COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - Room 696, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, June 4, 2003 11:35 a.m. Bills 010500, 030186, 030187, 030221, 030248, 030283, 030284, 030285, 030286, 030287, 030288, 030289, 030290, 030291, 030293, 030294, 030295, 030296, 030297, 030298, 030299, 030301, 030302, 030303, 030304, 030331, 030339, 030340, 030386, 030389, 030420 - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY, Chair COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN MARION TASCO COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center Plaza, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 I N D E X BILL 030420 Donald A. Cramp, CEO, Hospitals & Higher Education Authority of Phila.---------------- 10 Thomas J. Elzey, Sr., VP for Finance, Treasurer, CFO, Drexel University----------------------- 12 Autsin J. McGreal, Authority General Counsel--- 15 BILL 030304 Herbert Wetzel, Executive Director, Redevelopment Authority---------------------- 32 Richard Redding, City Planning Commission------ 34 Ken Lange-------------------------------------- 34 BILL 030289 Herbert Wetzel, Executive Director, Redevelopment Authority---------------------- 37 Richard Redding, City Planning Commission------ 39 BILL 030290 Herbert Wetzel, Executive Director, Redevelopment Authority---------------------- 42 Richard Redding, City Planning Commission------ 43 BILL 030291 Herbert Wetzel, Executive Director, Redevelopment Authority---------------------- 45 Richard Redding, City Planning Commission------ 46 Eva Gladstein, Executive Director, Philadelphia Empowerment Zone & Renewal Community--------- 47 BILL 030293 Herbert Wetzel, Executive Director, Redevelopment Authority---------------------- 49 Richard Redding, City Planning Commission------ 51 Kevin Hanna, Secretary, Housing and Neighborhood Preservation--------------------------------- 52 David Kleghorn, Project Home------------------- 66 Priscilla Bennett------------------------------ 68 Chris Whaley, Project Home--------------------- 69 Rose Grey, APM--------------------------------- 70 Minister Montez LaMoan------------------------- 75 Marvis Frazier--------------------------------- 78 Joanne Jackson, Advocate Community Development Corp.---------------------------------------- 80 PUBLIC MEETING---------------------------------4, 83 3
Committee on Rules is hearing is now in session. I am going to immediately recess the Rules Committee hearing. I am going to open the Rules Committee meeting in order to entertain amendments on bills from Councilman Nutter and Councilman DiCicco. I then intend to recess the public meeting, go back into the hearing, and do the business we have with Drexel and any other business that we have still outstanding from yesterday, including blight testimony. (Public Hearing stood in recess.) - - - 4 PUBLIC MEETING COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING of the COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2003 - - - Public Meeting conducted by the Committee on Rules, held in Room 696, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: BILL NOS. 010500, 030339, 030221, 030248, 030386 - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY, Chair COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN MARION TASCO COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE - - - 5 PUBLIC MEETING
So what I would like to do is recognize Councilman Nutter in the meeting for a motion to amend -- which bill?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are in the public meeting now?
Mr. Chairman, I am amendments to two bills, they were the topic of discussion yesterday. Bill 010500 is the bill --
. Councilman, it is the , Councilman. And the amendment is circulating. There is new language, starting at the tail end of the sentence on that starts with, "access for members of the public to use certain portions of the tennis center." The additional language would be, "and demolish and remove an existing recreation building, and construct a new public recreation building to serve the surrounding community and the citizens of Philadelphia," and then the sentence continues. 6 PUBLIC MEETING And then there is a new sentence at the end, "the lease shall not be executed until approved by Council by resolution." That's the amendment, Mr. Chairman, and I move the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor? Opposed? The amendment to Bill No. 010500 as described by Councilman Nutter is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter for amendment to Bill No. 030339.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That amendment would be seen at , Section 2A. The date is presently January 1, 2002. At the recommendation of Mr. Robert Edis, President of the Fraternal Order of Police, I am proposing to amend that date to be changed to July 1, 2002, which is a start of the Fiscal Year. And I would move the adoption of that amendment to Bill 030339. (Duly seconded.) 7 PUBLIC MEETING
It has been moved and seconded. All in favor? Opposed? The amendment to Bill No. 030339 as described by Councilman Nutter has been approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion to amend particular bills.
Mr. Chairman, before the Councilman starts, just a request that these bills would get a Rules suspension.
Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion to amend Bill No. 17 030221, which is found on the of the Committee on Rules Tuesday, June 3 list. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the amendment to Bill No. 030221. And the description of the amendment reads as follows, to replace the Map B, B as in boy, that is set forth in the bill with the Map B that is attached hereto. 8 PUBLIC MEETING The attachment is to the amendment, where the map indicates the change in the mapping.
Motion has been made and duly seconded to amend Bill No. 030221 as described by Councilman DiCicco. All in favor? Opposed? There are none opposed. Bill No. 030221 is amended accordingly. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion to amend Bill No. 030248. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the adoption of the amendment to Section 1 of Bill No. 030248. After the words, "set forth below to the zoning designations indicated on Map B set forth below," add the following, "and by changing the zoning designation of properties fronting on East Passyunk Avenue, between Fitzwater Street and Catharine Street, to R10-A residential." 9 PUBLIC MEETING (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor? There are none opposed. The amendment to Bill No. 030248 as described by Councilman DiCicco has been approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion for 030386. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the technical amendments to Bill No. 030386 as described in the former testimony be adopted. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded. All in favor? There are none opposed. The amendment to Bill No. 030386 has been approved. The Chair now recognizes that Councilman Nutter and DiCicco may have to leave the chamber for city business. I will now recess the Public Meeting of the Rules Committee. (Public Meeting stood in recess.) 10 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03
I will reconvene the Public Hearing of the Rules Committee. We have an addition to the Rules Committee list for today, which should not take us too long. It is one bill, which is Bill No. 030420, an Ordinance declaring it is desirable for the health, safety, and welfare of the people in the area served by Philadelphia Health and Education Corporation, a nonprofit corporation, organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which operates Graduate School of Medicine under the authority of Drexel University and provides medical education under the name of Drexel University College of Medicine, and which operates facilities at its Center City Hahnemann campus and its Queen Lane campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority of Philadelphia to undertake a project for Drexel University's College of Medicine. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed.
My name is Donald Cramp. I serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Hospitals and Higher Education Authority of Philadelphia. Mr. Chairman, if I may make a very brief introductory statement in support of this bill.
We are delighted this morning to introduce you to Drexel University College of Medicine. After many years of gracious interaction with us, we are especially pleased that the University has chosen the Philadelphia Hospitals and Higher Education Authority for the first public financing on behalf of the College of Medicine. As described in the reading of the bill, the proceeds will be used by the college for a noble purpose. A successful Tax on Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act, TEFRA, hearing on half of Drexel College of Medicine was held in the Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority Board room on May 30. May I assure you as custom that the burden of the debt repayment rests with Drexel 12 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 University College of Medicine and does not accrue to the Authority nor to the City of Philadelphia. To close, Mr. Chairman, we wish to expand our relationship with Drexel University in a cordial manner, and the councilmanic hearings will help us. Therefore, my customary words of appreciation to each member of the Rules Committee and to the Council of the Whole this morning are even more meaningful and, as always, genuine. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your testimony. Any questions for this witness? Anyone else to testify? Yes, sir. Please identify yourself for the record. MR. THOMAS J. ELZEY, SR.: Good morning, Chairman Kenney and members of the Rules Committee of the City Council. My name is Thomas Elzey. I am the Senior Vice-President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer for Drexel University. I want to thank you for this opportunity to come before you today to present our proposed $41 13 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 million bond issue for capital projects for the Drexel University College of Medicine. Drexel University College of Medicine represents a union of two of the oldest medical colleges in the United States, the Medical College of Pennsylvania and the Hahnemann University. In 1993, the two medical colleges consolidated into one Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation called MCP Hahnemann University. In late 1998, Drexel University accepted the challenge of operating and restoring the college after severe financial difficulties. In July of 2002, with the approval of the Board of Trustees, the medical college officially became known as the Drexel University College of Medicine. Today, with an enrollment of more than 1,000 medical students and over 300 graduate students, and 1,568 full-time employees and 355 part-time employees, Drexel College of Medicine is the largest private medical school in the country and is building on the legacy of medical and academic excellence, linking a rich tradition of patient focus, quality medical education, with 14 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 nationally recognized technological leadership. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. With me is Jere Thompson, the University counsel from Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll. And also in the audience are other professionals who are associated with the Drexel University College of Medicine. We are prepared to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you very much for your testimony. I would like to say at the outset that we are very happy to be able to be of assistance to Drexel University. Frankly, when Drexel decided to take over the medical school, we had some concerns as to, you know, what would happen. But Drexel has performed wonderfully. And it has been a great continued tradition here in Philadelphia to have that kind of a facility being run by Drexel and having access to healthcare and good medical education, solid medical education, that's going on there. 15 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 So I applaud the University, Dr. Stamatakis, and everybody involved. You guys have done a great job. It is our pleasure to be of some facility in having you get your needs accomplished. MR. AUSTIN J. McGREAL: My name is Austin McGreal, and I am General Counsel to the Hospital Authority. And, Mr. Chairman, there are two issues this morning. There is a proposed amendment to your Bill No. 030420. It is under Section 1, under your official bill. Copies will now be submitted.
Just give us a second so we can have it. MR. McGREAL: It is underlined. The proposed amendment is underlined. It is minor language, really.
No such thing. Mr. McGreal, please proceed. MR. McGREAL: On your official bill, it is on Line 6 from the bottom, beginning after, "Queen Lane campus." And the new language to be included is, "other acquisition of, and renovations to, property at the Queen Lane campus: Renovations 16 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 to the University's research facilities," unquote. That's the end of it. And on Line 4, "facility" is pluralized, "facilities." That's the extent of the amendment. And, also, if you decide in favor of us, we would appreciate a suspension of the Rules.
Absolutely. Thank you very much. Any questions for these witnesses? Councilman Nutter.
Mr. McGreal, Mr. Cramp, we have certainly enjoyed, at least over my time, a tremendous amount of coordination and support, although I don't normally have a lot of financings in my district, not that I wouldn't like to have some.
Unfortunately, though, we have not had an opportunity to talk about this proposed amendment. And I was just chatting with Councilman Clarke, who I know also has a concern. Can you tell us, what does this mean? I know what the words are. I would like to understand 17 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 what it means.
Councilman, as you know, the first two years of the medical school's students' activity is on the Queen Lane campus. Currently the relationship is that Drexel University, in fact the College of Medicine, currently leases that property from Tenet, the corporation that is our partner. There have been suggestions and discussions of the possibility that they may convey that property to Drexel University, or to PHEC, for a sum, which is currently under negotiations.
You have to try to speak up. This is a blanket request. We have to try to maintain side-bar conversations. So could you probably start over.
As I was saying, the College of Medicine medical school students, medical students, currently utilize that facility for classroom instruction and for other instructions during their first two years of attendance to the medical school. That property is currently owned by 18 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 Tenet Corporation, and it is currently leased to the Philadelphia Health Education Corporation, doing business as the College of Medicine. There have been discussions ongoing at this point in time about the possibility that Tenet would convey that property to the Drexel University College of Medicine. So this amendment allows us to utilize these funds for that purpose, if that opportunity should come to fruition in the next couple of weeks.
What about Hahnemann facility/facilities? Hahnemann? Are there any additional opportunities?
It should have been "facilities" in the first place, yes. A grammatical typo.
We will work through it. If you could subsequent to this hearing and before final passage, if there is additional 19 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 information you can provide about this. There have been a number of discussions about this bill for a little while, complicated by other issues.
And so getting the amendment at this moment comes as a bit of a surprise. We want to try to be as cooperative as possible. There are some very sensitive discussions going on at the moment. When you talk about the University and Tenet at your partner, we want to maintain the integrity of that partnership. And we have tried, the Councilman and I, to be helpful and cooperative. There are some other partnership issues that are troubling. And we have tried not to let those interfere with this particular matter, but they are still outstanding concerns. And I want to assure you that they are not resolved, they are still troubling. And, so, it just adds to it if we are now getting an amendment right here at the moment. So I would just like to encourage the 20 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 partners to be partners, to continue to provide good service to all of our respective constituents, as you are here at the same time trying to do a separate transaction.
We are very mindful of your concerns, Councilman. And certainly we will communicate with you on those issues that we have mutual concerns about it.
May I address you, Councilman Nutter. You have always expressed trust in the proceedings that we bring before you. I would like to make it clear, in the atmosphere of trying to work through to this hearing, that it is my understanding that this is a clerical error; that the bill has always had this provision within it. And though it has the appearance this morning of a last-minute change, I have expressed 21 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 concern that it would have the appearance that you have already mentioned. It is not our habit to come in last minute. Because we build our relationship with this fine body over many years on the basis of trust, and this appearance is uncomfortable for us. And I thank you for permitting me to make it clear that this was not an intentional, last-minute, around-the-end run.
I understand, Mr. Cramp. You are absolutely right. And I don't have that concern with regard to you. You take care of your business in a very tidy and professional manner. And, so, quite honestly because of that, it is almost stunning. I wouldn't be surprised in some other situations. But because you are expert at what you do, and give us the comfort level that we need, it actually came as somewhat of a surprise. It is only to your credit --
It seems like a very good development, but let me ask you some questions with respect to other issues that the city is very much concerned with. Who will be in charge of entering into contracts, say, for construction? I assume that a large amount of this loan is going to be used for construction purposes? Who would have the answer with respect to that?
Let me answer that, Councilman. A large amount of it, actually, is for the acquisition of a building that will house the physician clinical practices for the Drexel University College of Medicine. So a large proportion of it will go for that purpose. And then the other proportion, a large proportion will go towards the renovation of research facilities to support medical research at both the Central City campus and also at the Queen Lane campus, and also for the possibility of acquiring other property, as we have just discussed, 23 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 with regard to the Queen Lane campus. In addition, it will be used for matching money for NIH, National Institutes of Health, grants that we will receive, or we anticipate to receive, at the College of Medicine. There will be a minor portion of it that will be associated with construction; and construction of the renovation type, not necessarily the construction from a ground-level-up type of construction. So that's how it will be -- the monies will be spent. Those monies will be administered through the offices within Drexel University, that's the purchasing office and our engineering office, for various elements of the reconstruction and also renovation project.
Is there any estimate now as to what amount of the $41 million would be used for what is commonly called "construction work"?
We have to be clearer about what is commonly called "construction work." But construction, from the definition as 24 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 I understand it, it would approximately be a little bit less than half of the amount.
And with respect to that, the city has various nondiscrimination policies with respect to, we have various goals with respect to minority employment in construction work. How will that be administered by Drexel University?
Well, Councilman, we have a process of competitive bidding at Drexel University. But let me step back first. This is the first bond issue that we have ever issued for the College of Medicine for Drexel University. And, therefore, we have not had the opportunity to undergo this type of process for the College of Medicine. It is our sense, and our belief, and our determination and commitment to continue the legacy of the MCP and Hahnemann Universities, which have included women and minorities within the operations of those schools. Right now our student body currently has about 30 percent of minorities or women, our school has been committed to providing services to the 25 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 minority community, and it provides a significant amount of services to those who are underserved and underinsured in the community. We would seek to try to do as much as possible to be able to also use and spread that to the construction activity and the bidding process and the hiring of contractors to do the work for these renovations.
Is there any clause, Mr. Cramp, that requires that the beneficiary of this loan program meet the requirements of the city with respect to nondiscrimination and employment of minorities? I mean, I agree with the gentleman from Drexel University, and I am sure they intend to do that. But over many, many years we have found that good intentions do not always produce the same results as good enforcement of requirements. So what we are anxious to do is to see to it that city goals are met in every area of construction, whether it is public construction or private construction, because the law applies equally. So what I am seeking is, is there any BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 way we can ensure that whatever part of the money of this loan is devoted to construction purposes, as that language is understood, that it be in compliance with city policies? Because, otherwise, we are defeating ourselves. We don't permit people to merely state their good intentions, even when we know that they mean it seriously, as we know you mean it. But we think the city has to have an enforcement technique. And I am raising the issue of, how do we get that done in a way which everybody can live with comfortably, but the goals of the city at the same time are achieved?
Councilman Cohen, it has always been a pleasure since the late 1980s to work with you. And as Chairman of the Rules Committee through those years, it has always been a great pleasure. And this issue has been before you and before me through all of those years. There have been at different times in that process raising the possibility of specific wording within our documents. You will recall that we are a conduit 27 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 authority whereby the funds are in the responsibility of either the university or the hospitals. We are not an authority that raises our own money, carries with that the city's obligation of our debt; thereby, our documents over the years have been examined and examined. And the testimony given by all the many institutions that we have been here before you in the past, and now Councilman Kenney, we have come to the conclusion that we must, as we usually do in these committee hearings, make verbal commitment which we carefully monitor. But we fall short of a legal obligation, as would be, possibly, more suitable if we were a city authority.
Well, I think maybe conditions have changed. Because it came as a shock to many of us to learn that under the current Administration, the employment of minorities, instead of increasing, actually dropped in construction work in the city during the last three and a half years. It dropped by 10 to 20 percent. So that the City Council has been taking 28 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 a fresh look at the whole situation. And I think that we have to re-examine that policy, too. Because we have to have one consistent policy. The city must find a way to bring about equity in employment to make sure that the construction work force, which today is not marked at all by diversification, but just the opposite, becomes something that looks like the City of Philadelphia with respect to its population.
We require that kind of a diversification; otherwise, we have large numbers of minority folk unemployed, doing Philadelphia work, while Philadelphians are largely unemployed. So for that reason, I think we have got to look at it. I would like to suggest that this matter be considered in some fashion before this bill can be acted upon next week in City Council. I have no objection to our approval of the action by the Committee today. Because, as you reported, we have had a long relationship. And Councilman Kenney probably brings fresh energy, 29 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03 instead of a frail, old man, to the work task. But I think we have a great combination between age and youth here. And I know we have that also combination of good intentions. But I think we are going to need something more than just a gentleman's word for that before action of next week. So I just would like to suggest discussions, sir, between you and Drexel University to see what can be worked out together with the city on this matter. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Any other questions for this witnesses? Anyone else in the room to testify on this bill? Oh, Councilwoman Blackwell, do you have a question?
I only wanted to commend the leadership of Drexel. Thank you, Mr. Vice-President. Thank you, Mr. Cramp. Drexel has been great in our area, and we are happy to support this in any way we can. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 30 BILL NO. 030420 - 6/4/03
May I? Thank you. Councilwoman Blackwell, may I express my appreciation earlier in the recess in permitting Mr. Kenney, Councilman Kenney, who has kindly kept us informed. We have a delegation here today, and thank you both very much for keeping us aware. Anybody else to testify on this bill? Seeing none. Thank you.
What I would like to do, without objection, is to continue testimony. We ended yesterday with testimony on Bill No. 030303, and would like to continue with Bill No. 030304, take testimony on that bill, on four other bills. There are five bills total that went undiscussed yesterday formally. There were general discussions about the bills, but the Redevelopment Authority did not specifically testify on each of them. So I would like to run through that, and then we will decide where we are at that point in time from the members of the Committee's viewpoint. At this time we don't have a quorum to 31 BILL NO. 030304 - 6/4/03 vote the bills out. We can continue the hearing, but we don't have a quorum to vote the bills out. So we will run through the testimony and see where we wind up and go from there. I would like to ask the RDA and anyone else who is going to testify to come to the table, and we will start to work our way through these bills. Again, I would like to make the request that maintain some order and have outside conversation taken outside. Bill No. 030304, an Ordinance approving the 7th Amendment of the Redevelopment proposal for the Southwest Temple Urban Renewal rea, being the area situate in the 20th Ward beginning at the intersection of the northerly side of Columbia Avenue and the easterly side of Broad Street, including the seventh amendment to the urban renewal plan and the relocation plan, which provides, inter alia, for the additional land acquisition of approximately two properties for commercial and related uses; a change of the land use and related controls for the area generally bounded by West Girard Avenue, North Ninth Street, 32 BILL NO. 030304 - 6/4/03 Hutchinson Street and Thompson Street from industrial and related uses to commercial and related uses; the provision of certain relocation services, as required by law and declaring that condemnation is not imminent with respect to the Project. Do we have anyone here today? As we have done yesterday, we are going to ask that that be translated in Spanish, Bill No. 11 030304, at the bottom of . (Bill interpreted in Spanish.)
Thank you very much. Would you please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Herman Wetzel, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia.
Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, I am here to speak in support of Bill 22 No. 030304, which is the Seventh Amendment of the Redevelopment Proposal and Urban Renewal Plan for the North Philadelphia Redevelopment Area, and the Southwest Temple Urban Renewal Area. 33 BILL NO. 030304 - 6/4/03 This bill would authorize the Redevelopment Authority to acquire two vacant lots located at 1224-38 North 9th Street and 1233 North Hutchinson Street for commercial development. Upon acquisition, the properties will be immediately marketed to a qualified redeveloper. The Authority will finance the acquisition costs for this site. Its estimated to be approximately $17,000. This bill would also authorize a change in the proposed land use from industrial to commercial and related use within a portion of the Southwest Temple Urban Renewal Area bounded by West Girard Avenue, North 9th Street, Hutchinson Street, and Thompson Street. Mr. Chairperson and members of the Committee, I respectfully request favorable consideration of Bill No. 030304, and would ask the suspension of Council Rules to allow first reading on June 5, 2003.
Thank you very much. I would ask in this bill, and in future bills that testify, to state specifically whether or not there are any occupied properties in the taking. 34 BILL NO. 030304 - 6/4/03
We will do so. And these are two vacant lots for this particular ordinance.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon. I am Richard Redding from the City Planning Commission. I am testifying in support of Bill No. 11 030304, a redevelopment proposal affecting the vicinity of 9th and Girard facilitating commercial development. It was approved at the Commission meeting of October 2002. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Any questions for this witnesses? Anyone else to testify on this bill? Could you ask if anyone else is here to testify on this bill? (Interpreted in Spanish.)
I am Ken Lange, and I am representing the Voter's Coalition. 35 BILL NO. 030304 - 6/4/03
I want to ask one consideration. If it is a general testimony about the process, or a specific bill. Because I think your testimony yesterday -- and I don't mind listening to it -- on two separate occasions was more generally about the process. And if you could kind of get that on the record, and it will be on the record. If there is a specific issue relative to this bill, I will be happy to hear it and I will be happy to hear what you have to say now. If it is a general opposition, I want to get it on the record.
I just want to stay for the record, and there again representing the community, that I think that we need to make sure that those are actually vacant lots, as opposed to people, owner-occupied or homeowner-occupied housing. And that's all I want to say for the record. I think that we need to do that before we actually pass any ordinance. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Anyone else to testify on this bill? 36 BILL NO. 030289 - 6/4/03 Seeing none, we will now move to Bill 3 No. 030289, which is an Ordinance approving the redevelopment proposal of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of the Fairhill and St. Hugh Urban Renewal Area being the area generally bounded by Venango Street and Glenwood Avenue on the North, B Street on the east, Lehigh Avenue on the south, and Sixth Street on the west; approving the urban renewal plan and determining that such plan and redevelopment proposal conform to the general locality plan and make adequate provisions for individuals, business concerns and families who are displaced; determining the necessity for changes in and for zoning, streets, alleys, public ways, street patterns, location and relocation of public utilities; determining that the urban renewal plan and redevelopment proposal meet all non-discrimination requirements of Federal, State and Local Laws and the regulations and policies promulgated with respect thereto; declaring that certain expressly designated and provided for condemnation is not imminent with respect to the Project; and declaring the redevelopment 37 BILL NO. 030289 - 6/4/03 undertakings in the Project to be an important part of the City's program to remove and prevent the spread of urban blight. Would you please translate this bill. (Bill interpreted in Spanish.)
Thank you very much. Can you please identify yourself for the record.
My name is Herbert Wetzel, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia.
Mr. Chairperson and members of the Committee, I am here to speak in support of Bill No. 030289, which would authorize the Redevelopment Proposal and the Urban Renewal Plan for the Fairhill and St. Hugh Redevelopment Area and the Fairhill and St. Hugh Urban Renewal Area. This bill would authorize the Redevelopment Authority to acquire 37 properties, 15 vacant lots, and 22 vacant structures which will be used for residential development, commercial development, land banking, and open space. Under home ownership, 21 vacant 38 BILL NO. 030289 - 6/4/03 structures will be acquired for the St. Hugh Community Revitalization Project. The project area spans a 50-block area surrounding the St. Hugh Parish and School. The St. Hugh Parish will work in partnership with the Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises to rehabilitate the structures using funding from the Redevelopment Authority's Home Ownership Rehabilitation Program. Two large vacant lots, located at 3233-63 North Third Street and 3301-61 North Lawrence Street, will be acquired on behalf of HACE, which is the Hispanic Association of Contractors and Enterprises. The plan at this site is to construct 40 new homes for sale to low- and moderate-income families. 10 properties, 9 vacant lots, and 1 vacant structure on the 3300 block of North Lawrence Street will be acquired on behalf of HACE, which proposes to carry out new construction of a 50- to 75-unit rental housing development to be financed with the use of low-income housing tax credits. One vacant lot located at 2741 North 39 BILL NO. 030289 - 6/4/03 Orkney Street will be acquired on behalf of HACE to support the expansion of a business on North 5th Street, commercial corridor. Two large vacant lots at 2935-65 North Second Street and 3200 Mascher Street will be acquired for future residential and open space development by HACE. One vacant lot located at 3071 North Orkney Street will be acquired for use by a side yard of the adjacent owner. Passage of this bill will lead to the creation of approximately 61 new homes, 50 affordable rental units, and the expansion of one local business. Mr. Chairperson and members of the Committee, I respectfully request favorable consideration of Bill No. 030289, and would ask the suspension of Council Rules to allow a first reading on June 5, 2003.
Thank you very much. Mr. Redding, please identify yourself.
Hello, I am Richard Redding, City Planning Commission, testifying in support of Bill No. 030289, creating a 40 BILL NO. 030290 - 6/4/03 new urban renewal area in the Fairhill and St. Hugh neighborhoods involving acquisitions for residential and commercial revitalization. It was approved at our Commission meeting of April of this year, and previous to that the Planning Commission prepared a redevelopment area plan for the same area and for the same purposes. Thank you.
Thank you very much forever your testimony. Any questions for these witnesses? Seeing none. Any one else to testify on this bill? Seeing none, we will now to move Bill 17 No. 030290, an Ordinance approving the redevelopment proposal of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of the Frankford Creek Urban Renewal Area being the area generally bounded by Orthodox Street on the north, Adams Avenue on the east, Frankford Avenue on the south, East Hunting Park Avenue, O Street, Cayuga Street and Castor Avenue on the west; approving the urban renewal plan and determining that such plan 41 BILL NO. 030290 - 6/4/03 and redevelopment proposal conform to the general locality plan and make adequate provisions for individuals, business concerns and families who are displaced; determining the necessity for changes in and for zoning, streets, alleys, public ways, street patterns, location and relocation of public utilities; determining that the urban renewal plan and redevelopment proposal meet all non-discrimination requirements of Federal, State and Local Laws and the regulations and policies promulgated with respect thereto; declaring that certain expressly designated and provided for condemnation is not imminent with respect to the Project; and declaring the redevelopment undertakings in the Project to be an important part of the City's program to remove and prevent the spread of urban blight. Would you please translate that. (Bill interpreted in Spanish.)
Thank you very much. I am sorry. Could I go back just the one bill. I may not have asked or you may not have said. Any occupied structures in that? 42 BILL NO. 030290 - 6/4/03
We have subsequently found out there are two occupieds that we are pulling off the list.
My name is Herbert Wetzel, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia. Mr. Chairperson and members of the Committee, I am here to speak in favor of Bill No. 21 030290, which would redevelopment proposal and the urban renewal plan for the Frankford Creek redevelopment area in the Frankford Creek urban renewal area. This bill would authorized the 43 BILL NO. 030290 - 6/4/03 Redevelopment Authority to acquire properties, 19 3 vacant lots, occupied residential structure, and occupied commercial structures, that will be used for new residential development. All ports will be acquired with bond proceeds from the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. The properties to be acquired will 10 support a residential development to be undertaken 11 by the Frankford Community Development Corporation. 12 Frankford CDC proposes to construct 54 new homes in 13 association with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance 14 Agency's Home Ownership Choice Program. 15 The new development will be located at 16 the intersection of Castor and Wingohocking Streets 17 in the Juniata Park section of Philadelphia. 18 The homes will range from 16 to 18 19 hundred square feet and will be sold at prices 20 affordable to moderate- and middle-income families. 21 Mr. Chairperson and members of the 22 Committee, I respectfully request favorable 23 consideration of Bill No. 030290 and would ask a suspension of Council Rules it allow first reading on June 5, 2003. 44 BILL NO. 030291 - 6/4/03
Good afternoon again. Richard Redding, City Planning Commission. Testifying in support of Bill 030290, creation of a new urban renewal area in the Frankford Creek area along the border of the Frankford neighborhood and the Juniata Park neighborhood, authorizing acquisitions for residential development. The Commission approved this at its January meeting of this year, and prior to that the Commission prepared a blight report and a redevelopment area plan to help establish the groundwork for redevelopment. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your testimony. Questions for these witnesses? Anyone else to testify on this bill? Seeing none, we will now move to Bill 21 No. 030291, an Ordinance approving the second amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the American Street Industrial Corridor Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by Lehigh Avenue, Berks Street and Montgomery Avenue on the 45 BILL NO. 030291 - 6/4/03 north, by Second Street and Philip Street on the east, by Girard Avenue, Oxford Street and Jefferson Street on the south and by Germantown Avenue, Sixth Street and Third Street on the west, including the second amendment to the urban renewal plan and the first amendment to the relocation plan, which provides, inter alia, for the additional land acquisition of approximately 28 properties for public and related uses; the provision of certain relocation services, as required by law and declaring that condemnation is not imminent in respect to the Project. Please translate. (Bill interpreted in Spanish.)
My name is Herbert Wetzel, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia. Mr. Chairperson and members of the Committee, I am here to speak in support of Bill No. 23 030291, which is the second amended redevelopment proposal and the second amended urban renewal plan for the North Philadelphia redevelopment area and 46 BILL NO. 030291 - 6/4/03 the American Street industrial corridor urban renewal area. This bill would authorize the Redevelopment Authority to acquire 28 vacant lots on behalf of the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone for the American Street Southern Gateway Project. The Southern Gateway Project calls for the construction of new street routes to improve access to the American Street Industrial Corridor. The new street configuration is expected to provide greater access to traffic from Interstate 95 and Girard Avenue. The properties will be acquired with bond proceeds from the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. Mr. Chairperson and members of the Committee, I respectfully request favorable consideration of Bill No. 030291, and would ask for the suspension of Council Rules to allow first reading on June 5, 2003.
Hello. I am Richard Redding, City Planning Commission. I am supporting Bill 030291, a 47 BILL NO. 030291 - 6/4/03 redevelopment proposal in the American Street area involving acquisitions for a public street and gateway. The Commission approved this in April of '03. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Any questions for these witnesses? Anyone to testify on this bill? Please.
Good morning, my name is Eva Gladstein. I am Executive Director of the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone and Renewal Community. I just wanted to testify to urge your approval of this bill. It will enable us to resolve a long-standing issue in this community to facilitate the movement of truck and other commercial traffic along American Street and to take that traffic off of the residential communities on either side of American Street. So we urge your support. We have a map available, if any Council Members would like to look at it, to see how the reconfiguration of this gateway would appear in the end. 48 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 Thank you.
Thank you very much. Anyone else to testify on this bill? Seeing none, move to Bill No. 030293, an Ordinance 6 approving the redevelopment proposal of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of the Tioga Urban Renewal Area being the area generally bounded by Hunting Park Avenue on the north, Broad Street, Germantown Avenue, Venango Street, Fifteenth Street, Allegheny Avenue and Germantown Avenue of the east, Glenwood Avenue and Lehigh Avenue on the south and 23rd Street, Allegheny Avenue and 22nd Street on the west; approving the urban renewal plan and determining that such plan and redevelopment proposal conform to the general locality plan and make adequate provisions for individuals, business concerns and families who are displaced; determining the necessity for changes in and for zoning, streets, alleys, public ways, street patterns, location and relocation of public utilities; determining that the urban renewal plan and redevelopment proposal meet all non-discrimination requirements of Federal, State and Local Laws and 49 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 the regulations and policies promulgated with respect thereto; declaring that certain expressly designated and provided for condemnation is not imminent with respect to the project; and declaring the redevelopment undertakings in the Project to be an important part of the City's program to remove and prevent the spread of urban blight.
Thank you very much. Please proceed. Identify yourself and proceed.
My name is Herbert Wetzel, Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia. Mr. Chairperson and members of the Committee, I am here to speak in support of Bill No. 19 030293, which would authorize the redevelopment proposal and urban renewal plan for the Tioga redevelopment area and the Tioga urban renewal area. The proposed Tioga urban renewal area is generally bounded on the north by Hunting Park Avenue, on the east by Broad Street, Germantown Avenue, Venango Street, 15th Street, Allegheny 50 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 Avenue, and Germantown Avenue, on the south by Glenwood Avenue and Lehigh Avenue, and on the west by 23rd Street, Allegheny Avenue, and 22nd Street. This bill would authorize the Redevelopment Authority to acquire 349 properties, 285 vacant lots and 64 vacant structures, for both land banking and residential development projects. The properties will be acquired with bond proceeds from the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative. 276 vacant lots will be acquired for land banking purposes. Many of the properties are close to Temple University's medical facilities and would be appropriate for future residential or institutional development. 70 properties, 8 vacant lots, and 62 structures will be acquired on behalf of the Allegheny West Foundation, which proposes to rehabilitate the properties under the Redevelopment Authority's HRP program and offer them to sale to low- and moderate-income families. Three properties, one vacant lot and two vacant structures, will be acquired for Gaudenzia House, which seeks to develop a 22-unit special-needs residential facility to be financed 51 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 with the use of low-income housing tax credit. Passage of this bill would lead to the creation of 62 new homes, new affordable rental 5 units, and would reclaim over 10 acres of vacant 6 land for future development. 7 Mr. Chairperson and members of the 8 Committee, I respectfully request favorable 9 consideration of Bill No. 030293, and would ask the 10 suspension of Council Rules to allow first reading 11 on June 5, 2003. 12
Good afternoon, 15 Mr. Chairman and members. I am Richard Redding, 16 City Planning, testifying in support of Bill No. 17 030293, establishing a new urban renewal area in the 18 Tioga and Allegheny West neighborhoods involving 19 acquisitions for land banking and neighborhood 20 revitalization. 21 It was approved at the April meeting of 22 our Commission. And prior to that the Commission prepared a blight report to help establish eligibility for redevelopment. Thank you. 52 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03
Thank you very much. Any questions for these witnesses? Anyone else to testify on this bill? Seeing none, that will conclude the testimony of the Administration on the bills in question. Now we have the opportunity for anyone who was here yesterday or has come here today to speak to the record, for the record, about any of the bills that has not spoken yesterday. Please come forward. The Chair recognizes Mr. Hanna.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, members of the Board. My name is Kevin Hanna. I serve as Secretary of Housing and Neighborhood Preservation for the City of Philadelphia. I wanted to make a couple of points relative to some of the issues that were brought up yesterday and will probably be brought up this morning. First of all, we, I and my staff, to include the Redevelopment Authority staff, obviously and fully recognize that the process for relocation 53 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 and all that was discussed yesterday is severely flawed. We acknowledge that and are taking steps even literally as we speak to change that. I will commit to you that over the summer, that we will not just change, but we will in fact hopefully overhaul the entire process. And in that, I would like to be able to work with you and your staff to get that done. That's the first point. Second point is relative to Cecil B. Moore specifically. This information, what I am about to say, anyway, was disseminated in a couple of community meetings, but I think it bears repeating here in this meeting. With Cecil B. Moore Phrase Three, last month the Redevelopment Authority approved a redevelopment team for Phase Three of the development of the project. That team includes developers, planners, architects, et cetera. The plan is, has always been, to have that team team up with a neighborhood-based organization. In fact, it is called a CBO, 54 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 community-based organization. The two of them, the CBO and the team, which is called OKKS, have formed a partnership. The partnership consists of -- well, is owned 51 percent by the community-based organization. The other 49 percent is owned by the private-development team. The first step in that process, the first step in the redevelopment process of Phase Three, involves putting together a resident planning process; wherein the residents, all of the affected residents within the footprint of the home ownership zone, will get a chance to come together and talk about what goes where. Not just what houses go where, which houses may or may not be relocated, but where retail would be best suited, where commercial would be best suited. Nothing is in stone as of right now. Those letters went out as an indication to folks that their homes may be a part of a taking. The most important aspect of this entire process is the planning process, which hopefully happens after, Lord willing, this body and the Mayor 55 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 approves the bills that were set before it. That's the second point I wanted to make. Third point has more to do with our internal operations. The folks at the RDA are some of the hardest working folks I have met in my 20, 8 years of my professional career. 9 Those folks have worked, in putting all 10 of this work together, literally 14 hours a day, 11 sometimes literally 6 or 7 days a week. 12 I would like to personally acknowledge 13 their hard work. But I also point out that, in the 14 coming months, we plan to hire more folks to augment 15 the folks who are already on staff so we can have 16 more personal communications, so that the 17 communications in general will improve in terms of 18 frequency, in terms of content, and hopefully in 19 terms of the way people hear and understand what's 20 being transmitted to them. 21 And with that, thank you for your 22 indulgence. 23
Thank you very much. I 24 appreciate your comments. 25 I really don't think you or the RDA is 56 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 the problem. There is an issue relative to the relationship between this Council and the city Administration, being the Mayor specifically, that does not allow for, in my opinion, a very respectful relationship as it relates to the processing and scheduling of legislation. As I said yesterday, three or four bills a week, every other week, moving through this process in a year, would have been maybe a very enjoyable process. bills in the last week or week and a 13 half, before we go for summer recess, is, in my 14 opinion -- and I am obviously not speaking for the 15 rest of the Committee, but I am speaking as Chair of 16 the Committee -- is intentionally done to confuse 17 and make this issue and process extremely chaotic. 18 And you, with all your good 19 intentions -- and I trust you are speaking from the 20 heart and respect your even taking the time to comment on this. And knowing Mr. Wetzel and all the staff, I don't think there is any problem with anyone in this room. The problem is that there is a lack of respect, a significant lack of respect, between the 57 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 Mayor and this body. And until that is resolved, all your good intentions and all your hard work may wind up being in an awkward position again. Because I assume before Christmas next year, or this year, or before the summer the year after that, we are going to be, maybe, in the same situation that we are in now. bills in this kind of a forum is not 11 conducive to public policy, it is not conducive to 12 the public learning about what good this project may 13 be. It is a way to intentionally ram this down our 14 throats so that we just do it and do what we are 15 told. And that's my own opinion. 16 But as Chair of this Committee over the 17 last three and a half years, it has been my 18 continued experience not only with this, but with 19 just about everything else we do in here. 20 I want to thank you for your comments. I trust, I know they are sincere, and I know you will try your best to work with us. And Mr. Wetzel and everybody at RDA has done that. The problem is not with you. It is where it hits the second floor and how it is sent 58 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 here. When we get amendments to bills ten minutes before Council session, before hearings are scheduled, when the Mayor was the Council President, Ed Rendell would have never thought, even considered or dreamt, about sending stuff to him the way he sends it to us. So until that is resolved, I appreciate your good intentions and your hard work, and look forward to working with you in a more conducive and more pleasant way. And I apologize for any upsetment there was yesterday. But, as you can see, when people come in here scared and frightened and concerned about what their future is going to be, when I sit there and listen to a woman who has been married 60 years not knowing where they are going to celebrate their wedding anniversary in two weeks, and they look at us like we did this to them... I even know in my conversations with the district Councilpeople who are involved in having potential takings in their district, they are not always aware. The process is so chaotic. And you sit here and you feel helpless 59 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 listening to people in absolute terror, who have lived in the city for 40, 50, 60 years, and I don't have an answer for them. " And they don't want to hear that from us.
I think, and my personal opinion again, that this all, all of it, from the very day that NTI was introduced, how it was debated, how we tried to amend it, how we tried to become part of that process -- and you weren't here then; and that wasn't a very pleasant situation, either -- every one of these issues could be dealt with in a more pleasant, much more cooperative, much more understandable way if the Mayor would simply treat us with the same respect that he demanded from Ed Rendell when he was Council President. And that's just my opinion. But I do, again, want to appreciate you sitting there and trying to make this better. I really do. I think it shows a lot about what you are about and what the people that you work with are, and I appreciate your sentiments. Councilman Clarke. 60 BILL NO. )
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Hanna and Herb, since you are there and you referenced one of the projects, probably the most contentious project, in my district, I just want to make a couple of statements and requests of you as we move ahead, hopefully, on the Cecil B. Moore project, and maybe one or two more where we have a similar problem. I would like to ask you to do a couple of things as it relates to that particular project. I guess this would primarily come from the Redevelopment Authority. I would like to receive a monthly status report on all activities relating to any occupied structure that is scheduled for relocation at this point. And I understand that there a substantial number of properties that are not -- should not have been listed for taking. And, as a result of that, I would like to have letters go out to those individuals by the end of the week. I understand letters have gone out for the residents on 18th Street today. And any 61 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 other areas, I believe Bouvier Street and some of the areas outside of the Home Ownership Zone, people received letters. I would like to have letters going out to those people letting them know that their properties are not subject to this taking in this particular legislation. The other thing I would like to get, again from the Redevelopment Authority, a notification prior to any taking, meaning any letter from the Redevelopment Authority, any Board approval of any taking -- and not the morning of, but in a timely way -- any taking, any Board approval of any taking in that Cecil B. Moore Home Ownership Zone. The other thing I would like to see, as soon as possible, once the developer has been officially brought on board, I would like to see a reconfiguration of that zone, or those proposals for those houses, to minimize any potential relocation. Because I believe, with a little tweaking, there is a possibility that some of these folks will not have to be relocated. I understand in some instances that simply can't happen. But I think that we need to 62 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 look at the possibility of rethinking some of the decisions -- or some of the recommendations, because no decisions have been made yet. And the other thing, in the development process -- and I know I am getting a little ahead of myself -- I would like to see the possibility of, in an early phase, the first phase, a number of properties in the targeted area developed early on in the process to be made available for existing homeowners. Because what I don't want to have to do is have us develop 152 house, over a period of three years, and these people who were interested in coming back into that community waiting until all 152 houses are done. I would like to see, as a part of that phasing process, the first phase will be, if at all possible, designated for individuals who have to be relocated, who were interested in coming back to that particular development area. Do you think we can do that?
May I take the time just to repeat it to make sure that I have it clear?
You are requesting a monthly status report related to any occupied structure that's in this ordinance?
If they get a letter, somebody knocks on the door, I want to know about it.
You got it. We are going to send out a series of letters. We already have a set of draft letters for the addresses yesterday, and there will be some additional ones as we work through with you. That we will send letters to all those individuals indicating that their properties will not be subject to a taking as a result of this ordinance. The third item is to be notified in advance of any proposed resolution that would go before the Redevelopment Authority Board that would result in a filing of Declaration of Taking. You would like to have the planning process to look at reconfiguration of the site plan to, essentially, minimize relocation that would have 64 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 to take place as a result of implementing the plan itself.
And, from a staging perspective, you know, once that site plan is developed, to minimize any displacement, would be a staging of the construction that would allow for individuals who might have to be displaced, the opportunity to move from the house they are living in now, to a house that's built, rather than move from the neighborhood and then have the option to come back.
I would like to have a situation where if a person has to move, they only move once. I don't want a person to have to move somewhere, then two years later be uprooted and move back. So if we can just have a scenario where that person just moves once into that neighborhood, into that zone, in a building that suits their needs, I would like to be able to do that one time, 65 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 and one time only. And the other thing, if in fact -- and I am not sure on the existing phase; I know there is a phase taking place -- if there are any units available in the current phase, I would like to see an opportunity for any individual who is interested in relocating out of the targeted area, them have an opportunity for one of the units in the current phase, as we finalize that phase.
The other ones that I repeated to you, does that reflect your request?
And then this additional one is, if somebody is in a target area that's going to be needed for the development, they be offered an opportunity to purchase any unsold houses in the current phase.
Thank you very much. 66 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 I would ask you gentlemen to back off the table and allow witnesses to come forward. Please take a seat, identify yourself for the record. If you know the specific bill or area, if you don't know the bill number, if you know the specific area we are talking about, what renewal zone, what urban renewal zone you are talking about, please make that clear. Please identify yourself for the record.
My name is David Kleghorn. I am from Project Home. I believe the bill is 030303. It is the one with all the Cecil B. Moore properties, as well. I am just going to read a statement that we prepared. I can offer one to Council, if you want.
Project Home would like to thank the City Council, the Redevelopment Authority, the Mayor's Office on Housing and community Development for making the strategic decision to allocate NTI bond funds in the acquisition of vacant and abandoned properties so that they may become viable, affordable housing in 67 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 the future. Although there has been immeasurable increase in the overall stability of our neighborhood, there are still many vacant and blighted properties that can be salvaged as affordable housing. Over the past five years, Project Home, in partnership with the City of Philadelphia, City Council, Redevelopment Authority have stabilized and rehabilitated and sold single-family units. 12 In 2003, we plan to create an additional 13 ten houses, including one two-story, fully 14 accessible home. 15 As a result of the action of the City 16 Council, Project Home will be able to rehabilitate 17 16 properties on the 1900 block of North 23rd 18 Street, as well as complete the revitalization of the 2100 block of North 27th Street to 2100 block of North 28th Street; 2100 block of Newkirk Street; 1700, 1800, and 1900 blocks of 23rd Street; 1800 block of North Croskey; and the 1900 block of North Justin Street. The impact this action will have on the community will be enormous. These rehabilitations 68 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 will make the past investments of the city and Project Home much more strong and more viable. Again, we would like to thank the City Council, and especially City Councilman Clarke, for his support in this measure. I would also like to add that, of the 36 properties that are in the ordinance for Project Home, none of those are occupied; they are all vacant, blighted structures and three lots. I would also like to comment, if anybody is interested, that Project Home is fully prepared to move forward with these projects, and have secured some funding already and anticipate using the Home Ownership and Repair Program from the RDA to supplement the funding for future housing developments. We have a couple of other people here from Projects Home.
Thank you very much. If you would like to add anything, please identify yourself for the record.
Good afternoon. My name is Priscilla Bennett, and I am a homeowner, a teacher, and very much involved in the community in the area that he is speaking about. 69 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 And I just want to offer my support in this acquisition. We are really strongly behind it.
My name is Chris Whaley from Project Home. We are in the Diamond Street Community Center area, Strawberry Mansion. And we are here today to ask for your support, pass whatever bills, do whatever you can do to help us to rid the crime, the drugs, the violence, the abandonment, and all the other stuff that's coming along with it because of the fact that we have streets that are 75 percent abandoned in our neighborhood. And with Project Home, you know, we are a small scale, we are not like some of the big scales that we have read about in your hearings these last days or people here. But, do you know what we are building relationships, children are learning to read, things are happening in our community that we can take care of, but the housing situation really must be addressed. We really must do something about this 70 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 abandonment. We have to, for the children's sakes, for the families' sakes. When we are talking about people moving out of the city, you know, it happens in our neighborhood, too. Once somebody starts doing better, going to the computer classes, getting their GED, going to Community College, graduating with honors, okay, do you think she is going to stay with all of this, with her children? She wants to do better for her children, as well. It is not who moves into the neighborhood, who moves out of the neighborhood. Please help us. Please pass these bills. That's all I can say. Sorry to be emotional. But I have been here for ten years, and it is just getting worse.
My name is Rose Grey. I am here today because I am very concerned that this bill will not get passed, and it needs to get passed.
The viability of our Community Development Corporation relies on this. The viability of completing our neighborhood plan relies on this. We just completed Prudara 1, 50 units of new home ownership that was sold to persons, 80 percent below median income, people making $24,000 to 60,000. We built it -- completed on May 12. They are 100 percent sold. Is there a need? There is a need for housing, for that range of people in that income group. We have a waiting list of people 17 looking forward to Prudara 2. If you look at 18 Eastern North Philadelphia, by Temple, and you look 19 at the number of vacant lots and vacant buildings 20 for this Prudara 2, it is 109 units of vacant land 21 and buildings. 22 Yes, there are 8 units that are 23 occupied. Four of those units are PHA and are in 24 very bad condition. And PHA knows it, and they are 25 trying to do their best, but they haven't gotten 72 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 around to those four units. And, unfortunately, there are four units of homeowners that may have to be relocated because of this. APM has relocated in the last years 7 over 40 families successfully. In fact, early, if 8 you recall the hearings, we had two persons that we 9 relocated for the American Street Empowerment Zone. 10 They have two new homes now in Prudara. 11 Not only do we not build the homes if 12 this bill doesn't get passed; we lose a commitment 13 from the state. The state has committed to continue putting funding into this homeownership zone because of the success of Prudara 1. That's $2.8 million leaves the city. $800,000 of federal home loan bank money leaves the city. Look at the next thing APM wants to do, the HRPs. HRPs are homes we can save. They are vacant structures in the middle of strong blocks. APM has successfully rehabbed 70 buildings in blocks that could be saved, and they are now model blocks. Not the Model Block Program, but model blocks within our community. 73 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 If I get these units here, these HRP units, under this, I get to keep that block strong. If I don't get to rehab it now, I lose a whole block. That's why we are here. We are losing blocks because we can't intervene. The cost of that project is less than $250,000. I already have the money from the state. The state awarded us $250,000 to stabilize these units. If I don't get the units, I give the money back to the state. I have also been given 250,000 from the Targeted Neighborhood Repair Program to do more of this. That's why it is essential to me. And I am sorry that -- I am very concerned about what you said about how you get these bills. But we are not political. We are just trying to do a good job in our communities. And these type of things jeopardize --
You have to understand, when we have -- and this is what I try to convey to people. 74 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 We are members of the Board of Directors of this company. It is a $3.2 billion company. And the CEO is the Mayor. No company that size would operate this way without talking to the Board of Directors in toto and getting a consensus of the Board. And what happens to us is that, we get no information, we get put up against a deadline, we get told we are going to lose money unless we act. So we put our blinders on and dive in. And I am getting increasingly tired of doing that. I am an intelligent person. I am thoughtful. I try to figure things out. I try to stay unprejudiced about issues until I am convinced one way or the other. And I am not afforded that opportunity. And it is frustrating to have six hours yesterday and two or three hours today of people telling us we are not doing the right thing, when we don't have the information to determine whether we are doing the right thing or not. And I trust your judgment, and I just Mr. Hanna and I trust Mr. Wetzel. But there is a process that need to follow, it is called 75 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 government. And we get elected to follow that process, not simply do what we are told. And we are probably going to do this stuff. But you can understand how upsetting it is and difficult it is to make important decisions about $300 million of taxpayers' funded debt when we are given nothing. So, I mean, I understand your enthusiasm. I appreciate it, and I hope everything works out. But understand from our perspective, when you are sitting here in the dark, and you are trying to figure out, you are trying to cast a vote to make a decision about important issues facing a city, and you are given short shrift, it is very frustrating.
Thank you very much. Please identify yourself for the record. MINISTER MONTEZ LaMOAN: Again, my name is Minister Montez LaMoan.
I am going to ask you one 76 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 favor. You testified twice yesterday. I want to know if you can bring new information on the table today on issues that we have discussed, because we can't just keep rehashing the same stuff. MINISTER LaMOAN: Yes, sir. This is Minister Frazier. He is going to address what wasn't addressed yesterday. I forgot to mention, I didn't get a chance to mention yesterday, not only -- we are dealing with bill number -- I'm not sure what bill 13 number.
What's the area? MINISTER LaMOAN: 33rd Street, 1900 block of 33rd Street. I also forgot to mention that I am a part of the neighborhood and community police association, volunteer police association working with -- that will be working with law enforcement in the area.
Thank you very much. MR. LaMOAN: We are already doing work with law enforcement, sort of like Town Watch. But that's a whole another thing. 77 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 Also, the properties in question that are supposed to be under acquisition, they fall under -- this association falls under crisis of National Ministries, also. This is clergy working along with law enforcement in the area. The properties are -- we have started renovations already. And we are still on a list for -- first we were on a list for demolition, now we are on a list for acquisition. People have tried to burn me out. I don't know who. Several fires. The fire department got the reports. People have tried to buy me out. I have even had a gun put to my head about a year ago, set up like a robbery -- and it was a robbery, I did get robbed, amen -- but I am still here. I am not going to give us because of somebody has money and they want to do something around that. We are trying to do something to help the community. Okay? We want to put a Christian rehab there. There are some people that's opposed to that. So, therefore, we will put something else there. 78 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 But we are going to put something there to help the community. And we are working on the properties. And we are trying to work with City Council, or elected officials, whoever, to stay where we are at to do something to help the community. But I am not getting any help. Everybody is directing me to Councilman Clarke. And I hadn't sat down and talked to Councilman Clarke yet, I have to admit that. But that's a whole other matter. But we are here in reference to that bill and in reference to the properties. And Mr. Frazier, he is one of our Board of Directors. Him and his father -- he is going to speak to you in a moment -- have already invested money in this project. So we have already put money into this project, materials, restoring this project. Why would the property be taken from us, for somebody else to do something with, when we are already doing something? So that's all I wanted to say.
Please identify yourself for the record. 79 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03
My name is Marvis Frazier, and I am here on behalf of Christ International Ministers, and Montez LaMoan. I am here as a brother in Christ, trying to help another brother. He has doing this for the last four to five years, trying to get his ministry off the ground. And myself and my father have invested in a couple of the buildings. He said one time that L & I was in the process of trying to take the building down. And, so, what we did, we gave some money to fix that. And so somehow now they are in the process of taking away a ministry, you know, that I believe to be an asset to the community. Myself and my father, we have been a part of the community for the last 38 years, trying to help youth. And Minister LaMoan asked me to come in and try to help assist. And, so, I am just trying to help him in the best way that I think I can.
Thank you very much for taking the time to come in and for your testimony. Thank you. 80 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 MR. LaMOAN: Also, I forgot to mention, there are churches in the area that are backing 4 us on this. But most of these pastors are away at a 5 convention in Virginia right now, so none of them 6 could be here to testify. 7 And they are backing us even with their 8 finances through missions. But if we are shut down, 9 there is nothing to back. 10
I want to say thank you. And we want to thank the Frazier family, certainly all that they have done for our city, for me personally. During Lu's passing, as all of you know, all the boxers in the city came together and they were pallbearers. And we are certainly thank you. And we are committed to doing what we can to assist you in every way possible.
Thank you very much. Please come forward. Please identify yourself.
Good afternoon. 81 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 Joanne Jackson from Advocate Community Development Corporation. And I want to urge the members of Council to pass the bill supporting the model cities renewal area. Like Rose Grey, I have several properties that are on this bill. None of them are occupied; three are vacant, one is a lot. If we do not get the properties, we, too, run the risk of losing funding. This is a very important project, it is across from an elementary school, and we urge you to pass it.
Thank you very much for your testimony. Anyone else to testify on any of these bills? Seeing none, the Chair will ask that the committee stand in recess until 2:00 p.m. today. We have a quorum issue, Councilmen Nutter and DiCicco are at meetings relative to government issues, and we will try to get this back into a quorum at 2 o'clock. Thank you. (Public Hearing stood in recess.)
The Finance Committee will be going into session from a recess here right 82 BILL NO. 030293 - 6/4/03 now.
May I have your attention, please. The Committee on Finance, which is scheduled right now, will be recessed until 2:30 this afternoon. (Public Hearing stood in recess.)
The Council Committee on Rules is now in session. I would just like to make one last request for any additional comment relative to any of these bills on the calendar. Does anyone else have anything to add? (Public Hearing adjourned.) - - - 83 PUBLIC MEETING COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING of the COMMITTEE ON RULES - - - WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2003 - - - Public Meeting conducted by the Committee on Rules, held in Room 696, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: BILLS 030186, 030187, 030221, 030248, 030386, 030389, 030339, 030340, 030331, 010500, 030283, 030295, 030296, 030298, 030299, 030284, 030285, 030286, 030287, 030288, 030297, 030294, 030301, 030302, 030303, 030304, 030289, 030290, 030291, 030293, 030420 - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY, Chair COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN MARION TASCO COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN - - - 84 PUBLIC MEETING
Okay. With that, we will now enter into the Public Meeting to consider the bills we have talked about over the last two days. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion on Bill No. 030186. Let it be clear that this is a blanket request for Rules suspension on all bills, unless otherwise stated, so I don't really have to go through asking for it. We will assume it is for every bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030186 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor? Bill No. 030186 reported out of this committee favorably. A request has been made for Rules suspension to allow first reading at out next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion on 030187. 85 PUBLIC MEETING
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 030187 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request for a suspension of the Rules. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor say aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030187 reported out of this committee favorably, a request being made for Rules suspension to allow first reading at our next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion to approve the amendment to Bill No. 17 030221. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the adoption of the amendment to Bill No. 030221 as previously put into the record. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are non opposed. 86 PUBLIC MEETING The amendment to Bill No. 030221 is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion on the amended bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030221 as amended be reported out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor? There are none opposed. Bill No. 030221 as amended is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request has been made for Rules suspension to allow first reading at our next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion to approve the amendment to 030248. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the amendment to Bill No. 23 030248 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. 87 PUBLIC MEETING All in favor? There are none opposed. The amendment to Bill No. 030248 is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion on the amended bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030248 as amended be reported out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All if favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030248 as amended is reported out of this Committee favorable. A request has been made for Rules suspension to allow for first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a motion to approve the amendment to Bill No. 22 030386. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the amendment to Bill No. 88 PUBLIC MEETING 030386 be approved.
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030386, the amendment is approved. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030386 as amended be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation.
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030386 as amended is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request made for Rules suspension to allow first reading at our next Council session. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco 89 PUBLIC MEETING on a motion to approve Bill No. 030389. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030389 be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation.
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030389 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter to approve the amendment to Bill No. 030339.
Mr. Chairman, I move that the amendment as circulated to Bill No. 030339 be adopted. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. 90 PUBLIC MEETING Bill No. 030339 is amended accordingly. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter for a motion on the amended bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030339 as amended be reported out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation, further recommendation that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030339 as amended is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter on a motion for 030340.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030340 be reported 91 PUBLIC MEETING out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation and a further recommendation that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session.
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030340 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter for a motion on Bill No. 030331.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030331 be reported out of this Committee a be a favorable recommendation, further recommendation that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session.
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030331 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter for a motion on Bill No. 010500 to amend that bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the amendment as circulated to Bill No. 010500 be adopted. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 010500 is amended accordingly. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter on the amended bill.
Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill No. 010500 as amended be reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a further recommendation that the Rules of Council be 93 PUBLIC MEETING suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 010500 as amended is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco on a motion for Bill No. 030283. It is a blanket request for Rules suspension. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I move that Bill 17 No. 030283 be reported out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030283 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow 94 PUBLIC MEETING first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco on a motion for Bill No. 030295. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030295 be reported out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030295 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco on Bill No. 030296. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030296 be reported out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. 95 PUBLIC MEETING There are none opposed. Bill No. 030296 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco on 030298. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030298 be reported out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030298 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco on a motion for Bill No. 030299. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030299 be reported 96 PUBLIC MEETING out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030299 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Council President Verna for a motion on Bill No. 030284.
Thank, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030284 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation, also a recommendation that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030284 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. 97 PUBLIC MEETING The Chair recognizes Council President Verna for a motion on Bill No. 030285.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030285 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation, also a recommendation that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030285 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. Before we get into the next number of bills, I would just like to make a comment and explain that I will be voting no on a number of these bills as we move forward. I would like to say for the record that I mean no disrespect or have any problem with the sponsor of the bills pushing and promoting these bills. 98 PUBLIC MEETING I said early on in the hearing that I would not be voting in favor, at least preliminarily, of any bill leaving this Committee or on the floor that has a condemnation or taking that has an occupied property. I recognize Councilman Clarke especially, along with Councilwoman Blackwell, have been working with the Redevelopment Authority and the housing people to try to better streamline this process and to make it more understandable and less contentious for people who have to undergo this situation. But until that is resolved, I would like to have my vote recorded as being no on those votes. So I will be voting no. But hopefully through the summer we can get this situation resolved. Councilman Cohen. He said that he agrees with my statement and will be voting no, accordingly, with me.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Council President Verna on a motion on 030286.
Thank you, Mr. 99 PUBLIC MEETING Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030286 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. Are we asking for a suspension?
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are two opposed, Councilmen Cohen and Kenney voting no. 12 Bill No. 030286 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session. The Chair recognizes Council President Verna for a motion on Bill No. 030287.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030287 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are two opposed, Kenney and Cohen. 100 PUBLIC MEETING Bill No. 030287 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Council President Verna on a motion on Bill No. 030288.
I move that Bill No. 9 030288 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are two opposed, Councilmen Kenney and Cohen. Bill No. 030288 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Council President Verna on a motion on Bill No. 030297.
Thank you. I move that Bill No. 030297 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.) 101 PUBLIC MEETING
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are two opposed, Cohen and Kenney. Bill No. 030297 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter on a motion on Bill No. 030294.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill No. 030294 be reported out of this Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030389 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion on Bill No. 030301.
Thank you, Mr. 102 PUBLIC MEETING Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 030301 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are two opposed, Kenney and Cohen. Bill No. 030389 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke on Bill No. 030302.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 030302 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030302 is reported out of this 103 PUBLIC MEETING Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke on 030303.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I request that Bill No. 030303 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are two opposed, Kenney and Cohen. Bill No. 030303 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke on Bill No. 030304.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 030304 be reported out of Committee be a favorable 104 PUBLIC MEETING recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030304 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke with a motion on 030289.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 030289 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030289 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. 105 PUBLIC MEETING The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke on a motion on Bill No. 030290.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 030290 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030290 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion on Bill No. 030291.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 030291 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. 106 PUBLIC MEETING All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030291 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke on a motion on Bill No. 030293.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 030293 be reported out of Committee be a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030293 is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next session of Council. Since you are on the mike anyway, Councilwoman Clark, could you make a motion to approve the amendment to 030420. 107 PUBLIC MEETING
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that the amendments be approved for Bill No. 030420. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. The amendment to Bill No. 030420 is approved. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke on the amended bill.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I make a motion that Bill No. 030420 as amended be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and seconded. All in favor, aye. There are none opposed. Bill No. 030420 as amended is reported out of this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a request was made for Rules suspension so as to allow first reading at our next 108 PUBLIC MEETING session of Council. I thank everyone for their time and patience. If there is no other business, the Committee on Rules is now adjourned. (Public Meeting adjourned.) 109 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Wednesday, June 4, 2003, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COMMITTEE ON RULES _____________________________________ DEBRA A. WHITEHEAD