COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Tuesday, March 14, 2006 10:20 a.m. - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - - - FY 2007 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - - - PRESENT: ANNA C. VERNA, President BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. JACK KELLY JAMES F. KENNEY JUAN F. RAMOS FRANK RIZZO FRANK DiCICCO JANNIE L. BLACKWELL MICHAEL A. NUTTER DARRELL L. CLARKE DONNA REED MILLER - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2
Good morning, everyone. This is the continued hearing of the Committee of the Whole. I would ask Mr. McPherson to please read the first department to testify. MR. McPHERSON: Department of Records.
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Yes. Joan Decker, Records Commissioner. Good morning, Council President Verna and members of Council. As I said, my name is Joan Decker, Commissioner of Records. And with me today with Jeanne Reedy Administrative Services Director; Dave Werbo Budget Officer; Charles James, Labor Crew Chief; and Linda Townsel, Executive Secretary. Before I review the budget numbers, I just quickly would like to state for the record that every year we like to acknowledge and recognize some of the staff members who have made a significant contribution to our 3 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 department. And that's why we have asked Charles James and Linda to be here. Charles recently became supervisor in the records storage center. And I am proud to say that he really manned the operations of the football-sized records storage center by himself, as we had some DROP Program people leave. He did a tremendous job. We received many compliments for his work. So we just wanted to publicly recognize him for the hard work. And Linda Townsel, Executive Secretary. Linda actually does a lot of research work. And she is very helpful in researching a lot of the requests for public records that we receive in our department. And she also works on the Document Notice Program and responds to a lot of telephone calls. So for all of her efforts in dealing with a lot of the public requests, we want to thank her for that. For FY '07, the Records Department 4 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 is --
Commissioner, excuse me. Before you start your testimony, we do have a copy of your written testimony. So if you would abbreviate it, we will make certain that the copy is given to the stenographer and it will be transcribed in full.
Okay. I will briefly review the numbers and a couple of highlights, and that's it.
For FY '07, the department is requesting an appropriation of $8,136,215, a net increase of $444,880 from the department's FY '06 estimated obligations. This level reflects changes in the following areas: Class 100, allocation changes, $3,742,831 for FY '07, a net increase of $207,583, which reflects funding for a wage increase, staffing reductions resulting from DROP, and a one-time increase for lump-sum payments. 5 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 The number of staff position changes from 77 to -- from 78, rather, to 77 full time. And through productivity enhancements, this is sufficient to maintain current services. Automation technology will enable the department to enhance its services. Class 200 increases to $3,680,425, a net decrease of $21,599. And this will support our service delivery to the public. Class 300 increases by $46,000, while Class 400 equipment remains constant at $259,627. Class 500 remains unchanged. And Class 800 is budgeted at $212,896, reflecting the pay-back of the department's productivity bank loan. We continue to search for grant funding to supplement and enable us to do some other initiatives. We received a productivity bank loan in the sum of $1,300,000 for our digital mapping project, which benefits many other city agencies. We have continued with a number of 6 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 our initiatives in document recording area. We really tried to deploy as many of the operations as we can in an automated fashion online to the public. This past year we fully deployed E-recording, and we were one of four counties in Pennsylvania that participated in an E- notarization effort, which had a formal launch February 2 of this calendar year. And all of these initiatives really reflect market improvements and timely responsiveness to the public. Document recording notice. We have sent to date almost 300,000 notices, and we have had reported to our department little over 100 suspected cases of fraudulent property conveyances. And, actually, if you would like, I can stop there, and I am happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you very much. Commissioner, on of your detail, you are requesting $2.1 million for 7 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 Eagle Computer for system maintenance, licenses, and enhancement services. Can you detail what services you receive from Eagle Computer?
Sure. Eagle Computing System assists us in document recording area. So that, really, covers many of the initiatives that we have mentioned. We have mentioned the ongoing support of daily document recording operations. That means recording the various land documents, cashiering the money that we collect through document recording. It also covers credit card. We have deployed an online application. In addition to the in-house daily processing operations, we have deployed an internet application that is now credit-card enabled. We have implemented electronic recording. That has occurred over three phases. We started about a year and a half ago. And we have continued to increase the number of document types that are incorporated into the E-recording system. 8 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 As I mentioned, we have just recently participated in a program, in E-notarization, with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State's office. We are piloting this program. And that required some additional work, to be able to capture the kind of information and process this information in the way that satisfied the Secretary of State's requirements. We have implemented in the document recording area optical character recognition software, which is another effort to improve our productivity. So that was another module that was implemented into our work flow to help to make the operations more efficient. We are continuing to convert the back file of land records. We have an extensive collection of land records which are required to be retained permanently. Many of the records, even though they date back many years, are used by the business community, land title companies, law firms dealing in real estate, many financial 9 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 and banking institutions. When they perform title search or research into the background of a property, these records are very important to them. Of course we have records being -- in historical city, we have records dating back to the 1600s, deed records. We also support mapping operations. And, anyway, many of the records are being converted from microfilm, which is deteriorating, into electronic images. And all of that work is -- that's in a nutshell. But these are many facets of our operations that are related to document recording that we are working on with a vendor. We are looking for a number of productivity and automation enhancements to make our operations much more efficient and much more responsive and timely to our customers.
Thank you. On , you are requesting $28,768 for Leelee Ann Elkins for funding 10 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 grants and writing proposals. Is this a performance based on contract?
We are basing it on the ability to uncover grants for which we may be available, so it is performance measurement in that respect. And, as well as helping us to prepare the actual physical document that needs to be submitted. So it is performance based, in the sense that we are looking for a number of grant opportunities.
You currently have a contract for $25,500 to this firm for FY '06. Can you tell us what grants they have gotten to the Records Department to date?
To date, the grant award notices have not been reported out. The awards have not been made, with the exception of two from NEH, National Endowment for the Humanities. And we did receive notice that we did not receive two grant applications. The other award dates do not occur until later on, actually either at the end of 11 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 this fiscal year or the beginning of the next. The grant cycles are very slow. The award dates are sometimes over a year.
So we haven't been very successful. On of your testimony, you state that the department projects that it will record 279,436 documents in FY '06 and 251,492 in FY '07. Can you tell us why you are predicting a decrease in the number of documents you will record in '07?
Sure. We believe, as the interest rate increases, that we will see a slight drop in the volume of documents recorded. And our staff in document recording has also noticed that, in terms of mortgages, many of the submitters originally had balloon rate mortgages, and it looks like they have refinanced those to fixed-rate mortgages. So, based on that, we do not think that there will be the volume of continuing refinancing of mortgages that we have seen in 12 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 the past several years. That estimate, again, it is a conservative estimate. We would rather not overestimate our anticipated volume. And it is based on larger macro economic factors, as I mentioned, like the interest rates and what we are able to observe from the types of refinancing of mortgages that are coming into our department.
Thank you very much. Councilman Goode, do you have any questions?
Good morning, Commissioner. The question was asked in a previous hearing -- I don't believe you were here -- you explained part of it, related to the Housing Trust Fund. The number for this year decreases next year. And part of that could be due to 13 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 less fees for next year, but the other portion of it could be related to the real estate transfer tax. You also, within the budget, have the real estate transfer tax budget decreasing. Why is that?
Why is the Housing Trust Fund numbers decreasing? I understand in part that the numbers are decreasing because of document fees. But the other portion shows it decreasing because of less real estate transfer tax revenue.
And because of that. The Housing Trust Fund is collected on deeds and mortgages. And if the volume, if our expected volume, of documents overall coming in is expected to be a little bit less, and the fees that are collected are based on those documents and that volume, we would also expect that the Housing Trust Fund would 14 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 decrease, as well.
I understand that portion of it. You have explained that portion of it. But where are the estimates on the real estate tax revenue coming from, and why are they decreasing?
On the number of deeds. One of the types of documents that we record are deeds. And we expect that the number of deeds will begin to fall slightly. We have seen this year a slight decrease from last year. And we expect --
Is based on deeds. Yes, the transfer tax is assessed only on deed documents, only when there is a transfer of property; not on a mortgage document or a satisfaction document or any of the other land records.
Related to the Housing Trust Fund, if those estimates are wrong, Housing Trust Fund gets a set 15 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 percentage regardless; is that correct?
The Housing Trust Fund receives -- the recording fees for the documents that were covered were doubled. And that half of that recording fee automatically goes into the Housing Trust Fund, always.
And how often does the Housing Trust Fund receive that money, and when does it receive that money?
It is, from the Record Department's perspective, it is deposited into a special account as we collect it daily.
Thank you. Thank you Commissioner. Thank you, Madam President.
You are welcome. Thank you very much. We appreciate your coming in. Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony. Mr. McPherson. MR. McPHERSON: The next department if the Fairmount Park Commission. 16 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. I am Mark Focht, Executive Director of the Fairmount Park Commission. Good morning, President Verna and members of Council and the public. With me at the table today to my immediate left is Stephanie Craighead, Deputy Director for Planning, Preservation, and Development for Fairmount Park. And on my right is Christopher Palmer, Director of Operations for Fairmount Park. With us also today is other senior members of Fairmount Park, and the Park and Recreation Cluster, and also Commissioner Phil Price. I am pleased to appear before you today to present, on behalf of the Fairmount Park Commission, our proposed $12,952,858 Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2007. This includes a General Fund obligation level of $12,882,232 and Grants 17 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 Revenue Funding of $70,626. The Class 100 request of $8,671,102 is $194,275 above the Fiscal Year 2006 estimated obligations due to salary increases which will be enacted during Fiscal Year 2007. This increase will allow our number of employees to remain at 170. Our Class 200 and 300, 400 requests are $2,692,509 and $668,621 respectively, and represent proposed increases from Fiscal Year 2006 estimated obligations of nearly 3 percent in Class 200 and just under 10 percent in Class 300 and 400. The mission of the Fairmount Park Commission is to preserve, protect, and maintain the open space, street trees, natural and cultural resources of Philadelphia's parks for the recreation and enjoyment of residents and visitors. Further, the mission is to educate the public on the environment, history, and use of the Fairmount Park system and promote, celebrate, and enhance the uniqueness in value of Fairmount Park and its economic impact to 18 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 the city, region, and state. Within its responsibilities are the woodlands, watersheds, landscapes, and physical infrastructure of 469 buildings and almost 200 sculptures throughout our 9,200 acres. The Fairmount Park system provides Philadelphia citizens and visitors with opportunities for passive and active recreation. With more than 60 parks managed by the Commission, it comprises one of the largest municipally operated landscape park systems in the United States. Each of these parks is an important piece of open space in the urban landscape, regardless of its size or features; from the smallest neighborhood mini-parks, to downtown plazas, to regional parks, and our large watershed areas. I would like to take a moment to highlight some of the accomplishments in Fiscal Year '06, including enhanced citizen services. 19 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 Two significant initiatives greatly enhance the Commission's ability to provide citizen services. The first being park information. org was launched. While the guide is a tremendous resource in print, the website has become the primary portal for interactive information about the park system. Also under street tree management, after years of using a decentralized geographic-based system to handle street tree issues, the Commission created a new division of tree contract management to handle all matters of street trees and park trees. This unit provides information, guidelines, and services to citizens citywide who are interested in getting trees planted, removed, or pruned. In fulfilling our mission to manage Philadelphia's parks, we are proud to have 20 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 received an overall 82 percent satisfaction rating in the Fiscal Year 2005 Mayor's Report on City Services, and look forward to continued approval in our efforts to care for the city's green spaces. We are also working to promote regional greening efforts through the Tree-Vitalize Program.
The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the School District of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Eagles have teamed with the commission in a major public/private partnership to restore the tree cover in Philadelphia and our surrounding suburbs. This $8 million program targets neighborhoods and cities and townships where the tree cover, that being the percent of land that is shaded by trees, is less than 21 percent. 22 Tree-Vitalize is designed to 23 revitalize older communities, improved air and 24 water quality, and enhance the quality of life 25 for citizens living in urbanized areas. 21 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 Ultimately the program will plant more than 2,700 shade trees and create 84 acres of forested riparian buffers. Those are the strips of land along our creeks and streams throughout the City of Philadelphia. We are working on the restoration of the Swan Memorial Fountain landscape in Logan Square. To enhance the safety, use, and appearance of this area, the Commission is working with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society implementing a much-needed landscape improvement project. With the $750,000 grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts and over 400,000 from the park's Capital Budget, a new landscape design prepared by renowned Philadelphia landscape architect, the Olin Partnership, is being implemented and will be completed in the very near future. The Cobbs Creek recreation trail. This long-awaited Cobbs Creek rec path was completed and dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony last November with Councilwoman Blackwell presiding. 22 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 The 8-mile trail runs from Market Street, along Cobbs Creek Parkway, through the Cobbs Creek neighborhood, to 84th Street and Bartram Avenue. 80 percent of the one and a half million dollar project funding was provided by PennDOT, with the remaining 8 percent coming from the city's Capital Budget. 9 Some of the initiatives we are 10 planning on working on in Fiscal Year 2007, 11 including support of the River City 12 Initiative. 13 The Commission will continue to work 14 with the Schuylkill River Development 15 Corporation, our partners, our long-time 16 partners, on the Schuylkill River, to 17 implement landscape improvements to the 18 section of Schuylkill banks between Martin 19 Luther King Junior Drive and Race Street, and 20 to extend Schuylkill banks from Locust Street to South Street. On the other side of the town, along the Delaware River, we continue to work with partners such as the Pennsylvania Environmental Council implementing projects, 23 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 such as Lardner's Point Park, the North Delaware Greenway, and the extension of the recreation path through the wetlands at the mouth of the Pennypack Creek. We will continue to focus on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to prepare for the relocation of the Barnes Museum and the expansion of the Free Library. We will work with our partners, such as the Center City District, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, the Art Museum, and The Pew Charitable Trust, to make additional landscape improvements to the Parkway. And, finally, in Fiscal Year '07, we will continue to expand our Growing The Neighborhood Program, known as GTN. GTN makes community-based renovations to small neighborhood parks throughout the park system. It is funded by grants to the Fairmount Park Conservancy from ACE, NovaCare, and the William Penn Foundation To date, seven neighborhood parks have received improvements selected by park 24 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 users and leadership groups, including items such as new plantings, renovated paths and play areas, signage, and guide rails. Since the program began in Fiscal Year '04, this private investment of $150,000 has leveraged an additional investment of 400,000 from public and private sources.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the state of the Fairmount Park system. Aside from the significant physical assets that we manage and care for, we are extremely grateful for our extensive network of volunteer resources and our friends groups. And we owe tremendous gratitude to all citizens who love their parks and continue to support them year after year. We would be glad to answer any questions.
Thank you very much. You know, for many, many years my constituents were asking for new tennis courts at FDR Park. 25 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 And I guess last week I received several calls from my constituents who were of the understanding that they would not be able to use the tennis courts unless they paid a $100 fee. I found that very, very annoying. A member of my staff did in fact call the Fairmount Park. And they were told that my constituents misunderstood; that what the Fairmount Park Commission was doing was asking for a donation. What happens if the users decide they cannot or will not donate? Will they still have their requested usage?
Yes, they will still get their permit to use the tennis courts.
You know, most of the people that use those tennis courts do in fact volunteer a great deal of their time to the park, and why something like this would have been said is beyond me. Who would do something like that?
Was there a notice FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 that was sent out? And I would like to see a copy of it, if you have it.
Yes, it does. A little bit of background, if I may. We have had a system in place for 10 years that asks for voluntary contributions 11 when any individual or adult requests the use 12 of a ball field or an outdoor recreation 13 facility, the concept being that that facility 14 is being taken out of general public use and 15 provided to one individual or adult group. We do not require or ask for a donation from any youth-based organization, schools, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, any youth-based organization. Again, it is a requested donation. No one has ever been denied a permit in the 15 years we have done this.
Well, I just don't understand that. Because it is my understanding that 27 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 the people that apparently were told this have used the tennis courts at FDR Park for quite some time and have never, never been informed if they were willing to donate. But they do actually spend a great deal of time down there, volunteering much of the time. And I was rather surprised to hear about a $100 fee. That, for the record, is untrue?
Okay. The Mayor's proposal -- and I would like to see a copy of the letter, please.
The Mayor's proposed General Fund for FY '07 Operating Budget for the park is $12.9 million. Can you tell us, what was the park's request of the Administration for 2007?
It was actually 12.7 or eight. And then when the mandated increases in Class 100 were calculated in, it became 12.9.
Was the basis of 28 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 your request the park's master plan?
The basis of our request was working with the Administration and budget and finance office on looking at the needs of the park and the staffing levels of the park, which is -- we're working constantly to implement our strategic plan, yes. So, the two are tied together.
The strategic plan suggests increased funding for the park over time. But --
There was no specific recommendations in the strategic plan. The strategic plan does not contain specific numbers for funding levels for the park.
So you actually had requested 12.8, and your budget is 12.9?
On of your testimony, will you please read into the 29 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 record Footnotes 2 and 3.
Under Key Performance Measures, Footnote No. 2 is Street Trees Removed. "Street trees removed include operating and capital dollars. Fewer prunings and removals will occur in Fiscal Year '06 based on anticipated budget reductions for these services." Footnote No. 3 is, Ball Fields Maintained and Renovated. "The reduction in the targets projection for ball fields maintained and renovated is directly related to anticipated reductions in available staff to perform this work."
In the last two years, the work that's done on both of these issues, both street trees and ball fields, falls within our operations group. We currently have in Fiscal Year '06 30 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 113 budgeted positions in our operations group. In Fiscal Year '05, we had 127. So there has been a decrease in 5 positions in our operations group, and we have 6 had a number of folks leave recently for 7 health or personal reasons. So the current 8 staff level as of yesterday was 107 employees 9 in that division. 10 We are in the process of working 11 with personnel to fill those positions to 12 bring it back to the budgeted 113. But 13 because there has been a decrease in the 14 operation staff at the park, there's a decrease in those two performance indicators, also.
And do you have approval to hire the 20 that you had in '05?
No. We are working on approvals to hire the 6 to bring us back to 31 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 the budgeted 113.
So when I call to have street trees pruned, how long would I have to wait before that's done?
Well, street tree pruning is done by contractors. It is not done by Fairmount Park staff; it is done by contractors.
Let me ask our director of operations on what our current wait time is.
Good morning. I am Christopher Palmer. Pruning requests, removal requests, planting requests come into our street tree management office. We are currently working on our list for this contract year. We do approximately 12,000 prunings 32 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 a year, and that list has been established for this year. So if you had contacted us today for pruning, the earliest that we could prune your tree, because all the slots are filled for this year, would be after July 1.
And I believe you indicated that the ball fields were also included?
And you feel that you have ample staff to take care of the ball fields?
To meet our target projections, yes; the performance indicators, the performance measures on .
I do have other questions, but at this time I would recognize Councilwoman Brown.
Let me first commend you on the work that has happened around the Fairmount Park website. It really adds a new dimension to the broader community knowing about the work there at the Fairmount Park. You are aware that City Council is currently contemplating the idea of our city having a wireless environment. Give us some sense of what the feedback activity has been on the current Fairmount Park website.
Anecdotally, the response has been very good from park users across the city, as we meet them and I meet them in public meetings and make them aware of it. We do not have a tracking system in place yet as far as numbers of hits and things like that. But, anecdotally, it has been very well received. We continue to make modifications to it. We have a web master that updates it regularly and makes sure the information is timely and pertinent. 34 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 But I would say, again, anecdotally, the response has been very good. We are quite proud of it.
You also stated in your testimony some discussion around the great activity that's happening on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The restoration of Logan Square landscape program, we have to thank Pew Charitable Trust for the huge contribution they have made towards this effort. Give us a sense of the time line for completion, where we are, and how far -- what remains to be done in terms of major partner contributions and where we will end up.
Certainly. As far as partner contributions, all the funding is in place to complete the project with the money from The Pew Charitable Trust and the money that Fairmount Park has put in through our Capital Budget. As far as actually completing the project, with this unseasonably 70 degree weather we have been having, our contractors 35 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 are back on the project working and our target completion is currently Friday, April 7.
Yes. We traditionally turn the fountains before on the weekend before Easter, and that is again -- which would be that weekend. And that is, again, our target. And from what I saw this morning, the contractors are right on pace for that. So unless we get snow, which we might get in a few days, but, otherwise, we are on target for April 7.
So, in your view, the fundraising piece of that is intact and in place and solid?
And the list of other agencies involved, you mentioned again in your testimony, are the Center City District and -- name the others, if you would. Just restate the others.
We are working on our projects on the Parkway, not specifically on 36 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 Logan Square. But we are working on other projects with the Center City District, with the Horticulture Society and Pew Charitable Trusts and the Philadelphia Holocaust Memorial Foundation.
What about the neighboring local community groups? They are part of that picture. Are they at the table?
Absolutely. The Logan Square Neighborhood Association, we have very strong ties to them and they have been brought in on every project we have done.
Now to the neighborhood parks that have received improvement. You have indicated that seven neighborhood parks have received improvement. And is there a wait list, if you will, of remaining parks that are due to receive similar renovations? I think you discussed that on of your testimony.
Yes. That's part of our Growing The Neighborhood Program, 37 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 Councilwoman. Growing The Neighborhood is the name of the program. And we pick parks for that on a year-by-year basis. So we don't have a waiting list of parks, if you will. We have a criteria that has been developed with our funders. And there is three funders: William Penn Foundation; NovaCare, the physical rehabilitation company; and ACE INA, the insurance company. They have each committed funding for this program for four years. We are in the third year of it. Our additional partner is the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. So park staff, PHS staff, and the funders get together, and we have developed a criteria for selecting parks to bring into this program. And so far we have completed or are working in seven parks, and next year we will evaluate other neighborhood parks.
That's a novel, nontraditional partnership, wouldn't you say?
I must give credit to the PHS and the Recreation Department and the 38 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 Parks Revitalization Program, which has been in Recreation Department for about or 4 years, I believe. This is modeled on that 5 model for Fairmount Park neighborhood parks. 6
Excellent. 7 You have discussed already criteria 8 that you use in the selection of the parks. I 9 am aware of the fact that the city Managing 10 Director's Office has written maintenance 11 standards to be consistent throughout the 12 parks. Is that practice, or whatever, being used throughout the entire park system? Is there a measure to monitor the completion and performance of the work that comes with the whole grass-cutting process and the application of those maintenance standards?
Yes, we do. Particularly on the area of turf management, which is mowing of our grass, we have a whole structure of staff that goes out and monitors the contractor's performance, make sure they are out at the appropriate places at the appropriate times at the appropriate 39 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 intervals, and signs off on their work, make sure it is being done to our satisfaction.
And what you do in Fairmount Park, there is some consistency with what is happening with rec department along the same lines?
A few questions just regards to the strategic plan. We know where we have been, and we all are aware of where we hope to end up. Let me just put on the record and commend the working groups that have been established to move us to a different place and to eliminate the status quo when it comes to the world of Philadelphia Fairmount Park and the Philadelphia Recreation Department. And, so, to that end, give me an update, if you will, first on the -- I have a number of questions here around the strategic plan, and I may end up on a clock. So let's speak first to the development and implementation of a golf management plan that is discussed in the 40 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 strategic plan. It is my understanding that there is a mutual agreement to terminate the relationship with the former golf vendor. Give us a sense of where that is and where you hope to end up.
That relationship has already been terminated. It was terminated last year.
The former operator, that relationship has been terminated. That was with Meadowbrook. And we have a new operator on an interim basis called Liberty Golf. They are managing our courses not as a concessioneer, but as a direct management entity for Fairmount Park.
For the six golf 41 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 courses.
That was a long-term multi-year concession agreement. This is a management professional services agreement. It was for one year, which that first year expires on March 31, in about two weeks. We have several six-month extensions. We have just extended that contract to September 31 of this year. We are constantly evaluating both their performance and also looking at other models for the golf courses.
And in the looking at other models of the golf course, what is your goal; to ultimately adopt a different model going forward, or what?
We are trying to find the model that will provide good quality golf services to the users and also generate revenue for the city.
Any time line attached to that? 42 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06
We are trying to get it accomplished in the time line of this interim agreement with Liberty Golf, which would be either by September 30 of this year, or we do have one more six-month extension on the agreement with Liberty, which would carry it through to next March.
The key here being that we are not locked into a long-term management agreement with anyone currently on our golf courses.
Update us, if you will, on park rules and regulation ordinances to reduce the inappropriate uses of the park. Again, pulling from some of the recommendations of the strategic plan, and clearly recognizing that all of this is not going to happen over the next 6 months, 12 months or 24. But we want some sense that some movement is happening with regards to what was recommended out of that $600,000 document. 43 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06
Certainly. On that point, Councilwoman, several things are ongoing. One is that we are making sure that all park rules and regulation signs are updated and current and that, in fact, all parks have them posted in them. Because then, obviously, in our conversations with the Philadelphia Police, it is very difficult for them to enforce regulations in the park if, in fact, those regulations are not posted. So one thing we are doing is that. We are just making sure all the signage is current and that it physically is present at all of our parks.
So what percentage would you say -- where are you in terms of percentage of completion?
The other aspect of that is looking at our deployment of the Fairmount 44 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 Park Rangers; looking at updating some of their equipment, including vehicles and mountain bikes so that they can have more of a physical presence in our major parks. That process is ongoing. So, we are working on that with the Rangers. We also have restructured the Rangers slightly to create more of a management structure. We created a position called a lead ranger position, which provides for more management oversight in the field. And we have also looked at a reallocation of some funding from the Ranger core budget in order to slightly increase the number of Rangers.
Okay. That's encouraging, knowing how many of us care very much about that core of professionals.
Speak to us, if you will, about communications both internally and externally, again as it relates to one of the objectives called for in the strategic plan. 45 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06
Well, certainly communications externally, again, our two principal vehicles have been the new map and visitor's guide and the website. As I said in my testimony, we think the website is the primary portal for information on the park, and that's where we direct folks to. And if I could go back, when I mentioned updating our rules and regulation signs, we are making sure we are now adding our website to the bottom of all of our signs, so people know they can go there to get additional information. So as far as external communications, it is really around growing awareness and use of our website. Internal communications, since I have become director we have restructured slightly internally so that we now have a senior management team that meets once a week, every Friday morning, for internal management, and then once a month with our extended senior management staff in the park, going out to the 46 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 districts and pulling in our operations folks, Rangers, special events from the districts. So that has greatly facilitated --
Where in that lineup that you just described is there a connect or bridge with the rec department, where appropriate?
Well, with the formation of the administrative cluster last year, now all human resources, fiscal, technology, and stores, those four areas for both Fairmount Park and Recreation, are in one cluster.
Fiscal, human resources, technology, and stores. Those four things are now in one cluster. That's under the leadership of the Deputy Commissioner of Recreation, Mary Platt-Coles, who is with us today. 47 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 So internally communications, as I communicate regularly with the Recreation Commissioner and with Mary around all those issues.
To put that new systemic piece in place, did that call for the expenditure of any dollars?
What would be the dollar amount attached to the new website that you spoke about, and dollars required to moving forward with regards to the maintenance of the website? Just some round figures.
The dollar amount attached to the start-up and the maintenance of the website, and then dollars that need to be expended going forward around the maintenance.
This is a really good news story. 48 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 The website development was managed through the Fairmount Park Conservancy, and it was all donated professional services. It was the equivalent of approximately a quarter million dollars in donated services. Excensure donated staff time to develop the website. Mighty Smart donates all of our web hosting services. Hewlett Packard donated all the hardware, and Microsoft donated all the software. So the entire development of the website, other than staff time, which was involved in it, was donations from the corporate community. The maintenance of the website is done by a Fairmount Park staff employee in our operations group, so it is part of his regular responsibilities to manage the website on a day-to-day basis.
That is a great news story and a clear example that, when we approach the business community and invite them to contribute, many of them step up.
Another objective, recommendation of the strategic plan was that there be a quarterly reporting process to the Park Commission. Speak to us about where that is, has it started, how is it going, does it work.
It has started. I last reported to the Commission in November, 2004 -- excuse me, 2005, last November, on the update of the strategic plan. And that document was also delivered to all members of City Council. It is a two- or three-page document with bullet points of updating. And now that occurs on a periodic basis. I report at the Commission meeting every month, the monthly Commission meeting there is a director's report. And if there is specific movement or update on a particular item in the strategic plan, I will include that in my executive director's report.
So the written report is how periodically? 50 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06
Okay. I have many more questions, Madam President, so I am willing to do the round and come back, please.
I just have a couple of questions pretty much around the street tree maintenance program. I would like to get an update on what trees or what streets you have removed trees from, planted new ones, or pruned some. In the 8th Council District, there are many trees, you know, just like many other parts of the city. And I know there used to be a large backlog for street tree removal, and then there was special funding under NTI. 51 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 And I used to -- we used to receive an update, but I haven't -- I don't know that I have received one lately, and I have no idea what's happening in the 8th Council District as it relates to tree removal.
That seemed to be a big problem at one point. And I do want to thank you for the most recent tree removal. We got a call yesterday from our constituent thanking us. And I want to thank you for taking care of that problem.
The other question I have -- you know, maybe you don't know because you are kind of new. When did you start? Or you have been here?
I have been with the park for eight years. I have been the director since August of last year.
I have been an active member of this Growing The Neighborhood Program and giving money to parks in my 52 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 district. I would like to just ask -- maybe Stephanie can answer this, Stephanie Craighead -- when is Kimble Park's renovations going to be completed?
Good morning, everyone. My name is Stephanie Craighead. I am Deputy Director of Planning, Preservation, and development for Fairmount Park Commission. We opened bids on Kimble Park, and that project should be under construction shortly. And we expect it to take about three months to complete.
Because we did go over, you did report to us, unfortunately, that we just put new play equipment there and someone burned some of the play equipment, set it on fire. And we were over just last week trying to get a handle on that. But people from the neighborhood keep calling about the tree lighting -- I mean, about the additional lighting and whatnot. And I really want to be able to tell 53 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 them. So, basically, I guess I can just say, then, before the summer is over, the lighting will be completed?
That's good. And Aubrey Park is one of the parks where we get lots of calls about the people not following -- users of that park for picnics and birthday parties and family reunions are not following the rules around the loud music. Do you know whether a sign has been posted? Because, actually, the community, the local community group, was going to call to set up a meeting, and I don't know that they have done that yet. They haven't contacted me. But, when I met with them, that was one of their plans. Do you know that signs are posted in Aubrey?
That's good. And then, therefor, we can do enforcement. 54 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 But I do want to thank the park for paying attention to our constituents' needs. And that's all, Madam President. That's it.
While you were testifying, a member of my staff brought in a copy of a letter that one of my constituents received. Would you please read the last paragraph for me, please, for the record.
"Please return the completed form with any required donation in the form of a check payable to the Fairmount Park Commission. The Fairmount Park Commission will begin processing the spring 2006 season athletic field requests on Monday, February 27, 2006. If the Fairmount Park does not receive your completed application, along with the required payment, by March 10, 2006, we will begin reassigning fields to new applicants. If you have questions, please call me." 55 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06
I would say, Councilwoman, that was unfortunate wording of that letter, and I will look into it. There is no required donation, there is only a requested donation.
And what have the donations been heretofore? How much was received last year from donations?
We will get you that information. I am sorry, I don't know specifically for FDR Park.
On , Budget in Brief, under Fairmount Park Commission, it says, "Other," and it is estimated $290,000.
It is the Budget in Brief. And Ms. Reed is here, so she can come up. Do you see it?
Line 42. I am 56 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 sorry, for you it is 34.
Council President, 150,000 of that is our Johnson collection, which is the Art Museum's Johnson collection. The city is responsible for $150,000 of the cost of that collection annually. And the balance --
I am being told -- I apologize. I am being told it is not Johnson. The other thing that would be in that would be the reimbursement of overtime. When we have special events on park property, the organizers are responsible to fund the overtime expenses for city employees. That money is shown as revenue coming into the city. It comes in through Fairmount Park, and then goes to the General Fund.
The procedure changed this past year. Where we bring the revenue 57 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 in, the overtime is not abated. We bring the revenue in, and then it flows through Fairmount Park to the General Fund. And, so, it is shown as an increase in revenue coming in.
We will get you the exact number. I don't know what exactly of the 270 that amount is. We will get you that number.
And, again, I want the record to be crystal clear that there is not a required donation --
Thank you, Madam President. Back to some additional discussion 58 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 regarding the strategic plan. It calls for -- it discusses maximizing contracted services, and our ability to do that. First let me ask the question. Have you developed a master list of contracted services? Since this was a high priority, has it been done? And have you had a chance to do that yet?
Any sense on the when? Let me ask this: Of the strategic plan, what are the one, two, three, four, five priorities you have placed in terms -- as leadership, you have placed a priority on?
Okay. The strategic plan contains, as you are probably very well aware, 80 recommended strategies. There are 6 majors goals, 27 objectives, and 80 major strategies. Of those 80 major strategies, we have completed or are in progress on 39 of the 80, so about 50 percent in about 21 months. The plan was completed in June of 59 FY '07 OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - 3/14/06 2004, that's when it was accepted by the Administration and the public, the Commission. So it has been about months. 5 And we have either completed our are 6 working on about 50 percent of the 7 recommendations. 8 We have been working on the 9 recommendations that we can advance with park 10 staff and in combination with our partners. 11
Okay. 15 Continue. 16 So is this included in -- of those 17 39, are contracted services a part of that? 18