Mr. President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 120159 is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 160.
A resolution authorizing Council's Committees on Public Safety and Public Property and Public Works to investigate and hold hearings on the current state of the effectiveness of facilities and equipment used by the Philadelphia Police Department and Philadelphia Fire Department along with the design, location, funding and timetable for new facilities and equipment.
The DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilmember Oh again.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
I'd like to be recognized on the resolution when it's appropriate.
Thank you, Mr. President. com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING District Attorney is here -- the Legislature passed House Bills 4, 5, 6 and 7. The combination of those reforms helped protect society by encouraging prisoners to take necessary steps for rehabilitation while in prison, but also had greater -- which provided greater opportunities for success in the outside world. What we successfully did is mandate that a person who is sentenced to two years or more but less than five years shall serve that time in the state correctional facility. The maximum term of imprisonment is calculated, and we provided that all those sentences would be aggregated. It required that the court provide for video conferencing and rationale that if it was not feasible or constitutional, allowing even a temporary transfer from the state correctional facilities. com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING requiring detainment or commitment in prison be housed in state prisons unless the county agrees to pay custody of the prisoner. It also provided that the Department of Correction had to reimburse the counties for their prisoners that were held in county jail. It also provided for the transfer of prisoners, which will reduce -- it reduced the wasteful practice, where 67 counties transported prisoners currently held in the Department of Corrections to court proceedings. Sixty-seven counties, ladies and gentlemen, virtually just got their sheriffs to pick up these prisoners and bring them to the counties. With the enactment of this legislation, transports were -encouraged the use of video conferencing where appropriate and they also provided for significant improved safety. com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING increased public safety, but we also established probation and parole guidelines. Before these laws were enacted, there were no written rules for probation and parole. We required that there will be temporary guidelines set up by the Sentencing Commission until permanent regulations were passed. It also provided for allowing terminally ill prisoners to be housed in hospice facilities. What this provided for was the use of those hard beds for the more violent offenders. It provided for better use of intermediate punishment. We have to recognize that 85 percent of those non-violent offenders in state correctional facilities are recidivist drug users. It also provided for recidivism risk reduction sentencing. In essence, ladies and gentlemen, the prison package in Harrisburg focused on putting the most violent offenders in state correctional facilities. com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING immediate transfer of over 500 prisoners from the county to the state. And it also provided for a cultural change in our court system in Philadelphia where it was more -- it recognized that it was more appropriate to send prisoners to state correctional facilities where they would get residential drug and alcohol treatment, but it also allowed us to send the more violent offenders to a prison where they belong. Following the enactment of this legislation, the prison population in Philadelphia dropped by over 2,000. It has since gone up to approximately 8,300. com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING existing statutes. I thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. Any others? (No response.)
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 120160 has been adopted. I now would like to ask Mr. Decker to please read the title of No. 120021. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
An ordinance repealing Bill No. 070955-AA (approved December 21, 2007), entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Burholme Avenue, Napfle Avenue, Burholme Avenue, Hartel Avenue, Hasbrook Avenue, Central Avenue, Cottman Avenue, Fillmore Avenue and Shelmire Avenue (Extended)."
Councilman Green. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. 120021 passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 120023.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Chestnut Street, 2nd Street, Walnut Street and 3rd Street.
DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING zero. Bill No. 120023 passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 120024.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Snyder Avenue, the Delaware River, Pattison Avenue and the Delaware Expressway.
Aye. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. Bill No. 120024 passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions?
A resolution honoring, recognizing and commending Mighty Writers for its efforts to educate people to think and write with clarity in order to boost self-esteem and create a generation of young people who are successful in school, their careers and ultimately their lives, introduced by DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilman Johnson.
It's been properly moved and seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
And a resolution celebrating March 8th 2012 as "World Kidney Day" in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman O'Neill for Councilman President Clarke.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilmember O'Neill. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
Mr. President, I move the adoption of the resolution and ask to speak briefly on it.
Thank you. This is National Renal Day, but it was brought to our attention, yours and mine, by the Temple Hospital Kidney Transplant Program, and I just learned this morning that our co-sponsor, Majority Leader Jones, is a kidney donor, and I'd like to congratulate and thank him for that. (Applause.)
Moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com 3/8/12 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
And a resolution recognizing Anne O'Callaghan on her retirement as the Founder and Executive Director of the Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians, introduced by Councilman Oh.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been properly moved and seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. I will note that the time has come for us to consider the presentation of the Mayor's annual budget. The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter states that the Mayor shall submit to Council, no later than 90 days before the end of the fiscal year, his Operating Budget Message and Proposed Operating Budget Ordinance for the ensuing fiscal year. At the same time, the Mayor shall submit to Council the Recommended Capital Program and Capital Budget as received from the City Planning Commission, to the extent approved by the Mayor. I now appoint the following committee to escort the Mayor into the DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com Chambers: Councilman Jones, Councilwoman Brown, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman O'Neill and Councilman Oh. (Pause.)
While we have a lull in the action, I would just like to say one thing. I would ask that we all respect our house, because this is our house. (Audience members yelling.)
I just want to say -- let me finish, please. This is our house, but it's the people's building, and we understand that people have differences, and we're fine with that. This is your place to express your difference, but we ask that it be expressed in a respectful way. That's all we're simply asking. So I please ask you, as a new Councilperson -- and I'm going to lean on that as long as it wears -- I'm going to ask that we be respectful. Thank you. Thank you so much. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com
Thank you. (Applause and boos.) (Audience members chanting "Keep your word.")
Please. Please. Can we kick in the respect thing, please. Thank you so much. Thank you guys so much. Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to introduce the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, Mayor Michael Nutter. (Applause and booing.)
Thank you, Mr. President, and good morning, everyone. (Audience members yelling.)
Hold on, Mr. Mayor. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com Please, guys. We're going to ask for a little respect, please. That's all I'm asking. We understand your position. (Audience members yelling.)
Thank you, Mr. President. Good morning, everyone. (Good morning.)
Good morning, Council President, the Council leadership and the team that I just spent a few moments with. Thank you, members, all the members of Philadelphia City Council, members of my Administration. I know that the Professor and Mayor John Street is here with a class from Temple University. Can we please recognize these great students who are here with us today. (Applause.) DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com
There are a number of members of the General Assembly I understand who are with us as well. Our great leader of the Pennsylvania House Delegation, State Representative Cherelle Parker. (Applause.)
And State Representative Tony Payton. (Applause.)
I saw our Sheriff as I was coming in, Sheriff Jewell Williams. (Applause.)
Our City Commissioner is here, Commissioner Chairwoman Singer. (Applause.) DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com
And President of the Court of Common Pleas, Judge Pamela Dembe. (Applause.)
I am hopeful that I did not miss any other -Commissioner Al Schmidt is here as well. (Applause.)
And I now see next to Judge Dembe, President of the Municipal Court, Judge Neifield. (Applause.)
To our distinguished guests and also to all of our public employees and certainly those who are represented by unions, I know DC 33 and their great President, Pete Matthews, is here. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com (Applause.)
If I've missed any other elected officials or any of our union leaders who I've not seen as I've come in -(Audience members yelling.)
All of our union members and all the union leaders, I welcome you for this particular address. To all of our distinguished guests and my fellow Philadelphians, it is once again a great honor to stand in this hollowed Chamber. It is here that the work of the people gets done. And if you will allow me, I'd like to first extend a very, very special welcome today to the first recipient of the Richardson Dilworth Award for Distinguished Public Service, Deputy Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams. (Applause.)
Carlton is a leader in his community and has dedicated his career to public service and to DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com better and a cleaner place. Today, I'm excited also to welcome six new members to this City Council Chamber. Each is already making his or her own mark on this great body, improving the lives of the people that they represent. Friends, I look forward to working with you and, of course, with all members of City Council on behalf of our great city. I commit the attention and resources of my Administration to achieve our common vision and goals for the future of Philadelphia. Welcome to public service. And to our City Council President Darrell Clarke, the new President of this great City Council, you and I have known and worked well with each other for many, many years in many different capacities. You have championed the cause of the residents of the 5th Council District for over 30 years, and no one has fought more DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com for them than you. Now, in your new role as Council President, you, of course, have the opportunity to bring that same level of dedication to the entire city, to every citizen of Philadelphia. I am honored to work with you, Mr. President, in partnership as we fight to improve our neighborhoods, bring jobs to our city and continue to move Philadelphia forward in the right direction. This is a partnership that has worked, that can work and that will work on behalf of all of our citizens. Please recognize our great Council President Darrell Clarke. (Applause.)
It is my duty and intention today to present to this body a budget and a Five Year Plan that continues to rebuild and remake Philadelphia for the 21st century. com future, that puts money back in the pockets of all Philadelphians and makes it easier and less expensive for businesses to create jobs in our city. And a plan that makes critical investments in our neighborhoods throughout our city, and continues to innovate and rethink how city government operates in order to improve the lives of all Philadelphians. Today, I propose a budget which, first and foremost, addresses a mounting public safety challenge by providing funds to hire hundreds of new police officers and to invest in a community-based violence reduction program designed to bring long-term, sustainable peace to some of our most violent neighborhoods. com and business-friendly measures passed by City Council that is more aggressive and will return more money to workers and businesses in Philadelphia than we had originally envisioned in our Five Year Plan that we introduced just last year. We will also make increased investments in communities across Philadelphia, renovating police stations, firehouses, recreation centers and neighborhood libraries, while also improving the surrounding neighborhoods and the quality of life of Philadelphians who use or live near those facilities. For the first time, we will create a Traffic Operations Center citywide designed to help people get around the City faster and with less aggravation. com we will continue the renewal of Center City with a $20 million renovation of Love Park, creating an accessible green space that will connect the new Dilworth Plaza, the people's plaza, with a transformed, revitalized Ben Franklin Parkway, a magnificent public space certain to be recognized as one of the world's great cultural boulevards. We will do all of this - more police on our streets, tax cuts, investments in our neighborhoods because we're also continuing to innovate and rethink and remodel how city government should operate in the 21st century. com behind. Now, you know that over the last few years, we have endured some of the toughest times in our city's recent history, and I stand before you today as a proud member of a battle-tested team, a team that includes so many of you right here in this Chamber. We made difficult choices together, cut back on services and asked Philadelphians to pay a little more in order to preserve core services and protect the most vulnerable citizens of our city. We worked together - my Administration, City Council, our Harrisburg and Washington elected and appointed officials, the business and social service communities and the great citizens of this city - to guide Philadelphia through the recession and emerge as a stronger city on the other side. com creating jobs and our finances have begun to stabilize and our tax receipts are growing modestly, I cannot say to you honestly that our troubles have passed. There are at least three major financial challenges that we face and must deal with as we move forward as a city. The first is that our School District of Philadelphia is still in the midst of a financial crisis with a budget gap of $26 million still to close this fiscal year and an anticipated deficit anywhere between $150 million and $400 million in the next fiscal year. The good news is that there is now a team of people working at the District to structurally rebalance their finances, solving a deficit years in the making and continuing the education reform process that is already beginning to show results in some of our previously lowest performing schools.
com to reforming, restructuring and, where necessary, replacing schools that are not serving our students well, because I believe -and I know that many members of this body will agree with me -- that every young person in Philadelphia has the right to a high-quality education and that we have a duty to provide it to them. )
Secondly, in Harrisburg, Governor Corbett has proposed a budget that once again cuts funding for secondary and higher education at a time when governors across the country, including right across the Delaware River, are investing more in education and becoming more competitive. Furthermore, this proposed state budget includes severe cuts to social service programs that would have a calamitous, devastating impact on the most vulnerable people in Pennsylvania. The Governor's budget, if DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com General Assembly, would reduce our ability to shelter many of Philadelphia's homeless people, provide care for those with HIV and AIDS, rehabilitate those with drug and alcohol problems or treat people with severe mental and behavioral disabilities in their homes rather than in institutions. It fundamentally redefines what government or, for that matter, civil society is all about. The Governor's budget may save money, but at what cost to people? It may be balanced, but is it fair? It will in fact throw into turmoil and disarray families, towns, cities and counties all across this great Commonwealth. Along with social service providers, representatives of these most vulnerable populations and elected officials from across the Commonwealth, my Administration has begun to make the case to Harrisburg to look again at this budget and to hear from those who will be DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com great respect for Governor Corbett, and we have formed a strong partnership during his time in office, working to bring jobs and economic opportunity to this region. But on this issue, we as a city must speak up and make our voices heard, and I ask members of this body and all who are listening and all throughout Philadelphia and the region to take up this vital cause and join with us. We must oppose these devastating budget cuts here in Philadelphia from the state. (Applause.)
The third major challenge we face is the growing cost of our employee benefit system and the increasing strain that these costs place on our budget and our ability to provide high-quality public services. We are an organization that is driven by its employees. Our police officers, firefighters, paramedics, DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com workers, social workers, librarians and all of our great public employees provide the services that keep this city safe and provide the amenities that make this a city where people want to live, work and raise their families. It is also true, though, that the salaries and benefits of our employees account for 68 percent of the City budget. And some of those employee costs have been growing at an unaffordable rate. Unless we take action to slow the growth of these costs, particularly pensions and healthcare costs, these two items will continue to devour our City budget. As these costs grow, they leave less and less funding for services that our citizens want and need. And that simply isn't sustainable. (Audience members yelling.)
These cost drivers present the most substantial challenge to our city's financial future. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com ten years, pension costs increased from about $200 million to more than $500 million a year. Notwithstanding -(Audience members yelling.)
Come on, guys, please. Please. Let the Mayor speak, please.
Notwithstanding a dramatic increase in General Fund dollars going into our pension fund, it is still only 50 percent funded. We have made some progress. Arbitration awards have provided us with our first hybrid plans. They include a defined contribution portion that shares the risk between the City and our employees. We have moved to a self-insurance program for our healthcare costs for a substantial number of our employees. But we must do more. As I have said repeatedly, we must achieve work rule changes and reform healthcare and pensions for our DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com (Booing.)
Let me explain what pension reform means to us. It means going to a hybrid plan for new employees and having existing employees contribute more to their current plan, just like many other public and non-public employees. This is crucial for our long-term fiscal health. Now, let me be clear. I want to be very clear so there is no confusion or misinformation. I want a contract with our public employees. (Audience members yelling.)
I want our workers, the folks who are out there on DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com lines, to have a contract, a multi-year contract. (Audience members yelling.)
And I want to work with our union leadership to figure out how we can give our workers much-deserved pay raises. But I cannot sign a contract that does not deal with the long-term employee benefit challenges that threaten this city's future. We're in the position we're in now because the can has been kicked down the road too many times. Well, I'm not going to kick it down that road any farther. I want a contract -(Audience members chanting "keep your word.")
I want a contract that is fair to our workers and fair to the taxpayers of this city who have to pay for it. (Audience members yelling.)
So bring me a DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com addresses these long-term financial threats and I'll take this pen and sign that contract. (Booing and yelling.)
Come on, please. Please. Please. Come on, guys, please. Can we let the Mayor speak. We know you disagree, but you all will have appropriate time -(Audience members yelling.)
Hold on. All right. I have been a strong supporter of the municipal unions, right? The only thing that I asked you all early, to please respect the house, the people's house. Let us have this conversation. (Audience members yelling.)
All right. I hear all of that, but I'm telling you guys, with all due respect, I've been working, I've been talking to people in the unions and I'm trying to DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com all, but, you know, I need you all to be respectful in the house. Let's get through this and then we'll go back and continue to have this conversation in the appropriate way, but I'm really asking you all to be respectful. (Applause.)
Now, as we work to tackle these financial challenges, we must also be focused on building stronger communities in a more sustainable Philadelphia. To achieve this, our first priority must be tackling the crime that spiked at the beginning of this year in some of our communities and which makes all of us, no matter where we live, feel less safe. During my first four years in office, under the leadership of Police Commissioner Ramsey, the Philadelphia Police Department and Deputy Mayor for DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com Gillison, the homicide rate in this city fell by 19 percent and violent crime fell to the lowest level since 1989. We combined a zero-tolerance attitude toward those who would terrorize our neighborhoods with a community policing approach that built trust and a sense of partnership between citizens and the men and women whose job it is to protect us. We set new standards, a new level of expectation, a belief shared by Commissioner Ramsey and myself that no amount of progress is ever good enough when it comes to making our city safer, and an absolute determination and unwavering defiance in the face of those who would cause our fellow Philadelphians harm. That defiance has only grown stronger. That determination is just as absolute, and we remain as focused as we've ever been on ending the violence in our city. DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com budget, we included funding for 120 new police officers, and all 120 will be deployed on foot patrol in the most violent districts in our city. On January 26th, we announced, in partnership with District Attorney Seth Williams and our state and federal law enforcement partners, a wide range of measures to deal with a violent, deadly start to 2012. We announced that we would add another class of up to 100 cadets this spring; We would seek automatic jail time for those caught with illegal guns in Philadelphia; We would work to identify the most violent criminals and take them off our streets, and we took another step this week by publishing a list of Philadelphia's 100 most wanted criminals; We announced that we would establish a text tip number so that DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com us with information anonymously, with us having no way to trace the origin of the tip, and we would give up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in a homicide, as well as $500 for information that gets us an illegal gun off the streets; And, finally, that all levels of government would work in close partnership and collaboration through our GunStat program to share information, work together on cases and make our city a safer place. We are beginning to see results from these new initiatives and we are making progress. But we are not satisfied. And so before we do anything else as a city government, we will continue to make the necessary investments to keep our citizens safe. And we'll also continue to try new and innovative approaches to crime reduction that have also worked in other DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com example, in April, I will convene a community dialogue at St. Joseph's University to engage community leaders in designing a new community-based anti-violence effort to create sustainable, safe environments. And this is not just a talk or a conversation. We're going to invest $1 million in this new effort. And, yes, we're also going to put more boots on the ground. And so today I am announcing that we will hire nearly 400 new police officers by the end of the next fiscal year. (Applause.)
Our goal is to achieve and maintain a sworn strength of 6,500 police officers on our police force. com five years. All of these new officers, all of them, all of them, will be deployed on foot patrol to the most violent police districts and will target the most dangerous blocks in our city. Furthermore, I have directed Police Commissioner Ramsey to continue to work with FOP President John McNesby to reduce the number of inactive officers and consolidate some special units so that we have the maximum number of men and women out patrolling in our neighborhoods. These officers will focus on the relatively small number of criminals creating most of the havoc on our streets. We know who you are, and we've had enough. We're coming after you. You think you can terrorize and kill people in this city. Think again. I made a promise to the people of Philadelphia that ours would be a safer city, and that's a promise I'm going to keep. com commitment. You see, this city is on the rise. " And we're not going to let a small minority of criminals ruin that for the vast majority of Philadelphians who are just out there looking to take care of their families, go to work or school and enjoy their lives. The responsible course of action that we took to manage our way through this recession - shared sacrifice, everyone giving a little - is actually working. Our finances have begun to stabilize. Tax receipts are beginning to grow modestly again. Our unemployment rate is slowly coming down. And businesses, large and small, are investing and creating jobs in Philadelphia. com on a new $100 million John Buck Company retail and residential development on Chestnut Street around 21st, a project that will create more than 800 construction jobs right away. The week before I was out on Drexel's campus in the 3rd District to break ground on their $100 million mixed-use Chestnut Street project, which will continue the total transformation of that section of West Philadelphia. We must keep this recovery going. Over the coming months we will announce a series of measures designed to make it easier to do business and, therefore, create jobs in Philadelphia. We will continue to shrink the number of business licenses, put the entire licensing and permitting process online, and continue to drive down wait times and processing times for L&I services. com gains, working through our Office of Economic Opportunity and through the new Project Labor Agreement process, to ensure that all of our residents participate in this recovery. The government will lead by example in this effort as we continue to exceed our ambitious goals for minority, female and disabled business owner participation in doing business with our city. All of us, my Administration and City Council, are focused and working together to create a more business-friendly environment and attract more jobs to Philadelphia. com on small and start-up companies operating in Philadelphia. These measures equal an $80 million reduction in taxes for businesses in Philadelphia over the lifetime of our Five Year Plan. And today I also reaffirm that we will restart in FY14 the wage tax reductions that the Great Recession forced us to suspend, an $82 million tax cuts for workers and families in Philadelphia over the next five years. This $162 million combination of wage and business tax cuts is actually $39 million larger than the package that we proposed in last year's Five Year Plan, a testament to our dedication to improve the City's economy for workers and employers. This year we will also finally give homeowners in Philadelphia an equitable, transparent, fair property tax assessment system.
com been paying more than they should, while others have paid less than they should. We took on the challenge of once and for all fixing this system with a citywide reassessment of every parcel in Philadelphia. And so with the Actual Value Initiative complete this fall, the next property tax bills to go out will be based on the fair, true, accurate value of homes and properties in Philadelphia. Some Philadelphians will actually see their tax bills cut by this reform. Others, whose homes or businesses have been undervalued for years, will probably have to pay more. In order to help these people and ensure that our most vulnerable homeowners are protected, we have asked the General Assembly in Harrisburg to authorize homestead relief for Philadelphia, something that is already available to other jurisdictions in Pennsylvania. com properties, the taxpayer would be entitled to a $15,000 homestead reduction from the assessed value of his or her property, thereby providing the greatest relief to lower-valued homes. We will also work with City Council to put in place smoothing measures to phase in these new values over time to minimize any impact felt by property owners. And many low-income senior citizens will be eligible for the tax freeze program so that they will see no increases in their real estate tax bills. Now, let me be the first to say it. This isn't the easiest, most popular reform that we could have taken on. If it was, somebody would have done it by now. But we must have a fair system, an honest system, a transparent system. And so we're going to take it on. com have. But this reform needs to be made and it needs to be made now. )
And I do want to thank our City Council for giving us the opportunity to make these reforms by creating the Office of Property Assessment and by committing to move forward with the Actual Value Initiative. Now, as we put more police officers on our streets and tackle many of the major challenges that we face, such as a broken property tax system, the budget that I propose today also makes much-needed capital investments in communities throughout our city. Let me be the first to acknowledge that our capital projects often take much too long to complete. This has been raised by me when I was a member of this body and now as Mayor and certainly many, many members of the DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com now, and I want to say that we're going to fix this problem. I am creating a working group within City government to work with City Council to create a better, faster, more efficient process so that needed projects are completed in a faster timeframe at the lowest possible cost. The investments in City facilities contained within this year's budget, combined with the alley light repair program and commercial corridor improvements that we approved and funded last year, will brighten and boost the neighborhoods that surround them. We will also spend $6.6 million to upgrade six police stations and 11 firehouses across Philadelphia over the next year. But I also have one other police facility announcement to make. Almost since the day in 1964 when the ribbon was cut on the current police headquarters, the Roundhouse, people have DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com replacing it. Well, today I am truly pleased to announce that we plan to renovate 4601 Market Street in West Philadelphia into a new, state-of-the-art police headquarters, the first new police headquarters in nearly 50 years. In addition, also at this facility we will co-locate the City morgue and the City health offices that are currently located at Broad and Lombard. This is a smart consolidation, which will allow us to sell existing assets, create new opportunities for development at those sites and revitalize part of West Philadelphia much in need of investment. We will also invest money in our neighborhood rec centers, pools and libraries. We will spend $8.7 million on improving our neighborhood rec centers. What's more, we will emphasize design as well as function, creating beautiful, DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com will be centerpieces of their neighborhoods. To see what that means, just check out the incredible work that is about to begin at Pleasant Playground in East Mount Airy, the Sturgis Rec Center in East Oak Lane or the Penrose Playground in North Philadelphia, three newly renovated recreation facilities that will be built in the coming year. Once again all swimming pools will be open this summer. But this year -(Applause.)
But this year, after three years of fundraising and generous support from citizens and our corporate community, we will put all the funding for opening all of our swimming pools right where it belongs, which is in the General Fund in our budget. And, finally, I can announce that we will establish a new Neighborhood Library Improvement Program that will DiscoveryWorks Global 888.557.8650 www.dw-global.com $7 million over the next three years to invest in neighborhood free library branches. This is new money and a new program that invests in neighborhood libraries. Our goal is to leverage this $7 million in public money to generate significant foundation and philanthropic support and contributions for a larger total investment in neighborhood branch libraries. (Applause.)