COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA2 COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION3 AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS4 - - -5 Room 400, City Hall6 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, June 9, 20097 10:20 a.m. 8 - - - 9 10 PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN, CHAIR11 COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN WILLIAM GREENLEE12 COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO 13 14 BILL 090445 - An ordinance authorizing the President of the Fairmount Park Commission and15 the Executive Director of Fairmount Park to enter into a lease agreement between the City16 of Philadelphia as landlord and the Center City District as tenant...17 18 19 20 - - -21 22 V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services23 Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 60024 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.267025 2 1
Good2 morning and welcome to the Philadelphia3 City Council Committee hearing of Parks,4 Recreation and Cultural Affairs. We're5 now going to move into a public hearing6 to hear testimony on Bill No. 090445.7 This morning we are joined by8 Councilmembers Bill Greenlee and9 Councilmember Frank DiCicco, and we will10 now ask the Clerk to read the title of11 Bill No. 090445.12
090445, an13 ordinance authorizing the President of14 the Fairmount Park Commission and the15 Executive Director of Fairmount Park to16 enter into a lease agreement between the17 City of Philadelphia as landlord and the18 Center City District as tenant for a19 certain parcel of land bounded by 18th20 Street, Logan Square, the Benjamin21 Franklin Parkway and Vine Street,22 commonly referred to as Sister Cities23 Plaza, under certain terms and24 conditions.25 3 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451
Thank you.2 We will now ask Mark Focht of3 the Fairmount Park and Nancy Goldenberg4 of the Center City District to please5 approach the witness table.6 (Witnesses approached witness7 table.)8
Please13 state your name for the record, and we'll14 start with Mark Focht, and proceed with15 your testimony.16
17 Thank you, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown18 and Committee members. 20 I'm pleased to appear before you today on21 behalf of Fairmount Park in full support22 of Council Bill No. 23 This section of Logan Square is24 currently comprised of open lawn, trees,25 4 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 two sculptures and a plaza, which2 comprise Sister Cities, acknowledging the3 Philadelphia Sister Cities International4 program. The Sister Cities program5 establishes special relationships to6 improve political and economic ties with7 various international cities such as8 Florence, Italy; Tel Aviv, Israel; and9 Kobe, Japan. 16 In undertaking this project,17 the Center City District is continuing18 its commitment to improve the public19 realm of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in20 partnership with Fairmount Park and our21 many other partners. 2 At a cost of over $4 million,3 this Sister Cities project will include4 improved landscaping, new walkways, a new5 paved plaza with a fountain and seating6 area, acknowledging our Sister Cities,7 extensive garden plantings and new8 benches and lighting. Additionally, the9 project includes a new Children's10 Discovery Garden and park pavilion. The11 pavilion will be an environmentally12 sensitive structure, featuring a green,13 vegetated roof and geothermal heating and14 cooling system. The pavilion will house15 a cafe and meeting room, which can be16 separated from the cafe by a movable17 partition. 21 Immediately adjacent to this22 structure will be the Children's23 Discovery Garden. 3 The Fairmount Park Commission approved4 the project's design at its May 20th,5 2009 meeting. 10 Before you today for your11 consideration is an agreement that leases12 this portion of Logan Square to the13 Center City District, who will be fully14 responsible for building, maintaining and15 operating the improvements. This lease16 has been modeled on the successful17 agreement which transformed Three18 Parkway, including the construction and19 operation of Cafe Cret. 21 The ordinance has been amended22 to include as an exhibit the Economic23 Opportunity Plan prepared by the Center24 City District. This plan has been25 7 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 approved by the Office of Economic2 Opportunity, and you will hear more about3 it in a moment. The Center City District4 will provide brief testimony on the5 details of this plan. 9 This agreement will improve the10 physical environment in this section of11 Logan Square, while providing a range of12 exciting new experiences for residents,13 visitors and tourists along the Benjamin14 Franklin Parkway. 17 Therefore, I appear before you18 today to pledge the support of Fairmount19 Park staff for this legislation and20 respectively ask this Committee and full21 City Council to approve Bill No. 4
Thank you5 very much. Let's hear from our other6 witness, Nancy Goldenberg, and then we'll7 open it up for questions.8 Good morning.9
Good morning,10 Councilwoman and members of the11 Committee. My name is Nancy Goldenberg.12 I'm the Vice-President of Planning at the13 Center City District, and I am here to14 offer the Center City District's full15 support of Bill 090445, authorizing the16 City of Philadelphia, through Fairmount17 Park, to lease Sister Cities Park on18 Logan Square to the CCD. This action19 will enable the Center City District to20 receive capital dollars from the21 Commonwealth and proceed with plans to22 renovate a relatively isolated and23 inactive part of Logan Square into an24 attractive park with activities for25 9 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 diverse populations of all ages.2 The plans call for an improved3 landscape that includes a new plaza4 offering a formal setting for gatherings5 immediately opposite the Cathedral and6 celebrates Philadelphia's Sister Cities7 in the surface of a new foundation. The8 new paths, durable plant material that9 offers seasonal interest, benches,10 lighting, signage are all included in the11 landscape plan and all conform to the12 design guidelines for the Benjamin13 Franklin Parkway.14 Towards the northern portion of15 the park, we plan a 3,000 square foot16 multi-purpose pavilion to house a cafe17 and meeting room in addition to the18 functional requirements needed to service19 the diverse needs of the adjacent20 Children's Discovery Garden, which, as21 Mark alluded to, aims to engage children22 in a natural play environment that23 represents a fragment of the Wissahickon24 Valley ecosystem. The main room of the25 10 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 pavilion could be divided in half by2 means of a partition to accommodate3 different uses simultaneously. When4 fully open, the multi-purpose pavilion5 will provide generous seating for special6 events, functions or lectures that might7 be hosted within the space. Similar to8 our cafe at 16th Street and the Parkway,9 revenue for the operation of the pavilion10 will be pledged towards maintenance of11 the Park.12 The entire project incorporates13 multiple sustainable practices, including14 a geothermal ground source heat pump, a15 green roof, native plantings and radiant16 floor. The building will be LEED17 certified.18 Funds for the 4.6 million19 project have been secured, and we20 received final approval from the Park21 Commission at its May 20th meeting. We22 expect to receive final approval from the23 Art Commission at its July meeting. We24 have also submitted and received approval25 11 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 of our Economic Opportunity Plan from the2 Office of Economic Opportunity, and we3 feel confident that our plan's4 construction and workforce employment5 goals of 40 percent resident, 25 percent6 minority and five percent female can be7 met, as can goals for contract ranges for8 professional services and construction.9 The CCD is currently in10 discussion with a number of local11 institutions with both management and12 programming expertise that could13 potentially operate the cafe and garden14 and provide environmental education15 programs as well. We have received a16 great deal of interest in using the park17 for educational purposes from nearby18 institutions, like the Academy of Natural19 Sciences, Friends Select, the Franklin20 Institute and the Zoo, and we are very21 optimistic that discussions with these22 organizations and perhaps others such as23 the School District and the Park and24 Recreation Department will result in25 12 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 mutually beneficial collaborations and a2 very successful business plan very soon.3 In conclusion, we are very4 excited about this project and the5 support it has been afforded by the6 Governor, the Mayor, Fairmount Park, our7 philanthropic institutions and you, City8 Council. We urge your passage of this9 bill so that by this time next year you10 can join us in cutting the ribbon on11 Sister Cities Park.12 Thank you.13
Thank you14 for your testimony.15 And let the record show that16 Councilman Frank Rizzo has joined us for17 this Committee hearing.18 Any questions for our19 witnesses?20 (No response.)21 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: You22 answered them. When is it beginning?23
Construction24 is expected to begin about September and25 13 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 last about ten months.2
Thank5 you, Madam Chair. Just quickly a comment6 more than a question. I think as the7 Councilmember that lives the closest to8 the Parkway, I will say that I think this9 is a great idea. As Nancy mentioned,10 this is a relatively isolated area, and11 to bring life to that almost right in the12 middle of the Parkway I think is a great13 idea.14 So best of luck.15
Mark18 Focht, could you please discuss briefly19 the process you went through to arrive at20 these OEO numbers?21
Actually, they were22 arrived at by the Center City District,23 so I'll let Nancy speak to those.24
We arrived at25 14 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 them through our past experience recently2 with Cafe Cret at 16th and the Parkway3 and also the design team that has been4 put together. We have about 25 percent,5 26 percent of that design team is6 minority and female. So we're quite7 confident that we can meet or exceed8 these goals.9
Cafe Cret,10 is that one of the first success stories11 where you set goals around OEO and indeed12 achieved them or are there others you'd13 like to put on the record?14
That is the15 first major project that this is a model16 for. So I would say that comes certainly17 the closest. We've done many other18 projects on the Parkway and throughout19 the City, but I would say that cafe20 project, which was successfully done and21 met our goals, is the most closely22 modeled to which we are doing Sister23 Cities.24
Okay,25 15 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 then. Well, thank you for leading by2 example.3 Any other questions from4 members of the Committee?5 (No response.)6
Well, this7 will, therefore, then conclude testimony8 on Bill No. 090445. This concludes our9 public hearing and we will now move into10 a public meeting.11 I'd like to ask Councilman Bill12 Greenlee to please make a motion on the13 amendment to Bill No. 090445.14
Thank15 you, Madam Chair. I move the approval of16 the amendment to Bill No. 090445 as it17 has been distributed.18
All25 16 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 opposed?2 (No response.)3
The ayes4 have it, and Bill No. 090445 has been5 amended.6 I'd now like to ask Councilman7 Bill Greenlee to please make a motion on8 Bill No. 090445, as amended, and reflect9 a suspension of the rules.10
Thank11 you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill No.12 090445, as amended, be reported out of13 this Committee with a favorable14 recommendation and that, further, that15 the rules of Council be suspended to16 allow for first reading at our next17 session of Council.18 (Duly seconded.)19
Bill No.20 090445 has been moved and seconded.21 All in favor say aye.22 (Aye.)23
All24 opposed?25 17 6/9/09 - PARKS - BILL 0904451 (No response.)2
Thus, Bill3 No. 090445 will be reported out of this4 Committee with a favorable5 recommendation, a further recommendation6 that the rules of Council be suspended so7 as to permit first reading at our next8 scheduled Council meeting.9 This concludes the meeting on10 the Committee on Parks, Recreation and11 Cultural Affairs.12 Thank you for your attendance13 and your good work.14 (Committee on Parks, Recreation15 and Cultural Affairs concluded at 10:3016 a.m.)17 - - -18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 18 1 CERTIFICATE2 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the3 proceedings, evidence and objections are4 contained fully and accurately in the5 stenographic notes taken by me upon the6 foregoing matter on June 9, 2009, and that7 this is a true and correct transcript of same.8 9 10 11 12 13 ______________________________14 MICHELE L. MURPHY15 RPR-Notary Public16 17 18 (The foregoing certification of this19 transcript does not apply to any reproduction20 of the same by any means, unless under the21 direct control and/or supervision of the22 certifying reporter.)23 24 25