Okay. Miss Bazemore, I didn't catch the lady's name who was with you. Did she have --
I'm sorry, ma'am, I thought you spoke. Excuse me. Say your name for the record.
Good morning, Councilpersons. My name is Grace Haywood (ph.), and I live in the unit block of North Peach Street. I'm the block captain and also a committee person of the 3rd Division, 44th Ward. I'm here in reference to a lot at the end of my street, at Peach and Market. It's been vacant for, I'll say, 20 years, but about five years ago, it became a lot for anything -- you name it, abandoned cars, prostitution, and drugs. 62 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 So we were able to move the cars from it and we've been trying for that long to have it fenced in. And I have a written permission from the owner to have this lot fenced in. So I'm hoping there's someone here that could give me some information as to how I can do it. I also notified my ward leader, and he has had a copy of this permission now for over a year. And he said, well, lack of funds is the reason why he couldn't have it done, so I would like to know what can be done.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Ma'am, what I'd like to suggest is if you would give the young man that letter, we're going to make a copy of it, give you original back, and then we will get the copy of the letter to the appropriate people. Does that have your name and phone number on that letter?
Okay, we'll get it 63 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 from you before you leave. Please don't go until we get that information, okay? Thank you.
We're talking about these lots, and we're getting vacant lots quite frequently. I think that soon, we'll be talking about rebuilding because if you don't straighten up something, we won't have no place for the people to live. Thank you.
Thank you. Seeing no more questions for these witnesses, I think we have one or two more witnesses before we get to the City people?
Jean Trice? Is there anyone else out there that didn't get up here? Oh, I'm sorry. Miss Johnson and Miss Parker, Elizabeth Parker. 64 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 (Witnesses come forward.)
Is there anybody else out there that wants to get on this panel? (More witnesses come forward.)
We'll start with Miss Parker, is it? We'll start with you since you're at my left. State your name for the record.
My name is Elizabeth Parker. Members of City Council, City officials, and concerned citizens of Philadelphia, good morning.
I come before you this morning to urge the passing of Bill No. 25, which would require a fence around lot after L&I demolishes a building. First, I would like to read a letter from my block captain concerning a vacant lot that has been vacant for about five years. It's addressed to Councilman Nutter. "I am writing to you about Bill No. 23 25. This bill will help neighborhoods have control over what happens in and around vacant lots on their street. 65 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 "Our lot is located at 434 North 60th Street. It was demolished about five years ago by Licenses and Inspections. There were calls made to several State and City agencies, including your office, asking for help to clean, remove dead trees, and fence and front the back of the lot. Everyone stated that monies were tight, but our lot would be placed on a list. So when available funds were allocated for these projects, our lot would be included. "We have problems with weeds, falling trees, a homeless man using the lot for his bathroom and sleeping areas, strange men and women using the high weeds and trees for cover for sex, stray cats, dogs, possums, raccoons, trash, and old tires. The families in this block would appreciate the passing of City Council Bill No. 25 with the intent to help neighborhoods maintain safe and clean streets. " And now I would like to share with you a personal note about the vacant lots that is next door to me and the problems that I have had, and 66 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 after the fact, I did have to have it fenced in myself. First, 1988 to 1999, I lost my homeowner's insurance because of the vacant house. November 1999, the house was demolished by the City. At this time, the neighbors and I began making phone calls and writing letters to our Councilmen, the Mayor's Office, Deputy Managing Director's Office, and to anyone in City Hall that would listen. December 29, 1999, a letter to Councilman Nutter which reads as follows: "Dear Councilman Nutter: This letter comes in reference to the recent demolished properties at 417 North 60th Street and 423 North 60th Street, which is next door to me. The properties were demolished for reasons of unsafe and unsightly conditions. We are grateful to you and L&I for the demolitions. However, if we and the City are going to stamp out urban blight, we must fence in the vacant lot, lest it become another form of urban blight. "We, the neighbors in the block, are very concerned about these vacant lots since the 67 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 houses on either side cast a dark shadow at night from the street light. It has become an area of teenage gathering, drinking, and drug activity. I have been approached by persons who wish to work on their cars on the lot, which could lead to our having abandoned cars or a junk yard next to us, not to mention the dumped trash. "We have seen the negative results of a vacant lot on our block. " (Which is the letter that I read previously) ". . and there are now three vacant lots on our block, and that is after the fact that I sent letters to the Mayor's Office and also to the Deputy Managing Director's Office, and a third letter and final letter, which was dated March 15, 2000, to Councilman Nutter, thanking him for all of the efforts trying to help us in getting the fence. " Now, that is my personal account of the lot left that was open by the City next door to me. That is why I am also urging you to pass Bill 6 25, which would require, after demolition and stuccoing, that the job would be completed with a fence around the lot. We would also appreciate any reimbursement for the payment of our fence. And I would also like to add that before we fenced in the lot, the youngsters were playing basketball against the stuccoed wall, and a lot of the cement or stucco had been broken, and we had to get a contractor to patch those places. So, again, I urge you to please pass this bill. Thank you.
Thank, you ma'am. I think Councilman Nutter has -- will start off with some questions.
And again thank you and everyone who is here. 69 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 Miss Parker, we have talked on many, many occasions about your particular situation, and you and I have known each other for a good while. And first let me say publicly to you, as I've said privately, I apologize to you for our inability to try to make a safe situation next to and near your home. It -- my colleagues -- some of them actually know you by name. They had not met you, but they've heard me talk about you in recent budget hearings, and our L&I people have heard me talk about Mrs. Parker. Now you are here today, and it really makes a tremendous impact. As you said, ultimately, you could not wait, and I understood that and I felt very bad for your situation, and you informed me that you had paid for a fence at the lots. What did you pay for that?
$600 that you spent out of your money to put a fence on a lot that you don't own.
But you were 70 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 concerned that people could access your property or your neighbors' properties from the back?
Right. And also trash. There were a couple of mornings that there was large discarded furniture that I could not move and had to pay somebody to put it up.
Right. Now, I've come past your property on a number of occasions, so I'm certainly familiar with it, but for the record, what would you say the width of the lot is, probably maybe 15, feet or so? This is 13 kind of an average-sized house in West 14 Philadelphia? 15
Yes. I think it measures 16 inches -- I mean 17 feet, I'm sorry. 17
We hear from time to time a wide range of figures associated with fencing lots. Yours is, in the case of $600. I think we heard testimony earlier from Sister Mary 71 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 Scullion of upwards of over $1,000.
Excuse me, Councilman. I might have missed it when I spoke to Mr. Solvibile, did he ask you how big your lot was?
Do you have a sense 14 of the depth? It's probably maybe 40 feet or so 15 deep. 16
Okay. I have a copy of the bill, though it does not indicate the deputy on that, but it's -- it's kind of an average-sized rowhouse in West Philadelphia.
And whatever those dimensions are, I mean, that's kind of what you generally see out in West Philadelphia. These are two-story homes, probably three or four bedrooms 72 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 and a back yard.
And an alley running through the back, so. . . Anything else you'd like to add, Miss Parker.
Okay, good, I'm glad to hear that. And I will continue to work to try to get some of that back for you.
I just very strongly believe that citizens should not be placed in a situation, first and foremost, of danger to themselves after we have -- as you said, we removed one dangerous situation, which was the deteriorating building, put the stucco up, and whatever that situation, but then if we walk away, we have still left you in an unsafe situation.
I mean, you don't have bricks falling down on you, but you've got people next door to you who are accessing the back of your property that --
And that's destroying the property with the stucco and the ball-playing in the lot.
Oh, kids try to play ball in the lot and they bang up against your house?
Yeah. The youngsters come by from school and play with their basketball and they're hitting the side of the wall. Of course, that breaks the stucco.
Sure, I'm sure. We're going to try to rectify this situation, but your testimony, I think, is very helpful and very explanatory for folks who, you know, maybe see things in a different way. And as we've discussed before, this might not be the exact approach for each and every neighborhood, but here we have people who care about what's going on there. I know -- I mean, I know that you're going to take care of that particular 74 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 fence, but even if the City had put it up, I know you're going to watch it and also make sure that inappropriate activities don't take place at the location.
Thank you. Any other questions for this witness? (No further questions.)
My name is Madeline Dunn and I'm from West Philadelphia. I support Bill 000025. In fact, we have one house in our block that's about to come down. It would be the first to come down. It is a twin three-story. We've kind of analyzed it. It was left vacant for over 15 years, so my first suggestion to the City is that when a person dies and the heirs can't make up their mind, that shouldn't be on us. In the second year that the taxes are paid, that house should go on the market 75 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 bought because then it could have been bought and fixed up and somebody used it, okay? That's number one. Number two, we sent in a list of all the vacant properties in our areas -- I wouldn't even start to name them for you, except to say, again, if they don't pay the taxes in two years, you bring 'em to the market, and there are people who will buy them and fix them up. We love Philadelphia, and we want to keep it as sound as we can. Now, this has nothing to do with this except the fact that I support Bill 25. And in order to do that, the City's going to need some money. So when the new sports stadiums, any team using it, 1 percent off the top should be used for the City, the community and schools. Okay, 1 percent right off the top. And it's very important that we have some money to do what we need. Did Blondell -- or somebody else up there --
Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown is working on that. 76 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025
Wonderful. Let me know when the hear is and I'll try to really write a paper. The stucco should be wired. Whoever the people are who take down these porches where they take them down 'cause the porches is pulling off, that needs to be done by somebody that knows about using a leveler so that it's put up properly and it's not leaning. And when the stucco was put up, it should be put up very carefully and wired so that it stays. Thank you so very much to all you wonderful Councilpeople. We look forward to your continued support in West Philadelphia, Carol Parker in particular.
Thank you, ma'am. Any questions for this witness? (No questions.)
Yes. I'm Jean Trice, block captain of the 1400 block of Vodges Street. I am very much in favor of the bill. I now have three vacant lots on our street, and they're using the lots for urinating and whatever. Criminals are running through the lot 77 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 to escape the police, and we really need some help with this lot. So I'm hoping that you can pass this bill and I'm very much in favor of it. And I have a quick question for you. When they stucco the house next door that was torn down, the lady has hole in it, and she has reported it over and over again. What is the limitation of time that they will come back and do something about it? I guess it's been about eight years that it's been done, but she's afraid that rats and things are going to go in her house. It is a bum, bum deal. That job was done (unintelligible).
Mr. Solvibile, would you love to try to answer that one? (Mr. Solvibile comes forward.)
No, he's the head of L&I. If he was, he wouldn't tell you.
I believe the question is, how long does the City guarantee the stucco?
A year, and then it 78 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 becomes the homeowner's responsibility to maintain the party wall.
Well -- well, I assume there was no damage. Who's "they"? I'm not sure what -- if you see me after this, we'll talk and I'll --
Okay. See me after and give me the address, and I'll send an inspector out there and then call you back.
Any more questions for this witness? (No further questions.)
Good morning. My name is Carly Johnson. I live in West Philadelphia. And my concern is the safety in 79 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 fencing. I'm at 605 North 53rd Street. There's a fence there, and like the lady next to me, I'm being awakened at night with criminals running through, police, helicopters, with guys running through there and hiding from the police. And going in the back of me, there is an alleyway. They go around through there and shoot guns. They have pit bulls in the back and tear down -- it's a wooden gate there, but they keep that torn down so that they could continue to go in there and throw debris. So I'm really afraid and hope you can do something about it. Thank you.
Thank you. Any questions for this witness? (No questions.)
My name is Ethel Jenkins. I live in the 1400 block of North 61st Street. The house next door to me was torn down over a year ago. I've been constantly talking to Michael Nutter's office, trying to acquire a fence. And the problems are -- one of my 80 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 grandchildren found a hypodermic needle out in the back, which really made me very afraid. My husband found some guys letting their dogs going out in the back and using it as a bathroom. And there are children on the block. And my concern mostly is for the kids. The children, of course, are going to play on the lot because the lot has nothing around it. And my fear is that something, you know, terrible is going to happen to them. Luckily, the grandchild brought the hypodermic needle to me and the children didn't get hurt with it. And we have a alleyway, but have of the fence to the alleyway is down, so all of that is exposed to the children. And as the other lady said, the kids play ball against my wall because my house has the stucco on it. And I don't want to have to fear criminals, and someone tried to steal my barbecue pit, but luckily, it was chained up, and someone cut it, and they didn't get that. So I'm definitely in favor of Bill No. 23 25. Thank you.
Thank you, ma'am. Any questions for this witness? 81 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 (No questions.)
Seeing none, we have another of witnesses. Mr. Fields -- or Janice Fields, I'm sorry, and Wayne Porter. And is there anyone else that wants to testify? We can get about four or five people up here at once. (Witnesses come forward.)
This will be the last call for community people, all right? Mr. Porter go ahead.
I'm Wayne Porter, with the Parkside Association of West Philadelphia. I have a question, if you guys don't minds. How can the City afford to constantly keep getting L&I to come out to clean these lots?
Since this is Councilman Nutter's bill, I'll let him answer that. Go ahead, Councilman.
Good. Actually, we're anticipating, going forward, that we don't necessarily want to have L&I in a position where 82 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 they keep coming out to clean a vacant lot. What we're looking for is a program that entails both the L&I commissioner having the discretion to first decide whether a should fence go up, bollards, trees, or some other protective device, as well as we want an environmentally sound vegetation management plan put in place so you don't necessarily get all the overgrowth and the weeds and all of that activity. We want to cut down on that, first and foremost. Second, we want to work with either the abutting neighbor, the neighbor, you know, right next door to the vacant lot, or someone else on the block or the block organization, community- based organization or CDC to work with us on the maintenance issues. And I think going forward, potentially in the blight elimination program, there will probably be some contracting opportunities for community-based organizations to actually put some people to work to maintain the lots as opposed to the City constantly having to come out to do it. I recognize that, and I think my colleagues do as well. 83 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 But that really is not a long-term solution to this particular problem, and we've seen in some other neighborhoods -- and I think you were here when Miss Parker was testifying and some other neighbors. Where we develop partnerships with people on these particular issues and provide a minimum level of support, maybe if they clean the lot, they want to be sure that the City is going to come back and pick up the stuff that's at the curb, 'cause sometimes we haven't done that in the past as well. We want to work with community organizations or individuals on these lots but have a maintenance program basically in place, and we'll probably have to spend a little bit of money to ensure it, but we certainly don't want the Department coming out year after year after year. I think Mr. Solvibile testified in a previous, public hearing probably budget time, that the City does clean vacant lots presently, and the estimate is that it's upwards of 30 percent of the lots that are cleaned. Of the total number that are done, upwards of 30 percent of them are lots that were previously cleaned in another fiscal year. 84 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 So we already have a certain amount of going back and going back and going back. We're hoping to prevent that with a good maintenance, a fence around it to try to decrease, if not eliminate, the debris and other activity, and also make sure that the neighborhood is basically working with us to maintain it.
Well, I can honestly say that we, the residents of Parkside Association, support Bill 25. I was just curious about that because of the simple fact that, you know, in the area that I live in, there's a lot of short- dumping because there is no fencing. I think it's a excellent idea for the simple fact that it takes away the opportunity for someone to just back their truck up into the lot and dump a bunch of crap on the lot.
Also -- it also secures the neighborhoods from drug dealers, because a lot of these lots in my area, the drug dealers are using them to more or less do their little business and so forth and so on. And I think this bill is long time coming. 85 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025
Thank you, Mr. Porter. Mr. Porter, also -- and everything Councilman Nutter said and your questions, is if everyone was like Mrs. Parker, we probably wouldn't have these problems, and the great people that are here. You know, Councilman Clarke and I were sidebarring when she was talking, but imagine having to go through what she had to go through, and I know you see it. Imagine having to go through all of this and then the City here and then winding up at the end paying for the fence yourself. And it's a frustration of Councilman Nutter and the rest of us and, I mean, we're getting there. I mean, it seems like it takes long when you're Miss Parker and the other woman that has people and helicopters and criminals running down her alley. But, you know, if we put these fences up -- and I suspect that this will get through 86 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 here -- what we've got to make sure is we have the police and ourself, that's all 'cause we all live here, and I think you see that and I think -- I don't know much about your group, but I'm sure if Councilman had you here, it's a good group, and you see the whole big picture, where it's our responsibility too -- it's our neighborhoods, it's our city.
But I understand because it was two vacant lots next to the house that I own, right? I had it cemented in and I fenced the two properties together.
That's incredible. Thank you. Any questions for him before we get to the next witness? (No questions.) Miss Fields?
Hello. My name -- I'm a little nervous. This is the first time.
My name is Janice Fields. I live in West Philadelphia. I live on the 1500 of (unintelligible) Street. I've lived there all my life, my parents have lived there all their life. We have a lot that is across the street from us. I lived there when there was a building there. I was there when it was torn down. For about three years, I've contacted Councilman Nutter's office in West Philadelphia, and I've spoken to a Mr. Bob Johnson in regards to getting the property fenced in and cleaned up. It was cleaned up once by L&I, but it's become a family effort for me now. My 12-year-old son, my 22-year-old daughter, and I clean the lot every year, and every year it's re-dumped on. I've called the Police Department, which is the 19th District, for short-dumping, and by the time they get there, they've already dumped it and left. What I'm trying to do is see if I cannot get that lot fenced in. I have about eight seniors on the other side of the street that were 88 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 willing to pay the taxes on the property if we could just get it fenced in.
The seniors there are not able do the manual work so my family does the manual work.
I've contacted Councilman-At-Large Rizzo's office, and the secretary also tried to find out how I could get fencing. She ran into the same road blocks that I had for getting fencing. I've gone to the Horticultural Society. I've spoken to Carol Park and I've also spoken to Miss Trice that was here earlier, and nobody seems to know. And I know there's funds for it and I do support this bill. If we could possibly get that. Where other people see trash, I see beauty, okay? I feel as though it could be used -- at least that particular lot, it would be well-maintained. There are other lots in the area that really could be used. There are a lot of older adults, adults my age, that are basically from the south, and they want a little piece of 89 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 ground where they can have fresh vegetables. And that's something that the lots can be used for.
And a lot of the other block captains that I spoke to have no problems paying the taxes on the property, and that's revenue for the City. So I am in full support of this.
Mm-hmm, thank you. What was -- tell me again, what was the address in question?
Thank you. Any other questions for Miss Fields? (No questions.)
Seeing none, any other witnesses? 90 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 I'll bring the L&I experts up here. Mr. Solvibile can hardly wait, I can tell. Thank you. Youse are excused.
Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I'm assuming that you're going to call L&I up next, and while they're coming up, if I could just read into the record and then give it to the stenographer, if we could make it a part of this record various either letters or testimony by other individuals who could not be with us today.
These are letters from: Miss Gloria Guard, Executive Director of People's Emergency Center; Mr. John Quillen, 1237 from North Redfield Street; Miss Vicki Franks, North 54th Street; Miss Elizabeth Griffin, North Ruby Street; Miss Doris Hinton, from North 57th Street; 91 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 Miss Helen Leel, in the 1200 block of North St. Bernard Street; Miss Adeline Dorsey, from Berks Street; Miss Elizabeth Wright, North 54th Street; Miss Eileen Burke, from North 60th Street; Mr. Moses Cook, from North 57th Street; The Reverend and Mrs. William Taylor, from the North Wilton Street; Miss Janice Brown, North Wilton Street; and Miss Pricilla Davis, from North Wilton Street. I'll give these to the stenographer, Mr. Chairman.
Okay. Can you guys identify yourself for the record. Mr. Solvibile, you go first.
Robert Solvibile, First Deputy Commissioner, Licenses and Inspections.
Otis Haigler, Legislative 92 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 Regulatory Affairs Manager, Department of Licenses and Inspections.
Richard Felgus, Administrative Services, Director of Department of Licenses and Inspections.
I have a couple questions on this bill. I guess Mr. Solvibile or either of you three can answer that. One of my main concerns after hearing some of these people, under what conditions now will L&I seal a lot?
Where there is -- along a railroad or where a dangerous condition is presented by the physical characteristics of the lot, not danger necessarily from others entering it. To keep someone from falling off of a large incline, something like that.
Mm-hmm. How many lots did you guys -- how many fences did youse put up last year? Do you have any idea?
The Department of Licenses and Inspections -- maybe one, two at the most, but there was a program that was being run 93 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 by the Managing Director's Office, and I'm not sure of the numbers of that.
You knew about this bill for a while so, hopefully, you have some kind of projected cost if this bill comes law. Do you have any idea?
It's roughly -- the lot Miss Parker talked about, I -- I -- I -- it's 34 foot, front and back, and she paid $600 for it. The City's cost approximately $5 more a foot. Under a contract we presently have, it's now $22 a linear foot to erect a 6-foot fence. And, obviously, the higher you go, the more you add to it. And that's with a gate, that's basically with a normal-size gate for a person on a residential lot to get through. And the cost would be roughly about $800 for the City to do the same lot Miss Parker paid 6 for.
The total amount, to answer your question about the amount of money it would cost if this bill was enacted, it would be approximately $1.5 million a year. That would be based on the number of demolitions that we did -- 94 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025
And that rises, of course, if we do more demolitions, which may be a part of the Mayor's blight program.
And a lot of what's being testified today is not present demolitions but past demolitions.
Mr. Chairman, can I just ask Mr. Felgus one quick question?
Mr. Felgus, you're aware, though -- and I understand what your calculation is based on, you can only go on what you did in the past. You understand that the bill 19 does not require a fence at every lot, and you understand that the L&I commissioner has some level of discretion with regard to the fencing issue?
Based on a variety of circumstances, the plan we use, whether it's 95 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 the plan for the lot, next-door neighbor, nearby neighbor, and a number of other provisions that would not place the Department in an automatic situation. You're aware of that?
Absolutely, and we agree with the changes that you've made to the bill, Councilman.
Moreover, I think Otis Haigler, in his testimony, that we've given copies of to Council, deals with that whole situation. And at this point, with that flexibility that you've now built into the bill, the Department really is not out of -- we don't have any problems with it at this point basically.
Right. I also believe, Councilman, that the two successful programs -- the one program you mentioned on Frankford Avenue in New Kensington and Sister Mary's program around Project H.O.M.E. -- started with a plan and then a follow-through. To just haphazardly put up fences would never work. That was always our objection to it, that there was never a plan to deal with the 96 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 situation of putting up a fence.
While you're saying that, Mr. Solvibile, my next question, is there any common ground in this proposed bill and in your current practice of transferring lots to private owners? Is there something?
No, no. That would be -- I think our goal would be to get it into private hands and, you know, use our lien to get it into private hands, although that could conflict with the Office of Housing if they're trying to get a redevelopment package going. I mean, from L&I's standpoint, as long as it's in private hands and being cared for, it's a win-win situation for us.
And I know you didn't testify yet, but I'm just going to ask you this last question that I have. We did some research with my staff, and in Boston and Milwaukee, vacant lots and vacant buildings are surveyed and cataloged, and they know. I mean, they go to a computer and they could go on Miss Parker's street and they know what's happening there. 97 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 Do we have anything like that? And if we don't, why?
We have a list on our contractual services computers where we demolish the buildings that goes back to 1988 of every demolition. Other than that, knowing the location of the lot, they're not cataloged -- we don't know the size, the ownership. We know the ownership only at the time of demolition, not at the time, at the present time.
Could I ask this? Could you possibly get that list? And hopefully it won't be too much a cost to your budget, but could you get that to all the District Councilpeople? 'Cause I want to try to do something personally, and I think Councilman Nutter does.
Actually, I believe the article that Mr. McDonald wrote today about blight is --
Did he give you $10 to mention his name? 'Cause he only game 5.
No, but -- when he doesn't use my name, I'll give him $10. 98 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 (Laughter.)
So, yeah, we can probably get you probably district maps. I mean, I have to go back and talk to our programming people. I might add, that's the only modern type programming and computer we have in the Department. We're still waiting for other goodies for the rest of the Department.
Okay. Do you guys want to testify? Do you have any --
No, no questions. But if we might, as Mr. Haigler's a quick reader, would you mind reading your testimony into the record so that we're clear on where the Administration is?
Yes. Good day, Councilman Mariano and 99 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 members of the committee. I am Otis Haigler Jr., Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Manager for the Department of Licenses and Inspections. Today I am here to provide testimony on Bill 000025 amending the property maintenance code, Section PM 307 and Section PM 308, by requiring the installation of a fence and providing environmental treatment on vacant lots after buildings are demolished, using City funds. As a general proposition, the Administration is opposed to an unqualified obligation to erect a fence anytime a property is demolished with City funds. The Administration, however, believes that the qualifying language giving the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections the discretion whether to fence or not provides the flexibility needed to address the Administration's concerns. Without the qualifying language contained in Bill No. 000025, the Department projects that it will have to expend $1.5 million annually to enforce the requirements to erect fencing on vacant residential and commercial lots. This figure is based on an analysis of the 100 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 costs associated with providing fencing and the total number of properties which were demolished by Licenses and Inspections during Fiscal Year '99. The fiscal burdens of this bill on the Department's demolition budget will impact on our ability to demolish imminently dangerous and dangerous buildings by diverting funds away from those critical areas to enforce the requirements of this bill. In Fiscal Year'99, the Department spent a total of $14,414,000 for the demolition of imminently dangerous and dangerous structures. This figure also includes providing stucco to the adjoining walls of the remaining properties after the buildings have been demolished. So far, in Fiscal Year 2000, the Department has spent $10,281,000 to abate dangerous and imminently dangerous conditions. We project that without the qualifying language in the bill, the diversion of funds from our demolition budget will equate to 450 properties that have been classified as dangerous, which we will not be able to demolish due to this 101 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 budget constraint. This will severely hamper our efforts to respond to and abate conditions which constitutes threats to public safety and health. The language giving flexibility to the Commissioner will enable the Administration to avoid erecting fences in situations when it makes no sense because of the surrounding neighborhood conditions, planned development activity, or when other plans for maintenance or reuse makes fencing inappropriate and, instead, target fencing resources to those situations where the erection of a fence will curtail criminal activity or when erecting a fence can be made a part of a broader neighborhood preservation strategy. Thank you.
You want to add on the last part of your testimony about the effective date and. . .
Okay. Well, the version of the testimony I have reads: "The Administration supports passage of the bill but asks that the effective date of the bill be July 102 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 1, 2000." Is that accurate?
Councilman Nutter should have been like a special prosecutor.
He was just testing you, Councilman. Otis said, I'm going to see if Nutter's really on his game today.
And he is, Otis. Any questions for that witness? Councilman?
Thank you. Gentlemen, thank you for your testimony. Let me just mention, and I think you're aware, that as a result of a number of conversations not too long with Mayor Street and then subsequent conversations this morning with his Secretary of Strategic Planning and 103 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 Initiatives, Miss Joyce Wilkerson, I will be proposing to my colleagues in the public meeting some technical amendments to Bill No. 000025. Those will be the deleting of the word where the sentence reads, "The contract or the department shall provide. . ." The "shall" will be deleted and inserted will be the word "may." Later on, where it reads, "but not limited to community development housing, neighborhood gardening, landscaping, play areas, side yards, or any other uses," we will insert the word or other "legal" uses. And later on, in the next sentence, where it talks about "a fence or other protective device is unnecessary," that word will be stricken, and the word "necessary" will be inserted. And then "based on a planned reuse of a vacant lot," the additional language is "by an abutting or nearby property owner, community development corporation, community-based or block organization." And just one typo issue -- "or other unique circumstances," delete the comma and insert a semicolon. 104 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 Gentlemen, I am under the impression, based on your earlier conversations, that the Department, with those proposed amendments, maintains its support for the bill?
I have another meeting. Could I be recorded as voting aye on Bill 000025.
I have a question 105 4/25/00 L&I - BILL 000025 for L&I. I just want to make sure we're all on the same page when it comes to exactly the configuration of how we're going to fence lots. You heard testimony earlier where one of the gentleman indicated that they should be fenced on all four sides, including the perimeter wall of the property adjacent to the vacant lot. In the legislation, is there specifics on exactly, are we just fencing each end, are we going to run the fence the length of the property? Because, again, I've heard the community say that they want fencing on all four sides of the lot. Now, that could change the whole deal.