You appointed her Deputy Commissioner? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Yes. 1199 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET)
On , tell me what is the Pre-school Project? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: That's an initiative that we began last year in order for us to try and create a revenue stream for the City. We're working on improving and creating and attaining accreditation from the State in our pre-school and after-school programs. If we are able to accomplish this, there's a money denomination -- and I'm sorry, I don't know that number -- that the State will partially reimburse the City for the services to these children. A lot of it has to do with the physical plant.
Is this an entity called the Pre-School Project? Is that like a company or contractor? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: No, sir. Really, it's the terminology that was used. It's the pre-existing Top Rank Program. It's also tied in together with the after-school program.
Where are these after-school programs? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Mr. Carapucci. 1200 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET)
Bill Carapucci. We're trying to equip four facilities with the standards that the State would use. We've met with the various people in the capital budget to make some adjustments to the facilities. Two of them that we probably could get up this fiscal year are Simons and Hawthorne, because they're relatively new buildings and they meet most of the codes. We have two more planned, Dendy, and that's in Council District 5, and Max Meyers.
In the lower Northeast. We're trying to do these four to see if this works. This would be like a pilot program.
Simons is up in the Northwest, I know. I think that's in the 8th or 9th. It's the 9th. Hawthorne would be --
District 1. Dendy is 5. I think Meyers -- I don't know where it is now.
I'm trying to figure out what I'm not getting. So we're going to do pre-school and after-school programs proposed at these facilities?
We're already doing 1201 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) after-school. We're trying to bring it up to the standards of the State and trying to generate a revenue stream. There's a lot of issues involved with this. If it works, we probably could expand this.
So, I mean, obviously we need to have as many pre-school experiences for our young children as possible. Without getting into a lot of detail about prior to those kinds of activities, I'm assuming as the government, we're obviously going to try to be price competitive, but I'm assuming also sensitive to the ability of people to pay and have different rates in different neighborhoods, depending on who's attending?
Every one of our programs is price sensitive. We make it meet the needs of the particular community. So if you're in a community that cannot pay, they'll pay a very minimal amount. If you're in a community that has a better ability to pay something, it goes up a little bit. In all cases, they're always a minimal cost. We treat the entire ten areas of our City equally.
Who is going to staff this? Will these be public employees? 1202 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET)
We're going to hire four seasonal employees, one for each facility. We have one already there. So these sites will have two, what we call, rec specialty instructors. One is already on board because we have after-school programs there already. Once this program goes into effect, there's money in the budget to hire another seasonal person. So they'll have two besides the regular Department of Recreation staff.
When you do your seasonals, I thought they were generally six-month people. At some point, won't you only have one?
After-school program has an exception. I guess about five years ago, the Civil Service Commission allowed the after-school seasonals to work nine months. They work September through June. Summertime, we hire the summer staff.
Thank you. Commissioner, tell me who was recruited in FY '02? Which deputy commissioner was recruited and what services were needed for recruitment purposes? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Ms. Coles.
I was under the impression Ms. Coles was already here. 1203 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) COMMISSIONER RICHARD: No. Ms. Coles replaced another deputy. She was recruited the end of last year, sir.
Commissioner, tell me about . HSDF Youth Access Centers, what is that? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Human Services Development Fund. It's part of the Welfare To Work Project. Mr. Carapucci will expound.
We have around the City eight Youth Access Centers that are open expanded hours. They have expanded services. Besides the regular recreation staff, they recruit staff from the neighborhood to expand services. For instance, I can name a few, 1204 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) Feltonville, Meyers, Lawncrest, Simons, Gathers. There's a couple more. I think we have seven or eight total. The purpose is to expand the hours of operation also to work with other agencies. For instance, at Meyers at 58th and Kingsessing, we have a program there where we work together with the Health Department. Also, in some of these centers we are working with other agencies to do some of the new things this Administration has brought in. For instance, the test for sexually transmitted diseases. We're working together with other agencies and expanding our hours. We're giving the local community an opportunity to get involved with the playground and some employment.
McVeigh, and there's one other one. Grays Ferry. How can I forget that?
Believe me, they won't. 1205 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET)
Feltonville is obviously in the Feltonville section. Meyers is in --
Do you have any plan to expand or increase the number of these?
If we had additional funding, I'm sure we can do more with it.
Let me point out to you -- you said Meyers was in Southwest in the 1206 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) Kingsessing section?
That's fairly Southwest. Let me make mention that, I think if you plot these out, you'll find a big hole over on the north western side of the City; West Philadelphia, both parts that are south of market, and all of West Philadelphia north of market and the Overbrook section.
I'm aware of that. Again, I think our budget is for about $350,000. We stretch that as much as we can. Originally we used to do five sites with that kind of money --
If you had an additional $50,000, where would you do it?
You're a very smart man. Could you narrow it down a little bit?
Well, Sheppard would be a 1207 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) nice facility, or Kendrick.
You are a survivor. I'll give you credit. It's 50,000 a center?
Commissioner, I'm going to need to work with you during the course of this budget process and our good friend, Mr. Dubow, and the managing director, to try to figure out how we fill at least part of the hole we're experiencing here in terms of the western side of the City, West and Northwestern portions of Philadelphia to make sure there is a certain level of fair coverage for this kind of proposal. I would ask if you would talk to the budget director, finance director, and managing director during the course of these hearings to see how we might be able to make some adjustment to allow for a new center. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Yes, sir.
Tell me about and the Robert Wood Johnson Grant. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: It's a grant program that falls under the Safe and Sound.
All of that money is 1208 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) for Safe and Sound? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Yes, all of it.
That's the total total amount, or just the amount for this year?
What is the total total amount of the entire grant and the timetable for its use?
I was under the impression this was a multi-year grant.
This is Estell Richman, managing director. The CEO of Safe And Sound will be testifying on Monday. We'll bring her full budget and what the revenues are and how they're disbursed. The revenues really cover two departments. We will have an opportunity on Monday. 1209 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) It will be in connection with the DHS testimony on Monday morning.
Right. While the staff are hired through here, the money flows through DHS. We felt that to give you a full understanding of that budget, where the money has come from, how they go would give you an opportunity to talk to the person who controls it.
Fine. Any of my questions around that would be more programmatic and just what it is, what it does, that kind of thing. Commissioner, two last questions: One, on , there is again a listing regarding Executive Cert Services. Was that -- COMMISSIONER RICHARD: That was the same one-time expense, sir.
So the total is 22,000? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: I believe it's 17.
On there's a listing in FY '02 for $5000. Then on there's a listing for $17,000. 1210 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) COMMISSIONER RICHARD: One was in '01 and one was in '02.
In '01 it was $15,000. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Correct. I'm looking at '02 as five.
Right. On . On for '02, there's a $17,000 listing. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: I would have to check. I believe it's 17. It may be more. But I can get back to you. I can have the invoices pulled.
Last question: is paint. For the current fiscal year, how many murals do we anticipate are going to be either painted or repaired?
Jane Golden, Mural Arts Program. For the upcoming fiscal year, we are anticipating 125 murals will be complete. In the fiscal year we're currently in, I think we're actually going to be completing 150 murals. The reason for the drop is that we're being conservative because a part of what we do is based on private funding. Because of changes in the climate, there's just been a downturn in how much 1211 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) foundations are giving. I'd like to be conservative. If we could raise more money and do more work, we'll be very happy.
Ms. Golden, for the private dollars you raise, is any of that money used to purchase paint and other supplies or paper, scaffolding or anything, or is that primarily for artists and whatever funding is required to deal with the various artists?
I would say it's used for everything to staff, scaffolding, mural paint. We raise a great deal of money for our after-school and summer program. Two-thirds of our art education budget is funded privately. I would say it's used across the board. It's incredibly valuable. We're very appreciative that we get support from the City so we leverage public funds with private dollars and quadruple the work we'd do normally.
I know the demand continues. We've had a number of mural projects in the 4th District. They've increased over time. I do deeply appreciate that. I think both yourself and the Commissioner and managing director are to be complimented for the 1212 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) work the Mural Arts Program does; the fund raising, as well as the attention that needs to be paid on the City's side to make sure we support the program as much as possible whether with regard to the salary issues or supplies and equipment. It doesn't make much sense to have people in place without the tools to do what they need to do. With that, I will commend all of you. I appreciate the information. I think there are probably a couple outstanding information requests. If you can get them to the Chair as soon as possible, I would appreciate it. Thank you.
You're welcome. Councilman Dicicco and I do have a 2:30 meeting. Councilwoman Blackwell will Chair the rest of this hearing. Before I leave, Commissioner, I want you to know that I have found some of your employees to be very loyal and very dedicated. They are certainly a pleasure to work with. Whenever you call, they're always there to respond to your call. Whenever they can be of service, they do it without any hesitation. I want you to know that I really 1213 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) truly appreciate what they do for my office. Thank you. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Thank you, Madam President.
Good afternoon. I just basically want to say thank you for your leadership in the Recreation Department and say that I certainly appreciate your quick response to requests or concerns. I don't have a lot of questions. I want to say to you and your staff, you've been certainly most cooperative, most attentive to the recreation centers. When I've called or made a request, you have responded immediately. I want to say that on record, that I really appreciate all of you for your hard work and your dedication to what you do, and for the children and young people of Philadelphia. How do you determine where the centers will be? I'm glad we have Simons and Lawncrest, which is in my district. There's so many more. I know there is a dollar figure associated with that. 1214 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) If we could find additional dollars to have these programs in other parts of the City, and specifically more in my district, it would be helpful because we have so many young people doing nothing after school. If we could provide that service, it would be real good. Do you look at the truancy information? Do you look at the increase in criminal activity in young people? How do you come to determining where you will put the flow of funds? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Thank you for having us. Thank you for the question. The concept is a result of almost a year's worth of work in May of last year from the Youth Violent Reduction Program Initiative of the entire City. In that last big symposium that we had, the challenge that was presented to the Social Services Group directly from the Justice Department and the police as well at the table saying, Well, what are we going to continually do? Am I going to continually go in here with the DEA and undercover police operation and just lock up everybody? Can you all come to the table with us to put a preventative piece in there and to stop recurrence 1215 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) and hopefully to deter? So the concept for that was really born. What it is, we take pre-existing facilities -- the data that's used to determine and dictate the part of the City directly comes from the juvenile justice system based on arrests and type of arrests by these young people, and also from the stat numbers that come from the Police Department. Those are the biggest areas that have been looked at in why we dictate what part of the City to begin this program. It's geared directly to the to 13 year-old age group. The primary focus of the 14 program is to just get them to stop hanging out, 15 chilling out, loitering, whatever, in the 16 neighborhood or in an unacceptable place, also for 17 them not to be tempted. If you'd like, I'd be more than glad to give you more information.
That's fine. Thank you very much. I want to ask about the Dell. In the past, we've had some top-notch, quality entertainment. I'm an avid Dell goer. I attend concerts. In the past we've had Gladys and Nancy Wilson. I haven't seen that caliber -- not that the 1216 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) other performers are not great. I enjoy them all. To get to the level of a Gladys or Nancy Wilson or Temptations, what do we have to do to get back to that? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Your request is noted.
Good afternoon. I'm Carlton Williams, Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Recreation primarily responsible for the Dell East. I have noticed you a couple of times at the Del throughout Dell shows. I want to thank you for your support, as well as other members who attend. To answer your question, that has been a significant problem over the last couple years. The cost for quality talent, such a Luther Vandrose and so forth, has risen dramatically. We did an assessment, I submitted a plan to the Commissioner, for ways to improve ticket revenues and ticket sales to bring back those quality entertainers. The key to the Dell is the quality of talent would dictate the number of people that come to the show which will ultimately increase revenues. Once we continue that cycle, we'll be able to 1217 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) maintain the number of people and quality of talent that's necessary to keep the Dell going without additional revenues. The other area we're looking at is sponsorship where we want to try to announce a full schedule of shows on time so that the public can know about it, begin purchasing season tickets, and sponsors come in and market their products at the Dell to over 6,000 or so people that can be housed at the facility.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Good afternoon, Commissioner and staff. I, too, want to thank you for your attentiveness. I think we have a pretty good working relationship with the Recreation Department. I just have a couple questions. To followup on Councilman Nutter's concerns about lack of a teen center in his district, and I certainly want to voice concern that there's absolutely no teen center in the 8th 1218 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) District. I was wondering what makes a center ready to house one of these recs or teen center? I know at one time we talked about the computer programs in recreation centers and security was an issue. A viable after-school -- a viable and active after-school program was a factor. What are you really looking for, rather than a new building like Simons? We don't have any new buildings; ours are old, big and need repair. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Well, let me address the teen center piece. It's approximately, for us to do one teen center, $125,000. The number one piece that we need to know in the room right now is that this isn't recurring funding. This is one-shot funding and money that's coming in from the Juvenile Justice Block Grant. My mission, being a good Commissioner -- if I'm going to be a good Commissioner is not to create something that the City can't maintain, or for me to build a white elephant, to create a program, something that's also of substance. So if we can only do a handful of these, that's going to be all that we can do. I want to make sure I clear this up. 1219 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) The biggest cost up front in the program is the cost of the goods; the materials and equipment that we're bringing in. Now, I need to take a moment to back up and brag on the Department, because we don't really get, I think, the credit for the amount of work and the changes that we made. Since October of '01 to date, we have transformed within the Department with our own people eight facilities that did not go out to bid on capital projects. I'm very, very proud of what we accomplished. The four facilities that we've transformed within the Department looks like a Simons facility now. We proved to ourselves the quality and the level of acceptance and type of the job that we can turn out. Once we're dictated by the crime stats of what's going on, then we look for the most conducive building without interrupting pre-existing program. How will we best be able to serve the vast majority of the community versus the minority? Some people know sometimes that I'm not going to make them happy. I'm not afraid to let them know that my ultimate goal isn't to make 1220 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) everybody happy, but to make the tough decisions from a business standpoint. That's the proper way to do it. Can we do one in your district? I'm sure, yeah. But the first thing we need to do is look at the crime statics, not just to do one, and where we can make the most impact of creating a social setting for to year olds to come and 10 hang out. The teen center is like their own little 11 nightclub. 12 I'd love for you to come out and 13 we'll take you to one. There's 50-inch TV, big 14 screens, brand-new, state-of-the-art DVD players, 15 wall-to-wall stereo systems. Some of them have 16 brand-new, state-of-the-art cardiovascular and 17 workout equipment, pool tables, ping-pong tables, automated bowling machines. It's like walking into a mini Dave & Busters. The reason it was created that way is we went in the community and asked the kids what would we be able to do for you that would make your life better, just to attract them off the street. The other piece of the program is intentionally not regimented structure. Our 1221 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) ultimate goal is to attract that group just to come off the corner to hang out.
We want them to dictate back to us what would they like us to give to them from an educational component, whatever the issue may be, job readiness, whatever. We just got it cranked up. I'd love to continue to expand it. I also need to be sensitive that we be able to maintain it once we create it; not to create something we can't keep. The rec's piece, I might turn the microphone over to Barry Hamlin, who is really leading the initiative through Ms. Neff's office. I want to say we have presently four facilities that are up. That piece is even a higher-ticketed piece item to create that technology piece. Once again, when I gave the okay to start this, I told him if we can only do five facilities in the whole City, they're going to be the highest quality, and that we can maintain them. It's not something that's going to fold and we won't be proud of after. Barry, do you want to add to the rex piece?
It's almost the inverse 1222 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) on the rec side because the highest cost is the ongoing recurring and maintenance cost. Really the highest cost deals with finding appropriate staff to maintain the facility. It's actually different from the teen center because we estimate it will cost about $288,000 to maintain that facility of that quality for a five-year period of time.
Is that one of the answers to the digital divide? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Yes. The rec is the digital divide, yes.
A year ago, the interest was to do as much as you could with the whole issue of digital divide; am I not correct?
Yes. Again, remember the rec is actually the second phase of the City's digital divide program. Placing the computers, which we already have in the libraries, is the first phase of that. The ultimate goal is to use every public facility to include the Housing Authority. And those places where we can provide public access, we will.
The Youth Access Centers are still in place? 1223 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET)
Let me ask you a couple more questions about the teen center. Are the children required to attend? To me, it almost sounds like day treatment that comes out of the Department of Juvenile Justice when Social Service programs open up day treatment programs for adjudicated youth or high-risk youth. Are they assigned to come or can they come voluntarily? If you're not referred from the First Judicial Court or Juvenile Probation Department or Police Department, et cetera, can you just come because you live in the neighborhood? Is it open to anyone, or are children specifically assigned to come there, required to come? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: It's an open house. We want to -- the kids come in, they sign up, they get their photo ID taken. Part of the security piece is when the young adults come in to hang out, they have to turn in their ID when they come in. We'd like to know who is in the place, how many we have in order to keep that environment safe as well. But our ultimate goal is to have all of the kids interact amongst themselves to create a social 1224 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) environment just for them. Part of the initiative in the symposium was that the young people congregate and hangout in shopping malls or alleyways because they really don't have their own formal place to call their own. They're not old enough to be an adult and they're too old to be a kid. This is their own speak easy, hangout, that's specifically created for them. The dual purpose is the safety component, and also them to continue to grow and enhance themselves in a social atmosphere as well. The other piece, too, is we are asking and looking for, you know, kids that have made a wrong mistake to come. And as much as we can mix that group together, we will mix that group together; hopefully they can influence one another. So you know, too, in these teen center components, there's two jobs that come with that. They're like little community outreach, whatever. But we have just employed four youth. I think the oldest is 21. At one facility, I want to say Rivera, that facility has two males. They're both in the makeup of the neighborhood and the 1225 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) clients. You have an and a 20-year-old that 4 actually is going out and bringing the youth off the 5 street to come and say this is what we have. So 6 it's not like you have someone my age, older or 7 younger than me trying to interact. We do have the 8 adults there. We have the older peers interacting 9 with them in order to create the environment and let 10 them run their own social setting. 11
I'm really glad to 12 hear the Department is addressing some of the idle 13 time of teen-agers. Because as you're out driving 14 around, they are congregating on corners, in the 15 playground, outside when it's cold. There doesn't 16 seem to be enough organized activities. In some 17 sections of the cities, there are. In parts of my 18 district, we have Y's, boys clubs, PAL's and rec centers. Other facilities, churches are having youth activity in the evening. In other parts, there's really nothing for young people to do. If this is a way to address that, keep them off the streets, out of trouble, it's really a good idea. Maybe there are other ways we could get more of theses centers up and running. Maybe 1226 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) through some of the faith-based community and other kind of private funding resources and other foundations. Thank you. We'll try to work on trying to get some things happening in neighborhoods. Part of my district, we do have the high incidence. We're involved in Safe And Sound. We have several different Juvenile Justice Programs in different parts of my district. We'll do whatever it is we need to do. Thank you. It sounds like a very good program. I've been one of the Councilpeople that asked what are we doing for the age -- the population that you've targeted? After-school programs, mostly elementary schools go to that. I'm glad to hear we're moving now finally into doing some other things for teen-agers. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you very much. Before I call on Councilman Rizzo, let me tell my colleagues that I have visited such a center. Obviously, it wasn't in my district. It is just about the most exciting place I've ever been. You're an absolutely exciting 1227 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) Commissioner. And your Department, from your deputies down, are great. I was so pleasantly surprised and overjoyed that the participation by community people, the adults, young people and just that in Philadelphia we've reached an age we can do creative programming like this. I really, really think that, Mr. Richard, you're an asset to our City, to young people everywhere. We're glad we have you here. Thank you to your entire Department. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Along with being put on the list for the Art Museum, I want to be put on the list to go visit one of the teen centers also. Councilwoman Blackwell basically covered the area I wanted to cover in congratulating you. You guys have a tough job. It's not as exciting as the Fire Department, Police Department, but the service -- Vic is smiling. Some days I guess it's hotter than being the Fire Commissioner. My point is the good work that you do -- we don't hear about all the good work everyday. 1228 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) It's a tough grind to be in that recreation environment. Again, this Councilmember wants to say thank you for all that you do and the people that work with you. We had some tough times in the last year. I thought that maybe since we're getting close to summer, that you'd give us a little briefing on the situation with the lifeguards. I know you were kind enough to send an announcement to my office indicating that you were going to be employing additional lifeguards for the pools. I know that there's probably at least -- I don't believe that that investigation on the tragedy that occurred last summer has been formally announced, the result of this investigation. Are we in good shape? Are we on the right time line to get ready for summer? The pools are all going to open. Based on the temperature of this winter, we might have a very, very hot summer. How are we doing with that? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Thanks, first of all, for the support day in and day out. It makes a difference. It makes our job a lot easier knowing we're going in the same direction. Thank you and 1229 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) all of the Councilmembers. Prior to the challenges that we faced last summer, we were already planning to implement different procedural and operational things relative to aquatics. Earlier that year, our aquatics director was sent off to Miami, I believe, for a seven-day National Aquatics Management Institute. Also, we developed last summer, prior to our incidents, an aquatics facility walk-and-talk audit control checklist. There was also talk which we are about to do this year -- and I'm not going to go in total detail because we're working out the rest of the kinks. We're going a step further than just training the aquatic staff itself. There will be a formal training for all of the managers in the rec centers relative to the aquatics. They went through an orientation. This one will be more in depth dealing with more water safety aspects, chemical of the water and other things as well. The other issue relative to background checks and also drug screenings and substance abuse, these were all things that I had already proposed to implement prior to. We're diligently working on 1230 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) finishing that piece so we can implement it. I feel very comfortable. I also need to say that I'm already proud of what the Department presently had in place and the training that was already taking place. Unfortunately, in any large organization you always have a couple apples in a basket you need to work with.
You might have to help me with this. There are some arrangements between the School District and the Recreation Department on maintenance of some of the pools. I just dealt with one. The heater broke and the School District said, We're not fixing it or vice versa. Can you explain, based on the condition right now that the School District is experiencing -- the financial condition the School District is in, can you tell me do you have many of these complicated arrangements that you're going to have to deal with that could impact your budget? We need to know that. If someone else is going to be creating problems for you, we're going to come to you to solve the problem. I think we need to know up front, is there a financial burden 1231 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) you're facing we might not be aware of? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: That's a good question. I'm not an I-my-or-me-type person. In order for us to continue to move the City, the first thing we've got to look at is it's all the same citizenship. It's all going to be the same money. My bottom line is what do we have to do to address and correct the problem? What is the minimal cost? What is the long-term cost? How can we get it fixed at the most economical -- where it doesn't reoccur and we don't stop the pre-existing program? Whether it's in the school building, a City building, if the Recreation Department people are working in there and there's something we can do to go in to immediately address and correct the problem, to reinstitute the service that was disrupted, that's the approach I'm taking.
Let's speak on the formal arrangements. Again, maybe -- COMMISSIONER RICHARD: On the formal side with the swimming pools, to my limited knowledge, our responsibility is to staff and operate all of the facilities. I am not totally astute, and maybe Mr. Dubow may be relative to the maintenance side. 1232 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) I do know that we sent our maintenance people and respond to things accordingly as fast as we can, not to disrupt service.
Deputy Carapucci is personally involved in this. Maybe he can explain the scenario that I dealt with a few months ago when there was a pool that couldn't be used because the heater went down. The water temperature wasn't acceptable. There was a debate whose responsibility it was to fix the situation, the School District or the Department's responsibility.
We have seven indoor pools that are on School Board ground. Over the years, our responsibility has been to staff them. The maintenance of the pools, all the major systems is the School Board's responsibility. Now under the new system, I don't know how this will work. Hopefully it will be the same as it has been. Our maintenance people do not go into School Board ground and work on the pools there. We're not permitted to do that.
This is something we've got to hash out. If you're responsible, guess who is taking the shot when the community is up in arms 1233 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) that the water temperature is -- it's not fair to you to have a maintenance responsibility that is not being carried out. Today we need to talk about transferring that maintenance responsibility funding to you. You can't be responsible for operating seven indoor pools. If something breaks, you're at the mercy of the School District. We need to get some commitment how we'll deal with this. Could somebody address this issue beyond the Recreation Department?
It may have happened and I may be aware of it, but we need to understand what our agreement with SRC is on this subject. I'll find that out and get back to you.
Fair enough. When I sit here, I try to look down the road anticipating dealing with this one issue. It took a lot of interaction between Recreation, my office, the School District to get this problem resolved. There was no heat in the building. These kids are training and going for whatever the programs are and they had to stop their training. That's not the way we should be doing business. 1234 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET)
Thank you very much. Any more questions? (No response.)
We thank you very much. Camp William Penn is next. We thank you very, very much. After that we'll have Atwater Kent Museum and that will be it for the day. Thank you for all you do for our City. We're ready for your testimony when you're ready. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Good afternoon again, Madam Councilwoman, and all the distinguished Members of City Council. For the record, Vic Richard, Recreation Commissioner. Also for the record again, Deputy Commissioner Carapucci, Deputy Commissioner Platt-Coles and Camp William Penn director, Roland Chandler. Camp William Penn is requesting a total of 329,000 in general funds appropriation for fiscal year '03. This budgets supports three full-time employees and 69 seasonal employees that the staff will need to open the camp and run it successfully 1235 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) again in the summer of 2002.
Why no capital budget for Camp William Penn? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: We haven't addressed the capital budget issue, but we are in the process. If I may, I believe we've just been able to transfer $40,000 of money within the Department towards the Camp. And that will go to about 300 brand new beds and mattress -- 400. They corrected me. I think the total number is 429. But the immediate hit that we can do is 400. Wendy Robinson in our Stores and Procurement is working on that now.
40,000 additional money? COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Correct. That's pre-existing money right now that we're working with.
I believe the Camp has greater capacity to bring more of our inner City kids for this overnight experience. From what I understand, we could handle more. We could lengthen the stay. We could add an additional encampment. I 1236 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) think somebody really needs to sit down and look at that facility to see -- since it's a seasonal activity, we ought to be trying to pump out as much as we can there, do as much as we can. It's a matter of money, what we can do. I would love to see -- I think that experience for a young person, and I visited there, boys and girls, is without a doubt -- and I believe there is another category age level that we don't address that we possibly could there. So I think that maybe we really need to take a real good hard look at that. I can tell you one thing: That experience can change a young -- really have a big effect on the young people of our City, boys and girls. Getting away from mom, you come home and you really appreciate mom and dad a whole lot more when you have to do it for yourself for a couple days. I would love to see you squeak every bit of activity up there. I'll tell you, it's a beautiful facility. I know you are one of the first Commissioners who has spent a lot of time back and forth to make sure it's well maintained, well staffed. I know you can only do so much. If it's a 1237 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) matter of money, we really need to know, or maybe that's the level that you would prefer to operate. If it is a matter of money and you could do more, today we'd like to know that. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Well, I want to thank you. I'll also say that the Camp is a sleeping jewel of the City. I had recognized that and the staff as well. I am not satisfied with the present level that the Camp is operating in. Those are some of the issues that we're addressing. If I may go in brief detail, we had a great activity day and overnight experience and a team-building experience with our management, along with the work force within the Department. We bussed employees up and they worked and had a great time. They totally rehabbed one of Roland's infirmaries and one of the other Camp sites. We're looking to continue to go in that direction. We don't fully utilize the potential of the Camp. The Camp should be open longer. If not for an overnight experience, the next piece in the phase we're working is with the juvenile justice system along with the school system as well to creating outdoor clubs and environmental clubs and 1238 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) let them use the facility and bus the kids up there. It's 671 acres with a seven-acre lake. The City should use it better. It's my responsibility to get us to that level.
When it's 90 here, it's about 75 degrees there. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: It's approximately a 10- to 15-degree change in the temperature.
Again, I'm sure this Council realizes the value of Camp William Penn. I would like to see it promoted more in the media to let parents know that this Camp is available. In my opinion, you're right, it is a beautiful facility. Again, there's a lot of kids that don't have the opportunity to take the same vacation to Wildwood or Cape May that I had. That, in many cases, is their vacation. Whatever I can do and the rest of my colleagues can do to make that facility more efficient, more effective, we're here.
I'm Roland Chandler. I'm director of Camp William Penn. I would like to thank you for your support. I also enjoyed your visit last summer. 1239 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET)
I certainly enjoyed what you grow there, the fruit. They have a nice little garden up there. To see the kids eating it and -- the food was great that you serve them. The entire environment is good. The kids have an opportunity to visit there. It's just wonderful.
It's always been our main purpose to provide not only a safe experience, but high-quality experience as well, to do the best that we can to give the kids a memorial time. And those memories do truly last a lifetime.
Director, what I noticed also and picked up on is you have a medical staff there. Some of those young people you have an opportunity to give them a good look-over. If you see anything that's problematic, it's dealt with. In many cases, the first time in a long time some of those young people have had a trained medical person, nurse, be able to look at them and identify any medical conditions that they may have. They have to take a physical before they go, Councilwoman Miller just reminded me. I love the structure. It's good. COMMISSIONER RICHARD: Councilwoman 1240 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) Miller's picture is on the Camp office when she was a camper there.
When I was a child, I went to Camp Will Penn. I loved it. Every year I loved it. I thought it was one of the best experiences. I think every young person should go. I've been back. I have a daughter that went. She cried like crazy. She thought I was punishing her by sending her away. Anyway, I think it's a great experience. I had some staff that went a couple years ago when you had all-day encampment for Councilmembers. That may be something you want to consider doing again. Since you had it at that time a few years ago -- some of my volunteers also went with my staff -- they keep calling me every year to see if you'll have another all-day kind of -- you know what you had a few years back, an open house. People really enjoyed it. It's great.
I was really impressed. I don't want to take too much more time. The budget is lean. They got to the point where they actually harvest their own lumbar from fallen trees. They had lumbar cut to rebuild the decks. You talk about 1241 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) a maintenance staff that's very creative; harvest the trees to make the immediate repairs up there. It's certainly an effort that you've taken on there. I think we could do more to make that job up there a little easier, make some improvements in the lavatory facilities. Glad to hear about the new beds. Congratulations. I'll stop up this summer again.
Thank you very much. Thank you, gentleman and ladies. Thank you. Atwater Kent Museum. This is our final group for the day. We thank you for your patience. Good afternoon. Identify yourself for the record.
My name is David Rasner. I'm former Chair of the Atwater Kent Museum, which is the City of Philadelphia's history museum. Before I make my formal remarks, I've listened to Commissioner Richard and I've dealt with him. Before he leaves the room, I want to say to the Council that he is a fine gentleman of quality, of dedication. His staff and he are extremely well prepared and do what has to be done for the citizens 1242 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) of Philadelphia. I thank him.
Joining me at the panel here is Jeffrey Regan, who is curator of the Atwater Kent Museum, and Barbara Lewis who is the City Museum Administrator. I'm pleased to present this testimony in support of the museums proposed FY 2003 operating budget of $249,289, which is a five-percent increase over the prior fiscal year. I'll keep my remarks brief. You can read what we've submitted. The Atwater Kent for the past two years has gone through a restructuring of itself. We tried very hard to retool and refine the infrastructure of the museum and to make it more relevant to the citizens of Philadelphia. We still have our Phila Kids Summer Program, which is a three-to-six week program during the summer where we host over 200 children during the summer. With the help of the Commissioner, we now have a graphics laboratory at the museum. Verizon also participated in that development. Apple also dedicated some computers and lines. We are, I think, one of the first fiber 1243 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) optically up-to-date museums in the City of Philadelphia, which has really been good for our museum which has been a sleepy little museum for the past 60 years. Basically the request we're proposing or supporting here is for salary for six City employees. The museum has an 18-staffed museum from an educational director to a program director to development director. We're pleased, often proud, we're still here being the City of Philadelphia's history museum. We're trying to interact, interface with the School District of Philadelphia, and again with the communities of Philadelphia, Kensington and elsewhere, to be a part of the fabric of the City of Philadelphia. That's the testimony in brief. If you wish to ask questions, I'm here for questions.
Thank you very much. I'll say we're very pleased to read your testimony and to see how many great programs you have, how you interact certainly with schools, with the community and all the various new programs that the museum has. You've come a long way, as they 1244 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) say.
On a very modest budget, I might add. We have a dedicated staff, dedicated Board of Directors. We're like the little engine that could. We're trying very hard to stay on the map and be vital to the City of Philadelphia.
Councilman Rizzo, I think you'll have the last word on the matter.
Thank you. I'm basically passing on remarks. My colleague, Councilwoman Reynolds-Brown, asked me since she had to take care of other City business to basically restate what the Chair said, that she's appreciative, especially of the children's programs. Which you know she has a great interest in. She mentioned, I lost my note, Balch Institute. Maybe you can explain it. She told me to make sure I mention this relationship or working relationship that you've developed with Balch Institute.
We're trying to interact, interface with all the institutions of the City of Philadelphia. I find it, and I hope maybe City Council, and this is just a suggestion -- the City 1245 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) of Philadelphia has a rich legacy of culture institutions in this City. We've all read about the Civil War Museum. There's the Atwater Kent, HSP, there's the African-American Museum, a lot of museums that require City support, City activity and need to interact with each other. When I came on board at the museum, which is about ten years ago, I found that museums had their own little -- there was very little cooperation between museums to make them all integrate and be vital to the City of Philadelphia. The Balch recently is now part of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania on Locust Street. Their facility on 7th Street is in question as to what they want to do. It's up for sale, as a matter of fact. That's right across the street from the Atwater Kent Museum. Our museum in terms of physical plant, space is obviously, I think, too small -- my colleagues would agree with that -- particularly in light of the fact that about a year ago, we negotiated a contract with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and acquired their 10,000 objects, which includes the Wampum Belt. I negotiated the 1246 2/27/02 - WHOLE - BILL 020001 ('03 BUDGET) contract. I'm pleased to say I didn't spend a dollar for that. It was done, I think, in a very professional and trusting way. In fact, it's the first of its kind in the United States that two institutions got together and did such -- made such a contract.
Thank you very much. We thank all here. We'll recess this hearing until Monday, March 4 at 9:30 a.m. Thank you all. 1247 C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing 2/27/02 meeting of the Council Committee of the Whole was reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. ___________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public __________________________ MAUREEN BRODERICK, RPR (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reporduction of the by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)