COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:35 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN, CHAIR COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN MARIA QUINONES-SANCHEZ BILL 090776 - An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a License Agreement between the City of Philadelphia and Juniata Golf Foundation... BILL 090778 - An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a license agreement between the City of Philadelphia and Impact Services... RESOLUTION 090698 - Resolution authorizing the Council Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to conduct hearings on the challenges faced by the City's ethnic and cultural parades... V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 2
Good morning. The City Council Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs is now in a public hearing to hear testimony on Bill No. 090776 sponsored by Councilwoman Sanchez and Bill No. 090778 sponsored by Councilman Jones. Committee members in attendance this morning are, to my immediate right, Councilmember Curtis Jones, who serves as Vice-Chair of the Committee, Councilman Jim Kenney and Councilwoman Sanchez. I will now ask the Clerk to read the title of Bills 090776 and 090778.
An ordinance 18 authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a License Agreement between the City of Philadelphia and Juniata Golf Foundation, under which Juniata Golf Foundation would operate, manage and maintain Juniata Golf Course as a public 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. golf course under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 090778, an ordinance 5 authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a license agreement between the City of Philadelphia and Impact Services Corporation under which Impact Services Corporation would operate, manage and maintain Walnut Lane Golf Course as a public golf course under certain terms and conditions.
Before we call up the first witness on 090776, I want to first ask the Vice-Chair of this Committee if you have any opening comments of any nature. Please.
Thank you, Madam Chair. The founders of the Park many, many years ago now were wise in their decision to try to create open space for average working citizens for the health 4 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. and entertainment. Not just for the rich who could afford summer homes, not just for the wealthy who could take two-week vacations, but for average Philadelphians. That was wise then. It is wise now. Our golf courses that we have within the Park system are valued treasures. Although the wealthy are invited, it gives a welcoming environment for all people of all races, of all economic strata, and we should continue that. On September 11th, 2008 emotions ran high as golf enthusiasts, community activists and regular folk who were interested in the Walnut Lane Golf Course and its proposed changes gathered in Saul High School to listen to a presentation by Fairmount Park. I was joined in that meeting by Senator Shirley Kitchen and Ward Leader Lou Agre. Many believe the presentation of the golf course would mean its demise, its end, 5 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. its alteration as an 18-hole golf course, but what it did was pulled people together and we formed a working committee, along with the owners and operators of the golf course, to try to look at feasible ways to keep it open. John MacDonald and a representative of Fairmount Park, Barry Bessler, were present at the first Committee's hearings and offered suggestions to deal with some of the challenges faced by all golf courses in Philadelphia and their operation. This meeting was fruitful in the sense that we came up with recommendations to need to give Impact Services a multi-year lease so that they would not be afraid to make capital improvements, certain improvements that required investment, in that only over time of operation could be retrieved and could be turned into profit. So our committee rallied around the ongoing operation of this golf course 6 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. and others in the City of Philadelphia, and I believe that this legislation is reasonable, responsible and will ultimately improve the quality of life of people in the City of Philadelphia. Thank you, Madam Chair.
You're welcome, Mr. Vice-Chair. So that we do not create confusion, Councilman Jones has spoken on Bill No. 090778. So if you could start with that testimony, that would be helpful, Mark Focht.
Good morning, Chairwoman Reynolds Brown and members of the Committee. My name is Mark Focht. I am the Executive Director of Fairmount Park in the Department of Parks and Recreation, and I am pleased to appear before you today in support of City Council Bill No. 090778, authorizing the City of Philadelphia, through the 7 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. Department of Parks and Recreation, to enter into a Lease and Operating Agreement with Impact Services Corporation to operate the Walnut Lane Golf Course. Walnut Lane Golf Course is located in the Roxborough section of the City in the Wissahickon Valley Park bounded on the north, east and south by Henry Avenue, on the west by Walnut Lane and Magdalena Street. Impact Services Corporation is a Kensington-based non-profit formed in 1974 that provides highly regarded job training, veteran services, supportive housing, childcare centers and youth programs among its many community-based programs. An Impact Services subsidiary, the Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association, operates The First Tee of Philadelphia program at a teaching facility that it constructed at the City's Franklin Delano Roosevelt Golf Course in South Philadelphia. The First 8 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. Tee is a national organization devoted to improving the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and education programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. The First Tee of Philadelphia is nationally recognized as one of the top five programs of more than 200 First Tee programs nationwide. John MacDonald, the President of Impact Services Corporation, also serves as the Executive Director of The First Tee of Philadelphia and actively participates in the management of Walnut Lane Golf Course. He has devoted his life to mentoring young people by sharing his knowledge and love of the game of golf. Impact Services has successfully operated the Walnut Lane Golf Course under the terms of back-to-back one-year Lease and Operating Agreements since January 2008. Community golfers, residents, businesses and certainly the staff of the Department of 9 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. Parks and Recreation and Fairmount Park have been pleased with the operation of the course under Impact Services' management. More than 500 youth participate in The First Tee program, and GolfWorks, an innovative partnership with nearby Saul High School, provides employment and training in golf course management for Saul students. Impact has made improvements to the course, including extensive tree work and restoration of the cart paths and is about to construct a synthetic green for instructing children. The Department of Parks and Recreation would like to offer a long-term lease to Impact Services Corporation in recognition of its sound operation of the golf course and to encourage and enable it to make long-term investments in the course, clubhouse and community programming. The proposed License and Operating Agreement will provide an initial five-year term, with a 10 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. four-year renewal term to be exercised at the sole discretion of the City. The renewal term will expire on the same date as the City's other golf agreements so that the Department of Parks and Recreation has the flexibility to evaluate and select the best option for managing all six public golf courses moving forward from that point. The agreement will not impose a financial obligation on the City at any time and requires Impact Services to contribute five percent of gross annual revenues to a capital escrow account to fund capital improvements approved by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Under the terms of the agreement, Impact Services will be required to meet annually with the Department of Parks and Recreation to present its business plan.
Today I appear before you to pledge the support of the Department of Parks and Recreation staff for this legislation and respectfully ask that 11 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. City Council and this Committee approve Bill No. 090778. In addition, I request a suspension of the rules so as to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. I would also like to add that I've been handed copies of a letter for members of the Committee from Nancy A. Goldenberg, the Chair of the Commission of Parks and Recreation. As you well know, the legislation that established the Parks and Recreation Commission provide the Commission the opportunity to weigh in on any legislation affecting land use. I have a letter here from Chairwoman Goldenberg strongly supportive of both bills, 090778 for Walnut Lane and 090776 for Juniata Golf Course. With that, I would be pleased to answer any questions of the Committee. Thank you very much.
Do you have a copy of the letter that Ms. Nancy 12 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. Goldenberg has given us? Do you have your own copy?
For the record, then, put on the record the first paragraph and the last paragraph.
Certainly. "The legislation establishing the Commission on Parks and Recreation stipulates that," in quotes, "'immediately upon introduction into Council of any ordinance authorizing the City to acquire, convey or lease to a third party any interest in real estate that includes park or recreation land or facilities, the Chief Clerk of Council shall submit it to the Commission on Parks and Recreation for its recommendation to the Mayor and the Council'". Final paragraph, "We encourage the swift passage of both bills and are happy to have this letter read into the record as testimony at the public hearing 13 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009. Should you have any questions or need clarification, please don't hesitate to contact me. "Thank you. "Sincerely, Nancy A. Goldenberg, Chair of the Commission on Parks and Recreation."
Thank you. Thank you, Director Focht. In this agreement both providers would be required to do a five percent annual revenue into an escrow account. Do we have an estimate of what that would be in both cases?
Correct, for each 14 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. course per year.
It's approximately the same that our other agreement with Billy Casper Golf for the other four golf courses.
As it relates -- this agreement also says that this fund would be used for expected capital improvements. What has been the investments thus far both from Impact -- I'll ask this also of the Golf Foundation, and is there any other projected capital improvements that we are expected to make?
You will hear testimony from both John MacDonald and Bob Wheeler, both of whom can speak to the investments they have made. We constantly have conversations with both the leadership at both courses to identify the capital needs, such as I mentioned tree work that had been done at 15 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. Walnut Lane, and it's kind of, just as with any capital venture, it's a rotating list, an ongoing list of capital projects that are identified by the operator, they're vetted with Park staff, that are approved design-wise by Parks and Recreation staff and then implemented by the operator.
Okay. So all capital improvements, outside of what's available at this escrow, is going to be the sole responsibility of the providers?
And they're in agreement with that? Well, we'll hear from them.
You'll hear from them, but I believe they're in agreement with that, yes.
Is there any other major capital stuff related to either one of these two ballparks that we should be aware of? Because this is a 16 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. long-term agreement, which is great because it provides some sustainability for them and some planning, but I just want to make sure that if there's any major outstanding ticket items that we haven't addressed, that we're aware of them going into this arrangement.
Well, as Councilman Jones referenced, we have now completed master plans for both courses. You were involved in that for the Juniata Course. After we get past this point of getting the legislation in place, we will sit with both operators, look at the master plans and determine what we collectively think is feasible and doable to implement out of both master plans. That will develop kind of a capital program moving forward over the nine years, five to nine years of the agreement.
-- so 17 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. that we're aware where the agreements are and where potential disagreements are?
Please stay tuned for the second. If we could please now call a panel for Bill No. 090778. That would include John MacDonald, President and CEO of Impact Services, James Lammendola, neighborhood resident, and Susan Nye, neighborhood resident. Please come to the witness table. (Witnesses approached witness table.) 18 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc.
Good morning. We'll start with John MacDonald, President and CEO of Impact Services. MR. MacDONALD: Thank you, Councilwoman Brown and the Committee members. I am John MacDonald. I'm the President and the CEO of Impact Services Corporation, and I'm pleased to appear before you today in support of Council Bill No. 090778, authorizing the City of Philadelphia, through the Department of Parks and Recreation, to enter into a License and Operating Agreement with Impact Services Corporation to operate the Walnut Lane Golf Course. Impact Services Corporation employs 124 individuals full time and is currently in the 35th year of operation, with our corporate offices located at Kensington and Allegheny. Our 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation offers a variety of employment training programs, placing more than 20,000 individuals into work. 19 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. We manage four business associations with roughly 1,000 members. We operate a specialized Earn Center for pregnant mothers hoping to leave the welfare rolls. We operate an award-winning reentry program assisting individuals returning to the community from prison. And our Homeless Veterans Program serving dual- and triple-diagnosed individuals, many returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, is the only one of its kind in the United States. In addition, we provide supportive housing, youth programs, community leadership activities that will strengthen our neighborhood. We assist businesses on commercial strips with facade improvements, streetscapes, marketing and growth, and we operate our own enterprises. In 2008, our revenues exceeded $9 million. The Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association is a subsidiary of Impact Services and operates The First Tee of Philadelphia 20 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. national youth development program built on a platform of golf. We are currently in our sixth year of operating this program. It started in a state-of-the-art teaching facility we built on the grounds of the City's Franklin D. Roosevelt Golf Course next to the clubhouse. Our mission: To impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. , son of the great Joe Louis, world heavyweight boxing champion. This past year The First Tee of Philadelphia was honored by the National Office receiving the Chairman's Award. I am proud to serve as Executive Director of The First Tee Philadelphia utilizing my lifetime of experience in golf. I was a caddy at age 8, worked on the grounds crew at age 14, and during high school, I 21 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. worked in the pro shop. I played on the golf team at Northeast High School, earned a scholarship to play golf at Temple, turned pro after graduation and then became the golf coach at Temple University for three decades. All of this happened in my life because a member of Melrose Country Club went out of his way to give an 8-year-old his very first golf club after caddying for him one day. Through The First Tee we're trying to change the lives by offering a similar opportunity to thousands of children in Philadelphia. In January of 2008, Impact was given a one-year lease to operate the Walnut Lane Golf Course, which was renewed for another year in January of 2009. We upgraded the cart fleet, offering 50 two-year-old golf courses to the golfing public. We have aerated the fairways, tees and greens as well as over-seeded all others. We've cut down dead and dangerous trees and started new 22 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. plantings. We installed a practice net for golfers to loosen up prior to teeing off. We added staff to the facility. David Smith, the Class "A" PGA golf professional, directs The First Tee program at Walnut Lane Golf Course. The pro shop merchandise offerings have been expanded. Students from the Saul High School have been employed each summer in our GolfWorks program.
Just under 500 children from 30 organizations have been involved in the TFT program representing schools, community centers, golf organizations, churches and special needs programs, including the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, the Mid-Atlantic Blind Golfers, the Northern Home for Boys and North Light Community Center. Volunteers have donated over 2,500 hours of assistance to The First Tee program. We created a teaching area for the youth, which we hope to expand for the future. We are striving for a greener facility by reducing our insecticide spray program by 23 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. over 60 percent by changing to a green pesticide. The product does not carry any signal words of caution, creating a safer environment for our customers, youth participants and wildlife. As a result of our efforts, the facility is supported by the United States Golf Association, the Professional Golf Association, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the Golf Association of Philadelphia and the World Golf Foundation. The number of rounds in 2009 has increased to 19,344 through November the 6th. Roughly 485 rounds at the $5 rate for youth is a new Walnut Lane Golf Course offering. And, finally, we have assembled a skilled staff that has bought into the vision of youth programming that can change lives while providing the best conditioned public golf course in the City. Humbly, I ask for your support passing City Council Bill 090778. 24 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. Thanks, and I'd be happy to answer questions.
Okay. Thank you for your testimony. I'm going to have colleagues pose questions to this witness directly and then we'll move to the other members of our panel. Councilman Jim Kenney.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I just want to just for the record comment. As a South Philadelphia resident, I have been very much aware of the work of The First Tee down at what we call The Lakes, but it's Franklin Roosevelt Park. As a matter of fact, I played many years there. I'm still not very good, but I still enjoy playing. But the number of children and the diversity of children that this organization has touched is just astounding, because I think for many, many years, I guess until Tiger Woods 25 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. burst on the scene, there was a perception that golf was not a sport for anyone other than white men. And we knew that's not the case and obviously not the case, and I think the more children that we allow, both male, female, black, white, whatever ethnic group, exposure to this sport, it not only gives them another outlet, another way of understanding how to behave and how to grow up in the society, but it opens doors for them, future doors, in high school scholarships, college scholarships and, most importantly, business opportunities once they're in the working world, because a lot of work gets done and a lot of the contracts get approved and dealt with on a golf course, and the more people we get, more diversity on those courses making those deals, the better off we'll all be. So I just want to thank you for not only the work that Impact does in every area of social work and social 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. mission, but this in particular is important I think because it knocked down a wall that needed to be knocked down, and those kids are going to -- the numbers of kids and the types of kids are going to expand exponentially the more opportunities they have throughout our system to get a golf club in their hand and get someone to teach them how to use it. So I just want to thank you for all your work. MR. MacDONALD: Thank you very much.
Thank you. Thank you, John, for all the work that you do. I just wanted to kind of ask you the same questions I had asked of the Director in terms of this agreement calling on the contribution to the capital improvement and ensuring that there has been a discussion around future 27 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. capital improvements and that you're satisfied with the interaction between Fairmount Park and Impact Services as it relates to that. MR. MacDONALD: Yes. It became really important for us, because the program in South Philadelphia was expanding so much, to have a facility that we could control the play of youth when they got to the point when they'd be on the course. It really took the pressure off of the other public golf courses for the kids, and we went into this with our eyes open. The buildings are in difficult repair. I had an architect out there this morning actually, and, you know, there's roof issues, there's a lot of issues with the golf course. Hopefully we can assist the Park system as a result of our non-profit status to bring some additional resources into the facility to help take care of some of these major expenses. 28 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. One of the things that I am a little fearful of -- and thank you for asking the question -- is just the green issues. Tanks are underground and, you know, I have no idea how folks have addressed that, although EPA, we've talked with them and had them out and we've run the test and had consultants come in and look at the tanks. And you just -- it's one of those things you just kind of cross your fingers and hope that you're good. But I know the Park system has undertaken a program to put tanks above ground. I don't know what that costs. I know we just did that down at FDR, just last week actually. So that's my only fear. I mean, we want to make this the best place we can possibly make it for the folks that play as well as the kids that are going to be there learning the game of golf and the nine core values of The First Tee. So, you know, we cross our 29 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. fingers that we'll be able to raise the money, and hopefully it will be a facility that the City will be really proud of.
Well, we're hopeful, and as I expressed to Director Mark, as soon as you come up with a capital plan, it's important that we're aware of it. Obviously from the perspective of trying to be supportive, we appreciate this kind of unique collaboration, and I do want to recognize Mark's willingness to work with both of the groups to make this happen, to make it work. It is an unusual situation from a private provider to a non-profit, and we want it to be very successful, because we want you to do your work and we also want to be helpful. And it's important that as the capital plan is developed, that we have those conversations so that those could become priorities for all of us, because I think sometimes if we know what short-term investments would lead to 30 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. long-term savings and sometimes we need to put them at the forefront, and we count on you to put that in our forefront so that we can make it a priority in our work here. So thank you. MR. MacDONALD: Thank you very much.
I too echo your great works up there and seeing young people swing their little hearts out that probably could golf circles around me that you've been able to train. It was interesting that when the issue first came up, probably the concept of shrinking the golf course, we had a packed auditorium of people that were concerned golfers, community residents, people who just walk the course just for quiet enjoyment. How has that translated into friends of the golf course kind of helping out with the long-term goals of 31 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. keeping that place sustainable, and how does that translate? MR. MacDONALD: Well, I think the one obvious is the increase in play, but I think since the kids have been there, the volunteers have really increased tremendously, and at the same time, I've heard folks say that the golf course now has a soul.
Enough said from me. Let's keep its heartbeat going. My point is that too often we come out when there's something bad about to happen, but it's important to come out also to make good things happen, and now that the golf course has a soul, let's keep its heartbeat alive. MR. MacDONALD: Thank you.
My closing comment on this particular resolution is that Councilman Kenney's remarks really need to be underscored and put into bold 32 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. letters. He's known of your work over the years. I've learned of your work and gotten to know your work over the last six weeks, and I always look to see what is the level of commitment, of outreach to creating a diverse workforce; in this case, young people, because it matters in today's environment, and to know that you're providing not -- these young people won't be lucky, but you're creating -- the awareness leads to exposure. Preparation, that leads to opportunity. You're giving exposure and opportunity to learn an entirely different world. So please continue the reach of your outreach, both wide and deep, and the expectation is that the numbers will exponentially grow now that you're at the Walnut Lane area. Congratulations on your good work. MR. MacDONALD: Thank you so much.
If we 33 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. could hear from James, and I'm going to have you pronounce your last name for me.
Councilwoman, you did it right the first time. It's James Lammendola.
Thank you very, very much. Neighborhood resident of Walnut Lane. Please proceed with your testimony.
My name is James M. Lammendola and I am delighted to appear before the Council Committee today in support of Council Bill 090778, authorizing the City of Philadelphia, through the Department of Parks and Recreation, to enter into a Lease and Operating Agreement with Impact Services Corporation to operate the Walnut Lane Golf Course. I have been a Roxborough resident since 1985. I am a Professor at Temple University Fox School of Business and teach real estate law and business ethics, among other courses, to both 34 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. undergraduates and MBA students. I was in private legal practice in Center City Philadelphia for approximately years. 5 I have been a baseball coach in the 6 Roxborough-based 21st Ward Junior 7 Baseball League since 1998. I also serve 8 as the Community Representative of the 9 21st Ward Athletic Association, which 10 oversees all of the many athletic 11 organizations and programs which 12 primarily serve Manayunk, Wissahickon, 13 East Falls and Roxborough. 14 I was asked to serve on the 15 Committee that Councilperson Jones 16 established to examine the Land Use and 17 Feasibility Study commissioned by the 18 Fairmount Park Commission that outlined 19 possible changes to the use of the Walnut Lane Golf Course. At these meetings, both the perceived merits and deficiencies of the study were examined. The Committee was united in its stance in thinking that many of the proposals, which included converting Walnut Lane 35 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. into a nine-hole golf course, together with the possibility of constructing either an amphitheater, roller skate arena, restaurant and relocating John Boyce Baseball Field, were not in the best interest of the neighborhood and the City. I participated in the Committee activities because I perceived two matters of importance to my city were threatened. A significant recreational activity that benefited the middle class and open space were threatened. I have never played golf in my life and probably never will, but I am convinced that the best use of the Walnut Lane Golf Course is as an 18-hole golf course, and the proposed Lease Agreement with Impact Services Corporation, which I have reviewed, serves the best interest of the City, the adult golfing public and the children of our city that Impact Services caters to through its youth programs. Public golf courses, just as libraries, parks and playgrounds, are 36 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. part of the fabric of life that makes big-city living more than a walk through concrete, brick and asphalt. By any objective standard, it appears that the almost three-year management of the course by Impact Services has been a boon to the course and its players. John MacDonald, President of Impact Services Corporation and Executive Director of First Tee of Philadelphia, appeared before the Walnut Lane Committee and explained his vision for the golf course and how the golf course was operated in 2007-8. Mark Focht, Director of Fairmount Park Department of Parks and Recreation, has already addressed the nuts and bolts of how the City would continue to benefit from Impact Services' stewardship of Walnut Lane Golf Course. The preservation of the Walnut Lane Golf Course as an 18-hole golf course is critical to the community. Although the proposed lease issue is 37 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. before Council today, there are also two larger issues at stake - the status of Walnut Lane Golf Course as an 18-hole public golf course and as a significant parcel of open space in the City of Philadelphia. A public golf course serves the middle class and aspiring middle class who are not able to golf at a private country club because of financial constraints. Take away a public golf course and you diminish the City. I can no more envision Philadelphia without the Walnut Lane Golf Course than I can envision Philadelphia without its public ball fields and playgrounds.
This lease serves to further the goal of serving the middle class, whose tax contributions are the grease that drives any big city. The Walnut Lane Golf Course abuts a large portion of the Wissahickon Valley that borders the environmentally sensitive Forbidden Drive. Over the recent decades, there has been a tendency 38 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. to chip away at the areas where the Park begins, such as areas bordering on the Houston meadow and at the lower end of Summit Avenue. There has also been significant development in the past 7 years in areas away from the Park, 8 including Hunters Point, the homes on 9 Spring Lane and the condominiums near 10 Saul High School. Roughly 26 acres of 11 the Schuylkill Valley Nature Center has 12 been recently sold. There was even talk 13 a few years ago of developing the 14 reservoir on Port Royal Avenue, which is 15 a significant bird sanctuary. 16 A well-managed Walnut Lane Golf 17 Course will serve as a buffer, at least 18 in the short term, against the loss of 19 more open space in Roxborough as well as 20 preserving an important recreational outlet for many of our residents. And I'd like to emphasize, including the children. Thank you for your anticipated support of this bill. 39 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc.
Thank you for your testimony. Any questions for this witness? Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you very much. Good morning. Chairwoman Reynolds and Committee members, my name is Susan Nye and I am a 13-year resident in the area adjacent to the Walnut Lane Golf Course. I am here today to support a License and Operating Agreement for an initial five-year term to Impact Services, present operators of the facility. As a resident of the area, I both observe and use the golf course. While spring, summer and fall are the primary golf seasons, the course is used year round. On any sunny day, one can 40 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. see golfers, young and old, men and women, playing the course. As a golfer I have played on the course numerous times and have been impressed with the care and attention given to the fairways and greens these past few years. Most of all, however, I have been impressed with the efforts to attract young boys and girls to the sport of golf and to the course. Many of our public and parochial high school golf teams practice and compete on the Walnut Lane Course, and the Public League Championships were held there as well. As a former physical educator, golf coach and Philadelphia middle school principal who retired in 2004, I am constantly aware of and am looking for opportunities for our students to participate in the life of the community. I have been impressed with The First Tee program brought in this year by Director John MacDonald. First Tee is endorsed by the PGA and provides golf instruction to 41 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. school students in conjunction with their regular physical education classes. I saw groups of kids learning golf skills at Walnut Lane and went to meet Dave Smith, the Program Director. I learned that in just this year -- and this is since March -- over 425 students in more than 30 schools and centers participated in the program. Some schools include Wagner Middle School, Hill-Freedman Middle School, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Northern Home for Boys, Roman and Little Flower High Schools. Mr. Smith plans to increase the number of schools, provided there is a multi-year commitment, because he understands that it takes time to develop a stable program that can expand and succeed. I'd like to say too that the schools also need to plan for budgeting, curriculum and scheduling, and in many cases, they also need time to procure funding necessary to have this program in their schools. 42 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. The Walnut Lane Golf Course is a tremendous asset to the Northwest section of Philadelphia and serves an amazingly diverse population of residents. At a time when people are looking for peace, tranquility and places to play golf or just walk with their friends and family, Walnut Lane provides this opportunity. I personally want to thank Councilman Jones for his interest and support of this particular golf course and our neighborhood, and I ask that the Committee approve Bill 090778. Thank you for your time.
Thank you for your testimony. Have you had a chance to reduce to writing your recommendation you mentioned regarding what the schools should be doing so that they can be more adequately prepared for what The First Tee is offering?
Have you considered putting in writing -- you stipulate in your testimony that the schools should be doing X, Y, Z.
I think that would be very important if we want the schools to do more, do what they can. You can't hold anyone responsible for that which we haven't brought to their attention. I'm sure, given the fact that you live and breathe this effort, having been a member of the system, they would pay attention to that letter.
Anyone else here to testify on Bill No. 090778? (No response.)
Well, we 44 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. want to thank all of you for your testimony and for your obvious enthusiasm for what lies ahead for The First Tee. And, Mr. MacDonald, let me just commend you again on your remarkable outreach. That's not easy to do ever, and when you reach deep and reach wide, it should not go unnoticed. Thank you very much. MR. MacDONALD: Thank you.
Now if we could hear testimony on Bill No. 090776, starting with our Executive Director again for Fairmount Park, Department of Parks and Recreation, Mark Focht. (Witness approached witness table.)
Again, good morning, Chairwoman Reynolds Brown and members of the Committee. I'm Mark Focht, the Executive Director of Fairmount Park in the Department of Parks and Recreation. I am pleased to appear 45 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. before you today in support of City Council Bill 090776, authorizing the City of Philadelphia, through the Department of Parks and Recreation, to enter into a License and Operating Agreement with the Juniata Golf Foundation to operate the Juniata Golf Course. Juniata Golf Course is located in the Juniata Park section of the City in Tacony Creek Park and bounded on the north and west by the Tacony/Frankford Creek and on the south by Cayuga Street and on the east by Castor Avenue. The Juniata Golf Foundation is a non-profit corporation formed in 2007 solely for the purpose of operating Juniata Golf Course for the benefit of the community. The Foundation has successfully operated the golf course under the terms of back-to-back one-year Lease and Operating Agreements since January 2008. Robert Wheeler, Executive Director of the Juniata Golf Foundation, is a native of Juniata Park and a retired Philadelphia 46 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. police officer. Bob has been involved in managing Juniata Golf Course since 1990. Department of Parks and Recreation staff, golfers and community residents and businesses have been pleased with the operation of the Juniata Golf Course under the Juniata Golf Foundation's management. The Foundation has made significant improvements to the course, including restoring greens and cart paths, repairing bridges, renovating the clubhouse and providing new landscaping. It has also increased the course's round of play and increased the number of community and youth golf programs, providing Junior Golf Camp and PAL Golf Camp, among other programs. The Department of Parks and Recreation would like to offer a long-term lease to the Juniata Golf Foundation to reward it for its sound operation and care of the golf course and to encourage it to make strategic long-term investments in the course, 47 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. clubhouse and community programming. The proposed Lease and Operating Agreement will provide an initial five-year term, with a four-year renewal term to be exercised at the sole discretion of the City. The renewal term will expire the same date as the City's other golf course agreements so that the Department of Parks and Recreation has the flexibility to evaluate and select the best option for managing all six public golf courses concurrently. The agreement will not impose a financial obligation on the City at any time and requires the Foundation to contribute five percent of annual gross revenues to a capital escrow account to fund capital improvements approved by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Under the terms of the agreement, the Foundation will be required to meet annually with the Department of Parks and Recreation to present its business plan. Today I appear before you to 48 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. pledge the support of the Department of Parks and Recreation for this legislation and respectfully ask that this Committee and City Council approve Bill No. 090776. In addition, I request a suspension of the rules so as to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. Thank you. I'd be very pleased to answer any questions concerning this matter.
Thank you for your testimony. Any questions for this witness? (No response.)
And if we could please ask Bob Wheeler, operator for Golf Foundation, to please come forward and offer your testimony. (Witness approached witness table.) 49 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc.
Good morning, Council. Thank you for having me here this morning. My name is Bob Wheeler. Like Mark said, I'm a retired police officer. I started working at Juniata approximately years ago part time. In 8 the last five years I've been there as a 9 General Manager, and the last two years 10 as the General Manager and the Executive 11 Director of the Juniata Golf Foundation. 12 When we took it over about two 13 years ago, the course wasn't in great 14 shape. We didn't have a clubhouse. We 15 had port-a-potties, which was not a good 16 situation. And in the last two years, 17 we've accomplished a tremendous amount of 18 work, along with the unions who have come 19 in and really helped us out. We built a 20 pro shop. We built banquet facilities. And we have bathrooms now, and we've improved the course tremendously. Our greens are as good as anybody's around, even as good as the private courses. Our fairway is in tremendous shape. And I 50 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. think that's a reflection on the rounds that we're doing now. Two years ago we did around 12,000 rounds. Presently we're doing 15,000 rounds right now. So in the process, we've done about 45 fundraisers for different people, tournaments. We're very popular in that area. Our two main goals is to work with the community and also to improve the golf course. I think we've accomplished that, or at least we're on our way of doing that as improving the golf course, like I said. But as far as reaching out to the community, we have Police Athletic League that comes there all summer. We have the Variety Club that does an after-school program. We've hired eight other students, high school students, to work there during the summer. We have four high school teams that play there and we don't charge them anything. They come here, and, actually, if you're on the golf team, you can play 51 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. all year round. We give them that benefit. And they all come back and they contribute and help us out. As far as financially, we weren't doing that great about two years ago. This year we've improved, I say, probably by about $120,000 that we did two years ago. So we're on our way. As far as capital improvements that we're talking about with Maria Sanchez, we probably put in about $80,000 to $100,000 into the course this year. We did it by putting in the clubhouse and the pro shop, and we're going to put an extension on our building too for the cart path. So what I'm saying to you now is that we have a lot of people that come there. It's a family atmosphere. I think everybody really enjoys it now, and we're asking that you would approve the bill so we could continue our good work.
Councilwoman Sanchez. 52 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc.
Thank you. I want to thank you for all your work. I think it's important as we talk about capital, the fact that you've gotten so much community support and in-kind, I think it's important that we document that, because I think that there's a lot of value to the labor that's been donated to the facility.
We want to make sure we quantify a part of the Foundation. And then moving forward, again, once Fairmount Park and you as a provider kind of agree on what those capital improvements, it's important that we're aware of those so that we could try to be as helpful as we possibly can.
Thank you 53 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. very much, Mr. Wheeler. To you and the other neighborhood residents, the volunteer work that you give up is a woeful reminder that government can no 6 longer do it alone, and you really do exemplify what Margaret Mead talks about, and, that is, that never doubt that a few committed citizens can change the world.
That is the only thing that has ever happened. So volunteers are the difference, and we thank you for the value you're bringing back to your immediate community.
Anyone else to testify on Bill No. 090776? (No response.)
That concludes testimony on Bills No. 090776 54 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. and 090778. This concludes the public hearing on the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, and we will now go into a public meeting. I would like to ask Councilwoman Sanchez for a motion on Bill 9 No. 090776.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill 12 090776 be moved out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended to allow first reading at our next session. (Duly seconded.)
The ayes have it. Seeing none, the bill has been properly moved and seconded and, 55 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. furthermore, the rules of Council have been suspended so as to permit first reading at the next scheduled session for Bill No. 090776. I will now ask the sponsor of the bill, Councilman Curtis Jones, for a motion on Bill No. 090778.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill No. 090778 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request that the rules of Council be suspended, thus allowing first reading at our next Council session.
Thank you very much. Is there a second? (Duly seconded.)
Councilwoman Sanchez seconded the bill. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
All opposed? 56 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. (No response.)
Seeing none, this bill has been properly moved and seconded and, furthermore, the rules of Council have been suspended so as to permit first reading at the next scheduled session of City Council. Councilwoman Sanchez has a comment on Resolution No. 090698 for the record.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I wanted to advise folks that Resolution 090698 will be heard at a future meeting of the Recreation Committee on December 8th at 10 o'clock. At that time, we will discuss the issue regarding the ethnic parades, in case anyone came in here expecting that discussion. We are working with the Administration in preparation for that and expect to have a full discussion on the ethnic parades on December the 8th at 10:00 a.m. 57 11/10/09 - PARKS - BILL 090776, etc. Thank you, Madam Chair.
You're welcome, Councilwoman Sanchez. That concludes this hearing. We want to thank everyone for their testimony and your presence. Have a good morning. (Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs concluded at 11:20 a.m.) - - - 58 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 10, 2009, 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.)