- - - COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING - COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, March 9, 2005, 10:45 a.m. - - - OPERATING BUDGET Bill No. 050003, Bill No. 050002, Bill No. 050001, Bill No. 040789, Bill No. 040767, Bill No. 050007, Bill No. 050008, Resolution No. 050022 PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN FRANK DI CICCO COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN JUAN F. RAMOS COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 427 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 - - - P R O C E E D I N G S - - -
Good morning. I apologize to everyone for the delay. This is a continued public hearing, regarding Bill No. 050003, 050002, 050001, 040789, 040767, 050007, 050008, and Resolution Number 050022. Mr. McPherson, please call our first witness. MR. McPHERSON: City Planning Commission. I was afraid you were going to have to wait until 2 o'clock before your next meeting. Please identify yourself and proceed with your testimony.
Miss Griffith, in order to save time, we do have a copy of your testimony. We will give it to the stenographer. It will be transcribed in 428 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 full, and maybe you could simply abbreviate your testimony.
Certainly. Let me read the first, perhaps, two paragraphs which focus on funding. Good afternoon, Council President Verna and members of the City Council. I am Maxine Griffith, Executive Director of the Planning Commission, and Secretary of Strategic Planning. I want to thank you for the opportunity to present the Commission's proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2006 of $4,062,675. This budget has three components, a General Fund request for $3,294,081, a Community Development Block Grant request for $218,163, and a request for $550,431 in Federal Transportation grant funds. And I also want to thank the Council President and members of Council for accommodating our change in schedule. It's very much appreciated.
I know. I 429 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 was rather fearful that you were going to have to wait until 2 o'clock to testify.
I would have waited. And I'd also like to point out that I'm accompanied by Rich Lombardo, Deputy Executive Director, and extend apologies from Paul Nice, our Administrative Services Director. He had a funeral and could not be here today. Any questions, however, of a detailed nature that would be for him, we're happy to get back to you. Thank you, Miss Griffith. Before I go into the line of questioning on the budget, I would just like to make a statement. Council members introduce bills that are scheduled for public hearings. And the public hearings may not be scheduled for maybe a month and a half or two months after introduction. And invariably we will be told at the public hearing that City Planning has yet to consider their position on the ordinance. 430 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 My question to you is, why can't the bills upon introduction be worked on?
Be scheduled? It's my belief that we do at least attempt to schedule these bills as soon as we receive them. But I'm going to ask Rich Lombardo, who actually is the administrative officer for our public hearings, to respond as well.
Good morning. Part of it, I think -- Part of it -- I'll begin with taking the blame.
I just want it corrected because it's very embarrassing after a bill has been introduced, you know, three months or more prior to the public hearing, that City Planning has to come in and say that they don't have a position on it yet because they 431 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 have not met.
I agree with you. That is a problem. We're going to correct it. We used to meet every two weeks, and it was a matter of our own internal policy. People do not schedule bills until a hearing had been scheduled. With a two-week lead time, that did not create a problem. Normally we could come here with a commission position. With our new commission about two years ago, we started on a once-a-month basis. It hasn't caught up to all of the planners that they should schedule their bills. And, you know, that's where we're going to correct; that normally the way the bills get on our agenda is, the person responsible for working on it, when they feel they have all the information and are ready to go, they put it on our agenda. We are going to correct that, that people should put the bills on the agenda as 432 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 soon as they are made aware that they have been introduced, and not wait until a hearing's been scheduled. So hopefully we will correct that in the future. I apologize for that.
So in the future, with any public hearings that are scheduled, we will have a position of the Planning Commission.
With one small caveat. The commission themselves at the time that we take it to the commission, table it or take it off the agenda for some reason, a room full of protestants or unanswered questions, then we will -- those cases we will testify that the commission held it up or didn't -- has not reached a position on it, but normally --
Let me also add, the reason we went to once a month because it was difficult getting a quorum twice a month, especially -- 433 Operating Budget - 3/9/05
Oh, why would you say that? It's difficult getting a quorum?
I know it's odd to think that would be a problem. But sometimes we had agendas with only one or two items. It was very difficult to get a quorum. Now we get a quorum, but as Rich said, we're remiss in having the scheduling catch up to our new process.
Thank you. I'm glad to hear that that will be corrected. Miss Griffith, you mention in your testimony that you are continuing your planning efforts in support of the New River City Initiative. Can you explain what this initiative is and the support your office has given to this project? Also, what is your department's role in this initiative in the coming fiscal year?
Let me answer the last question first, if I may. The lead agency in the initiative is the Commerce 434 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 Department, and the Commerce Director is the lead manager. River City is a team initiative. As you know, this administration very much likes working by consensus and in teams. And our focus is planning and related areas of expertise, especially, though not exclusively, zoning and land use regulation. As I understand it, River City has a number of components. One is simply focusing in sort of public relations, in a marketing way, on the fact that we have these two wonderful rivers. A lot of folks don't think of Philadelphia in the context of waterfront. The other is trying to knit together in a planning way the many plans and initiatives that are already taking place along the waterfront, to make sure there are no gaps, to make sure that there's some continuity in the way we plan for the waterfront. The other is to promote appropriate development along the waterfront, and to make sure that the agencies of government work 435 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 together in a synergistic way, and think of the waterfront as something that's perhaps a little different and a little special. One of the things that we've started to do, and will be doing over the next fiscal year, is looking at the idea of special land use regulations for the waterfront. We find that whenever there's a waterfront project, there are issues that reoccur. Folks want to view the water, so we talk about view corridors. They want access to the water, et cetera. So, our development in Zoning Division, along with our Urban Design Division, is taking a look at those issues, and we hope they will be working with Council members to see whether any of that would make sense.
Excuse me. I assume the Navy Yard is part of the planning initiative?
Yes, the Navy yard is a big part of the planning initiative. We've been on the sort of advisory committee for 436 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 the Navy Yard planning. As a matter of fact, we have a zoning action this upcoming hearing, I believe, to appropriately zone a component of the Navy Yard to receive new development. So, yeah.
Thank you. You mention in your testimony that the primary responsibility of our Strategic Planning and Policy Division is the coordination and preparation of the City's Capital Budget Program. In your opinion, will the City be able to maintain its infrastructure in a prudent manner in the coming years?
With great difficulty. Certainly in this coming year my personal belief is productivity increases and new ways of working and reaching objectives will sustain the Capital Program for this year. But I think I've stated on the record previously that for the long-term other approaches really need to be brought 437 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 into place. We were involved in the right-sizing initiative that was part of the Mayor's 21st Century Planning Program, and believe that one way to approach this would be to right-size the City's infrastructure, to meet the needs of the people that are here now, because we have 1.4 million people supporting the infrastructure, capital infrastructure, for 2.2 million people. And given the dearth of capital monies, that's going to be tremendously difficult.
How is the size of the capital budget determined and who determines it?
We work very closely with the Budget Office. Our focus is the programmatic side. How one parses over the Five-Year Plan the debt-incurring capacity of the City is the purview of the Budget Department and the Finance Department. And they basically give us a number. I know there's a representative 438 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 here, if you'd like to go into that in more detail. But we're smart enough to know that the folks who really have the expertise in budget and finance and bonding are the folks that should --
Well, I still don't know how they determine the number.
Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good morning. I'm Diane Reed, Budget Director. The Capital Budget authority that we have each year is determined by formulas and some practical considerations, based on a couple of conditions. One of the things is, we take the amount available from the prior calendar year and forward that, and the --
Forward that to whom? 439 Operating Budget - 3/9/05
Let's not go around in circles. How is the size of the Capital Budget determined? And who determines it? Is it Finance? Is it Finance in conjunction with the departments? How is it done.
Well, please just tell us how you do it. How do you come to the determination?
Well, I was in the process of doing it. Part of the calculation is bringing forward the amount that's available from the prior calendar year. And from that, we must include the amount of debt that needs to be discharged, and we also need to end up with a positive number at the end of the year. We put all these numbers together, and we come up with the amount that will available for this year, because we must have 440 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 a positive remainder so that the Controller can certify a number for the next year. And that number, we cannot take it down to zero or we will have no capacity going forward. Now, one of the elements that goes into this as well is the growth in the assessed value. In fact, as we keep track of this number and have kept track of this number this year, the increase in value of assessments that has been occurring has allowed this number to bump up a bit.
I was just saying, and one of the elements that goes into this, that we wait before we actually, you know, finalize the estimate for the current year has to do with the latest number that we get from the Board of Revision of Taxes which is that ten-year average of the value of real estate. And that actually went up a bit this year from some of the earlier estimates since the beginning of the calendar year. 441 Operating Budget - 3/9/05
I know you're conferring there. Is there something else that you'd like to add? (No response.)
No? Are there any questions from members of the committee? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning. Good morning.
On your testimony, you give a mention to the... Let me just state what you said. We would also look strategically at planning oriented issues on a city-wide scale. These include working with the Fairmount Park Commission. I thought you actually mentioned the open space...
Okay. And so, I read with interest discussions about open 442 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 space in some of the parks' newsletters, because they give mention to that. So if you could share with me what that means for the City Planning Commission and how will that differ from the Philadelphia Fairmount Park Strategic Plan which has been released.
There have been for a while, under the purview of the Managing Director, an Open Space Task Force because, obviously, open space is the purview of a number of different agencies. Fairmount Park, of course.
Recreation Department. And in addition because... in part because of N.T.I., we're bringing large amounts of open space into the inventory --
And out of that 443 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 effort came a conclusion that we needed to plan better for all of that.
Not just Fairmount Park. The first component of that is planning, of course.
And the Managing Director has very graciously said that he thinks the Planning Commission should take the lead, but again, in a team way...
...in that Phase I. And we got a very small grant, we think, a $30,000 grant, to bring on a project manager to do that.
And the first phase will be first just cataloging and put on G.I.S. database what we have.
Because all of that is not in one place. 444 Operating Budget - 3/9/05
This team is then going after a larger grant, to be able to develop some standards and criteria -- That will be voluntary...
...about how we move forward and how we recommend to Council that we deal with parcels as they come into the inventory; and what it looks like when it's all done.
What happens now is, a piece of property -- Perhaps someone passes away and says, this is a beautiful piece of property. I'd like to give to it Fairmount Park.
Fairmount Park... That's their business. So, they may take it into the inventory, but they don't necessarily have a guiding or anchor document 445 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 to say, is this going to be passed? Is this going to be active?
And I would imagine a representative from the Fairmount Park Strategic Planning Committee... I mean, someone who has an intimate knowledge of the elements of the Strategic Plan are a part of this task force.
I certainly know that representatives of Fairmount Park are part of the task force --
-- and they report back. We are only now forming what will be an advisory committee for this particular effort which in a way is a little different from the task force.
The Strategic Plan, as I understand it -- and I can't say that I've committed it to memory -- but focuses a great deal on issues of operations, financing, funding. This effort will be more of a landscape design and process focus.
Yes. I would hope so, because if I remember correctly, there were recommendations on the back end of that Strategic Plan. And so, to the extent that we can, where appropriate, tie in those recommendations with the open space planning, since we were looking at the big picture, that might be useful. The angst is making sure that the Strategic Plan becomes a working document and 447 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 doesn't end up sitting on a shelf, given the amount of dollars that were invested in that.
Thank you for your testimony. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Talking about Fairmount Park, I saw on television last night that they installed the surveillance cameras in the park.
Oh. Well, they look wonderful; they really do. And I understand that that was done by a grant; is that true?
No, no. They received a 448 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 grant. I would have to find out for you from whom they received it.
That would be interesting. I'll tell you, if they're successful, I think that we are to think of installing them in a lot of other places. But I was really pleasantly surprised to see the installation of the surveillance cameras. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. We want to say congratulations again on the National Planning Award.
That's very important, and it's important to your department. It's certainly important to our City. And you make us all look great. We thank you. Let me ask you, in terms of the Center City parking studies... You know, how 449 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 long do you think that will be, and what will the scope be there?
Well, we hope there are going to be two phases. The phases under way now will be completed in June, and that is a Center City study that will focus on policy and policy recommendations. But in addition, because of everything that's happening on the Parkway now, not only the new institutions coming on but also existing institutions expanding, such as the Art Museum, it was felt that we needed to take a more focused look at the Parkway and environs, the communities adjoining the Parkway, et cetera. Our Strategic Planning and Policy Division has put together a proposal which, through the good offices of the Commerce Director we hope will be funded very soon. If that happens, then the policy work that comes out of the existing study will be connected to this more focused study on the Museum Mile, as the Mayor likes to call it, for specific recommendations. And 450 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 hopefully some of those recommendations will also be useful for other parts of Center City.
Councilwoman, if I could just piggyback on that, please.
We were talking about the expansion of the Library. There was mention made about underground parking. How could we move forward on that project? Without knowing what it's going to cost for the parking, is it feasible? Have you checked into all of that?
No. I can share some things with you, and then perhaps the Budget Director also has some input. I do know there's great interest on the part of the architects of the Library in beginning a dialogue with the folks that will be hired for the Barnes, to see whether there might be some cooperation that can happen, 451 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 with regard to parking. And I also know that the parking study that I spoke about, the Parkway Parking Study, will include recommendations for that component of the Parkway. I was on the advisory committee for the architect selection on behalf of the Mayor. And this first phase, the building itself, was the only scope of work for the architect at that time. So, it's my understanding that the funding and financing is primarily connected to the expansion of the Library. And I will... We may need to get back to you for more specifics in writing. I'm looking at the Budget Director. And I think we probably need others here to respond more fully.
I just don't know how we proceed with the expansion without knowing about the parking issues and the costs related because I don't know who's going to pay for that because we were told that each parking slot would cost 452 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 approximately $40,000. Councilwoman Blackwell, I thank you for your time.
Oh, certainly, Madam President. Just a couple more questions. I notice that you have grants dealing with transportation and studies dealing therein. We wondered if you're able to get any more T.C.D.I. funds, if you would consider our area where we're having all the Market Street elevated problems, in terms of transportation, how it's affected. So we were wondering in the future if something like that comes up, you'd consider helping us out a little bit in that area.
Absolutely. And let me say also, Councilwoman, that I've already had a conversation with Deputy Director Traylor at his request...
...even without additional money, to see how we can be 453 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 helpful. And Victoria Mason and her staff, along with the Office of Strategic Planning, has already started it, again, at Mjenzi's request, to think through some of these issues. Money is always helpful, but even without additional funding we stand ready to help. We certainly understand the impact that this project is foisting on this community.
Thank you. When we have various... Before various areas are funded, so I know, for example, we'll have the Community Development Block Grant hearings through the Finance Committee. And is it not true that the City Planning Commission pretty much gives a blessing on a project, and that all the other departments have... they all give input to you when things are ready for disposition or to be dealt with or no? Or does it depend on the project? 454 Operating Budget - 3/9/05
You're talking about block grant -- projects funded by block grants in general?
No. The City's Housing Office and Secretary of Housing, Community Development are the leads on block grant projects, depending on the project. Certainly if there's a plan for the area, that plan is taken into consideration. We are often consulted on funding possibilities, but we are not the lead, and there's no -- there's no formal link between the plan and implementation of the plan.
I asked that question because we were dealing with -- In fact, it was in the Lucien Blackwell Homes. A few weeks ago we were dealing with some aspect of some properties. And so, since we're kind of watching over it, we were told there was an issue at that time with trees, and that there were two trees needed that weren't funded. It was some other City departments. 455 Operating Budget - 3/9/05
Let me confer with my Director of Community Planning to see whether --
It's all right. We got it resolved. I was just curious for the future to make sure that I'm operating in the way I should, in terms of how we coordinate with our City departments. Thank you, Madam President. I can come back. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. Good morning. The traffic study plan, is that just for the area along the Parkway west of City Hall?
You mean the one 456 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 that's not funded at this point. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Right.
That is... I don't have the boundaries in my head, but the focus is the Parkway and the communities adjacent to the Parkway. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Is there a plan to look at parking in general in Center City, with the possibility -- taking into consideration the possibility of Convention Center expansion and possibility of a slot parlor or two?
Well, there is an ongoing study that is funded, the one that we hope will be completed in June, that is a Center City wide study. The difference is... I'm trying to think of something that might illustrate it. That study focuses on policy. For instance, one of the things we're looking at in that study is remote parking, parking on the edges of Center City, with some kind of shuttle system, et cetera. It wouldn't say this is where it 457 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 should be, and it should be this color, and et cetera, but it would perhaps indicate where, in a policy way, that would make sense. The follow-on study will be more specific, in terms of sites and more specific, in terms of recommendations, with regard to this should go here, we think that should go there. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Well, this should go here, that go there, in relationship to the possibility that a Convention Center expansion were to take place.
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And a possible casino parlor as well.
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And so, you would say if these things occur --
Yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: -- Convention center, slot parlor, we would need additional parking, and these are certain sites or areas 458 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 where we would either have to create parking or enhance the existing parking?
If I hesitate on the slot parlor issue, it's only because I'm somewhat bound by the fact that I'm now a co-chair of this task force, and it is an independent task force. So, in a way we would be -- I would be guided by the Mayor in this regard, and he would be guided by the way the task force wants to approach it. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: These are all possibilities. I mean, I think for the most part the safer bet -- no pun intended -- is that we will get Convention Center expansion. The not so safe bet is to say we're going to have a slot parlor in Center City, because it's all up in the air.
That was my only point, Councilman. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Right. Okay. Thank you. No further questions.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly. 459 Operating Budget - 3/9/05
I just wanted to get an update here or just... I'm very curious about how much revenue was generated by your charging for mapping services. Just curious about that.
I'll have to get back to you. I mentioned earlier that our Administrative Services Director, and the person who I thank in my testimony for organizing that program, could not be here. He had a family emergency at the last minute.
I just wanted to know if it was profitable, after deducting, of course, all the expenses for that program.
It is not what we would have... I can tell you conceptually, it is not what we would have hoped because the original projections were based on everyone who got a map for free paying for one. I guess common sense should have 460 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 told us that everyone who gets a map for free is not going to give us a check for $75 for that map. However, because we have such a constrained budget, and a relatively small budget, and because we have been in situations in the past where we have run out of toner, and $100 would have gotten us through for a week or two, even the small amount that we're getting is very useful for us. And I should also say that we did this in response to a city-wide call, really a mandate, because of the scarce resources in general, for all agencies to try to generate some funds.
I should add that we did a little bit of a survey, informal survey, of our sister agencies and other 461 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 areas in the city. And this is not uncommon. As a matter of fact -- and I'm not saying we're going to do this -- New York City even charges for reports, just a minimal amount, two or three dollars, but they charge the cost of duplication indication.
Yeah. I believe the Police Department also charges for their reports. I want to follow up on something that our Council President has alluded to, and that was the development of the New River City Initiative. Is there any time frame? Is there any time frame that this is going to be presented to Council, as far as development of the River City? And it's going to be done in parts? Are we going to receive an overview of exactly what the development is going to consist of?
I would really have to confer with the Commerce Director on that.
The Commerce 462 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 Director? You mentioned that. That's very, very important to, I think, all of us here on Council, to really get involved in that.
I mean, of course, we have presented components of this. The North Delaware Riverfront Plan was presented sometime ago. Certainly the Navy Yard Plan was presented. But if you're talking about a presentation that would knit these together, I should say Rich Lombardo gave a brilliant presentation at the Economic Development Summit, that sort of conceptualized how we're going to do this. But in terms of formal presentation, it would be the Commerce Director that would lead us.
You have no idea when that presentation would be made? It would come from the Commerce Director?
I wouldn't say -- I might have some recommendations, but it probably would be more appropriate for me to 463 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 give those recommendation to her directly.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo for a point of information.
Have we tried to market this mapping to outside the government? Have we tried to go to the utility companies, P.E.C.O. Energy, P.G.W., that would spend a significant amount of money on needing to know that kind of information? Have we tried to market that?
Rich is trying to whisper something to me. So, why don't I ask him to...
I understand everybody in this administration is allowed to talk, so...
Don't talk, Rich; 464 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 don't talk.
The next step is the outreach. We also have the ability with G.I.S. to map data.
And we know that there is a market out there. Simply a retailer says he wants to know what the disposable income is within a quarter mile of this corner.
We're going to reach out to that sector and say, we also can map this data, give you maps, give you charts, give you graphs that you can use. And I think we will be able to, you know, capture part of that market because we have that data.
That's terrific. That's good because they're buying that service from someplace else.
That's right. And 465 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 it's probably not as accurate as what we have.
I understand. I would hope so. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning, Miss Griffith.
Can you tell me a little bit more about this transportation and community development 466 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 initiative, and maybe to project an outcome. Does this have anything to do that... I've heard in other cities people have really done great economic development and retail development around existing transit terminals. Because when you're looking at Wayne Junction, that's...
There's sort of two answers to that. T.C.D.I. grants, that's a specific program that comes out of D.V.R.P.C., the Regional Planning Commission. We... I represent the Mayor on that commission, and we broadly circulate the R.F.P. when it arrives. Agencies make application, according to the specifics of the R.F.P., and hopefully -- And in this case three agencies did get funding. However, the focus on transit oriented development or transit hub development is one that we're committed to across the board, not only with regard to T.C.D.I. grants, but our Strategic Planning 467 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 and Policy Division is very much focused on that. As a matter of fact, if you were to read... review our Phila-shops document -- And I think that might even be online now -- you will see that a whole chapter is focused on this idea of transit oriented design and development, and how you capture the buying power of folks as they come and go from work. So we'd be happy to... If you have some specific areas you'd like us to focus on, we'd be happy to do that. The staff would be eager, as a matter of fact.
Okay. Well, there has been some discussion. I know that Commerce has been a part of the discussion. And I'm not sure whether City Planning has... On 22nd Street we're doing development in Tioga that moves up 22nd and then ties in the Budd site up on Hunting Park. And in your testimony you actually note Lower Germantown. And I'm assuming that's -- Of course, you mention Wayne 468 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 Junction. We have a lot of R.D.A. properties, vacant lots and what-not.
All right. Okay. So I would be happy to get further information. We have people that are interested in development in those areas. And we certainly wouldn't want to do anything that would not be able to enhance and tie in this whole transportation hub. So, I'd like to meet with someone further about that.
Absolutely. That's one of the reasons that support for S.E.P.T.A. is so important. There's cities all around the country that would die to have the kind of transit infrastructure that we have, as an economic development spur. So, we'd be happy to continue working with you on that.
Okay. One other question. In your Community Planning Division... And this is actually -- I was 469 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 going to call and ask you about this, but since you're here, I might have as well ask you today. I think what we need or what I need as a Council member is someone to help us put together a whole district plan that can also be somewhat regional. For example, Councilwoman Tasco and I share boundaries, you know. She's one side of the street; I'm the other. So if we look at what we're doing in a regional point of view, then we can create a vision for development, future development or present development, that would enhance the needs of both districts. So, we really need that kind of help.
I think that would be a good idea. What I might suggest is that we get together and perhaps try to get some funding to be able to do that. You know, I don't have to tell you, Councilwoman, that we have relatively small staff, and a large work program. 470 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 But we've been very successful in the past in -- especially when we have these sort of targeted initiatives, getting funding, as with the Parking Study, as with the Community Heritage Study that we did some time ago. And we actually have someone on board now who's -- We sent her to a one-day course at Penn and who's focused on actually getting funding, and from an array of sources, not just the usual suspects. So, be happy to work with you on that.
You're welcome. Again the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
What is the 471 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 time line for the completion of the new Zoning Code? Has that been asked?
Well, as we say in the testimony, we're doing it in phases. What we hope to do this coming year is focus on -- And actually, we have... Why am I talking when we have the guy who's actually doing it here? I'm going to ask Tom Chapman, who's Director of our Development and Zoning Division, to be more specific.
Good morning, Madam President and members of the committee. Good morning, Councilwoman Tasco.
Good morning. You have to identify yourself for the record.
Thomas Chapman, Director of Development Planning for the City Planning Commission. Thank you. Councilwoman, this year we have... I have a number of drafts of ordinances right now that we're in the process of kind of doting i's and crossing t's that would amend a number of provisions of the Zoning Code. 472 Operating Budget - 3/9/05 It would -- They would eliminate a number of districts that we don't map any more, that we haven't used. Another bill would put a new definitions section in the Code. And there are a couple other bills that we're working on that would deal with some provisions of the Code in various sections, that do nothing more than prevent people from getting permits, permits they should otherwise be able to get. And also, as we move forward this year, we are going to be focusing on the commercial districts in our Zoning Code. I'm sure that you know that's an area where... You know, we're dealing with Code provisions that are 40-something years old at this point. And it's something that we want to try to deal with in this coming year.
Now, you have a Zoning Code Revision Committee, right?
Is this group having input into the ordinances that you have drawn?
I thought there was a committee put together to address the issue of looking at zoning changes city wide. Is there -- Isn't there a Zoning Code Committee? I thought you all put that together.