COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - BUDGET - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, April 16, 2007 10:45 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO BILLS 070114, 070115 and 070116 RESOLUTION 070128 - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2
Good morning, everyone. Sorry for the delay. This is our continued public hearing of the Committee of the Whole. I would ask Mr. McPherson to please call the first department, please. MR. McPHERSON: The Department of Public Property.
Good morning. Welcome. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Good morning, Council President Verna, members of City Council. I am Joan Schlotterbeck, Department of Public Property Commissioner. It's a pleasure to be here this morning on this awful day to present my FY08 budget. With me today on my left is Frank Punzo, Deputy Commissioner for Communications, and on my right is James Lewis, Facilities Director. I'd like to take a minute to 3 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. summarize my testimony. Otherwise, I can read it verbatim.
No. 5 We'd appreciate it if you would summarize it. We will give a copy to the stenographer and it will be transcribed in full. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Okay. Thank you. The Department of Public Property's FY08 budget request is approximately 215 million. It's a decrease of approximately million over 15 my estimated obligations for '07. 5 percent. My 17 positions are down to 173 from 180. My 18 Class 200 budget is decreased by 10 percent, 300 decreased by 12. All of these are a direct result of the transfer of MOIS out of Public Property. In my Facilities Division, we have continued our process of consolidation. We successfully took the Fire Department in in FY06. We have now 4 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. taken the control of Riverview, and that will be a complete consolidation financially and otherwise by the new fiscal year. One of the highlights for the Fire Department has been the initiative to improve the exhaust systems at the apparatus bays. The Department has recently completed a plan to install switches between the doors and exhaust fans to activate the fans automatically when the doors open. The long-term plan is to install new source capture systems over the next several years. The other highlight for the Facilities Division is the new introduction of new security system in City Hall. This was a process that had to unite several local databases that control access to numerous facilities nearby. Basically, what we're doing is we're integrating the triplex, the One Parkway, the Municipal Services Building and City Hall, so that those who need 5 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. access to all buildings will have that capability with one card. We will then have around-the-clock security. We've upgraded the number of staff for security from seven to 11, I believe it is. We have spent a lot of time meeting with the tenants badging, First Judicial District, Mayor's Office, City Council, Bar Association. We feel that we're very prepared for the process and we're just waiting for the time to turn it on. The other major highlight in the Division is, the Department of Public Property, SEPTA and PATCO have agreed to allow the Center City District to begin to contract directly for custodial services in the concourses. This is a major initiative for all of us, and we feel it's the right way to go because you have one body taking care of all of the concourse as opposed to having sections off with staffing levels that are varied and deliverables, therefore, affected. 6 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. So we're very happy with this -- and this should happen by the end of this fiscal year, for the City and SEPTA will follow in the summertime. The Communications Division, we're trying to -- we're not trying. We're in the process of improving the underground communication systems, primarily the 800 megahertz radio. This will enhance the abilities of first responders to react and respond to emergency situations that may arise in the underground. In a coordinated effort with SEPTA, the Police and Fire, an interim solution has been placed into service combining the use of SEPTA radios, the City 800 megahertz and the Rios system, which will allow three diverse systems to be bridged together in the event of an emergency prior to the build-out of the new 800 megahertz system underground. The Department is working with Cingular and its build-out of the 7 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. cellular network underground as another method for first responders to communicate. An agreement has been reached with Motorola on the underground study to determine the potential for using in-place SEPTA fiber to connect a series of bidirectional antennas allowing communications underground using our current 800 megahertz system. The Real Estate Division in Public Property remains committed to doing as much as it can to have more cost-effective leases and space needs.
The huge initiative for us this year is, we have applied for base realignment and closing facilities, BRAC, that are located in Philadelphia. These are federal buildings that are closing. We have two applications in, one for Woodhaven, which would be our back-up -- it will be a multi-purpose site, housing the Police Training Academy, 9-1-1 Training Center and a back-up 9-1-1 call center. The other location is the 8 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Wissahickon facility, and it will be operational and administrative headquarters for Police covert and underground units. The hope is that we will be selected for these properties, and we would hope that it would happen sometime at the end of FY08. The other major impact on our real estate will be the Convention Center expansion, and the Department of Public Property is working diligently to relocate the current tenants, which is the Office of Supportive Housing and we also have some Police in 1321 Race. So we're working on that. We will meet the deadline of getting them out in time. We continue also with our citywide initiative for special events and we remain committed to that. That's about the extent of the highlights from my testimony. I'm available for any questions you may have.
Thank you very much. 9 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: You're welcome.
Before I ask any questions, I want to publicly thank you and your department for the fantastic job you do. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Thank you.
I think just with what you did in this one room alone, it may have taken a little time, but you really poured your heart into it and I want to thank you for that. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Thank you. I appreciate it.
Commissioner, on of your testimony, you mention facilities management. Can you tell us the number of facilities Public Property has the maintenance responsibilities of? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Well, we have approximately -- well, we have 41 Police facilities, 63 Fire 10 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. facilities, 24 Public Property, if you will, facilities, including City Hall, and then we have the triplex, which is One Parkway, MSB and the Criminal Justice Center. So we're looking at at least five million square feet of space. That's an approximate number at this point. And I forget. What was the second question, the second part of your question?
No. 14 There wasn't. I just asked the number of maintenance facilities you were responsible for. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Okay.
How many maintenance positions are you funded for in FY08? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: 104.
How many did we have in '07? 11 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: 92.
In your opinion, will your proposed maintenance staff for FY08 allow you to meet the maintenance needs of the various City facilities, bring the facilities up to code and do this during regular working hours? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Actually, I believe that if Public Property could not be hit with the unending surprises, if you will, the emergency situations that arise, if we get the upgrade to our software and we continue to make better use of our manpower by zoning and attacking areas of the City with teams, I think we could possibly meet all of our requirements. It's just that we, as you are well aware, so often get hit with emergencies that set us back a little bit.
I know. 12 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Then when City Council needs work done, it will not be on overtime and you will not charge us for the work, correct? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: I don't know that that will be quite --
Oh, come on. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: I will do my best not to charge you, but often times we end up, like I said, doing a lot of work on overtime, and in the case of Council, often it's because we can't have access unless it's on the weekends or in the evenings as well.
The Controller's Office issued a report on the conditions of the various Police facilities. The report detailed the deplorable conditions that exist as a result of deferred maintenance. Have you been able to correct these problems? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: The answer is, we've been working very 13 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. hard at addressing most of the issues that are easily taken care of with my staffing. One of the things they wanted us to do is give the Police Department access to our work order system, which they didn't have and in a lot of cases that precluded them from getting their request for work done as fast as they could have otherwise. So we've done that. They've also asked us to address different ways we produce -- well, ways we handle responding to work orders, and we've been trying to do a better job with the zone concept so that if you get someone out there because the light is out and they get there and they notice that there's a leak in the sink, that they report that back to their co-workers so that everything gets done in a more timely manner. We've implemented a full load transfer program to the generator maintenance program. That was one of the 14 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. things they were critical of. We were installing new generators and they were concerned that we weren't prepared with a full plan to continue to exercise them. We have, as I said, continued to expand the zones. We're actually in the process of getting a couple of facilities that we own out there in other parts of the City staffed properly and get some materials out there so our response time is faster. And we've done a really good job of trying to clear out all the debris. Often times Police stack things, materials, paperwork, and we're working very hard at clearing that out so that we can get to what we need to get to in a faster way.
Thank you. On of your testimony, you also mention that you are budgeted enough in regards to monitor and secure City Hall around the clock. How many guards will you be hiring? 15 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: We're going to be hiring four new guards.
Four? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Yes. We'll have a total of 11.
And that will be on weekends also? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Well, the Police will still be here off hours on weekends. There will always be Police at the front northeast corner. That's not going to go away. But, yes, we will have staff. We're going to change shifts and we're going to work around --
Tell me how the guards will work, please. How will the security guards work? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Well, the front door especially until we're fully comfortable with how we're operating with the front door concept, meaning northeast corner, the guards will be there all during rush hour and at the 16 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. end of the day. So I would assume we may have as many as three guards there complementing the police officer. Then the other ones will be responsible to continue to walk through the building. There will be security check points where they'll be testing, stopping by and we'll know they've been through buildings, through the areas, through the men's rooms, through the ladies rooms, continue to basically patrol.
But it seems that whenever we had an incident with the water in this room, for instance, I think that happened on, I think it was, Good Friday or maybe a Saturday. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Right.
And if somebody had been patrolling the corridors, I think they would have heard the water and possibly we would not have had as much damage. When we had the 17 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. problem in the Caucus Room, if there had been somebody patrolling the corridors -- and I think that occurred on a weekend also -- maybe we wouldn't have had as much damage. When somebody broke into the Supreme Court, I believe that was also a weekend. I think we definitely need security during the weekends, because as I said, it ends up costing, as I said, for this room alone like millions of dollars. So if we have some patrolling going along in the corridors, I think even people that come in to do some work on a weekend would feel a lot safer. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Well, Jim, do you want to take a minute? Do you have a plan? I mean, basically at this point we don't have the staffing to do the weekend patrols, but that is our intent.
James Lewis, Facilities Director. Council President, we are 18 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. working on a plan as we hire guards and train the guards to have a touring system where we can ensure as management that our guards are doing the walking tours throughout the building throughout the floors, and they will work in concert with the officer at the front desk, who will have our radios, that if he sees something on the camera there or he has an issue, he can send our guard to check it out, and vice versa. If our guard comes across a situation that he can't control, or he or she, he can radio back to the officer and then get help.
And how many guards would you have on the weekend?
Right now we have plans just to have one guard per shift work with the officer.
Commissioner, do we have technology -- President Verna pointed out about the terrible damage that occurred to this room and also the Caucus Room, and the Mayor's reception room was damaged. I understand that there's technology, a flow detector, that if there was water running in any of the fire systems, that there's an alarm that's sent back that indicates and even tells you the zone where that water flow is. I would hope that after all this repair, that if there would be 20 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. another activation and it would be on a weekend, that someone would know there's an activation, not until we come in Monday morning. How do we monitor the flow of water, especially from a system that when it's flowing suggests a fire?
Councilman, on the fire system, every time the fire pump does activate, we do know there is a flow in the system on the fire side. With respect to the HVAC system and the chilled water system, if there's a leak in the system, we don't know unless we discover it.
So, in other words, if you had a fire alarm or a fire head activated, you'd know that because the fire pump would send a message?
Yes. The system would go immediate into alarm and we would be paged and we would know.
Is there technology out there for like museums and 21 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. places that have valuable works of art or a room like this to detect moisture or detect a leak?
A flow or a discharge? Councilman, we'll look into that and do some research.
There's some critical rooms, I would think, that the earliest warning -- if we have smoke detectors and we have other types of detectors, it might be nice to know that early on that there is some change in humidity, I think would probably be a way to -- a high change in humidity would probably be an indicator. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. I'd like to get back to the one security guard on weekends. Are you 22 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. going to provide him a card or something? I mean, to do seven floors and to do it several times a day, I think that's going to be a little difficult. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: We actually did explore -- I forget what they're called.
What is that? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: It's an automated scooter. That's long been one of the issues the Police Department have brought up to us, that the tour isn't the issue, but it takes longer than one would think to walk every floor in this building. And we have tenants up on the ninth level, so we need that kind of coverage. It's from the ground up. So we have explored getting one or two of those in the building.
Oh, that's good. Because it seems to me that 23 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. whatever damages we have had have been on a weekend, and with that one gentleman that broke into the Supreme Court and broke the window in my office, that was on a weekend. I think that if you feel that one person can do it, fine. Can you tell us what the total cost of the security force will cost? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: The four guards?
For the guards, the security. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: You mean the 11 positions?
Yes. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: It looks like we're estimating about $405,000.
I'm sorry. 205? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: 405,000.
When will City Hall be secured and what 24 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. notification will we be getting as it relates to City Hall security? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Well, we have done -- we've had some delays in turning on the system and going live, if you will. We had to do a new fire evacuation plan with the Fire Department. We had to, as I suggested earlier, we had to integrate our databases with the other facilities. And the other major time lag was the needed variance for the exit doors. But we feel that we're ready. We've done all the testing. Of course, there's always the unforeseen thing that will happen. We have a proposed draft communications plan and I'm waiting to hear on when we'll go live.
Thank you. Commissioner, City Council amended your FY07 budget during the year and added $5 million for surveillance cameras. Can you tell us how much of the 25 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. $5 million will be spent during the current year? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: We're estimating that we will spend approximately 1.5 million in '07, and we're working closely with MOIS on that.
And can you tell us how much funding for security cameras is included in your FY08 budget? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: There is nothing in Public Property budget. However, there's 1.5 million in FY08 in MOIS.
And do you think that would be enough to complete the project? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PUNZO: Council President, Frank Punzo, Deputy Commissioner of Communications. Certainly we won't know the exact answer to that until all the responses are in to the bid, which is now out on the street. I believe personally 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. in past experience it would probably be low to complete the project throughout the entire City, but it will all be depending upon how the respondents come back. They may be able to do it for that price.
Very well. On -68 of your detail, you're requesting $10.4 million for gas service from PGW. This is the same amount as you expect to spend in FY07. Does this mean that the City does not expect the PUC to grant PGW any of its requested $100 million rate increase? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: I would like to invite Kent Miller up to the microphone here to explain the projections.
And, Kent, once you identify yourself and respond to that question, I would also like to ask how was the gas service budget for FY08 determined. 27 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC.
Well, what we do is, we make an estimate of our expected gas use for the coming year based on our experience in the previous year and we attempt to estimate the benefit of our energy conservation work, and then we make an estimate of what we think the prices will be, and, of course, there's always some uncertainty in the prices. And we believe that when you match the somewhat lower use we expect in natural gas with the somewhat higher costs from the PGW rate increase, we'll be about the same place. Considering there is some uncertainty with respect to weather and our actual use in respect to prices, we think it will be about the same next year.
Thank you. I hope my gas bills reflect the same thing.
Commissioner, what is the total amount of 28 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. payroll reductions you were required to take in FY08 for the General Fund of 2.5 percent reductions and what is the position equivalent? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: In my case it was $244,000, and we took it straight out of regular overtime, because for the first time in a very long time, the Communications, emergency radio and switchboard were staffed more properly.
I'm sorry. I didn't hear you. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: They were staffed up to the complete capacity, which meant we needed less money for overtime. So I really didn't replace a position. I just took it out of my overtime.
So how many positions? There are none? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Well, what I'm saying is, I didn't --
For the 2.5 cut. 29 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Right. And I took it straight out of Communications' overtime.
Very well. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. Security cameras always remind me of the northeast corner. I'm just verifying that we're still okay, because I know my colleague had some question about all corners because we do have officers who are there, and as everybody knows, that's the -- since it's manned 18 hours a day, seven days a week and this 19 is the corner that we have people who 20 come needing help, some who are mentally 21 ill, homeless, we continue to ask for 22 special consideration on that corner. 23 And the other issue is, it's 24 just kind of a reminder that I know SEPTA is due to be finished on the Market 30 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Street Elevated project for 46th to 63rd within the next year, and I'll contact you then around that time with regard to our lots that they rent, so we talk about the future of those with that absolutely wonderful, wonderful company, SEPTA. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Good morning.
Just a question on the City Hall security, another aspect of it. Regular business hours, once this plan is in force, where will non-employees be able to enter? Will they still be able to enter at various 31 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. sites or is it going to be directed towards the northeast corner? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: I guess the simplest way for me to explain it is, anyone who is a tenant or any employee that has a regular need to come and go in City Hall will have access cards. Anyone else will have to go to the northeast corner.
So the northeast corner will be the only entrance for anybody that doesn't have an access card; is that right? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Right. Oh, I'm sorry.
I was going to say, do you think there are times where that could be a problem? I'm thinking when there's a lot of people coming here or something. I mean, can there be any accommodations made? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Let me have Jim answer that, and then 32 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. he'll do some clarity on the first floor, because there is access without needing a card on the first floor.
Councilman, in a normal mode, we anticipate that we're going to leave the portal doors open so the services on the first floor, any personal can come and go as they need. They don't need to check in the northeast corner. If they need to go upstairs in the building, they need to check in at the northeast corner.
And we're gearing up for when there's large events or there's a large public meeting or things like that. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: We've made arrangements for the clearance of jurors coming from the Criminal Justice Center. If there's some kind of a protest, we're going to handle that. There will be exceptions.
Okay. 33 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. All right. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I agree with President Verna. I think the folks in Public Property, the employees there, always do a great job. You are tested constantly with special events from one extreme to the other and you seem to always get it accomplished. One of the things I think would be helpful, I think would be interesting to the Council, is the restructuring of Public Property. I don't know if we had an appropriate farewell from Deputy Commissioner James to go off to IT, but I think it would be interesting to just explain how it's structured now. And congratulations to Deputy Commissioner Punzo for his appointment, but I think 34 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. that many of us aren't really -- it's not really clear on how all this is going, because you said something that the IT function of Public Property left. Maybe I didn't hear you correctly, but IT always was its own department, correct? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Correct.
So it didn't really leave. Did a function of it leave to go to IT, the information technology? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: I'm going to ask Frank Punzo to answer. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PUNZO: Councilman, I believe that the bulk of the communications function -- I think is what the Commissioner meant -- did go over to MOIS. That would be for the regular voice and data communications that had been previously in Public Property. From the perspective of what stayed in my role, the municipal switchboard, which we're also looking at obviously as a 311 center, the municipal 35 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. radio operation and all 800 megahertz items and issues would remain within Public Property. All other day-to-day voice and data cellular Internet type of kind of activity would go over to MOIS. That's the IT function I think the Commissioner was referencing.
So the telephones went to IT, 800 trunking radio stays with you? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PUNZO: Correct.
Switchboard stays with you? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PUNZO: Right.
What was the other? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Radio. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PUNZO: The regular municipal radio operation, which we've been working very closely with Emergency Management, probably more so 36 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. than we've ever done in the past, that stays as well.
Terrific. Good luck to you. Commissioner James, good luck to you, too. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. Has anyone in Public Property had an opportunity to firsthand view the 311 CSR center at either Chicago or Houston? DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PUNZO: Councilman, not in Chicago or Houston. We have been to the New York center and we've been to Baltimore.
If it's possible, I would request that one or a few people from Public Property go out to 37 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Chicago and/or Houston. I think New York's 311 is primarily a 911 diversionary system and not as much CSR integrated as you would think or you would hope. So many major cities across the country have this now, and I know the City had looked at it preliminarily and felt that it wasn't appropriate or too expensive or whatever it was, but I was awestruck at the two systems, both in Chicago and Houston, and their ability to handle complaints and to actually allow kind of an internal audit on a quarterly basis of every department in the city as to the kinds of requests they get, the speed with which they fulfill the request or do not, and it's an unbelievable management tool in addition to changing kind of the cultural view of citizens vis-a-vis their government. People call 1776. They get switched to the Streets Department and Health Department or somewhere and they 38 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. give somebody information and it gets done or it doesn't, and then they call us and we call you or we call Jimmy Muller, and we try to like kind of patchwork the stuff together without ever being able to determine just what each department is doing and what resources they need, what personnel needs they have. I mean, I sat through kind of a CSR review with the Chief of Staff of the Mayor of Chicago and the entire Health Department, and it was an unbelievable experience to just be able to determine the number of cases that they see at the health centers, what kinds of cases they're getting, how come one health center sees more than another health center but has less employees. It was fascinating. I'm releasing a report on Wednesday on a 311 effort again and trying to develop an RFP so the next Mayor has it handed to him in January '08, but I would really like you guys to 39 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. go out and just take a look at what it is they do, because each city gets two million calls a year, each city, and a million of those calls in both cities are dispatched with one phone call. What time does the parking lot open to the Linc? Why is East River Drive shut down? What happened to this bridge? I mean, those kinds of questions get answered with one call. The other million get a tracking number like UPS or Fed Ex, and the citizen can actually watch their request to completion. I really would urge you to do that, because I think you guys will probably be around if this effort goes forward. I'd like you to see what they do. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Okay.
Thank you, Madam President. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER PUNZO: I think that would be a great idea, 40 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Councilman. Baltimore, I sat through a similar situation in Baltimore, and I agree with you, the tracking of all of the jobs and what exactly happened is the real key to the 311 and getting it done on the first call.
Well, for example, one of the operating departments they allowed us to view was -- they call it the Bureau of Electricity, which is actually street lighting and traffic engineering. I mean, they can figure out through the CSR request, they can send one crew out to do different requests 16 in one area because they have all the 17 information, instead of waiting and then 18 sending out -- I mean, they can really 19 rationalize their resources. And both 20 Chicago and Houston are very, very welcoming to people from around the country and around the world who want to go -- Chicago especially. I mean, they go out of their way just to show off, and they have a lot to show off. 41 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. So if you can, whenever your time allows between now and next year, could you try to do that? COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Absolutely.
Thank you. Are there any other questions or comments from members of the Committee of the Commissioner? (No response.)
Seeing none, I thank you very much. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Thank you.
Thank you. And, again, I applaud your fantastic work. COMMISSIONER SCHLOTTERBECK: Thank you.
The next department? MR. McPHERSON: Is the 42 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Department of Fleet Management.
Good morning. Welcome. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
James Muller, Fleet Manager for the City of Philadelphia. Good morning, President Verna and distinguished members of City Council. Here today with me is Bob Fox, my Administrative Services Director. Thank you for the opportunity to present testimony in support of my FY2008 Operating Budget for the Office of Fleet Management.
Mr. Muller, excuse me. I don't mean to interrupt you, but if you could abbreviate your testimony, we'd appreciate it. We will give a copy of it to the stenographer and she'll transcribe it in full.
Thank 43 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. you.
Our FY08 General Fund budget request is 63,583,424, including million for the purchase of 6 new vehicles. Class 100 accounts for 7 17,687,192. Class 200 is 4,208,252, and 8 Class 300 is budgeted for 22,487,980. 9 Also, FY08 budget includes nine more 10 positions than in 2007. These increases 11 are necessary to maintain the most 12 expensive and complicated vehicle repairs 13 in the City of Philadelphia such as fire 14 equipment, pumpers, ladders and medic 15 units. 16 The fleet: The City of 17 Philadelphia has a diverse fleet in terms 18 of vehicle size and complexity, with an 19 asset value of $248 million, which includes and supported by Water and Aviation Funds. The fleet represents a significant investment of public funds. Currently, OFM maintains an active fleet size of 6,000 vehicles, including 787 that are specialized vehicles. 44 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Availability is 90 percent, which means 5,400 vehicles are available every day, thereby meeting most vehicle targets. Hybrid vehicles: OFM's study of hybrid vehicles continues. The study focuses on the hybrid vehicles are -- how hybrid vehicles are affected by multiple drivers and repair costs and fuel savings. OFM ordered another 30 Ford Escape Sport Utility Vehicles this year, raising the total number to 57. Assessments of these vehicles thus far are promising. New vehicle information system: The new vehicle information system, which will become operational by this summer, is the second-generation custom fleet software created by the City of Philadelphia. It was created by OFM's IT Director using the programming language dot net. The original system was supported by vendors for the last ten years. Therefore, Fleet can delete the existing system, which was licensed and 45 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. maintained at an annual cost of $200,000. General Fund revenue generation: Since FY97, OFM's auctions have sold more than 2,600 vehicles and generated over 10.5 million in revenue for the City of Philadelphia - 8.5 million for the General Fund, 5.5 million for the Water Fund and $218,300 for the Aviation Fund. For FY07, OFM estimates revenues at 700,000 for the General Fund, 120,000 for the Water Fund and 20,000 for the Aviation Fund. Improved Automotive, ASE, Master Certification Program: Initially OFM instituted a $500 incentive program to encourage technicians to obtain the national recognized Automotive Service Excellence Master Certification. FY2005, the stipend increased to a thousand dollars and in FY2006 to 1,500. Additionally, OFM began to provide a free training program to help prepare technicians for this examination. To obtain this prestigious 46 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. certification, technicians must complete accredited courses that teach vehicle diagnostic skills. This skill has proven the most effective way to reduce costs and maintain vehicle safety. Eighty-six technicians, or one-third of our technicians, have at least one certification. This concludes my testimony. I'd be happy to answer any questions.
Thank you. On of your testimony, you mention that the FY08 budget includes nine more positions than FY07. Will you please refer to -4 of your detail. It indicates that City Council funded 322 full-time General Fund positions in the current fiscal year; isn't that correct? However, your FY08 full-time General Fund positions are for 321. That's a reduction of one position, not an increase of nine, as stated in your testimony; isn't that correct? 47 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC.
Council President, the directions have us in Column 8 subtracting Column 7 from Column 11. I'm sorry; Column 8 from Column 7.
But the nine positions are against an arbitrary date as to the number of filled positions as of a date certain and does not represent the 2007 budgeted position level. This is very misleading. It really is.
Are 48 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. you going to clarify that?
Other than to say that we were in the directions asked to separate the one column subtracting from the other number. It was just following the directions of the form. I can provide you with --
I don't want to put you in a position that I would not want you to put me in, so just tell me you will put it in writing, mail it to me and I can distribute it to the Councilmembers.
Okay. On -35 of the detail, you're requesting $30,000 for medical surveillance program. Can you tell us what this is for? I believe it's Thomas Jefferson physicians.
Oh, 49 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. drug testing.
Thank you. I just couldn't understand what that was for. You're also requesting $19 million for General Fund vehicle purchases in FY08, which represents an increase of $6.4 million over FY07 purchases. Can you explain why you need this additional funding?
Yes, Council President. Our vehicle replacement budget over the previous five years had been pretty low compared to our normal replacement. We talked to the Budget Bureau about the size of our fleet, the age of our fleet and the breakdowns more unscheduled than we've had in the past. So they agreed to move money forward from '09, '10, '11 and '12 of the Five-Year Plan into '08 so that we could try to erase some of these problems, order more 50 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. police cars, order more fire equipment.
So if we in fact were to put the money in '08, the money would be available July 1.
How long would it take before the City would receive the vehicles?
Depending on the type of vehicle, a radio patrol car could be less than three months. A compactor or a piece of fire equipment could be over a year.
Would you be kind enough to give us a breakdown by department, by vehicle type and quantity that you plan to purchase in FY08?
I don't have it with 51 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. us now. Sorry, Councilwoman.
What is the decision process that you utilize in making a decision as to what vehicles are to be replaced?
Well, it's depending on the age of the vehicle, the mission of the vehicle. That's how we usually base it on. The cost of how much money we've spent to date. The national average is 80 percent. Once we reach 80 percent of a vehicle, we don't maintain it. We try to relinquish it.
Who makes the determination as to what vehicles by make, model, et cetera, that the City would buy or should buy?
Fleet Management does, depending on the mission of the vehicle, the price, what we believe the Department could use. Sometimes we're -- the Department makes the decision for us basically with some fire equipment, police cars. 52 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC.
From what I see, I think the police cars are in really bad shape, for the most part. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. Mr. Muller, have you been doing any investigation relative to the availability or utility of biofuels by vehicles?
We're doing a hybrid study right now, and it's turning out to be very, very -- showing us very, very promising with the hybrid vehicles. Also, we're buying biodiesel fuel for our -- and we just received a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for $351,000.
So you are working with the state? 53 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC.
And you're purchasing the biodiesel from a Pennsylvania company?
I'm waiting for Tim on a contract. The bid has not been put on the street yet, but that's what we're looking to do with Sunoco.
As you saw, the Governor had an announcement that a firm -- I forget the name of the company -- was going to open seven or so biofuel refineries, I guess for want of a better word. I think that Philadelphia could probably be perhaps that company's biggest state purchaser, or one of them at least, which would also give us a nice link to Pennsylvania agriculture and kind of putting Philadelphia together with the rest of the state as an important element in the state's economy. So in addition to environmental issues and perhaps saving some money, because the biofuel is cheaper -- how 54 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. does it relate to --
More? 6 Okay. But the environmental benefits are 7 clear and also that linkage to the state 8 is important. So could you keep us up to 9 date as to how that's going? 10
Okay. Would you 11 want a copy of the letter that we have? 12
Yes, 13 please. Just forward it to the President 14 or to me. 15 How many tires do we go through in a year?
A lot. Can I get back to you on that, Jim? I don't have the number in my head, but it's a lot. It's a lot. And they have to be -- we just can't throw them away anymore. We have to make sure --
We're very 55 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. fortunate. We have the Streets Department comes and picks ours up and takes them down to the --
I'll send a letter to the Streets Department also, but I wondered if you could try to find out whether or not -- I think there's a company -- and I don't know whether the cost is prohibitive or not -- that's opening up somewhere in New York relative to the rubber sidewalk manufacturer, that we may be able to create a source for them of tires that we wouldn't have to landfill. Because I expect that the number of tires we landfill in a year has got to be significant, and that's a cost to us also.
Right. We purchase about a million dollars worth of tires a year.
Okay. I'd 56 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. be interested in knowing the number, the number that we dispose of a year.
And you did give us somewhat of an update on the hybrid vehicle stuff, so that was my third question. So thank you very much.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Again, I say this to you every year. I think Fleet Management does a great job, a diverse group of vehicles, and I'll tell you, if I didn't understand the numbering system, I see some of them that look like they're two, three years old and they're eight, nine, ten years old. Even some of our sedans that I see in the Water Department and other places, they look first class. But I do agree with you, that 57 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. money that you've asked for to buy the new vehicles, especially the radio-patrolled vehicles, that that can get expensive, maintaining an old vehicle, and I think that's a good management decision to move on that stuff now, get it out of here and stop wasting money on it, especially when you hear about engines and some real expensive repairs that are required to get that back on the street. And I know that we've been pushing you to not get new vehicles, a lot of people have, and try to contain the cost, but now I think it's starting to go on the other side where maintenance is starting to be a factor. So, again, I think that all of you do a great job and even in some bad times, like the weather today and over the weekend, to keep a lot of equipment that's so important. I watched those drain-cleaning vehicles. It looked like you were running 24/7, and there was a Fleet Management person on site 58 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. apparently making some repair right on the street to keep it going. So congratulations.
Thank you very much. I have a wonderful staff of people, of support. Thank you.
You're welcome. And I would ask that you please send that breakdown for me by department.
Thank you so much. Our next department? MR. McPHERSON: Historical 59 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Commission.
We're just going to take a three-minute break. We'll be right back. (Short recess.)
Thank you very much. Kindly identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good morning, Council President Verna. I am John Farnham, Acting Historic Preservation Director of the Philadelphia Historical Commission.
Excuse me, sir. Can you pull the microphone closer to you, please.
I am John Farnham, Acting Historic Preservation Director of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. To my right is Thomas Sugrue, Vice Chair of the Commission, and to my left, Vincent Rivera, the Chair of the Commission's Architectural Committee. 60 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Michael Sklaroff, the Chair, sends his apologies. He was called before the state Supreme Court this morning. I present for your review and consideration the Historical Commission's Operating Budget request in the amount of $325,868 for Fiscal Year 2008. The addition of $4,125 over estimated obligations for Fiscal Year 2007 will fund wage increases. The proposed budget will fund six staff positions, what we have currently, and support the current levels of service. In Calendar Year 2006, the Commission reviewed and approved 1,513 building permit applications for historic properties designated under the local ordinance, a 2.5 percent increase over the previous year. In addition to this achievement, the Commission conducted or supervised 2,531 federally mandated historic reviews for projects undertaken by public and quasi-public municipal agencies. 61 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. The Commission continues to streamline practices and procedures, providing services in more efficient and effective ways. For example, the Commission is reorganizing its staff, revising current and creating new job specifications to promote recruitment and retention of qualified personnel. It is also undertaking a major project to update and verify the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, the master list of designated historic properties, and to provide better and more data to City agencies and the public. Thank you, members of City Council, for your attention. We are now happy to address any questions that you may have.
Thank you very much. In your testimony, you mention that the Commission has a backlog in the area of historic district designations. The only question I have for you is, are 62 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. you satisfied with the Administration's proposed FY08 budget of $325,000?
The proposed budget will allow us to continue the current services that we provide to the citizens of Philadelphia. I've been speaking with the Budget Director, and it looks like we may receive a small increase in Class 200 money that would allow us to hire consultants to undertake some of those deferred tasks.
Can the Budget Director come up to the table, please. We go through this every year, and every year we have been saying that the Historic Commission definitely needs more employees. How far does your backlog go for the historic district designations?
The oldest district nomination that we have that we have not yet processed I believe was received approximately five years ago. 63 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. We have a total of five district nominations that are waiting to be processed, the others submitted between one, two and three years ago.
And at the amount of employees that you presently have, how much longer do you think it would take to address the issue?
Well, with the addition of some consulting money to hire interns, I think we could begin to address the issue. I think it would take several years to overcome the backlog that we currently have.
And I see you've been cut by $7,660. Your budget is really not that much, but do you feel very confident that what you're being told can be accomplished and the backlog will be decreased?
Without the 64 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. addition of more Class 200 money, we can continue to provide the current services. I don't believe that we will be able to aggressively deplete those deferred historic district nominations. With some consulting money, we can begin to work on that task, but it would be several years until we had worked our way through that backlog.
Ms. Reed, can you come up, please, to the table. I see that Class 200 for this current year we had $21,084. For FY08, I've heard three times that you expect the Class 200 to be increased. I see it as being the same, $21,084.
Yes. Currently, in the proposed budget, that is the figure, and that money would be dedicated to emergency engineering evaluation services for dangerous buildings.
Well, where do the consultants come in? 65 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC.
Dianne Reed, Budget Director. Conversations about trying to help the Historical Commission out with its backlog have occurred subsequent to the submission of the detail and we will have to work this out in the final budget accommodation.
Well, how much more money do you anticipate that they will be receiving?
We have not worked out the details of that. We'll try to go on the cheap, because that's what we have to do this year.
Well, if you don't, I think we will. I think it's utterly ridiculous that after five years, the historic district designation has not been completed, and if we don't 66 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. give them the assistance that they need, it may be another five years before that's accomplished. I would suggest, Ms. Reed, that you look into this very carefully and be in touch with us as soon as possible, because every year it's the same -- I knew the Historic Commission would be cut again and the plea was going to be for them to get more help. Now, if I thought that, I'm sure you had to be looking at that very carefully.
Yes, ma'am. We actually are increasing them by one position and they're up about a whole giant 50 percent from four positions a couple years ago.
But then if you look again, I don't see that really happening to any great degree. I don't even want to discuss this with you. Look at it closely and get back to us. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank 67 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. you, Madam President. I see one of those to be considered is West Philadelphia. I don't know if it's our old Spruce Hill site. Is it?
Well, there are two proposed historic districts in West Philadelphia, the Spruce Hill proposed district and also a district in Overbrook Farms.
Okay. Well, Overbrook Farms is the Fourth District.
I'm sorry, Councilwoman. Who has been waiting since 2002? What district is that?
That would be the 68 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. Spruce Hill district.
But, Madam President, I haven't been waiting. And my area has not still settled itself in terms of how they feel about it and where people fall down on the issue, who it includes, who it doesn't, all the issues of affordability and so forth. So my concern is that since we are not sure -- now, Overbrook Farms is the Fourth District. Parkside, it depends on which side of Parkside Avenue we're speaking, but certainly with regard to other areas who may be ready and willing to go, I would say perhaps they can be considered and not feel that five already. Because I know we're not ready. In Spruce Hill we're not ready. I'm not sure where you're talking about on Parkside Avenue. And then maybe those who have been waiting for it and want it and are settled down to what they want, maybe they can be considered. I don't know, again, where you 69 4/16/07 - WHOLE - BILL 070114, ETC. mean on Parkside. If it's Jim Brown, that's one area. Jim Brown is my side of Parkside Avenue. So we can have that discussion, but as for Spruce Hill, we're still not ready.
Certainly the Commission would never proceed on evaluating the nomination without first speaking with you and with your constituents and ensuring that it was something that there was a real feeling it ought to go forward.