m. - - - BILL NO. 990078 - Authorizing Regional Performing Arts Center to construct, maintain encroachments. BILL NO. , and 17th St. BILL NO. 980720 - Authorizing Pietro's Coal Oven Pizzeria, to construct, maintain encroachments. BILL NO. 980747 - Authorizing paving of Park Ave. BILL NO. 980802 - Authorizing owners of Gianna's Restaurant to construct, maintain encroachments. BILL NO. 980898 - Authorizing Stop signs on Westmoreland St. at intersection of Amber Street. BILL NO. 980899 - Authorizing Stop signs on Venango Street at intersection of Sepviva Street. BILL NO. 980900 - Authorizing Stop signs on 3rd Street at George Street. BILL NO. 980924 - Establishing parking regulation on Broad Street, west side, Ellsworth to Federal St. BILL NO. , north side, Greene St. to Wayne. BILL NO. 980926 - Authorizing revision of City Plan 177 by striking from City Plan Mayland St. BILL NO. 980929 - Authorizing revision of City Plan 58 by striking Nectarine Street. BILL NO. 980946 - Granting permission to Marvin Bey to construct, use and maintain electrical line. BILL NO. 980947 - Granting permission to Williams Communications to construct, maintain, operate, replace and remove telecommunications system. - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center Plaza, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 BILL NO. 980948 - Authorizing Mel Heifetz, to construct, maintain a canopy. BILL NO. 980951 - Amending Title of Philadelphia Code to prohibit placement of dumpsters in Area 4 Shopping Center Districts. BILL NO. 980968 - Granting permission to PA Hospital 5 to construct, use and maintain fiber optic cables and fire alarm cables. 6 BILL NO. 980969 - Granting permission to Nifty Fifty's to operate and maintain an open air 7 sidewalk cafe. BILL NO. 990029 - Authorizing Sheraton University 8 City to construct, maintain an electrified marquee. 9 BILL NO. 990030 - Authorizing Sheraton University City to construct, maintain various 10 encroachments. BILL NO. 990031 - Granting permission to West Phila. Firehouse Assoc. to operate and maintain an open air sidewalk cafe. BILL NO. 990035 - Authorizing revision of City Plan 187, by striking portions of Belgrade St. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO, Chair COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN, Vice Chair COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL - - - I N D E X BILL 980924 PAGE Catherine Confair, Analyst, PPA----------------- BILL 980925 Catherine Confair, Analyst, PPA----------------- BILL 980717 Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager, Department of Streets------------------------ Martin Soffer, Representative, City Planning Commission----------------------------------- BILL 980747 8 Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager, Department of Streets------------------------ BILL 980926 Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager, Department of Streets------------------------ Martin Soffer, Representative, City Planning Commission----------------------------------- 11 Francis E. , Representative, Pep Boys and Lindy Apartments-------------------- BILL 980929 Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager, Department of Streets------------------------ Martin Soffer, Representative, City Planning Commission----------------------------------- 14 BILL 990035 Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager, Department of Streets------------------------ Martin Soffer, Representative, City Planning Commission----------------------------------- BILL 980951 Brian J.
) BILL 980968 PAGE Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, Department of Streets-------------------------- 43 BILL 980969 Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, Department of Streets-------------------------- 45 BILL 990029 Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, Department of Streets-------------------------- 46 BILL 990030 Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, Department of Streets-------------------------- 48 BILL 990031 Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, Department of Streets-------------------------- 50 BILL 990078 Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, Department of Streets-------------------------- 51 George Shaffer, Representative, Performing Arts Center----------------------------------------- 56 BILL 980898 Charlie Trainor, Acting Chief Traffic Engineer, Department of Streets-------------------------- 67 BILL 980899 Charlie Trainor, Acting Chief Traffic Engineer, Department of Streets------------------------- 68 BILL 980900 Charlie Trainor, Acting Chief Traffic Engineer, Department of Streets------------------------- 79 - - - PUBLIC MEETING----------------------------------- 93 - - - 5 BILL 980924 CHAIRMAN DiCICCO: Good afternoon, everyone. The Committee on Streets and Services is now in session. In attendance with me today are Councilmembers Rizzo, Cohen, Mariano, and O'Neill. I think we have two parking bills, so we might run those first, and then we will go into the regular rotation of bills. I will read the title of the first bill, since there is no clerk here. Bill No. 980924, Establishing a parking regulation on Broad Street, west side, Ellsworth Street to Federal Street. Please state your name, for the record.
My name is Catherine Confair. I am an Analyst with the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Good afternoon. Bill No. 980924, introduced by Council President Verna by request. This bill establishes a parking regulation on Broad Street, west side, Ellsworth Street to Federal Street. This new regulation has been in effect for a period of at least eight months, with 6 BILL 980925 no apparent problems. The Philadelphia Parking Authority recommends favorable consideration of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Are there any questions from the committee for this witness? Is there anyone else who would like to testify for or against this bill? I will read the title of the next bill, Bill No. 980925, Establishing parking regulations on Maplewood Avenue, north side, Greene Street to Wayne Avenue.
Bill No. 15 980925, introduced by Councilwoman Miller by request. This bill establishes a parking regulation on Maplewood Avenue, north side, Greene Street to Wayne Avenue. This new regulation has been in effect for a period of at least eight months, with no apparent problems. The Philadelphia Parking Authority recommends favorable consideration of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Are there any 7 BILL 980717 questions from the committee for this witness? Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Thank you. By the way, Catherine, we have about more bills that are not parking related. You are 8 welcome to stay. 9
No, thank you. I will 10 pass. 11 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Are you sure we 12 can't convince you? 13
Thank you. 14 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The clerk will 15 read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 980717, an Ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 128 of an area bounded by Cambria Street, 19th Street, Indiana Avenue, and 17th Street, by striking from the City Plan and vacating 18th Street from Cambria Street to Indiana Avenue, and reserving and placing on the City Plan a certain right-of-way for drainage purposes and water main purposes, under certain terms and conditions. 8 BILL 980717 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Please identify yourself for the record, please.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. My name is Paul Lonie, Survey Bureau Manager with the Department of Streets. And the Streets Department would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 10 980717. This is not an Administration Ordinance, but an Ordinance requested by Mr. Larry L. Anthonsen, President of the Concord Products Company of Camden, New Jersey. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire a safe, secure parking area for the proposed new manufacturing location of Concord Products Company and, hence, attract employees to the Philadelphia area. This Ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to your committee for favorable action. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Please state your name for the record.
Good afternoon, 9 BILL 980717 Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Martin Soffer from the City Planning Commission. The proposed Ordinance authorizes the striking from the City Plan and the vacating of a minor street located in the Woodstock section of North Philadelphia. The purpose of this Ordinance is to enable the Concord Products Company to provide employees secured, fenced parking in the bed of this unneeded street. Therefore, by action at its meeting on October 22, 1998, the Planning Commission recommends that Bill No. 980717 be approved. Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for this witness from any members of the committee? Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Hearing none, Paul, why don't we, I am not sure, just all of your bills we'll do in that order. Just give us the number, and then Robin will read the title of the bill.
Bill No. 980747, an Ordinance authorizing the paving of Park Avenue, under certain terms and conditions.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Paul Lonie. I represent the Department of Streets. We would like to give the following testimony on Bill No. 980747: This is not an Administration Ordinance, but an Ordinance requested by Mr. Ben Etheridge, Poplar Enterprises Development Corporation, 117 Water Street, Baltimore, Maryland. The purpose of this Ordinance is to pave Park Avenue so as to improve the property of the West Popular Nehemiah Home Ownership Project. This Ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to your committee for favorable action. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for this witness from the members of the committee? Anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill. 11 BILL 980926
Bill No. 980926, an Ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on portions of City Plan No. 177, by striking from the City Plan Mayland Street, from Stenton Avenue to Crittenden Street, under certain terms and conditions.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. My name is Paul Lonie. The Streets Department would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 980926. This is not an Administration Ordinance, but an Ordinance requested by Mr. Francis Gleeson, Esquire, 7344 Frankford Avenue, who represents Pep Boys and Lindy Apartments. The purpose of this Ordinance is to grant the legal authority to close the 1300 block of Mayland Street to secure the area. This Ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to the committee for favorable action. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Identify yourself for the record.
Good afternoon, Chairman, members of the committee. My name is 12 BILL 980926 Martin Soffer, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. The proposed Ordinance authorizes the striking from the City Plan of an unneeded paper street located in the West Oak Lane section of Northwest Philadelphia. The purpose of this Ordinance is to secure and restrict access to the area by removal of this unimproved street. Therefore, by action of its meeting on December 17, 1998, the Planning Commission recommends that Bill No. 980926 be approved. Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions? Anyone else here who wishes to testify? Mr. Gleeson. FRANCIS GLEESON, ESQ.: Well, just briefly, I do represent the adjoining owners, which is Pep Boys. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Could you speak into the microphone.
I do represent the adjoining owners, which is Pep Boys and Lindy owners, and there is no objection to that. 13 BILL 980929 And we are talking about a street that's never actually been paved. It existed nowhere but on the City Plan. It has become kind of a dumping ground and hangout for kids to do bad things. And that's what we have in mind, is getting rid of that problem. Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And your name for the record, sir.
I'm Francis E. Gleeson, G-L-E-E-S-O-N, Junior. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Any questions from the committee for this witness? Anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? The clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 980929, an Ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 58 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Nectarine Street from 10th Street to a point approximately 240 feet eastwardly therefrom, under certain terms and 14 BILL 980929 conditions.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Paul Lonie, and the Streets Department would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 980929. This is not an Administration Ordinance, but an Ordinance requested by Mr. David Grasso of Metro Development Company, 232 North 22nd Street, Philadelphia, who represents Spring Pac Associates. The purpose of this Ordinance is to allow Metro Development to construct a building entrance and parking lot in the area. This Ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to your committee for favorable action.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee. My name is Martin Soffer from the City Planning Commission. The proposed Ordinance authorizes the striking from the City Plan and the vacating of a minor, unneeded street in the Callowhill Industrial District of North Philadelphia. The purpose of this Ordinance is to 15 BILL 990035 allow for the construction of a new, handicapped accessible entranceway in the bed of the street. This action will support the renovation of the vacant Packard Press office building. Therefore, by action at its meeting on December 17, 1998, the Planning Commission recommends that Bill No. 980929 be approved. Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for these witnesses from any members of the committee? Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990035, an Ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 187 by striking from the City Plan and vacating the legally opened portions of Belgrade Street, from Butler Street to Wheatsheaf Lane, under certain terms and conditions.
Good afternoon, 16 BILL 990035 Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. My name is Paul Lonie. The Streets Department would like to offer the following testimony on Bill No. 990035: This is not an Administration Ordinance, but an Ordinance requested by Mr. Carl Rost, President of Biddle Company, 2500 East Wheatsheaf Lane, Philadelphia, PA. The purpose of this Ordinance is to allow Biddle Company to secure the area and to expand their parking facilities. This Ordinance is supported by the Department of Streets and is recommended to your committee for favorable action.
Good afternoon, Chairman and members of the committee. I am Martin Soffer from the Planning Commission. The proposed Ordinance authorizes the striking of a paper street located in the Bridesburg Section of North Philadelphia. The purpose of this Ordinance is to remove a legal encumbrance of the street and allow the adjacent property owners to clean, secure, and further use the area for surface parking. Therefore, by action at its meeting 17 BILL 980951 on February 4, 1999, the Planning Commission recommends that Bill No. 990035 be approved. Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Any questions for these witnesses from members of the committee? Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Any objection to suspension of Rules on any of these, Paul? You don't have any problems with that?
Bill No. 980951, an Ordinance amending Title 10, entitled Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity of the Philadelphia Code, to prohibit the placement of dumpsters in the public right-of-way in Area Shopping Center Districts.
I am here to testify on this. Mr. Chairman, I asked residents that asked for this legislation not to come down. I thought the photos would be instructive. This could 18 BILL 980951 be in any Area Shopping Center District that this occurs. Instead of putting the dumpsters on the parking lot or in some enclosed area, they put them on the sidewalk behind the shopping center. People live across the street. I will just pass these down for the committee to look at, just to see what these people have been putting up with. But at the same time the City Solicitor who drafted the bill called and said they left out a very important sentence that says, "The Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby ordains," in between the title and the beginning of Section 16 1. I am going to pass that out to the committee, and I have a copy for the stenographer, a revised bill with that in there. Call it a technicality, except the bill would have no effect if it weren't there. So the bill is straight-forward. It doesn't allow dumpsters on the sidewalk or the public right-of-way in an Area Shopping Center District. 19 BILL 980951 And I would point out that to have an Area Shopping Center District, you have to have a shopping center, which means that you have a fairly large parking lot. And that is where the dumpsters or the corrals for the dumpsters should be, unless there is a very clean way of doing it somewhere else. And I'm not going to dictate where they put them, but rather prohibit where they shouldn't put them. These pictures are an indication of what I will call worse case scenario that this bill 15 would deal with. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions? Councilman Rizzo.
Councilman O'Neill, when you say placing them on the sidewalk, it is hard for me to understand that. Would it totally block the sidewalk?
I will wait for the pictures to go down, because your question will probably be easier answered by the photos. You can actually see what they look 20 BILL 980951 like when they are on the sidewalk. This is out to the curb on almost each one.
No. They would never put them in the sidewalk in front of their parking lot, where people drive in. They put it behind their buildings, where people live across the street. But the customers coming in with their cars to the shopping center don't see that; just the people that have to hear and see that kind of thing.
Because a handicapped person in a wheelchair couldn't get 21 BILL 980951 through with these dumpsters; they would have to go onto the roadway.
Councilman O'Neill, where would you suggest to put these dumpsters? Because I have the same problem.
I would suggest they find a place in their parking lot or they find a place in one of their stores in the back. They can actually put dumpsters flush with the building wall, with the dumpsters on the inside. Okay? Yes, that requires some talk with the tenant, it requires some negotiation, some giving up by the landlord. But the easy place is out in the parking lot.
Councilman, could I suggest, so we don't get accused --
Councilman O'Neill, these corrals, would it be all right if it was on the blacktop? 22 BILL 980951
It can be on the blacktop. That's what I'm suggesting as a possibility. But I would leave it up to the landlord, complying with the Ordinance, they already have this large shopping center property, to decide where to put it. I would just mention, for the record, that not in Area Shopping Center Districts, but in general commercial areas where there isn't a parking lot, a lot of places in Center City, a few years a dumpster bill was passed and a dumpster fee, the annual fee -- and I can be corrected if somebody is here from L & I -- but my understanding is your dumpster fee is $50. But if it is in the right-of-way -- and you have some places in older neighborhoods where that is the only place it can be -- it is $300 to put it in the right-of-way. I am suggesting in an Area Shopping Center District that we not just have a higher fee to do what you're looking at in those photos, but it be prohibited completely because there is alternative space to do it. 23 BILL 980951
Councilman O'Neill, could I suggest, before we enforce this, that we communicate to all of these landlords and businesses via letter that they need to comply, rather than the first time they hear about it is when L & I comes to cite them?
I will ask L & I to do that as a courtesy. That's fine. I am not trying to put them out of business; I am trying to clean up their act.
Constantly we get accused of passing legislation and not passing the information onto the businesses. I think they would appreciate it.
That's fine. I don't have any problem with that. I will ask L & I to be reasonable in their enforcement.
I think Councilman O'Neill's pictures prove also that carelessness exists in the way in which the dumpsters are permitted to be overloaded.
And so I think the bill is a very good one. 24 BILL 980720
Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any other questions? The clerk will please read the title of the next bill.
And I will just leave the amendment with you, the amendment being the insertion of, "The Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby ordains." I have given everybody a revised copy of what is a very short bill, and that is the amendment. So I would ask that that bill be amended as such, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: So noted. Any other questions? The clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 980720, an Ordinance authorizing Pietro's Coal Oven Pizzeria, Inc., located at 121-123 South Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147, to construct and maintain various encroachments onto and over the north 25 BILL 980720 footway of South Street, adjacent to 121-123 South Street, under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Good afternoon. Please state your name. Identify yourself for the record.
Good afternoon, Chairman DiCicco. My name is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer for the Streets Department, representing the department in today's testimony. Good afternoon, Councilmembers. In reference to Bill No. 980720, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of Pietro's Coal Oven Pizzeria, Incorporated, located at 121-123 South Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the legal authorization to construct and maintain the following encroachments adjacent to the restaurant property at 121-123 South Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147: Three wooden decks, one ground level and two that are elevated, that encroach a maximum of 5 foot onto and above the north footway of South Street adjacent to the property. The ground level BILL 980802 deck allows approximately foot of pedestrian footway. There are two wooden canopies also that project a maximum of foot over and above the 6 north footway of South Street, with a minimum 7 vertical clearance of foot. The Department of Streets has reviewed the plan of this property and has no 10 objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from the committee for this witness? Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 980802, an Ordinance authorizing Richard Grande and Anna Grande, owners of Gianna's Restaurant, 721 to 723 Wharton Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147, to construct and maintain one bench anchored into the footway and two electrified private streetlights and appurtenances in the north footway of Wharton Street, under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Please identify 27 BILL 980802 yourself for the record.
Chairman DiCicco, my name is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, representing the Department of Streets in today's testimony. In reference to Bill No. 980802, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of Richard Grande and Anna Grande, owners of Gianna's Restaurant, 721 to 723 Wharton Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the legal authorization to construct and maintain the following encroachments adjacent to their restaurant property at 721 to 723 Wharton Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19147: One bench, 6 foot in length, anchored into the footway and located approximately 18 inches north of the north curb face of Wharton Street; two private electrified streetlights and appurtenances located approximately 18 inches north of the north curb face of Wharton Street. These three ornamental encroachments fall within an area of 228 foot to 258 foot east of 28 BILL 980802 the east curb line of South 8th Street. The addition of these encroachments, when in place, will allow approximately foot 5 unobstructed pedestrian passage. 6 The Committee of Highway Supervisors 7 have been reviewing this plan, with expected 8 approval shortly. Therefore, the Department of Streets has no objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
What is the purpose of the bench? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It is a restaurant.
For people waiting? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Patrons waiting to go in. I am familiar with the restaurant. In fact, I had dinner there the other night. It is in my neighborhood. They have put an extensive amount of money into an old building, and just aestheticly it 29 BILL 980946 adds a little flavor to the restaurant. Any other questions for this witness? The clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 980946, an Ordinance granting permission to Marvin Bey, 2009 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145, owner of the newsstand located on the northeast corner of 20th Street and Snyder Avenue, to construct, use, and maintain an overhead electrical line from an existing utility pole on Snyder Avenue, over and across the north footway of Snyder Avenue, for the purpose of supplying electrical service to his newsstand, under certain terms and conditions.
Good afternoon, Chairman DiCicco, members of Council. My name is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, representing the Department of Streets in today's testimony. In reference to Bill No. 980946, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of Marvin Bey, owner and operator of the newsstand located on the 30 BILL 980946 northeast corner of 20th and Snyder Avenue. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the permission to construct and maintain electrical services, including conduit and appurtenances, to the above newsstand. Electrical service for newsstands is a precursor for eventual lottery sales conducted by the newsstand operators. This results in queues in the sidewalk, causing unsafe conditions for pedestrians and vehicular traffic, as well. In light of these safety issues, the Department of Streets does not recommend passage of this bill.
As I understand it, that's the standard position taken by the Department of Streets every time there is a request such as the one incorporated in this Ordinance?
I was just waiting to hear whether there had been a change in the department's position. 31 BILL 980946
Hopefully there will be in the future. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Councilman Rizzo.
Is there any offer of an alternative? Was there any recommendation of an alternative to help this person get electrification?
Councilman Rizzo, we are processing his request for electrification. At this time, the newsstand operator and owner has just asked for electrification. He has not asked for a phone service for lottery connection. However, Bell Telephone has been in touch with me, and they have inquired about it.
The Streets Committee and the Council has an unbroken record, also, of overruling the objections of the Streets Department and enacting the legislation.
I am just trying to stop you from having to use your camera.
No. That has just been a longstanding policy of the Streets Department. And we have reached a truce; they state 32 BILL 980947 their position, we take our action.
That's correct, Councilman. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Maybe some day we can reach agreement.
Actually, Councilman Cohen, what I'm trying to do at Licenses and Inspection is to get a form together for especially new newsstand operators to fill out a form whether they definitely will ask for electrification just for the purpose of heat and light, as opposed to lottery, in which case the Administration's position may change just on electricity.
Very good. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any other questions for this witness? Anyone else here who wishes to testify on behalf of the bill? No. 20 The clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 980947, an Ordinance granting permission to Williams Communications, Incorporated, registered to do business in Pennsylvania, and its successors, 33 BILL 980947 assignees, and agents, to construct, maintain, operate, replace, and remove a telecommunications system in and under the public rights-of-way and city street, and/or to place such telecommunication system within the existing facilities owned by Bell Atlantic PA, Incorporated, PECO Energy Company, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, Consolidated Rail Corporation, National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Delaware River Port Authority, CSX Corporation, or other entity holding a grant pursuant to other city Ordinances, all under certain terms and conditions.
Chairman DiCicco, members of Council, my name is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer representing the Department of Streets in today's testimony. In reference to Bill No. 980947, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but an Ordinance 20 requested by Williams Communications, Incorporated, located at Williams Center, P.O. Box 22067, Tulsa 22 Oklahoma, 74121. 23 The purpose of this Ordinance is to 24 acquire from City Council the legal authority and 25 permission to construct and maintain a fiber optics 34 1 BILL 980947 network and telecommunications system in and under the public right-of-way at various locations along their specified route. The Committee of Highway Supervisors have been reviewing this plan, with expected approval shortly. Therefore, the Department of Streets has no objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for this witness from members of the committee? Councilman Cohen.
Chairman, is this the usual fiber optic Ordinance that we have passed on other occasions to permit work underground? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: To the best of my knowledge, yes. Isn't that correct, Mr. Longshore?
That's correct, Councilman Cohen. The only difference being the Williams Communications, basically, is just running from one end of Center City and exiting at Ben Franklin Parkway. They don't intend to provide customer 35 BILL 980947 service for the people in the city; it is just a connection route. They are renting duct space from, I believe, PECO and SEPTA.
They do, through Public Property's Code. The exact amount at this time, I'm not aware of.
I am just wondering, are there any environmental concerns?
There will be very little digging in reference to this communications company. They are basically -- I think there are only two locations where they are doing a small amount of digging in the manhole. It is basically leasing existing duct space from the utilities. 36 BILL 980948
I just hope the departments do the necessary monitoring, just in the event there are some problems that develop. Otherwise, this is part of, really, the strengthening and rebuilding of much of the circuitry involved in modern day communications.
All right. Thank you. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any other questions for this witness from the committee? Anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill. Before we get into that, I just want to let the record reflect that Councilwoman Miller is now in attendance.
Bill No. 980948, an Ordinance authorizing Mel Heifetz, 304 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, owner of the property 1132 Spruce Street, also known as 301 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, to construct and maintain a canopy with support columns 37 BILL 980948 on and over the east footway of South 12th Street, under certain terms and conditions.
Chairman DiCicco, members of City Council, my name is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, representing the Department of Streets in today's testimony. In reference to Bill No. 980948, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of Mel Heifetz, 304 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, owner of the property 1132 Spruce Street, also known as 301 South 12th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the permission to construct and maintain a canopy with support columns projecting approximately a maximum of 10 foot over the east footway of South 12th Street, with a minimum vertical clearance above the footway of 10 feet, inch. 21 The canopy is 7 foot, 8 inches wide 22 and located from a point approximately 63 feet south 23 of the south curb line of Spruce Street, to a point 24 approximately 70 feet, 8 inches, south of the south 25 curb line of Spruce Street. 38 BILL 980948 The Department of Streets has reviewed the plan of this property and has no 4 objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from any members of the committee for this witness? Is there anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? The gentleman in the back, do you have charts for this bill? No. Okay.
That awning goes across one side of the street? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It is an awning that covers the footway to the entrance of the building on 12th Street. It comes from the face of the building, out towards the curb line.
Just on one side of the street? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Just one.
I am a bit confused, because the address as given indicates -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It is a corner property. It is on the southeast corner of 12th and 39 BILL 980948 Spruce. And the entrance to the inn is on the 12th Street side. And this would be a canopy leading into the entranceway.
Sounds like a very good idea. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It is completed already. It is up already. The guy did a major, major renovation to the building. It was the old -- I don't know if I remember the name of the old place it was.
Just out of curiosity, isn't this the cart before the horse? How does that work? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I believe there were preliminary approvals to get to this point. I think that the applicant had inquired as to what were the requirements for the canopy, the materials that needed to be used, the length, the width. And I believe there were some preliminary approvals that this would be approved by the Streets Department. So in anticipation of approval, they -- this is not unusual. 40 BILL 980948 In other cases these things are done, am I correct, Mr. Longshore?
Can you get a permit to do that before this committee's approval?
In this case, this canopy was approved by the Department of Streets, the concept. However, Licenses and Inspection code differs from us, in that this canopy encroached more than two-thirds of the width of the sidewalk, I believe. And, in that case, we asked the owner to legalize the encroachment as it existed. It has been up. There are various --
Part of it, I would say yes. I would say half of it was legalized as far as the structure, and then the name of Alexander Inn was put on to meet L & I's restrictive code.
Not to beat this to death, but just, if this would have been a new application, just so I understand, a construction permit, building permit, whatever, would have been 41 BILL 980948 necessary; is that right?
But to get that building permit, that would have first needed approval of this committee to get that permit; is that correct?
It violated Licenses and Inspections code for total encroachment over the sidewalk. When there is a sign on the canopy, which is the name of this property, it is just a sign Alexander Inn, the sign itself violates the Zoning Code from Licenses and Inspection, where it can't span more than two-thirds of the width of the sidewalk. It doesn't violate the Streets Department code. In which case, the owner was instructed to legalize the canopy itself to meet both codes, Licenses and Inspection and the Streets Department.
Is this the kind 42 BILL 980948 of situation where the property owner has two options, to go before City Council or to go before the Zoning Board? In any event, I know Mr. Heifetz has been in business at that location as one of the finest -- I think right across the street, one of the finest florists, and is kind of a stickler for meeting every requirement of the city. I gather what happened was that the L & I violation was discovered later, after he had all the permits from the appropriate departments.
Well, actually, Mr. Heifetz wasn't served an actual violation. What happened was, the drawing, the depiction of his canopy, was presented to my department, at which case we at that point thought there was no reason for an Ordinance, just a building permit from Licenses and Inspection. However, Licenses and Inspection, when I showed it to them, said, it violates our zoning ordinances. In which case we opted to go for a City Council Ordinance to legalize.
Sounds to me like good judgment. 43 BILL 980968 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any other questions?
You can thank the Chairman for that. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any other questions for this witness from the committee? Anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 980968, an Ordinance granting permission to Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, to construct, use, and maintain conduit with fiber optic cables and fire alarm cables under and across Perth Street, between Manning Street and Locust Street, all under certain terms and conditions.
Chairman DiCicco, members of City Council, my name is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, and representing the Department of Streets today in testimony in reference to Bill No. 980968. This is not an Administration 44 BILL 980968 Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of Pennsylvania Hospital, 800 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the permission to construct, use, and maintain conduit with fiber optic cables and fire alarm cables under and across Perth Street, between Manning Street and Locust Street. The conduit bank will start at a point approximately 79 foot north of the north curb line of Manning Street, to a point approximately 121 foot north of the north curb line of Manning Street. The duct bank will contain four ducts that are 4 inches in diameter. The Committee of Highway Supervisors is currently reviewing this application, with approval expected shortly. Therefore, the Department of Streets has no objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions from the committee for this witness? Anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? 45 BILL 980969 Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 980969, an Ordinance granting permission to 1356 Corporation, trading as Nifty Fifty's, located at 1356 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147, to operate and maintain an open air sidewalk cafe on the east footway of South 10th Street and the north footway of Passyunk Avenue, adjacent to 1256 East Passyunk Avenue, under certain terms and conditions.
Chairman DiCicco, members of City Council, my name is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, representing the Department of Streets at today's testimony. In reference to Bill No. 980969, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of 1356 Corporation, also known as Nifty Fifty's, located at 1356 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19147. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the permission to operate and maintain an open air sidewalk cafe, encroaching approximately 4 foot, 6 inches on the east footway of South 10th Street, and encroaching 4 feet, 6 46 BILL 990029 inches on the north footway of East Passyunk Avenue. Both locations will utilize three tables and allow feet, 6 inches of unobstructed 6 footway for pedestrians. 7 The Department of Streets has reviewed the plan for this property, and we have no 9 objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Are there any questions from the committee for this witness? Anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990029, an Ordinance authorizing Sheraton University City, 3501 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, operator of the property 3501 Chestnut Street, to construct and maintain an electrified marquee attached to the property 3501 Chestnut Street, and projecting over the north footway of Chestnut Street, under certain terms and conditions.
Good afternoon, Chairman DiCicco. My name is Mike Longshore, Chief 47 BILL 990029 Permits Officer, representing the Department of Streets in today's testimony. In reference to Bill No. 990029, and in companion Bill 990030, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of Sheraton University City, operator of the property 3501 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the permission to construct and maintain various encroachments which includes the following: An electrified cantilevered marquee which projects 12 feet, 4 inches over the north footway of Chestnut Street, and has a vertical clearance above the footway of 10 feet, 2 inches. The marquee is constructed of structural steel and wood frame. Other encroachments include planter areas, retaining and coping walls, step with handrails, and a handicapped accessibility ramp, all which encroach a maximum of 5 foot, 6 inches onto and under the north footway of Chestnut Street. The Department of Streets has reviewed the plan for this property, and we have no 48 BILL 990030 objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for this witness from members of the committee? Anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990030, an Ordinance authorizing Sheraton University City, 3501 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, operator of the property located at 3501 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, to construct and maintain various encroachments onto and under the north footway of Chestnut Street, under certain terms and conditions.
Good afternoon, Chairman DiCicco, members of City Council. My name is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer representing the Department of Streets in today's testimony. In reference to Bill No. 990030, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of Sheraton University City, operator of the property 3501 49 BILL 990030 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the permission to construct and maintain various encroachments which includes the following: An electrified cantilevered marquee which projects foot, 4 inches over the 8 north footway of Chestnut Street and has a vertical 9 clearance above the footway of 10 feet, 2 inches. 10 The marquee is constructed of structural steel and 11 wood frame. 12 Other encroachments include planter areas, retaining and coping walls, steps with handrails, and a handicapped accessibility ramp, all which encroach a maximum of 5 feet, 6 inches onto and under the north footway of Chestnut Street. The Department of Streets has reviewed the plan for this property and has no 19 objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for this witness from members of the committee? Anyone else here who wishes to testify for or against the bill? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill. 50 BILL 990031
Bill No. 990031, an Ordinance granting permission to West Philadelphia Firehouse Associates, located at 701 South 50th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19139, to operate and maintain an open air sidewalk cafe on the north footway of Baltimore Avenue adjacent to 701 South 50th Street, under certain terms and conditions.
Good afternoon, Chairman DiCicco and members of City Council. My name is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, representing the Department of Streets in today's testimony. In reference to Bill No. 990031, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of West Philadelphia Firehouse Associates, owners of the property at 701 South 50th Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19139. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the permission to operate and maintain an open air sidewalk cafe encroaching approximately 8 feet on the north footway of Baltimore Avenue, leaving approximately 10 feet of 51 BILL 990078 unobstructed footway, for a distance of approximately 46 feet east of the intersection of 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue. The Department of Streets has reviewed the plan for this property, and we have no 7 objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for this witness from members of the committee? Anyone else here who wishes to testify? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 990078, an Ordinance authorizing the Regional Performing Arts Center, 123 South Broad Street, Suite 2170, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19109, owner of the building to be constructed at 300-312 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19109, to construct and maintain various encroachments under, over, and on the public rights-of-way at Broad Street, 15th Street, and Spruce Street, under certain terms and conditions.
Good afternoon, Chairman DiCicco, members of City Council. My name 52 BILL 990078 is Mike Longshore, Chief Permits Officer, representing the Department of Streets in today's testimony. In reference to Bill No. 990078, this is not an Administration Ordinance, but rather an Ordinance by request on behalf of the Regional Performing Arts Center, 123 South Broad Street, Suite 2170, Philadelphia, PA, 19109, owner of the building at 300 to 312 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19109. The purpose of this Ordinance is to acquire from City Council the legal authority to construct and maintain various encroachments under, over, and on the public rights-of-way of Broad Street, 15th Street, and Spruce Street.
The encroachments are as follows: Continuous strip footing projecting foot, inches onto and under the west footway of Broad Street at a depth of approximately 32 feet, beginning at a point 14 foot south of the south curb line of Spruce Street, to a point approximately 247 feet south of the south curb line of Spruce Street; A ventilation areaway projecting approximately 3 feet, 2 inches onto and under the 53 BILL 990078 west footway of Broad Street that has a metal grate flush with the footway, and beginning at a point approximately 225 feet south of the south curb line of Spruce Street, to a point approximately 236 feet, 4 inches south of the south curb line of Spruce Street; An electrified concrete and structural steel canopy for the main entrance, projecting approximately 9 feet, inches over the 11 west footway of Broad Street, with a width of approximately 11 feet, 6 inches and a minimum vertical clearance of 11 foot, 7 inches above the footway; An outdoor dining terrace from the third story of the building with an electrified canopy, projecting approximately a maximum of 18 feet, 11 inches over the west footway of Broad 19 Street, with a minimum vertical clearance of 20 approximately 32 feet, 4 inches above the footway, and beginning at a point approximately 56 feet -- excuse me; beginning at a point approximately 56 feet, 8 inches south of the south curb line of Spruce Street, to a point approximately 197 feet, 4 inches south of the south curb line of Spruce 54 BILL 990078 Street; A continuous strip footing projecting 1 foot, 2 inches into and under the south footway of Spruce Street, at a depth of approximately 32 feet, and beginning at a point approximately 21 foot, 10 inches west of the west curb line of Broad Street, to a point approximately 397 feet, 2 inches west of the west curb line of Broad Street; Electrified cantilevered pedestrian canopies, aluminum flagpoles with banners, poster cases and window box projections made of steel, masonry, aluminum and glass projecting approximately a maximum of foot, 6 inches onto and over the 15 south footway of Spruce Street, with a minimum vertical clearance of approximately 15 foot, 4 inches above the south footway of Spruce Street, and beginning at a point approximately 74 feet, 8 inches west of the west curb line of Broad Street to a point approximately 411 feet, 10 inches west of the west curb line of Broad Street; Continuous strip footing projecting foot, 2 inches into and under the east footway of 15th Street, at a depth of approximately 32 feet and beginning at a point approximately 16 feet south of 55 BILL 990078 the south curb line of Spruce Street, to a point approximately 263 feet south of the south curb line of Spruce Street; Decorative brick and stone bands on the facade of the building, projecting approximately 1 and one-quarter inches over the east footway of 15th Street and continuous along the facade; A platform to support the cooling towers for the building's heating, ventilation, air conditioning system, projecting a maximum of approximately 6 feet from the building line over the east footway of 15th Street, with a width of approximately 98 foot, 4 inches and with a minimum vertical clearance of approximately 33 feet, 11 inches above the footway; A cantilevered and electrified stage door canopy projecting a maximum of 2 feet over the east footway of 15th Street, with a width of approximately 12 feet and with a minimum vertical clearance of approximately 14 foot, 3 inches above the footway; Various window boxes projecting a maximum of approximately 2 feet over the east footway of 15th Street, with an overall width of 56 BILL 990078 approximately 98 foot, inches and with a minimum vertical clearance of approximately 9 foot above the 4 footway. The plans for this project have been reviewed by the Department of Streets, and we have no objection to the passage of this bill. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Councilman Cohen.
I think when the representative of the Streets Department first spoke, he said this is a private bill?
Isn't the Regional Performing Arts Center, is that a private enterprise?
I will refer to Mr. Schaffer. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Please state your name for the record, sir.
My name is George Schaffer. I am with the Regional Performing Arts Center. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and other members of Council. I am here to testify in support of the bill. 57 BILL 990078 The Regional Performing Arts Center is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to raise funds, design, construct, and operate a brand-new building that we are presently in construction on on the southwest corner of Broad and Spruce Street. It will be the future home of the Philadelphia Orchestra and many other members of the performing arts community in this region.
Well, the mystery to me is, why is this not coming from the Administration? Does the Administration have some problem with this? It seems like a major undertaking. Everything I see about it seems very positive for the city. And I am just puzzled as to why it is being presented to us as a private bill.
We are a private agency with a private Board. We are a 501C-3. The Chair is Willard G. Rouse, who many of you know. And we do receive city funds, significant amount of city funds. We have a $245 million budget on our project, 30 million of which has come through the city Capital Program. Thank you very much. And, 58 BILL 990078 you know, other funds have been raised through the community. So I don't know the actual legalities of why this was not considered to be a city-sponsored Ordinance, but we are happy to support it.
That's what amazes me. I thought maybe somewhere along the line I had missed something, and this was a totally private venture of some sort. But it is not. It is part of what we're doing on South Broad Street.
And then not only part of it, but a very major part of what we all hope will bear fruition very shortly. I am just puzzled why it is being treated as if it was some private business venture. And I'm wondering whether or not there was anybody from the Administration that can tell us this. It is the same thing as we have, the same provisions apply as due to these private businesses that, you know, have no direct public 59 BILL 990078 input at all, but it is an owner, you know, wanting the sidewalk terrace, or the use of Public Property for his own business ends. I just am a little troubled.
I understand. My understanding is the City Solicitor's Office felt that this should be treated as a private Ordinance. I don't know factually whether that's true or what the rationale was. But we were happy to comply. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Do you have any information, Mr. Longshore, that might be helpful to this discussion?
I believe my understanding, Councilman Cohen, is, in order to be an Administration Ordinance, it would directly have to involve the Streets Department in this case. In other words, if the Streets Department, through its funding, were to fund this Regional Arts Project, then it would become an Administration Ordinance. However, the funding is coming from various sources, not the Streets Department. It is coming from the federal government, it is coming 60 BILL 990078 from the city, it is coming from, you know, various agencies, also. Therefore, if it was a Streets Ordinance, it would actually be in conjunction with the Chairman DiCicco, as far as changing the city code in reference to Streets Department. That's my understanding. I can check further with the Law Department. But that's always been my understanding, that all Ordinances that are not involved with the Streets Administration are private, are considered private Ordinances by request.
This is a matter of such significance and importance to the city, and in which the city has a very heavy investment of capital and maybe other kinds of funds. We were engaging, trying to get a lot of private-sector funding. I understand why there is the formation of a private corporation to do this. But I am just concerned about why it isn't being treated with -- almost with more dignity and more ceremony than treating it as just a private request from some builder or some owner of a cafe or, you know, whatever, wanting to improve his 61 BILL 990078 private business. This seems to me to be, in a very real sense, public business of a very high level of magnitude and importance to the people of Philadelphia, and I am just wondering about why it is being -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Maybe they wanted to get it done this century, so they figured this would be the quickest way to do it. No disrespect to you. But you know how things get sometimes. It could be.
Let's go ahead and maybe expedite it, if you have no difficulty with it, Mr. Chairman. I would like to raise the question separately, after we act on it, with the City Solicitor. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Absolutely. We have time before the readings. Thank you. Did you want to show us your little pictures? Could you just show it. Councilman Cohen hasn't had the opportunity to see any of the renditions, so I think he might enjoy looking at 62 BILL 990078 those renditions.
I don't know how easily you can see this. This is a computerized drawing prepared by Raphael Vignola giving an indication of visually what this project will look like in the context of the existing neighborhood. This is the University of the Arts, this is the ARCO building, where Joseph's On The Avenue resides. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It is now Bonaparte's.
Bonaparte's. That's right. Wilma Theater is across the street, so City Hall is at the end of the block there. And what we are able to show is a computer drawing of what the Regional Performing Arts Center will look like. And you can get a sense maybe of some of the canopies that project above the public right-of-way, basically in front of the major entrance to the building off of Broad Street. There is an outdoor restaurant up at 63 BILL 990078 the third level, with an outdoor terrace for nice weather, where people can sit outside and sip a drink or munch on a munchie. And some of those physical intrusions are required for functional or aesthetic purposes. And I, frankly, have drawings of all three of the streets, Broad Street, Spruce Street, and 15th Street. I would be happy to review any of the details of some of the rather long reading that Mike Longshore came into. But they are essentially visual or functional intrusions above the public right-of-way, details of which have been reviewed with Commissioner Moy and members of the Streets Department, along with Barbara Kaplan and members of the City Planning Commission. And all of those are in support of the details. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Okay. Could you just quickly just show us the other two.
Is there a representative of the City Planning Commission here 64 BILL 990078 that's going to testify? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: No. 4
Not that I know of. I have a copy of a letter that I could introduce -- I don't have it with me, unfortunately -- wherein they have supported the Ordinance. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: We will take your word on that.
This is Spruce Street, taken from the corner of 15th and Spruce looking back towards Broad Street. So you are coming from Rittenhouse Square, Garden Restaurant, some of that area. The Regional Performing Arts Center is on the right-hand side of the drawing. You can see some of the canopies. You can see a window box which was referred to, some other -- you can see flag poles going up the side. So some of the architectural features of the building in an effort to really make this thing look, you know, one-of-a-kind, world-class quality. When we unveiled these drawings last spring, we received rather widespread support 65 BILL 990078 architecturally, and luckily financially, enabling us to break ground about four months ago. So these are some of the ingredients of this project that, you know, we needed Council's support in order to secure our zoning approval, and ultimately get our foundation permit.
This is the kind of thing that usually attracts vast media attention, you know, because it is a very positive step forward. All right.
The last drawing I have is up 15th Street, which is heading towards a residential section of the community. You are moving off the commercial area. And this side of the building, which is right here, is essentially about as high as the residential community on the west side of 15th Street. And the intrusion is up in this area, for a cooling tower. And you can see, perhaps, a little window intrusion right here, which are the windows for the back stage dressing rooms for the music director of the orchestra and some of the visiting principals and stars that will be 66 BILL 990078 performing. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you.
Are the acoustics going to be as good as at the present academy?
I believe we hired the best acoustician in the world. The three or four fairly recent projects that they have been involved with, the Dallas Symphony Center, the Birmingham Symphony Hall in England, and Luzerne in Switzerland, are receiving rave reviews from the music critics. It is a very, very important part of this project. We have a treasure, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and we believe we need to nurture that treasure by giving them a room to really allow them to shine in their best light. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. Any other questions?
Thank you. The clerk will read the title of the next bill. Charlie, I think you are up, Mr. Trainor.
Bill No. 980898, an 67 BILL 980898 Ordinance authorizing the installation of stop signs on Westmoreland Street, at the intersection of Amber Street. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Please identify yourself for the record.
Charles Trainor, Acting Chief Traffic Engineer for the Streets Department. Good afternoon, Chairman and members of the committee. The Streets Department offers the following testimony in support of Bill No. 980898, authorizing the installation of stop signs on Amber Street and Westmoreland Street in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations. The Traffic and Engineering Study will be forwarded to PennDOT's District Traffic Engineer in order to confirm the city's consistency with current state regulations. City Council will be properly informed on the receipt of a response from PennDOT. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for this witness from the committee? Thank you.
Bill No. 980899, an 68 BILL 980899 Ordinance authorizing the installation of stop signs on Venango Street at the intersection of Sepviva Street.
Charles Trainor, Acting Chief Traffic Engineer. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman, members of the committee. The Streets Department offers the following testimony in support of Bill No. 980899, authorizing the installation of stop signs on Sepviva Street and Venango Street in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations. The Traffic and Engineering Study will be forwarded to PennDOT's District Traffic Engineer in order to confirm the city's consistency with current state regulations. City Council will be promptly informed on the receipt of a response from PennDOT. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for this witness? Councilman Cohen.
What does the letter mean? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: That's what I was going to ask, the same question. 69 BILL 980899
I read the letter, and I haven't the faintest notion of what it means.
Councilman, what we will be doing is, we will be sending our study, our vital statistics, the accident statistics, and what we have determined out to PennDOT, asking them for the review and also for their input on this particular intersection, in accordance with their regulations.
Now, this PennDOT District Traffic Engineer, is that a person who works directly for PennDOT?
The Ordinances that were passed last fall have been sent out recently to PennDOT, and we are waiting for their reply right now.
Have we ever gotten a reply to a letter like this? 70 BILL 980899
We have not sent out before these five ordinances that were passed last fall. We have not sent our studies out to PennDOT for their review.
No, sir. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: They have them in supply. They have them in inventory.
The introduction of the Ordinance to install stop signs at these intersections consistent with state regulations, sir.
Well, but you say, haven't we had those ordinances before?
We have Ordinances for four other intersections for stop signs and one other intersection for traffic signal. 71 BILL 980899 We have sent that, those studies out to PennDOT recently for their review and reply back to us. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: When did you send those out? You said recently.
I am saying within the last two weeks. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: And when were those bills passed, approximately?
Those bills were passed, I believe, in November. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: My question is, why did it take so long for us to get the letters out?
We are being seasoned with salt, pepper. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: You can see they are learning the art of politics by giving us letters saying, we're sending a notice off to PennDOT, and let them be the ones to tell you they can't do it, because we are tired of telling you we can't do it and arguing with us. That's okay.
If that's the case, it is an advance by the Streets Department. 72 BILL 980899 Because the Streets Department up until now felt it was authorized by PennDOT to make the state's decision. And does that mean that now you understand that the state ought to have to make the decision? And the state has always informed Councilmembers, that I know of, and certainly me, that they had no objection to the various requests that have been made by Councilmembers, and they leave it to the city. They don't want to get involved. They have no objection to it.
With the Ordinances passed, Councilman, we are referring these out to PennDOT for their review. On a normal request that we receive from Council, the City Streets Department will respond and do the study. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Right. Because of the Ordinance, is why they are doing this. Prior to that, whatever the decision of the Streets Department was is what we basically had.
Well, they kept Council from even passing the Ordinances. 73 BILL 980899 Well, there is a new day, I guess, in City Council. We have at least moved to the passing of the Ordinance stage. But I'm hoping we are going to move to the point where the Streets Department does not believe that it has veto power over the City Council. And that's a serious matter, and it has been under very serious concern by different members of the Council. And I am sure you will convey that message. Nothing personal is intended here at all. We know it is Streets Department policy. And it does not in any way, it is not in any way, an individual personal decision on our part.
I will convey that message, Councilman. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I will go back to my question, and then I will recognize Councilman Rizzo. Why has it taken us so long to get that report up to PennDOT, from the fall until a week or two ago?
Councilman, in 74 BILL 980899 actuality, after the testimony, after my testimony for the bills that were here, I basically lost track of the bills. I had no idea where they went to or what happened to them. It was not until recently, when questions were asked regarding those intersections, that they were resurrected. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: So is there now a process or a procedure in your department to follow up on these bills so that we have a more timely tracking or correspondence between the Streets Department and PennDOT?
With these three bills, the correspondence will be going out to PennDOT probably before the end of the week. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: So are you the person that's going to be responsible for this? Or if we need to check in your department on the status of correspondence from your department to PennDOT, or what the response may be, who should we contact?
I would say at this time, sir, myself, yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: If there is any 75 BILL 980899 change to the policy, interoffice procedures, would you let us know?
There are stop signs that are installed on city streets, there are stop signs that are installed on state highways. Is Amber and Westmoreland a state highway?
The Ordinance is stating for stop signs to be installed consistent with PennDOT regulations. And if they don't --
If they don't regulate Amber and Westmoreland, I don't think we need their approval to put a stop sign. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I think Mr. Trainor could be given an opportunity to explain that, where the city is governed by certain regulations throughout the Commonwealth.
All traffic control 76 BILL 980899 devices can only be installed based on PennDOT regulations. They have regulations for the installation of traffic signals, regulations for installation of stop signs. Basically, we're talking warrants here that have to be met. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Regardless if it is a city highway or a state highway?
Regardless of whether it is a city highway or whether it is a state highway.
Let me back up a minute. Streets Department took down hundreds of traffic signals throughout the City of Philadelphia, took down hundreds -- if I'm exaggerating, correct me -- hundreds of stop signs, both four-way and other regulated locations. I hope we wouldn't have to go through the process, if you realized that you made a mistake in taking down a traffic signal and wanted to replace that signal. Or there are some locations that I am about to ask you to reinstall four-way stop signs 77 BILL 980899 where they were once, where they have been recently removed. When I say "recently," within the last year or so. I would hope that they would be grandfathered in. That once you took them down, you didn't get PennDOT's approval to take them down, so I don't think you need PennDOT's approval to replace them.
Councilman, I don't believe I am asking for PennDOT's approval here. And on a normal request for an installation of a traffic signal or an all-way stop sign, the Streets Department will conduct a study and respond to the requesting authority with our authority to install those traffic-controll devices. What we are asking PennDOT here is to confirm our consistency with their regulations, as the Ordinance states.
But doesn't that become a major bureaucracy? It could take forever, and we could have dozens of accidents. Couldn't we install a stop sign, and if they say take it down, take it down?
If based on the Streets 78 BILL 980899 Department's study, the stop sign is warranted, the stop sign goes in and it stays in.
In this case, Councilman, the Streets Department studies, or the three cases, the Streets Department studies have determined that the stop signs were not warranted. When we testified here back in November, there was -- PennDOT mentioned about engineering judgment. And basically what we're doing now is, we are asking PennDOT in these three specific cases, and in the other five specific cases, to review our study and see if they have a different result or the same result.
It would be very hard for me to believe. Could you point out one case where they have overruled your decision?
The five that we have sent out are the first five, and these would be the next three. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: We are blazing new trails here.
I think I agree 79 BILL 980900 with Councilman Cohen. There are certain times, there are certain locations, where a stop sign is necessary, that may be worked out on paper. So you are telling me that if PennDOT came back and supported your position, the stop sign would not be installed?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any other questions for this witness? Hearing none, the clerk will read the title of the next bill.
Bill No. 980900, an Ordinance authorizing the installation of stop signs on 3rd Street, at the intersection of George Street.
Good afternoon, Councilman DiCicco and members of Council. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: I think that was my introduction into your office on this one, wasn't it, about three years ago?
Yes, sir. Charles 80 BILL 980900 Trainor, Acting Chief Traffic Engineer. The Streets Department offers the following testimony in support of Bill No. 980900, authorizing the installation of stop signs on 3rd Street and George Street in a manner consistent with PennDOT regulations. The Traffic and Engineering Study will be forwarded to PennDOT's District Traffic Engineer in order to confirm the city's consistency with current state regulations. City Council will be promptly informed on the receipt of a response from PennDOT. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any questions for this witness? Mr. Trainor, just for the record, do you recall you and I had a conversation a year, a year and a half ago, about 3rd Street, between Brown and Girard, when I had originally made a request for a stop sign at 3rd and George? And I believe during that conversation, you had indicated that we might look, you would look into the striping of 3rd Street, kind of putting in some sort of a lane to squeeze the lane down, maybe to slow? 81 BILL 980900 We were looking for some sort of traffic-calming devices or street striping implementation that would calm traffic down. Do you recall that?
I recall that, Councilman. We are basically talking about providing, for want of a better term, edge lines or parking lane lines to narrow the perception of the street to the driving public. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Could you tell me why we never even at least did that?
Councilman, I cannot answer that. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: When you and I left that meeting, we had that understanding, that in lieu of the stop sign, at least we would try that out. What's the next step in the process? You go to someone else in the Streets Department?
The Traffic Engineering Division prepares a work order for the markings, and that work order is then submitted to the Highway Division for inclusion in their marking program. 82 BILL 980900 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: All right. Because I kind of was always waiting for it to happen. And as many times as I drive through there, because it is part of my district, I guess I was being a lot more patient than I probably should have. No disrespect to you. I probably should have called you and said, what's going on here. Because I was down there about a week ago. And the interesting thing is, there was a lot more activity, pedestrian activity, along that strip of 3rd Street now that we have Liberty Lands, which is a community park land that our office was instrumental in getting the Redevelopment Authority to turn over to the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association. And there are kids now that are actually going across 3rd Street. Where about two, three years ago, when we first talked about stop sign installation, there was a limited amount of pedestrian traffic. And there is a considerable amount more, especially in the spring and summer months. Would that change anything in the 83 BILL 980900 mindset of your department as to whether or not another device would be necessary or would be considered? And this is just hypothetical. I am just curious. Would that make a difference?
An increase in traffic volume, be it pedestrians crossing the street or vehicles on George Street, would change the result, could change the result, of the study. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Well, the pedestrian traffic increase is now crossing over from east to west on 3rd, further north than George, somewhere between Brown and I think it's Wildey Street, Wildey Street, which is about a block or two north of -- I mean, south of George. That's the park area is on the east side. There is actually another little park called Oriana Park, which is kind of a dog run, on the west side. And, again, because of the dog park, Oriana Park, and Northern Liberties Lands, there is a lot of activity there, and especially in the summer months. They have concerts outside. And I am just curious if they could 84 BILL 980900 take another look at that.
From the position of the George Street itself, with the activity taking place at a different location, it would not affect the intersection of George. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Of George.
Whether additional signing -- and what's coming to mind, and I don't know what the facilities are at the park, Playground signs, or something of that nature. These are, basically, warning signs to let people know that there is something there. If the pedestrian activity at the other intersection is, to some extent, unexpected and of a significant volume -- and I don't know what that number is -- possibly a warning sign of a pedestrian crossing, with or without the crosswalk, would be appropriate. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: In giving the nature of what I described to you -- and I think I gave you a pretty clear picture of what's going on there -- would not striping, at least in your mind, I am not putting words in your mouth, in your mind, would striping help in any way? 85 BILL 980900 Do you think that may help slow the traffic down, and something we should look to again?
Placing the edge lines in there should be done, yes. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Okay. Is this enough notice for you, or do I need to do another letter?
This is enough notice for me. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you. Councilman Rizzo.
Could you help refresh my memory, I want to get back to stop signs and traffic signals. You talked about the consistency with PennDOT. When you took down four-way stop signs and traffic signals, were those intersections all restudied prior to the removal of four-way stop signs?
Using four-way stop signs specifically, the only four-way stop signs that were converted to a conventional stop were locations that were on federal aid routes, where 86 BILL 980900 funding was received through the state from the federal government for resurfacing purposes. Those intersections had to be justified for their control prior to the resurfacing, prior to the funding. If we had a study that had justified those intersections, they stayed. If the study that we did or tried to recreate could not justify those controls, that was when they were removed. That's the all-way intersections. The traffic signals were different. The traffic signals, we did a study. It was the city's movement to convert the intersections from signals, to an all-way stop. One of the warrants justifying an all-way stop is at a location where a traffic signal is justified. But while you are waiting to place the traffic signal, you can put an all-way stop in. So what we've done is, with these low to moderate -- low-to-medium-volume streets that did not really justify the traffic signal, the all-way stop sign is the correct approach. Because the volumes are equal, and they are close to or above what is required of an all-way. 87 BILL 980900
Yes, Councilman. And based on our -- PennDOT doesn't have regulations, per se, for removing a signal. PennDOT's regulations, as we do projects where we're upgrading traffic signals, those intersections have to be justified, signalized, every time federal or state money is spent on them. They have to be rejustified. And if they don't meet their warrants by the -- by one vehicle, their position is to remove it. Based on the city's experience of over 15 years, the federal government has a signal conversion booklet, work book. And, basically, we look for 80 percent. If you have an existing signal, and you meet 80 percent of the numbers, you can keep it in. We are fighting that battle with PennDOT on existing signals now.
When we look at these 88 BILL 980900 low-to-moderate-volume intersections, it is not just the minor street, but it is also the major street that we are looking at on these conversions.
One of the complaints I get in the Northwest is that stop signs were installed to slow traffic, in many locations to stop the momentum of the traffic. There are a few locations in Northwest, Chestnut Hill especially, where Stop signs have been removed. And now the district's reporting, police district is reporting, accidents occurring at those locations. So you are telling me that if you removed the Stop sign, and in your professional judgment that that Stop sign should be considered to be reinstalled at the location, you can do that because it was once at that location?
If the study indicates that the warrants -- whether it is the volume warrant or whether it is the accident warrant -- has been met, then we can install the Stop sign there. Whether it was there before or not, it doesn't matter. We will do the study, and --
But I'm trying to 89 BILL 980900 cut through this bureaucracy a little bit here. If the sign was there -- it is still not clear why you took it away -- but if you want to put it back, does it require a study?
Okay. Thank you, Mr. Trainor. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Councilman Cohen.
Just as a matter of information, when we pass these bills that require the filing of a grievance satisfactory to the law department getting bonds, the filing of bonds, payment of money, what does the person actually have to do who has the responsibility? What department does the person go? Let me refer, for example, to Bill 23 926, 980926, the closing by striking of the City Plan Mayland Street. Now, that's a private bill that was 90 BILL 980900 introduced, in this case, by Councilwoman Miller. Is there somebody else that -- COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Would you be able to answer this? I know it is really for Mike Longshore.
Does the person, applicant, go to the Streets Department, or do they go to the Law Department? COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Law.
They get a letter from either the Streets Department or the Law Department. Because the Law Department has to draft the agreement, and it got to them for review and signature. So it goes to the Law Department.
Notifies the people that initiated the legislation originally?
So, apparently, there is some record. There is no specific part of the law department, you are familiar with it?
I think in the Streets Department, it goes through Jerry Clark, who is the Law Department's representative to the Streets Department. Because I know that I have had discussions with him regarding private interest bills that have come through our office, and whether or not the person has paid the money and signed the agreement.
Do you know, is he in the Streets Department, assigned by the City Solicitor, or does he still work out of the --
He works out of the law department, but he is assigned to the Streets Department. But his physical office is -- 92 BILL 980900
Okay. Thank you. That will at least get the people involved started. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Any other questions? This concludes the Public Hearing. We now move into the Public Meeting. (Public Hearing adjourned.) - - - 93 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC MEETING of the COMMITTEE ON STREETS AND SERVICES - - - Thursday, March 4, 1999 - - - Public Meeting conducted by the Committee on Streets and Services, held in Room 400, City Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the above date, to consider action on the following: BILLS 990078, 980717, 980720, 980747, 980802, 980898, 980899, 980900, 980924, 980925, 980926, 980929, 980946, 980947, 980948, 980951, 980968, 980969, 990029, 990030, 990031, 990035 - - - PRESENT: COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO, Chair COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN, Vice Chair COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO - - - 94 PUBLIC MEETING COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Bill No. 5 980715; I am sorry. I make a motion to report Bill No. 7 980717 out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at its next scheduled hearing. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980717 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Nay? The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980720 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Properly moved 95 PUBLIC MEETING and seconded that Bill No. 980720 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Nay? The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980747 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980747 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Nay? The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980802 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended. 96 PUBLIC MEETING (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980802 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 9 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980898 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980898 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 23 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved. 97 PUBLIC MEETING
I make a motion that Bill No. 980899 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980899 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 13 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980900 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980900 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. 98 PUBLIC MEETING All those in favor of the bill 3 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980924 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council of suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980924 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 17 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980925 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been 99 PUBLIC MEETING properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980925 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 7 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980926 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation. And that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980926 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 21 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980929 be reported out of this 100 PUBLIC MEETING committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980929 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 11 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980946 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980946 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 25 signify by saying aye. 101 PUBLIC MEETING Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980947 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980947 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 15 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bills No. 980948 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980948 be reported out of committee with a favorable 102 PUBLIC MEETING recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 5 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion to amend Bill No. 980951. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980951 be amended. All those in favor of the amendment signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is amended.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980951 be reported as amended out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been 103 PUBLIC MEETING properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980951 as amended be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 7 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980968 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980968 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 21 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 980969 be reported out of this 104 PUBLIC MEETING committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 980969 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 11 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 988029 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990029 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 25 signify by saying aye. 105 PUBLIC MEETING Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 990030 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990030 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 15 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 990031 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990031 be reported out of committee with a favorable 106 PUBLIC MEETING recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 5 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 990035 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the Rules of Council be suspended. (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990035 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 19 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved.
I make a motion that Bill No. 990078 be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. 107 PUBLIC MEETING (Duly seconded.) COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: It has been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 990078 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and that the Rules of Council be suspended. All those in favor of the bill 9 signify by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The bill is approved. This concludes the Public Meeting on the Committee of Streets and Services. Thank you all for spending time with me today. (Public Meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.) 108 C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, March 4, 1999, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COMMITTEE ON STREETS AND SERVICES _____________________________________ DEBRA A. WHITEHEAD, RPR