I'm going to be brutally honest. Oh, boy, I'm going to regret this.
Every single airport in this country runs its own parking operation; we're the only ones who don't. Parking is a matter of airport policy, and we cannot implement policy because I cannot influence the Parking Authority into doing some very basic things. Number one is lowering the price of short-term parking to create situations where people can find parking spaces, and sticking the price way up on business people who use the short-term parking for very long term is used all over the country -- this is not reinventing the 2087 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 wheel. I've heard the criticism that we can't run parking lots. I can guarantee you that we can run parking lot parking lots better.
Mr. Testa, did you hear about Parking Authority?
Mr. Testa, why don't you repeat what you said, please.
I'm afraid that it's going to be very (inaudible). Airports all around the country control their own parking. It's a matter of policy. We're the only airport in the country that has an outside agency that has absolutely no expertise in airports to allow them to operate the parking. They have this big empty parking lot right now that they were going to start -- oh, I 2088 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 should shut up -- they were going to start valet parking in August, September, October, November, January, February, March, and we were paying for all buses they bought and all this refurbishing of the parking lot, and they still haven't opened up the valet parking lot. Every airport in this country, from large to small, from a small airport like Manchester like, to a very large airport -- like the New York Port Authority has three airports. Baltimore has a huge parking area. Airports operate their own parking because we can make policy. One of the things I've suggested for almost a year now is, let's lower the price of the short-term parking for grandma and grandpa, mom and dad, who come to the airport, to pay no more than a buck an hour for the first two hours. The business person who sits and uses the parking lot in the short term should be paying $50 a day if he wants to leave that car in overnight. That way, you leave open spaces for those who truly need the short-term access to the parking lot. I can't get them to change policy 2089 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 because I don't have the ability to make them change policy. If I were in a wishing -- if I had a crystal ball and a wishing well and I would rub the belly and have my druthers, I would take back the parking to the Airport where it belongs. It's truly needed.
And, Mr. Testa, you're telling me that we're the only large --
That concerns me because I've heard this complaint that there's very little cooperation between the Parking Authority and the management of the Airport.
There's no animosity. I like most of those people who operate it. We just have a different focus on philosophy.
But the point is, you know the needs of your passengers better than 2090 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 the Parking Authority.
The number-one complaint letter that comes in to me has to do with parking, the lowest approval rating we get on the comment cards has to do with parking. That will give you enough.
Thank you. I'm hoping that the Members of this Council --
We pay off their bonds, we pay all the administration, we pay the operation, we pay the private operator, we pay everything.
Excuse me, Mr. Testa. Councilman? Councilman Cohen, can you hear what is being said? I see you're trying to strain. Can you hear what Mr. Testa is saying?
Mr. Testa, you're going to have to speak into the microphone and --
This is the first time I've 2091 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 been in front of the Council.
Thank you. I have one final question. This is for the Commerce Department. Could you explain, the City Representative and Director of Commerce, the fact that there's been a decrease, a decrease in the purchase of services by $44 million. How do you explain a $44 million decrease for the purchase of services and a decrease of purchase in services for Economic Stimulus of 2 -- of a little over $2 million? That's the Commerce Department.
Yeah, I'm responding. I actually believe I answered the question. It was answered in a slightly different way by Councilwoman Tasco. I believe you were out of the chamber at the time. What it reflects is that last fiscal year -- I guess, actually, the fiscal year we're in -- there was approximately $40 million provided to the General Fund in appropriation for Stimulus. And in the proposed budget that's 2092 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 before you, there's million in appropriation; and hence, the decrease in appropriation under the Stimulus Program, which, I believe, is the decrease in purchase of goods and services.
Okay. That's better. Sorry I wasn't here when you said it the first time, Bill. Thank you Madam, Chair.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Mr. Testa, relative to the -- going back to the parking lot, the revenue generated from the parking lot, would that go into the General Fund or would that go into the Aviation Fund?
It goes into the Aviation Fund now. All revenue generated by the Airport must be used on the Airport for the capital and operating needs of the Airport by federal law.
Thank you. Are there any other questions from members of the committee? (No further questions.)
The Civic Center is next. (Civic Center witnesses come forward.)
Good evening. Please identify yourself for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Madam President, members of the committee, I'm James Coleman, Deputy Managing Director and also the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Civic Center, which is, as you know from previous testimony, on the way out of business. There have been no events at the Civic Center for well over two years, about two years. The middle portions of the five buildings are beginning the process of going to be demolished. The only activity that's taking place at the Civic Center at the current time is it being used as a 2094 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 sound stage by various phone companies brought to Philadelphia by the Film Office.
How many times has the sound stage been used in the last two years or in the last year?
In the last two years, three times. For the Film "Beloved," for the film "Sixth Sense," and is currently being used for a film that's in preparation and going into production that's tentatively entitled "Unbreakable."
I didn't mean to interrupt you. Please continue.
That's really all I have to say by introductory remarks. The budget request for the current year is $294,235. This represents an increase of $3,354 roughly, 1.14 percent, over the Fiscal Year 2000 estimated obligations. The increase is all in personnel costs, Class 100 -- $347 in earned increments, $372 in longevity increases for contractually-required wage increases, and $451 for additional overtime to correspond with those other increases. This request is actually $1,076, 2095 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 or 0.36 percent, under the Fiscal Year 2000 appropriation. I have no further formal remarks and would be happy to take any questions.
I'm just curious as to how many employees we still have at the Civic Center.
We have an alarm system, but tenants in the building have to provide their own security.
Thank you. Are there any questions from members of the committee? (No questions.)
The next and final group is the Mayor's Office of Community Services. (Mayor's Office of Community Services 2096 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 witnesses come forward.)
Good evening. President Verna and Members of City Council, I am Gail Greene, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of Community Services, and I'm here to testify on behalf of the agency. MOCS hereby requests appropriation authorization for $41,542,319. $40,396,434 to come from the Grants Revenue Fund and $1,145,885 from the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2001. This authorization level will accommodate anticipated grants revenue from the federal and state governments as well as local agencies specifically earmarked for MOCS to provide quality services and assisting low-income Philadelphians to achieve self-sufficiency. In 1964, Congress passed the Economic Opportunity Act. Consequently, in 1965, the Community Action Agency of Philadelphia was established. The Mayor's Office of Community Services offers a broad menu of referral and 2097 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 direct services to individuals who are considered economically disadvantaged. Supported by a wide range of funding sources, our main funders are the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the Community Services Block Grant, United States Department of Health and Human Services for Title XX Block Grants for the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone, and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for Communities That Care. Most of MOCS's operating funds is derived from the Community Services Block Grant. With these dollars, some programs operated by MOCS include: The Family Development Center, which provides intensive case-management services to families who are at risk for homelessness, child abuse, or neglect, welfare sanctions and community isolation. The Family Development Center, located in South Philadelphia, offers workshops and training in budgeting and home management, job readiness, parenting, abuse prevention, nutrition, self-esteem building, and other subjects. In program year 1999, the Center served 100 2098 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 families. These 100 families moved to stability in one or more dimensions of MOCS case-management matrix. We also run the Frankford Family Development Center, which opened in March of 1999 and provides intensive case-management services to at-risk families in the Frankford section of the City. The Center also functions to leverage community resources to advocate for children and families. The Frankford Family Development Center's mission is to help the family become self-sufficient by providing training, counseling, and emergency support. " It's located in the OIC building, at 1231 North Broad Street. It is a comprehensive program designed to address problems that have prevented TANF recipients from obtaining employment. Services include life skills, training, job development, and job placement. Workwise participants are referred by Philadelphia County Assistance Office. 8 million for the current year that we're operating in. Another welfare-to-work initiative is our Workforce Solutions 2000, which provides TANF recipients with skills assessment, intensive case-management support, life skills development, basic office technology training, job search skills information, and employment retention services. MOCS also provides administrative services to the federally funded Empowerment Zone. The three neighborhoods that constitute Philadelphia's Empowerment Zone are the American Street Corridor, North Central Philadelphia, and sections of West Philadelphia are witnessing tangible improvement. Community and economic development partnerships among residents, City agencies, and community-based organizations have brought about significant change in these communities. The Empowerment Zone promotes economic development in these once-industry-rich neighborhoods. The worst brown field is the (unintelligible) the former site of Sovereign Oil, 2100 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 has been cleaned, and a new 60,000 square foot food distribution center built on the site.
These impressive efforts will continue in Fiscal Year 2001. The Communities That Care Program supports the implementation of anti-crime and public safety strategies in the Empowerment Zone. MOCS also continues its tradition of engaging graffiti offenders and community service and positive career development opportunities. MOCS established the Urban Artscape Program to work with youth and young adults who have been adjudicated for graffiti and other property crimes. In Fiscal Year 2000, at least 100 youths referred by the graffiti courts, (unintelligible), the School District, and SEPTA will be involved in supervised community services programs. In addition, Urban Artscape introduces participants to new and more productive forms of self- expression. President Verna and Members of City Council, this concludes my Fiscal Year 2000 testimony. I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have at this time.
Thank you. 2101 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Madam President, I've never been first, so I wasn't ready. Now, I know that was the Mayor's Office of Communications Office. Are we open for questions on everyone at the table?
Yes. Jane Golden and Tom Conway have testimony on the different components of the Graffiti Program.
Great, okay. I heard the tail-end of your testimony as I was walking back in the room, and thought I heard you talk about graffiti offenders and your work with them.
And is that also a part of -- one of the original components of the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network from many years ago is that it worked with adjudicated youth.
Yes, and we've named it "The Urban Artscape Program." 2102 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00
Okay, all right, very good. I want to talk a little bit about the Mural Arts Program and a little bit about the Anti-Graffiti Campaign for the Anti-Graffiti Abatement Program. Miss Goldman, in the FY '01 budget, your testimony is that you plan to again paint 133 murals, restore 10, offer 6,000 hours of art workshops, a combination of public and private funding. What does that translate into in terms of the number of young people that you work with? How many workshop sites are there? How well spread are they around the City? Can you give me a sense of the actual guts and components of the Mural Arts Program?
Yes. My name is Jane Golden, and I'm the Artistic Director of the Philadelphia Department of Recreation's Mural Arts Program. I would first speak about Fiscal 2000, and we have currently 11 privately-funded programs that are primarily in North Philadelphia and the Kensington area, due to the fact that that's where 2103 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 the funders wanted us to concentrate our energies. And we're also helping to supervise eight after-school programs held by the Department of Recreation. The after-school programs are basic drawing and painting. The 7 privately-funded programs are comprehensive 8 programs in mural history and technique. 9 I would say that all in all, we impact 10 about 4 to 500 young people. 11
That's in FY 2000. Now, what we're hoping to do is raise some additional private funds to expand our workshops, 'cause I think we've designed a really strong curriculum, and we would like to offer it in other parts of the City. And we're also going to begin working on a plan for the allocation of additional funds for after-school programming in general so that we can try to service the needs of more kids in the City.
That's public and private 2104 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 funds, correct.
Right, 500,000 of which is private funds, which, with my handy-dandy PECO Energy dual energy solar calculator, it seems to come out to 57 percent of your budget actually you raised privately?
And what is the plan going forward as it relates to the increased after-school funding that we've heard about on a couple of occasions during the course of the budget hearings? How will that impact either your program or in general the Department of Recreation?
Well, we have submitted a proposal for additional after-school programming, and we have it figured out to -- it's about $530 a child. And with that amount, we can offer 30 weeks of programming in the history and technique of mural-making. So it's a comprehensive program. And so if we -- and the proposal we submitted was for 266,000, and we could serve an additional 5 to 600 kids at 30 to 40 sites, and that's over the original 400 kids. So we're 2105 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 looking at between 800 and 1,000 young people could be impacted in the City of Philadelphia if we were able to do that program.
Now, you say you submitted a proposal. Are you talking about for private or for City funding?
That's City funding, but at the same time, we're very vigilant in our pursuit of private funding in order to expand our after-school programs.
Okay. The $266,000 gets you 5 to 600 additional children. How many workshops is that?
Well, that's at about 30 sites around the City, so that way, we can create an equitable distribution of where the programs are located. It's very similar to how we look at the murals now. We try to make sure that the murals are in every part of the City, and I would like to -- it is a goal of ours to do the same with our Art Education Programs.
Okay. Did I see earlier. . . may I have Director Richman for a second? 2106 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00
Good evening, Director. I think you and I may have had a little bit of this discussion a while ago, but it wasn't in the completely proper form, but I think now is the completely proper form. We're having a discussion about possible expansion based on after-school funding, additional funding for after-school programs and how it might affect the Mural Arts Program. I'm just a bit supportive of the Mural Arts Program. I've been wanting to see if we've figured out how the funds are going to flow and who's going to get what and how we can make sure that as a part of the macro effort on after-school programs, that this particular program gets some of that funding. Do you have a sense of how that's going to happen?
This is Estelle Richman, Director of Social Services. Jane did submit to me the proposal for providing more service for after-school programs and using those dollars. It's actually an 2107 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 excellent proposal. It also probably serves the highest number of children in the after-school format per cost that I have seen so far. We're just getting into how we're going to use those dollars. Right now, they're spread between the Library Program and the Recreation Program. I would see this as a primary candidate for after-school programming. As we get into that, that proposal will obviously be one of key ones that we look at. Some of the issues that are involved in this are beginning to look at how many youngsters do we want to use dollars for the summer program versus what we want for after-school programs and where those programs should lie. The proposal that Jane had given me also looks at some of summer programming as well as after-school programming. So that it, again, covers the entire year. So I'm not sure that things are mutually exclusive, and that we can accomplish some of the activities for the summer as well as a fairly extensive program for altogether close to 1,000 kids for the amount of money she's asking 2108 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 for. So it's very reasonable.
Now, where is the -- what's the total dollar amount on the increased funding for the after-school programs? I know it's been bandied about that there's a tripling of funding. I think it's going to $4.8 million from 1.-some-odd million dollars.
It's close to tripling. There was originally 1.4. I'm not sure quite sure what the total is you.
You've been hanging out, okay. I'm sorry, it's going from what to what?
It's going to 4.3 million, so it's about 1.4, 1.5, something like that.
You mean in the 2001 budget? 2109 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00
We're doing funding in Recreation and in the Free Library, and there's a small piece that's in DHS. It was in the Children and Families Cabinet.
Can you, similar to the discussion we had, it seems like so long ago, about breaking out in the Sinking Fund Commission, when I asked you to give a detailed listing of where all the dollars are for the debt service on the Blight Removal Program, could you give us on one sheet a detail that adds up to the $4.3 million and where it is by budget category and by department?
Okay. Now, if there's a proposal in, and Director Richman is looking at it and evaluating it alongside of, I'm sure, a whole host of other proposals, if the money potentially for this, I guess, as I understand tonight's testimony, is Recreation already has X-amount of additional dollars for after-school programs; is that's correct?
And any after-school programs to be funded that are related to the Recreation department get funded out of that pot of dollars; is that correct?
And then there's a question also about what class the money's in.
Well, it's spread between classes, so we'll show you that in the breakout.
But given the fact that the dollars are already at least in the department where they need to be might be, and there might be a class issue, which, you may need to do something with us, you might be able to move something around, is it your testimony here tonight that, at least with regard to the departments that are under the jurisdiction of Director Richman, the decision on who gets funded and how they get funded is pretty much at that level? I mean, this is now not necessarily a 2111 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 Budget Office issue because you've already put the money in a particular place. How do those decisions get made?
At this point, one of the things we're going to do is look at established standards and then begin to sort out who gets what money. The only little bit awkward in this is that the bulk of the money is actually in the Library budget, and I will then be working with the folks at the Free Library to determine both the standards and how the dollars get spent. So we need to see this over three budgets, not just in one.
Well, for the '01 budget, I mean, the money needs to be in the right place in order for you to do what you plan to do for the summer of 2000.
Right. If we come up with standards through the Commission, and again, we are establishing and hope to announce soon the members of the Children's Commission, determine that the money may not be, quote, in the right budget or in the right class, then we would go back to the Budget Bureau to say we need this 2112 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 money for a transfer ordinance change from this place to other place or from one class to another class.
But are you then saying here tonight that if you do run into that problem, you're not then going to find yourself at a point of not being able to spend what you need to spend for the summer of 2000 because you have dollars in wrong classes and you're seeking -- I mean, the transfer ordinance wouldn't come to us until, at best, in the fall, and more than likely -- I mean, the FY 2000 transfer ordinance came in with the rest of the budget message on February 3rd.
Well, I -- we could actually bring you an FY 2001 transfer ordinance 18 before FY 2001 started.
We could bring it to you in the session so we could get it straightened out so that by July, we would have authority, authorization in the right places.
Okay, all right. That's really where I wanted to be. I wanted to 2113 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 make sure, whether during the course of these hearings, I mean, if somehow miraculously you're able figure it out, or before we get out of the fiscal year, that the proper funds are where you need them to be, that you've made decisions about the spending, and that we don't have to worry, going into the summer of 2000, that there is a money problem because at the end of the day, there's not supposed to be a money problem, and then we end up with fights with the Budget Office or, you know, Council didn't take some action on a transfer ordinance and, therefore, we don't have the dollars in the right place.
Yeah, that's important to us too so we'll make sure that happens.
Because this will involve hiring people and recruiting kids, most of that will have to be done well before July 1st if we're actually going to have active programs that meet the needs of the community.
Right, because, I think it was last year or whenever Bill Carapucci testified, when we hired the 46 people, based on timing, interviews, getting them in the shop, many 2114 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 of those folks didn't actually start working until the fall of that year, and we lost them for a couple months for the summer. I think we don't want to have that happen this year.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. Ms. Director, Madam Director, can we also work with the Mural Arts Program so that they have a dedicated space? She came to my area and we're looking for houses and some space that a rec center's not using, and it's for such a wonderful program. It's just ridiculous how we've treated that treated.
I have been made very aware of their need for additional space, and we'll also work -- obviously, if we're going to 2115 OPERATING BUDGET - BILL 05 - 2/23/00 expand the program and hire the folks to be able to make this a better program and a larger program, we will be dedicated to finding the appropriate space; it's not just larger space. As Jane has told me, it's work space, where they can spread out a little and they can do many of the new things they want to do. So we will be -- I think she already has her eye looking out for additional space and appropriate workshops.
Thank you. Are there any other questions from members of the committee? (No further questions.)
Hearing none, we're going to call it a day. Thank you all very much. This committee will stand in recess until Monday, February 28, 2000, at 9:00 a.m. Thank you all very much. (Adjourned at 6:23 p.m.) 2116 C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Wednesday, February 23, 2000, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE BILL NO. 000005 __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter