The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco. Councilwoman, would you please speak into the microphone? I'm told that the people on television can't hear you.
Yeah. I just want to be clear on a couple of things here. In your first paragraph you talk about being... You have 95 full-time employees but still short of the 109 positions proposed in FY'01. But then in the next paragraph it says the department anticipates 101 of the original 109 total proposed positions to be 2758 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 filled this fiscal year.
Well, the 109 number is a number where we hit our high back in 1991. And we felt that that's the number of employees we need to operate and be able to get our work done yearly. With people leaving and retiring, we've never hit back at that number again, even though we keep asking to be back at that number. 95 is the current number, I believe. COMMISSIONER TARTAGLIONE: Yeah.
And the 101 number is an anticipated number in the near term future, with a couple funded -- couple positions funded on a temporary basis by part of the grant, grant funds for improvement of administration of elections. They are specifically geared, and their assignments will be geared towards processing provisional ballots, and then the rest of the year they will be specifically geared towards helping us try to locate and secure accessible polling places within the City of Philadelphia. 2759 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 Another requirement of HAVA is that every polling place in the City be fully accessible by January 1 of '06.
Well, they ought to come in town and find them for us.
So they'll be permanent positions under the grant program?
They would be full-time positions. I don't know whether they would be called permanent positions because they're only funded for the duration of the grant.
All of this money has to be spent no later than June 30th of '07 or it gets returned to the department.
So those few positions that we're talking there may be temporary until, hopefully, the City make pick them up.
Okay. I'd like two of them, please. I need two. (Laughter.) 2760 Operating Budget - 4/6/05
Let me just ask you another question. You talk about these... Do you remember the outside mechanics. And you said you thought with the new electronic voting machines we wouldn't need voting machine mechanics. What do they do?
We do not use outside mechanics in the normal ordinary course of business. Those outside mechanics are specifically for election day so that we can put a technician in every ward or close to one in every ward. So, the only time we use the outside mechanics is two days a year, on election day. And however, we did have to bring four in as a result of a court order last year because of them removing Ralph Nader from the ballot at the last minute, and we had to stick his name on the ballots. And that process started the day we were supposed to be shipping the machines. And it held us up for a while. So we had to 2761 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 bring in four of them. But since we've been using these machines, the only time we used outside mechanics are on election day, and that's to give us the City wide coverage of technicians. The City... We don't have enough full-time permanent employees to put a person almost one per ward in the City.
Are there any other questions or comments from members of the committee?
I would just like to say I appreciate all of the information that you give us, in terms of registration and numbers. And it's really very good to have that information when you're conducting an election. COMMISSIONER TARTAGLIONE: It's going to be eight on the ballot, eight judges for Common Pleas. It just came down from the court. One more. One more has been added.
Oh, they 2762 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 approved? COMMISSIONER TARTAGLIONE: Yeah.
Great. COMMISSIONER TARTAGLIONE: So it's eight CP and three MC.
Okay. I echo the sentiments of my colleague, Councilwoman Tasco. I truly appreciate all the information that you forward to us. It's really very helpful, not only to us but to the committee people. So, I thank all of you. It's very helpful. COMMISSIONER TARTAGLIONE: Each year it gets harder between Washington passing laws and the state passing, it gets harder and harder.
The City has been fighting the whole notion of unfunded mandates. I don't know if you all are part of the NACO, National Association of Counties. They should really be pushing the Federal government not to do that, I mean, you know, not to pass mandates, an action without providing the dollars. Because 2763 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 they'll do that. COMMISSIONER TARTAGLIONE: All right. For instance, the state stopped and now you've got to pay to send an application in, the voter registration. The state used to pay that. Now we had to pay. You've got to pay for your absentee ballot to mail an absentee ballot.
Can't be delivered any more either, can they? (Laughter.)
No hand deliveries. COMMISSIONER TARTAGLIONE: Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you all very much. All right. We will now hear from S.E.P.T.A., please.
Thank you so much for your patience. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Good afternoon, Council 2764 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 President Verna. I'm Faye Moore, General Manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, commonly referred to as S.E.P.T.A.
In the interest of time, since we have the written testimony, I just want to add a couple of things that did not make the testimony and just reemphasize just a couple points. First of all, I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak about --
Okay. Thank you for the opportunity to speak about S.E.P.T.A.'s $59.2 million fiscal year 2006 operating budget request. In the fall of 2004 S.E.P.T.A. 2765 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 formulated a contingency plan that included a combination of fare increases, service reductions and employee layoffs. I'm happy to report that as a result of the flex funding from the Governor of Pennsylvania, we do not have to implement that contingency plan. On the labor front, S.E.P.T.A. continues to meet with the T.W.U., in an effort to reach a contract agreement with our City Transit Division operators and mechanics. Acting in the spirit of cooperation, S.E.P.T.A. and the T.W.U. agreed to extend the contract from March 15th to April 15th. With the date rapidly approaching, we remained guardedly hopefully a settlement can be reached without a service interruption. As of January 31, 2005, the Affirmative Action Program for the Market Street Elevated Project had the following accomplishments: A total of 39 D.B.E. firms are participating on the project on 56 2766 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 construction subcontract agreements. The value of those agreements, $57 million. It's approximately percent of 5 the construction dollars. 11 prime 6 contractors and 43 subcontractors have 7 contributed EEO hours on the project. 8 Minority labor hours represent 28 9 percent or almost 28 percent, and residential 10 labor hours represent about 10 percent of the 11 construction hours. 12 Finally, I want to speak about a 13 recent news -- recent news stories that 14 tempted to portray the S.E.P.T.A. system as 15 unsafe. 16 Once again, our transit police reported another significant decrease in part one crimes, with 109 reports, down from 143 in 2003. This represents a percent 20 decline in crime over last year and an 21 overall decrease of 93 percent since 1969. 22 I'd like to close by taking the 23 opportunity to thank all of the transit 24 advocates and elected officials who have spoken out on behalf of public transit. 2767 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 Even in these difficult times, we are pleased with the level of effort that individuals within our service areas contributed to those efforts. I look forward to working with you, President Verna, Councilman Nutter, Chair of the Transportation and Public Utilities Committee, and other members of Council on issues of importance to Philadelphia and to S.E.P.T.A. And that will end my brief comments, and we are ready for your questions.
Fine. Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I don't know how many people are here today with regard to the Market Street El Redevelopment Project. As you know, Madam President, we asked them to come prepared to respond to some of the issues; and, in fact, earlier 2768 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 today did hand during our hearings Miss Jones a copy of our questions. So, we only have a few that they do not have. And certainly we want to thank the businesses who are here representing the retail area, South 52nd Street, north to 60th Street, and the 52, 5800, 5900, 6000 and 6100 blocks of Market Streets. Ralph Bristol, Big Ralph Beauty Salon at 5128 Market Street. If they're here, I hope they will stand and be recognized. Denise Garris, Garris Fabrics and Fashion, 44 South 60th Street. Many of them had to leave and go back to keep their businesses open for the little time they are. Robert Ellis, Ellis' Christian Hair Stylists, 19 North 60th Street. Donna Sterling, Granny's Mini Market, 6239 Market Street. Jerry Jordan, Jerry Jordan's Restaurant, 5211 Market Street. Jackie Willis, Wilcrest Products, 6011-13 Market Street. 2769 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 Walter Anderson, Andy's Auto, 5817 Market Street. Donald Perry, Stuttin Lightly, 39 North 52nd. Marvin Brewington, Marvin's Barber Shop, 44 North 60th Street. John Claude St. Germain, National Eye Glasses, 49 North 52nd Street. Kenneth Shapiro, Gar-Mor, Inc., 37 South 52nd Street. Sang R. Lee, Philly Style, North 13 60th Street. 14 Lossie Dennis, Lossie Beauty Salon, 5904 Market Street. And Cleveland English, 6128 Market Street. So, we will make this list available to the stenographer. We thank you. We thank all of those who are here who took time off from businesses. As you know, Madam President, this has been such a problem for us. We also have State Representative Thomas Blackwell, who is here, who came to support us, who's been 2770 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 supporting the businesses, and who is in the midst of setting up hearings on a state level to deal with this. Maybe my first question should be for them to again state what their budget is, City, state and Federal, and certainly what they get, not only from Philadelphia but from the counties. We know they have Montgomery, Bucks... Montgomery County, Bucks County, Delaware County, et cetera.
Good afternoon. My name is Joseph Casey. I'm the Chief Financial Officer for S.E.P.T.A. Our total operating budget is approximately $920 million for the current fiscal year. As far as subsidies, the vast majority of subsidies are received from the state. Breaking it down, I'll first start 2771 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 with local. Approximately $65 million is local subsidies. The vast majority of that is from the City of Philadelphia, approximately 81 percent. State operating is approximately $220 million. And the balance from the proposal is $31 million. Of course, we're receiving additional flex funds from the Governor which basically is federal operating subsidy.
So you're saying your total budget is some 700 --
All right. Our understanding is that 90 trolley runs have been eliminated, which amount to -- from weekend runs. Ten minutes on Saturday were the old waiting times. They're 15 or 16 minutes now. And for Sunday people had to wait 15 minutes. Now they have to wait 20 minutes, but that this amounts to 90 trolley runs that have been eliminated on weekend times. Is that correct? 2772 Operating Budget - 4/6/05
I don't have those exact numbers, but I believe that's approximately correct. Those changes were instituted, I believe, in February.
And I also understand that the members of the community were not -- that this wasn't -- this information was not released to members of the community. They heard that there would be a reduction here and there, but people were not told that all of these runs would be eliminated; is that correct?
There were no public hearings held for these service adjustments.
So, I note for the record, that that's most unfair. 90 runs eliminated, with no public hearings. And people have to have -- We have the highest fare in the nation.
So we again note that that's very, very, very unfair. 2773 Operating Budget - 4/6/05
When we go through -- This is typical when we assess the service out there, and what we found. And again, these routes were not adjusted during the week. They were primarily weekend adjustments. When we looked at it, we had a lot more service out there than we needed. A lot of the trolleys were running half to one-third empty. So, we looked at the routes. And we determined that if we increased the head-ways we can effectively provide adequate service out there, and we'd have minimum inconvenience to the riders out there. As a matter of fact, we received very few customer complaints after these adjustments were made.
Well, I don't know that that's true. And I don't know that customers did know. You know, when people don't know what you're doing... Everybody wants a S.E.P.T.A. system because people need their transportation. 2774 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 But certainly to have these cutbacks and no hearing, no notification, is absolutely unfair and unconscionable. Let me ask you specifically about the Angorra station. We're hoping that this will not be closed. As you know, we've been going through this, Miss Moore, for quite some time. And we hope that you will continue, and that the S.E.P.T.A. system will continue to work with us with regard to the Angorra station. Currently -- In fact, there's a tour tomorrow. We're partnering with Delaware County to bring reinvestment to Baltimore Pike from Lansdowne to Angorra/Cobbs Creek neighborhood. And the restoration of this Angorra station is a major factor. Do you have any information that you can give us with regard to Angorra station?
Angorra station was indeed approved by the board for elimination or termination. 2775 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 We had tried several years of marketing, and even after two years of marketing, the boardings at Angorra actually decreased, as opposed to increased. It is currently still open. We are keeping it open now in anticipation -- in the event we might need it for some alternate service. So to the degree there are some economic development initiatives that might increase that ridership, we definitely need to know about those.
Absolutely. As I said, there's a tour tomorrow through the whole area. We are partnering with those in that area. And Yeadon, Lansdowne, and those counties. So we hope that you will keep that in mind. With regard to the issues on the Market Street project, businesses -- and I read the names of those who were here -- they are still complaining about not receiving adequate notice about intersection closures. As you know, we get flyers 2776 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 sometimes; sometimes we don't. We're asking if you are advertising in local papers and in neighborhood papers -- and albeit I've been at meetings where -- where folks say notices are given out and well in advance, but in reality it's just not happening. And I say to my colleagues who are listening or who are here that this Market Street El Project, one of the myriad problems is that they open and they close. And so, as soon as businesses are used to people getting access, they close again to do more work. And then they open again. And then we keep going through this year in and year out. That's one of the issues. So we really, really... Notification becomes paramount. So we would ask you to respond to that, because we get flyers sometimes. Right now I have pretty little green flyers; but, you know, sometimes there are and sometimes they're pink, but we don't get them regularly. And we don't get them in line with the project and with the 2777 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 time line.
Frances Jones, Government Affairs. When we are given the appropriate notice and we get the appropriate notice, we make every effort, Councilwoman, to get the flyers out. And in some instances we do alert first and then, as we get more specific information, we do do flyering in the business area and in the residential area about the closures. When we do, again, if there is enough time for us, we will advertise in the local newspapers -- and we're making a greater effort to do that in the papers that do circulate in the West Philadelphia area. But we'll -- We will make a concerted effort to flyer more intensely when we have the information about the street closures.
The actual construction 2778 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 started in 1998.
So, Madam President, it started in 1998. And we still can't figure out -- S.E.P.T.A. still can't figure out how to give notification to effective people. It's just unconscionable. Having said that, PKF is a company -- we've talked about this before in Council -- that worked -- that had two contracts on the Market Street Elevated Reconstruction Project. They were fired from one that goes from Cobbs Creek to Millbourne because they were such a shoddy company, doing such terrible work in every way, how they treat people, in every way. And now we understand -- And now that there's still -- They had two contracts, one that goes from 46th Street to Cobbs Creek. We would like to know what the status of this project is, this company. And we find it unconscionable that S.E.P.T.A. would find them so horrendous that they've fired them from one part of the 2779 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 project but keep them for the other part. Madam President, as we said before, we've had to do everything from ask S.E.P.T.A. TO HAVE a company HIRE porta-toilets when workmen were urinating on lawns, to keeping trash, to not picking up trash, to not cleaning. Anything that one can imagine we've had to go through. And to say that this project began in 1998 -- and thank God we have our state rep Thomas Blackwell who I'm sorry he can't speak today. The President says we got to wait until our public hearing part. But we want everyone to know he's here, and the businesses to know that they're setting up public hearings as part of his role in the Harrisburg delegation. But I really want to hear your response with regard to PKF as a company, working and continuing to disrespect the residents and businesses in West Philadelphia.
Part of the benefits and the pleasures of receiving Federal money is a 2780 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 entire host of rules and regulations that we have to follow. The PKF enterprise did indeed have two contracts. They were bid on separately. At the point in time the second contract was awarded, we were not experiencing some of the same problems that we ultimately experienced with PKF. We saw no basis to prevent them from bidding on that contract. PKF concerns us, as it concerns everyone else. And we are continuing to pay very close attention to details about PKF. But at this point in time, the second contract does not warrant a termination of PKF.
It's unbelievable, Madam President. S.E.P.T.A. by its own admission has talked about how poorly a performance company this is, but yet they can keep them on two-thirds of a project but fire them on the other part. It's so disrespectful. It's so unconscionable that people have to live with this. And I tell you, this project started in '98. I hope I 2781 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 won't be retired by the time it's finished. When is it due to be completed?
2008 which is the original -- The original date was what, '06 or was it always '08?
2006. We're up to 2008. And I note again that in the Cobbs Creek area, no one is working, and therefore, I don't know how they keep to the same deadline when nobody's even working on the project. When will that begin again? What is the status of that contract for Cobbs Creek area?
Work on Cobbs creek continues. Part of what we had to do was, I guess what I'll call simply site protection. So we had to get an interim contractor in there. Ended up being Driscoll, where we protected the site and did certain work. We are in the middle of going out for a bid or contract for what we call an 2782 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 interim contract, and that will complete the caissons, the foundation, the utilities along that corridor.
How many businesses have received technical assistance?
Well, I'm not surprised. these businesses have been suffering since 1998. I'm not surprised that we don't know how many businesses that they are. We would like to know what kind of assistance they receive and how it was identified.
Councilwoman, the businesses have received one-on-one technical assistance, where we have -- where our mitigation and our business development consultants have gone to individual businesses door to door. In addition, probably once a quarter, there is a technical assistance 2783 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 workshop, where we bring businesses in and provide technical assistance in a group setting, based upon the area of the service or based upon whatever the business is. We try to group them according to the type of business so that -- so that there is -- so there is -- there is consistency in the information and everybody benefits from the time spent.
That sounds fine. But, you know, it would be nice to see and it have it documented so that they can know what assistance they receive and we can know. And we won't have these these kinds of questions. I mean, during various work segments residents and business owners have incurred many extra costs, due to damage from unexpected utility outages. Al Fogus (phonetic) is one company. What does S.E.P.T.A. plan to do to compensate people for utility problems that happen as a result of the work? Will you compensate these businesses in that regard 2784 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 for their utility costs? Will you compensate them for damages to their business? Will you compensate them for the cleaning costs that they have to incur? Would you respond in those three areas?
The general answer is, we cannot reimburse businesses during this stage. To the degree businesses believe that an action taken or caused by the construction efforts, they should file a claimed, and our outside insurance company will follow up.
We have a retention grant program. And we are in need of $60,000 to complete the 2005 S.E.P.T.A. business retention grant program. Will S.E.P.T.A. be able to help supplement us with these funds? I know what the answer will be, but we want to get on the record that we are always fighting for our businesses, and that when -- You know, it's not personal. And we know that you folks don't like it when we ask all these 2785 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 questions, but I don't know what you expect us to do. Madam President, they said for all of the -- they're getting ready to put big major equipment out there, to put these big pillars in the middle. We've already told there could be -- I don't know if people are going to have to be relocated, residences, as well as businesses. People have already had problems with cleanliness. They've had to hire with all kinds of problems with utility shut-offs. And we're told that they have to file a -- they have to file a claim with their company. So, no matter what happens... That they have to file claims. They can't -- That S.E.P.T.A. doesn't. How can you have a project that runs this long and not have allowances for cleaning? We even have a CDC that we've asked to try to have them hire to keep the area clean every day. Can you imagine what it's like with drilling, and the amount of dirt 2786 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 and grime and dust that people have to endure? They say, people have to file 4 claims.
Is S.E.P.T.A. coming up with a plan to address the issues that Councilwoman Blackwell has expressed?
I thought over the course of time that many of these issues were indeed addressed during many of the meetings have occurred. We made it clear that given the Federal restrictions, we cannot reimburse businesses for business interruption, for income loss and things of those nature. The only thing we can do is, to the extent the project directly damaged property or something of that nature, there are claim forms that can indeed be filed with our outside insurance company. Short of that, unfortunately, we do not have the capability to provide business interruption or continuation of income for businesses. 2787 Operating Budget - 4/6/05
Madam President, we also note that we've been having regular meetings. We had a meeting with... We had a meeting with the head of the S.E.P.T.A. board, many of the board members who are here, Jettie Newkirk and others, Congressman Brady, Congressman Fattah, Pat Deon, the State Representative, several State Representatives, several Senators. We're doing everything we can. They have likewise been appalled. In fact, Congressman Brady even called. You know, these same people who have no place to park, and people who -- and people from residents to businesses were getting ticketed regularly. Thank God, Congressman Brady made a call and tried to help us with that. We've even had problems with people getting traffic tickets. I mean, people -- You know, it's like somebody's decided to make them victims and harass them in every way. Can you imagine after going through 2788 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 all this to get tickets every day in front of your house? And you're already a business or a resident? It's just -- It's just quite unbelievable. Another issue we're asking about is businesses in the area need tax relief from business and property taxes. How can S.E.P.T.A. assist us with that? And we would like to know in general, what are you doing to advocate for business relief?
It was our understanding that someone other than S.E.P.T.A. was approaching individuals for the possibility of tax relief. We're experiencing tax problems ourselves. So it's a little hard for us to advocate tax relief. So, we don't specifically have a plan for...
It was my understanding that these were the kinds of issues that were at least being discussed and hopefully resolved in the meetings that Councilwoman Blackwell has been hosting, 2789 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 along with State Representative Dwight Evans, and Mr. Blackwell also. So, if that is not the case, then I guess I am out on left field also. But I thought these were the very issues that we were trying to address in those meetings, in that S.E.P.T.A. does not have any capacity or money to address these kinds of issues. We certainly are participating in the meetings. I cannot tell how much time I intent in S.E.P.T.A. meetings, where we go over these issues. And hopefully, with the added meetings of the State Representatives, we'll be able to get some issues, since they are, as I understand it or at least I thought I understood it, seeking some funds to address these issues with.
Let me note that we really thank Representative Dwight Evans. He's tried to help pull us together. We've contacted him as Appropriations Chair. We have had meetings, as we mentioned, with Congressman Brady and Fattah. 2790 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 We have had meetings with Representative Tommie Blackwell, Pat Deon, head of the board, other members of the board. Jettie Newkirk, you've been there. Representative Louise Williams. Our colleague, Councilman Nutter, who shares some part of it on the other side of Market Street. State Senator Tony Williams, State Representative Ron Waters. All of us have met. And we have been trying for years to get some help. And I do believe that they hear us. We also met with the representative whose name I don't remember who represents the Upper Darby area, the area from 63rd Street to Millbourne. So, we have... And we're very, very grateful to all of those who have been involved. We have met with them. And they are looking at it. And it's very, very sad that, aside from us coming up with a plan, there certainly appears to be none. Let me ask what the status of a cleaning contract is, cleaning the strip. 2791 Operating Budget - 4/6/05
As you might be aware, there was a major undertaking of cleaning, I guess within the last three weeks, where we did a one-time major heavy duty cleanup, where we actually trucked away in excess of six trucks of combination tires and baby carriages, and things of that nature. So, that was the big, heavy duty one. There is also a contract where we are doing cleaning, and that should be on my desk within the next week.
As you know, Madam President, we have continued to ask for regular cleaning. When we complain to the degree that the sky is falling, then we get a one-time cleanup. It's big like this from the beginning of this project. While that's better than not having it -- and we appreciate that -- it's just not adequate to have people wonder when they will get relief, 2792 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 and not have a regular cleaning schedule. And that is why so many people say, it wouldn't happen in other neighborhoods but it happens in ours. Has S.E.P.T.A. done evaluation, with regard to disabled riders, and how they are surviving? As you know, we have continued to complain about the area of Chestnut, Market to Arch being closed up. And when big intersections happens, and when it rains, when there are puddles, et cetera, how people who are not disabled can get across the street. And we'd like to know, have you done an evaluation survey with regard to the disabled riders who use the system?
We have an association with the A.D.A., the disabled community, where there are monthly meetings held within our -- within 1234. To date nothing has come to my attention that they have specific concerns, but I will ask specifically our para transit unit when they get back to see. 2793 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 But usually concerns, major concerns with the disabled community, bubble to my attention. And to date I have gotten no 5 complaints.
Councilwoman, we do have the circular -- the Circulator, the Route 31-S, that operates within the project area, because there were concerns expressed very early on about seniors that were unable to mount the steps at the 60th Street station. And so, that Circulator is available, is running, and is accessible to the disabled.
As you know, we have several senior citizen homes along that route, and they are a special community to us who need help. The last area that I would like to bring up to today is the area of the lots, blacktopping lots, paving lots, putting the lines there for parking, as part of our overall agreement and S.E.P.T.A.'s commitment to the residents of the City of Philadelphia. And what we would -- what we also are talking about and requesting is an 2794 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 interim strategy that deals with time frames as to what we're doing, and when -- until all of this is completed. And as you know, we've heard that you have issues, in terms of getting it done immediately, as always. There's always -- Representative, always another issue. The lots were supposed to be done. And now we're having problems with the time line and going out on bids, and all that sort of thing. So, we want to know where you are with that whole issue and your commitment for getting it done. And we will say that we have been in constant communication with our Public Property Commissioner who's working hand in hand with us, to do everything that she can in this regard.
Our commitment for parking lots continues. That has not wavered. We see the need for parking lots, and we are fully supportive of that initiative. 2795 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 I do believe we have to -- and actually interjected this morning -- our City lawyers and our S.E.P.T.A. lawyers have different interpretations of what the parking lots should look like. And we just want to make sure that everybody understands that what we're proposing will continue to be a blacktop. So when we say paving and lighting and fencing, we mean just that. But I think there are some different interpretations of what a blacktop entails. We just want to make sure that everybody understands what that means.
Blacktop meant paving. It meant -- We had this agreement. That was your commitment to the community. It meant paving and even lining the parking areas so that cars can park. We talked about fencing as well, and lighting. That commitment was on the table. We're only saying that given the -- given the fact that S.E.P.T.A. again said they needed time, that this commitment is in place until 2796 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 and before the lots are transferred. That was S.E.P.T.A.'s commitment.
The commitment continues for parking lots. It still continues to be paving, fencing and lighting. If there is something that we need to do quickly -- and it's my understanding we all in the interest of helping the neighborhood and reducing some of the confusion, it was my understanding that we wanted to move as quickly as possible. To do some of the more permanent items would indeed consume more time. So, we indeed do need some interim. And so we will send again what we have presented to the City I think the first part of March.
Thank you, Madam President. And we know this is an overall issue with the S.E.P.T.A. budget. However, as you know, a few years ago, the City Council saw fit to be involved in this issue, such that we have to approve in a line item. We have to approve their budget, not just the 2797 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 administration. So, we really always want to put on the record what is happening because, as you see, the communities -- You know, we have people, Madam President, who had many employees, who have had a hundred employees, who have had employees who are down to 9 none. 10 We've had people who have had their 11 businesses for 40 and 50 years who have had 12 to go out and get jobs. We've had people who 13 have had to close down, people who are open 14 half a day. 15 You know, it's just unbelievable 16 that people live in a City and live in this 17 country, and have to be victimized and 18 victimized by a company that says it wants to 19 help improve the community. 20 It's really, really unbelievable. 21 And I'm frightened all the time because 22 they're saying that the heavy work has not 23 yet begun. 24 And I don't know what's going to 25 happen to those residential houses or 2798 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 businesses when they pull in this major equipment that I understand is not there yet. And so much we learn just through rumor and through other people in the business who know about this kind of thing who tell us what to expect. We accept that we know that they -- this is the -- that even in Frankford they did improvement, but they didn't put a whole new system in. But that's no excuse for professionals not doing a professional job, respecting the community, respecting businesses, who have been there long before many of us were even born. It's just not fair to make people victims of, quote unquote, S.E.P.T.A. improvement. (Applause.)
The project starts at 46th and Market and goes all the way to Millbourne. So, you're talking about in 2799 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 excess of blocks. You're also talking about instead of the double column that exists there now, you're making it one column, which means you have to relocate all the foundations, the utilities, the duct banks, et cetera. So, it requires a massive undertaking to shift all those items.
Well, you have to do 16 them in stages. You have to first relocate 17 the foundations -- the utilities, the duct banks. So, that's a heavy -- a lot of underground work that had to be done. That item will be completed probably sometime this month. They're in the final stages of that one. The next thing that you have to do is the gad way, which is the... I guess the track that they all would run on. That's 2800 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 totally being replaced, and you also then have to do stations. And you have about five stations.
I'm sorry. You did say that this project started in '98?
It included design. It also included what we call the signaling system. You also have to -- I should have gone back one. So, we also have to do an automatic signaling system, so that the el can be run and the signals -- signaling done by this system. So, that was one item even ahead of the foundation work that had to get done.
Madam President, if we had it to do again, I would never recommend that this project happen; that we do repairs and refurbishing. But we would never recommend that people be victimized the way this community has been victimized by this project. 2801 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 I don't understand how -- It's terrible. People know. I don't understand how we can have so many people who plan a project, who work at a project, and professional people. We're not talking about student volunteers. We're talking about people who get paid well for all of this. And still it continues to exacerbate people who live and work and visit the community. It's really, really... It's just so unbelievable. It's overwhelming, and it's absolutely the worst project in all my years in politics that I've ever been involved in. (Applause.)
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, ladies. You described in some detail all of what will 2802 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 happen with regards to the building of this mammoth structure down Market Street, while at the same time having to deal with and reckon with budget cuts that ultimately impact services. Just briefly brief us, if you would, on what is happening with Southwest Philadelphia and the trolley -- trolley -- the number of times that a trolley runs out Southwest Philadelphia. Has that been impacted by the reductions in service that you've had to consider?
Just to make sure. Any service reductions that we propose, as what we call the contingency plan.
Yes. This would have been where we proposed a percent fare 24 increase, 20 percent service cut reduction 25 and associated layoffs. 2803 Operating Budget - 4/6/05
None of that will get done. With the Governor's flexing of funds, all of that will indeed be taken off the table. As a staff, we have to formally make that recommendation to the board, and we are proposing to do that when we run the 2006 budget operating budget.
Oh. Okay, then. All right. Well, thank you for that clarification. Thank you very much.
Thank you. If there are no other questions or comments from members of the committee... (No response.)
This will 2804 Operating Budget - 4/6/05 conclude our public hearings for today. The committee will stand in recess until Tuesday, April 12th, at 10:00 a.m. Thank you all very much. (Public hearing concluded at 5:30 p.m.) 2805 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings and evidence are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the public hearing of The Philadelphia City Council, taken on April 6, 2005, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. _____________________________ DAVID A. DEIK, RPR and Commissioner of Deeds (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)