The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia deeds located in the 20th, 29th, and 32nd Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS, RESOLUTIONS Those opposed? The ayes have it and the resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Longstreth.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
The clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution honoring Philadelphia firefighters, Philadelphia gas workers, engineers and employees, and various other City departments and employees for their heroic actions during explosion and fire at the Philadelphia Gas Works Passyunk facility in South Philadelphia.
Madam President, I move for the adoption of this resolution. FIRST-READING CALENDAR (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the resolution has been adopted.
There are no committee reports today; therefore, the next order of business will be the consideration of the calendar. The clerk will please read the bills on the first-reading calendar.
Bill No. 000505, an ordinance amending Title 20 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Officers and Employees," by adding a new Chapter 2800, entitled "Campaign Finance," providing for the limitations of contributions to municipal election campaigns, all under certain terms and conditions.
And Bill No. 000543, an ordinance amending Section 17-104 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Prerequisites to the Execution of City Contracts," to add a new subsection requiring businesses receiving financial assistance from the City and City-related agencies to contribute to a fund for Philadelphia's children, the proceeds from which shall be made available to pay for new and expanded program initiatives for program children, all under certain terms and conditions.
The Chair agrees. The bills read by the clerk will be placed on the second-reading and final-passage calendar for our next session. This concludes the first-reading calendar.
The Chair now recognizes Blackwell for the purpose of calling up bills to be considered on the second-reading and final-passage calendar. SECOND-READING CALENDAR
Thank you, Madam President. Today, Bill No. 000180 is being called for second reading and final passage.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. Will the clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 000180.
An ordinance amending Chapter 17-900 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Neighborhood Benefit Strategy," by further providing for safe harbor goals.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is, shall the bill pass finally? The clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes of 16, the nays are 0. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. This concludes the calendar.
And it is now time for us to consider the Mayor's presentation of his annual budget message. The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter states that the Mayor shall submit to Council not later than 90 days before the end of the fiscal year his operating budget and message and a proposed operating budget ordinance for the ensuing fiscal year. At the same time, the Mayor shall submit to Council the recommended capital program and capital budget as received from the City Planning Commission to the extent approved by the Mayor. I now appoint the following committee MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS to escort the Mayor into the Council chambers: Councilwoman Blackwell, Councilwoman Tasco and Councilman O'Neill. Please proceed. (Councilmembers approach podium.)
Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to introduce the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, Mayor John F. Street.
Thank you so much. Good morning. AUDIENCE MEMBERS: Morning.
President Verna, members of City Council, members of my cabinet and administration, special friends and guests, it's a pleasure to appear before you this morning. Last year, I came before you to MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS describe my vision for a better Philadelphia. Today, I stand before you to tell you we have made great progress in making that vision a reality, that I am truly excited for the promise the future hold for our great city. Allow me to reflect for just a moment on the great year we had. Together, we have become the government that gets things done. In my first budget message, I promised that I would assemble a diverse government comprised of the best and most qualified individuals. I'm proud to say that to date, we have assembled one of the most capable, highly-qualified, diverse group of individuals ever to serve the City of Philadelphia. These individuals are not simply making government work; they are making government work better. I promised that we would negotiate fair, fiscally-sound labor contracts. I'm proud to report that our contracts give our workers more, yet remain within the limits of our budget. I promised to take responsibility for public education as one of the City's highest priorities and to work tirelessly to make quality MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS education available to every young person in Philadelphia's public schools. I'm proud to report that we have made significant changes and great strides toward providing every student with a meaningful educational opportunity. I promised that our city would serve as the proud host to thousands of visitors during the Republican National Convention and that our great city would shine in the national spotlight. I'm pleased to report that the execution of our host responsibilities to the Republican National Convention was an unmitigated success. (Applause.)
Thank you. Thank you. I promised that we would initiate an ambitious campaign to remove abandoned cars from our city's streets. I'm proud to report that in the past year, we have removed more than 60,000 abandoned cars from the streets of Philadelphia. (Applause.)
Thank you. I promised that we would not conduct business as usual, that we would tackle problems with creativity and innovation. I'm proud to MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS report that we have done so, as evidenced by the drastic improvement made to the City's snowfighting efforts. We formerly deployed 234 vehicles; we now deploy 350 snow-fighting vehicles. We now have a plan to plow all but 20 miles of streets that are less than 9 feet wide. Under this new program, we will plow more than 2,360 linear miles of Philadelphia streets. (Applause.)
Thank you. I pledged that I would include the residents as we sought to create a vision of our new city's neighborhoods. I am pleased to report that we met with hundreds of residents at town and cluster meetings, and we toured every Councilmatic District to see firsthand the problems and the struggles each neighborhood confronts so that the plans we develop address the true needs of our communities. I promised that my administration would work to negotiate agreements that provide for the construction of two new world-class sports stadiums. I'm delighted to report to you today that we are almost home, thanks to your help. MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS (Applause.)
I promised you that the year 2000 would be "The Year of the Child." We delivered by creating the Commission on Children, establishing the Office of Child Care, releasing the Report Card 2000 in the children's budget. Ladies and gentlemen, I say to you again, we had a great year. We are a government that gets the job done. (Applause.)
These great achievement, however, did not just happen, nor did they happen in a vacuum. They occurred through the dedication and hard work and perseverance of many, many individuals. I would like to take a moment to thank some of the people who have helped to make this first year such an outstanding success. First and foremost, I must thank the scores of elected officials, labor leaders, and members of the business community, members of the religious community, and the hundreds of members of my transaction team and the wide of civic leaders who came together throughout year in an unprecedented fashion to help in solving some of MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS Philadelphia's most challenging issues. To all of you who extended a helping hand, I offer thanks. I must especially thank Governor Ridge for his leadership, partnership, and friendship. When I took office last January, many wondered whether or not the Governor and I would find common ground. However, from the very beginning, the Governor evidenced a sincere willingness to help in solving many of Philadelphia's most difficult problems. I appreciate his commitment to join with me in implementing our vision for a better Philadelphia, and I expect that our relationship will endure and be constructive and productive. I also reserve my best thanks, however, for Council President Verna and every member of the City Council of Philadelphia for your hard work and commitment towards shaping and implementing the vision for a better Philadelphia. Thank you, Council President Verna, for your leadership and your wisdom, and thanks to each of you for your help along the way. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS I would also like to mention and thank the hundreds of Philadelphians who attended the town meetings and school cluster meetings held throughout my first 100 days in office. I appreciate the ideas, the patience, and the confidence that the residents of Philadelphia have expressed. The budget I bring to you today is structured to address the concerns and ideas expressed by the people of Philadelphia at those meetings. The coming year presents an array of new complex challenges. We cannot afford to rest on the wonderful success of the last year. To implement a shared vision for a better Philadelphia will take continued discipline, dedication, and cooperation. Some obstacles to implementing our vision external are global challenges that many other cities across America are now facing, including: A decreasing population that is less likely to have the ability to support a strong tax structure while at the same time is more likely to require increased City services; National economic indicators that MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS suggest the flourishing economy we have enjoyed over the past several years is likely to slow down; Changes in various State and federal programs, such as welfare reform, that will affect the economic strength of our city. Some other challenges developed over a long period of time, and only now are we gaining a full appreciation for their magnitude. Let me be totally frank with you here and now today. The problems of the Philadelphia Gas Works constitute the greatest risk to the financial stability of our city. After years of poor management, compounded by a monumental computer system failure, the financial problems of this company have been further exacerbated by a 400 percent increase in the price of natural gas during the year 2000 alone. While we are pursuing every avenue to stabilize the finances of the organization, including a $45 million loan to PGW, the City has no alternative but to consider the benefit of selling the company. We simply cannot afford to fund PGW's cash flow and operating requirements MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS out of the City's General Fund. To do so would surely bankrupt the City. Another extraordinary challenge facing all of us is the ongoing struggle to improve public education in Philadelphia. We want families to live here and businesses to thrive. Virtually no commitment is more critical to Philadelphia's long-term strength than our commitment to public education. The School District's educational and financial problems accumulated over a period of years and may not be resolved in one year, but important improvements are beginning to bear fruit. We installed strong management at the District so that we can get a better grasp of our financial problems and improve our opportunity to deliver on our educational promise. We have a renewed focus on the public safety concerns so that teachers and students will be secure, and peacefully, educationally-focused classroom environments. With a central support from labor, political, and civic leaders, we negotiated a reformed contract with the PFT that provides teachers and students with better MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS opportunities to succeed. We have prepared an educational improvement plan now approved by the State Department of Education that will guide our spending and organization to improve student achievement. And we enter the bitterness that characterized the School District's past dealings with Governor Ridge, his administration, and the General Assembly, and replaced it with a renewed spirit of communication and cooperation. While the spending plan I propose today preserves the City's $609 million contribution to the schools, everyone agrees we must do more. The District will aggressively continue its efforts to reduce its operating expenses. We must be prepared to pursue more far-reaching changes and radical approaches to operating our schools.
We are committed to working with our funding partners to develop a comprehensive strategy that restores the School District to financial stability and provides our schools with sufficient resources to provide the quality of education our children deserve. You cannot have a world-class city with a second-class educational system. In the coming months, we will depend on MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS the partnership established among the School District, the City, and the Commonwealth, which should, by the way, be extended to include the federal government, to work together to craft fair and effective solutions to the financial problems that threaten our public schools. Our children expect us to meet our responsibilities, and we cannot let them down. 95 billion in a five-year capital program of $541 million. It is a budget that supports a strategy of targeted spending, while maintaining a program of continued cuts to both the wage and net profits tax and general business tax. This budget allows the implementation of our vision of a better Philadelphia by supporting our primary objectives: neighborhood transformation, children's programs, public safety, and continue economic development. This budget also maintains a degree of fiscal discipline that will benefit the City for years to come. The global economic warning signs and local challenges translate into more conservative MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS revenue projections used in both the five-year plan and our proposed FY '02 operating budget. The plan projects that revenue growth will be somewhat moderate, averaging between percent and percent over the next five years. Inflation during this same period is projected at 2,5 percent. percent growth in the wage tax during the first half of FY '01. percent annually between FY '01 and FY '06. To successfully implement our vision for a better Philadelphia, we must continue to lower the tax burden of every resident and every business. 1 billion in wage and business taxes. In addition, we will aggressively pursue $60 million in savings by FY '05 through MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS management and productivity improvements. While the budget and five-year plan include funding for City services and key initiatives, it is a conservative budget. 1 million that was a result of a historically robust economy and a variety of other factors. However, today, as we did last year, we are predicting operating deficits in coming years. Early next month, I plan to announce a comprehensive economic development strategy for Philadelphia when I address the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. However, be assured that lower taxes, conservative budgeting, smart spending, and a healthy economy are significant components of our vision for a better Philadelphia. I am excited, however, as I stand here before you today. I am excited because Philadelphia retains a vibrancy that is undeniable. By strategically lowering taxes, aggressively cutting costs in local government, while at the same time initiating and supporting MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS measures that encourage growth in the local economy, investment in neighborhoods, and public schools, we can assure Philadelphia's success long into the future. 5 percent reduction in personnel costs in most departments in the government. 5 million annually. This budget makes substantial investments in those areas we have identified as essential for implementing our vision for a better Philadelphia, improved City services, increased public safety, stronger neighborhoods, more and better programs for children, and economic development required to stimulate stability and growth. Our workforce is provided for. The General Fund supports a workforce of 25,451 men and women, including 2,367 firefighters and 6,914 police officers. Expenses associated with our workforce constitute more than 56 percent of the City's General Fund. We will be a safer city.
This budget MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS provides funds to the Fire Department that will support fighting an estimated 10,800 non-structural fires and will support approximately 182,000 EMS runs. The budget supports the Police Department with funding to make and process 80,000 police arrests. Crime will not be tolerated. The budget allows the City's prisons to house 7,063 inmates on an average daily basis. Those who break the law will be taken off the streets. This budget furnishes the Department of Licenses and Inspections with the dollars needed to complete 175,000 permit inspections and 97,577 housing and fire inspections. It will allow the department to issue 123,350 licenses, many of which will be done online, and not in line. )
Thank you. 7 million square yards of street resurfacing and 30,000 pothole repairs. It will allow for 772,294 tons of refuge to be collected on time, 95 percent MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS of the time. 5 million books borrowed. 3 million in FY '98 to more than 20 million visits in FY '02. With this budget, 24,500 children will receive services from DHS, and 750 children will be adopted into loving home. This budget and the strategic programs it supports will provide a higher level of service for the residents of Philadelphia than ever before in the history of this city. The city's capital budget will support the Neighborhood Transforation Initiative through the renewal of community facilities, including libraries, park facilities, neighborhood police and fire stations, and various streetscape and area site improvements that will complement our residential and commercial revitalization effort. 5 million for improvements to our community MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS ballfields, playgrounds, basketball, and tennis courts, and other Recreation Department facilities. The capital budget will also support the refurbishing of many of the Recreation Department's various buildings, and will allow for the rehabilitation of roofs, heating and safety systems, and other important infrastructure systems in our buildings. The capital budget also provides for improvements to our well-beloved cultural and recreational institutions across the City, including the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Central Library, and the Philadelphia Zoo. We will expand the work of the Office of Strategy Planning to initiatives to include responsibility for identifying and securing government and private grants and other resources that can support the City's work. A team of specialists will be dedicated to developing creative funding solutions to Philadelphia's programming challenges. Wherever possible, the Administration will use technology to its advantage. For example, within the last 30 days the City's MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS Procurement Department has begun posting its bid packages on the City's Web site. Not only will this initiative reduce big package production and postage costs, it will also enable the City to solicit competitive bids from additional vendors outside the region. We intend to pursue aggressively good ideas by others. City Controller Jonathon Saidel has proposed that the City consider privatizing City Hall. It is a strategy for securing millions of dollars in private investments in support of the necessary costly renovations of this historic treasure, which it desperately needs and deserves. The financial keystone of the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative will be a $250 million issuance of blight remediation bonds. The Redevelopment Authority, on behalf of the City, will issue the bonds over the next five years. The proposed financing plan is complete and will be presented to City Council next month. Our commitment to arrest deterioration and restore vibrancy in our neighborhoods across the City will require ongoing commitment from every department in the City. Thus, the five-year MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS plan provides more than 50 million in operating department support for neighborhood transformation. 5 million to remove 8,700 dangerous dead street trees. Ten million has been allocated to the Managing Director's Office for neighborhood stabilization activities. Additional funds have been allocated to institute a maintenance program to keep lots reasonably clear of debris. The City is prepared to do its part to support neighborhood transformation. Neighborhood transformation is not just about abandoned buildings and cars. Neighborhood transformation will impact the lives of the families who live in our communities. It will make these communities safe, attractive environments in which to raise children. Residents more often than not flee our city because our streets are not perceived as safe, our neighborhoods are blighted, and our schools are deficient.
However, to truly revitalize our neighborhoods will require the active engagement of volunteers, faith-based organization, and the careful integration and management of City social services. In my first year, I established the Office of Public Outreach and Volunteerism. Through this office, the power of faith and public service are used to develop dynamic new solutions to address some age-old problems, including the adoption of schools by faith-based organizations and the faith-based ministry for inmates of the Philadelphia prison system as well as their families. I truly believe that we cannot abandons those who are in their deepest moment of struggle. We must reach out to them, embrace them, support them, and give them hope. This will demand that we give of ourselves and that we join together to make a better day for all of Philadelphians. Reaching out to those who may be struggling is important, rebuilding the fabric of our communities is critical. This past December, the Lex Street MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS massacre left seven individuals dead, including a 15-year-old child, who was slaughtered on the floor of an abandoned rowhouse in West Philadelphia. That tragedy did not simply happen because there were abandoned buildings. Tragedies like Lex Street occur when the support systems that help maintain the strength of our families and our neighborhoods fail. From the hope that is provided to individuals by churches, mosques, and synagogues to the enrichment that is provided to a community by a neighborhood recreation center, we must dedicate ourselves and our city's resource to building those support systems that bring a neighborhood together and make it a place that a person can call home. (Applause.)
Thank you. Thank you. Children and children's programs are yet another part of our vision for a better Philadelphia. I pledge to you today that we are committed to making every year "The Year of the Child." (Applause.) MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS
Thank you. This budget will make new investments in children's programs, including a 5.1 million commitment to after-school programs, which will result in many more children having access to quality cultural and recreational programs during those critical hours after school. Notably, research has shown that quality after-school programs lead to a reduction in youth violence and an improvement in school performance. In my Year of the Child address earlier this month, I committed to develop a City strategy to raise an additional $100 million from federal, State, and private sources to support children's programs. (Applause.)
Public safety is one of our primary concerns. Because of this budget, City residents will also enjoy increases in public safety. This budget allows for 5,958 on-street officers, which amounts to a 17.6 percent increase since 1993. The department is also stepping up its attacks on the scourge of illegal drugs expanding Operation Sunrise to include more neighborhoods MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS and by redeploying 75 additional officers to the Narcotics Squad. In all, the department will have added approximately 144 officers to fight the war on drugs over the last two years. These will allow the department to intensify its efforts to obliterate drug activity through buy-and-bust operations as well as longer-term investigations designed to dismantle drug organizations. (Applause.)
This increased investment is possible through an aggressive pursuit of grant funding that resulted in 7.1 million in new and continued grant funding in just the first half of FY '01. These improvements allow our police department to better battle crime and secure the safety of our city's neighborhoods. I invite and welcome your partnership as we implement our vision of a better Philadelphia. Over the next month, as we engage in hearings on this budget, I welcome your thoughts and ideas, but be assured that the priorities of this administration will remain: Improving Philadelphia's schools so that every child can be guaranteed a high-quality MAYOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS education; Strengthening Philadelphia's neighborhoods so that Philadelphia's residents can feel a sense of pride in their community; Improving children's programs so that every child has stimulating educational options and can grow to become a productive adult; And supporting strategic economic development initiatives so that Philadelphia's economy continues to thrive. Thank you very much for your attention, God bless you, and have a great day. (Standing ovation.)
Are there any speeches on the part of the Minority? (No speeches on the part of the Minority.)
Are there any speeches on the part of the majority? (No speeches on the part of the Majority.) ADJOURNMENT
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council now stand adjourned until Thursday, February 1, 10 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, and Council will stand adjourned until Thursday, February 1, 2001, at 10 o'clock a.m. Thank you. (Adjourned at 11:25 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Tuesday, January 23, 2001, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: COUNCIL COMMITTEE STATED MEETING __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter