion on Bill 15 060801.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill 060801 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit first reading at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded. 15 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. All in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Bill 060801 will be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation with a rules suspension as to allow reading at the next session of Council. Councilwoman Tasco, can I please ask for a motion on the amendment to Bill No. 060858.
I move that the amendment as presented on Bill 18 060858 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
The amendment has been offered, adopted and approved. All in favor? (Aye.)
All 16 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. opposed? (No response.)
None. The amendment has been approved. Councilwoman Tasco, can you please make a motion on Bill 060858 as amended.
I move that Bill 060858 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and request a suspension of the rules so that this bill as amended can be heard at the next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
The bill 17 has been moved and seconded. All in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Bill 060858 as amended will be reported out of Committee with a 17 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. favorable recommendation and rules suspension to allow reading at the next session of Council. Councilman Kelly, can you please make a motion on Bill No. 060799.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 060799 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and also a request for suspension of the rules in order for this bill to be heard at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
The ayes have it. Bill 060799 is reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and rules suspension to allow reading at 18 11/29/06 - PUBLIC PROPERTY - BILL 060799, ETC. the session of Council. This concludes the Committee on Public Property and Public Works. Thank you all very much. (Committee on Public Property and Public Works adjourned at 1:35 p.m.) - - - 19 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 November 29, 2006, 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.)