Committee Hearing, February 22, 2000

It's never been spent.

It's never been spent, but has it ever been turned over to the City?

No. It's an obligation, and the money would be given by the cable operators when the City was ready to be public access.

So the City in enabling the cable operators in addition to utilize that money in any way they want for any purpose and they've had that also for 15 years?

Well, I don't think we've allowed them to use that money. There is an obligation in there for them to make an expenditure when the City decides to do this activity. If the City does not do the activity, they don't appropriate the money or make the expense. But it is not like there is money that was given to them or money that they held in a reserve just for this activity never to be spent. 1572 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005

Mr. James, I think some people in the financial world would say that in effect we gave them a gift of $2.5 million and have permitted them to be using it at a time when they were under a legal obligation, the City had the right to collect that fund. It seems like a strange, strange tale for Philadelphia to want to hide from the ability to notify people because the public access would not be only of great use to the community, but as Councilman Nutter pointed out, but of great use to the City to publicize information about the City, to develop constructive programs on its own behalf because we know so many people don't know things about the government and we often have great difficult reaching them. We spend millions of dollars in various outreach programs, and we could safe a lot of that money or cut down the cost of it and probably be much more effective if we had a public access program. We don't know how to get information about lead problems in the homes to people. We have all kinds of delinquencies in gas and water bills, and the City has no means of getting any information as to why these bills are 1573 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 delinquent. There's so many different needs we have for reaching people, and just to be friendly to cable operators and/or to use a few hundred thousand dollars each year for its other uses, it just doesn't make any sense at all. How long is this -- do we have any right to renegotiate any part of this new contract that we just entered into last year, I think it was? Was it done many years in advance? COMMISSIONER PEREZ: The process was started at different times by each of franchises. I believe Comcast started two years ahead, and we just completed Wade, so they're both renewed. Our options for reopening the contracts, best opinion is going to have to come from the Law Department. My layman's opinion is that we probably don't have any options that are already built in there.

You said we don't have any? COMMISSIONER PEREZ: Yes.

How many years? COMMISSIONER PEREZ: It's a 15-year agreement.

Looks to me like it 1574 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 was a real sweetheart agreement from the point of view of the cable companies. Has there been any discussion between your department and the Mayor with respect to public access? COMMISSIONER PEREZ: The Department of Public Property at this point early in this Administration has not had a policy and plan review session in any aspect of any part of my department's responsibilities. We expect that that will, you know, happen at a not-too-distant date, but the simple answer is no, not yet.

In the new franchise agreement, is there a timetable for building public access facilities?

Yes. There was, as in the original, there were forecasted time frames for meeting those obligations.

Well, in the current franchise --

Yes, in the current there are similar ones.

Was there any discussion during the negotiations with respect to 1575 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 the building of those facilities?

The only discussions through the negotiates was ensuring that the obligation was carried forward and that all of the language that was in the original was carried into the new agreement, and there was agreement by the cable operators to meet those obligations and they understood as we understood that it depended on certain actions on the City's behalf, and once those action would occur, then the City would be asking the cable operators to expend those funds.

What is the nature of that agreement? What are the cable companies going to pay? There are just two cable companies in the City now? COMMISSIONER PEREZ: Legally it's still four franchises, but yes, there's one corporation that owns three franchises.

And is the payment supposed to be equal amongst all of the companies?

Yes. It's by franchise area, the public access obligation is by franchise area.

So that one company 1576 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 would have to pay three quarters of whatever is paid. What is to be paid? How is that to be determined?

There is a fixed amount. I don't have the actual numbers in front of me, but I can certainly provide you a copy of an appendix that spells out specifically what it's for, but there is money set aside for each one of those obligations as the cost for a studio, the cost for a van, the cost for camera equipment, the purchase of that, that is the capital portion of it. And then each franchise in the original agreement annual renewals call for a two access studios in each of the four franchise areas and the cable operators who own those franchise areas are funding the cost for those facility and then they're funding a fourth of the cost for one central studio which would be centralized between all four franchise areas.

And that's how you got to the figure of nine?

That's correct.

And does the -- I'm talking capital costs now. What is the obligation 1577 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 of the cable companies? Do they have the obligation to provide all of the equipment?

They have the obligation to provide the funds. They don't provide the --

How do they know what funds to provide?

Spelled out in the appendix how much they have to provide for each segment of the funds, the cost for studios, the cost for the van, the cost for the camera equipment.

And the City would be obligated to provide them with a statement of the costs?

Yes. It's in the franchise agreement.

Then they would have to pay that amount?

That's correct, up to the dollar limit that's in the agreement.

And agreement lists the equipment that the franchise-holders would have to pay for?

It spells out in general terms the type of equipment. It's not saying 1578 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 that's the exact equipment that --

Well, in your judgment, would their capital contributions pay for the full costs of capitalization aspect of the nine studios?

I don't think the amount of money will cover the cost for nine studios. I said that before. There's not enough capital costs in there if you include the cost for bricks and mortar and finding a building and building the building from ground up and then putting in all the equipment. I don't believe there's enough capital cost to --

Well, was the intention originally to cover all the costs?

In the original agreement, yes.

Well, why isn't there coverage now if it's the same provision?

Well, I think if you look at the cost of money -- and as we said, we rolled forward the obligation. There was no difference made for time value of money, there was no 25 increase in the amount of money, it was just kept 1579 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 the same obligation carried in.

You mean there were the dollar amounts put in the original?

Yes.

You mean dollar amounts for years ago were put into -- 8

The same dollar amounts 9 that were in there 15 years ago were put in the 10 renewal documents. 11

You can't tell me 12 that was good negotiating. 13

Well, as I said, there was 14 not an impetus to do public access, there was no 15 clear direction that public access was going to occur, and the only discussions we had was maintaining what was there in case the City at some point in time in the future decides to do it, knowing full well that if it hasn't occurred in 1985, those dollar values are probably not going to cover what's going to be needed. But then again maybe we don't need nine studios in the year 2000.

Do you really think this was right? You know, you say there was no 1580 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 priority, no push. There was all of those years, there's been a push to get public access. The only way we didn't know about it was you shut the door. When I say "you," I mean the Mayor and the people under the Mayor, just shut the door so isn't hear anything. And you could say, well, there was no this was great demand for it. There's great demand for it all this time.

Well, I said as we went through the process, as you recall, we had a public hearing, we came before Council, we gave the terms to Council what was negotiated. There was no change by anyone made to change any of the dollar amounts or numbers or anything, and Council voted on the franchise renewal document as we submitted it.

But this was a Council during those years that was bewildered by the charisma of the Mayor and therefore paid no 21 attention. Between the Mayor and the then-City Council President, there was never discussion or disagreement with anything the two officials agreed on and the public was secluded and laws were just cavalierly disobeyed, like the law 1581 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 against billboards, just paid no attention to it, the law for public access paid no attention to it.

Not to disagree, but I -- through the process, the Public Access Coalition folks made themselves very well known through all of the renewals from Comcast and Greater Media and Wade. They participated in all the community meetings and spoke and went on the record so that their voice was heard throughout entire process. They were not excluded, they were a part of the process. They had an opportunity to voice their opinion and make a record, and the renewals were approved as we negotiated them.

Mm-hmm. It's a shame thought to say, but I think in the history of the City to have a law passed in 1985 providing for public access and here in the year 2000 nothing having been done except that articles of incorporation having sat on then-Mayor Goode's desk for a long time, and then following that, Mayor Rendell's desk a long time, and just being totally ignored even though it had been passed by City Council and directed to take place. Madam President, I have no further 1582 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 questions at this time.

Thank you, Councilman. Are there any other questions of the Public Property Commissioner? (No further questions.)

Seeing none, thank you, gentlemen.

Thank you. COMMISSIONER PEREZ: Thank you.

Fleet Management will testify next. (Fleet Management witnesses come forward.)

Good afternoon, gentlemen. Thank you for your patience. We do have a copy of your testimony which has been given to the stenographer, so if you would just summarize it, we would appreciate it.

Thank you, President Verna and distinguished Members of City Council. My name is Riley P. Harrison, Fleet Manager for the City of Philadelphia. With me today is Robert 1583 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Fox, Director of Administrative Services, and Nadine Glover who is my Budget Officer. Submitted for the record is my written testimony, and I'd like to now just summarize key points therein. The office of Fleet Management for Fiscal 2001 is requesting $57.6 million for the General Fund, with an additional 6.4 million for the Water Fund, and 8.9 for the Aviation Fund budget request. OFM continues to develop and implement best fleet management practices and policies while maintaining active fleet size of approximately 5920 vehicles at an average availability rate of 92 percent. Furthermore, OFM is meeting or exceeding all vehicle targets for our client departments. The City of Philadelphia has a very diverse fleet in terms of its size, complexity, and function. In fact, if we were rated with the top 100 transportation companies in the United States, we would be rated No. 15. Amongst all municipalities, we are rated No. 4 in size. With an asset value exceeding $238 million, the fleet represents a significant investment of public 1584 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 funds. We are also requesting for Fiscal Year 2001 an additional $18 million for vehicle replacement. Of course, two-thirds of that is directed annually to the purchase of public health and safety equipment to meet their daily needs for their delivery of critical services. OFM has always emphasized preventive maintenance as important of effective fleet management. To maintain high availability and reliability, OFM will continue its preventive maintenance schedules and compliance program. Some of our major accomplishments include implementation of a fleet accounting computer tracking system and a fuel management system, a continuing education program and a high school internship program, expansion of the automotive service excellence master's certification program, and a workplace safety program. In conclusion, the Fleet Management will continue to provide quality service in a fiscally prudent manner and continue to make Philadelphia a world-class model for Fleet 1585 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Management. Thank you again for the opportunity to appear before you, and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you, Mr. Harrison. What is the recommended life cycle for police and fire vehicles and what is the City replacement cycle for these vehicles?

There are many opinions relative to life cycle on different types of vehicles. Some municipalities use a three-year life cycle for marked patrol vehicles. Some municipalities use a 40-month life cycle. Some municipalities use a 50-month life cycle. Our position is that we have a flexible replacement cycle in that with good preventive maintenance we have allowed our radio patrol cars to benchmark a five-year life cycle. And on fire apparatus, we've benchmarked front-line service application with an additional 10-year reserve status. On sedans and other vehicles, it depend on the class or the mission of the vehicle, but we prefer in Philadelphia a flexible life cycle policy based on specific missions and based on maintenance 1586 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 required for that equipment.

Thank you. On of your testimony, you indicate that you will be looking into regional facilities that would reduce overhead expenditures and mitigate the need for probable capitol renovation costs at existing facilities that continue to require significant structural maintenance. Does the proposed capital program contain these funds? And if not, why not?

It does, Madam President, contain the start of the funding for infrastructure to our current facilities. We basically maintain the same structure as we've had eight years ago, 17 repair facilities. So we have requested and receive, you know, authorization to start the process of rehabilitation and adding safety facilities, fire alarms and ventilation to those targeted facilities.

With the jump in diesel fuel and gasoline that we have experienced in the last few months, how are you planning at spending the same amounts in Fiscal 1587 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 2001 and you spent in this current year?

Diesel and fuel prices concern us. Last year when I sat before this Council, I made the statement that a gallon of gasoline -- a cup of coffee costs more than a gallon of gasoline. I sit in front of this Council today saying that we are concerned about where these fuel prices are going into Fiscal Year 2001. We have budgeted approximately $4.6 million for gasoline and diesel fuel for Fiscal Year 2001 as oppose to I believe it was 3.4 million for the previous fiscal year. We will in essence have to manage our resources if the fuel prices become uncontrollable in that we would have to shift resources from our other classes to protect our fuel expenditures or our fuel purchases.

Can you give me the status of the transfreight location and when you anticipate that you would be moving at that location?

My understanding on the transfreight site is that this April, there will be Phase I of a movement Seventh and Pattison repair facility as well as the Streets Department 1588 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 operation into that facility at transfreight.

The beginning of April?

The target date is April 1st.

And at our previous public hearing, I think a question was asked, will there be any painting done at that location?

This will be no painting done at that facility.

Can you tell me exactly what will be done at that facility, for the record.

For the record, at that facility the same type of repair activities that are being conducted at Seventh and Pattison.

Well, tell us what they're doing at Seventh and Pattison because the record doesn't know what you're doing at Seventh and Pattison.

We do preventive maintenance on light, medium, heavy-duty trucks that includes oil changes, grease jobs, tire 1589 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 changes, washing, preventive maintenance activities. We may do transmission repairs and replacement there or rear ends. We would mount salt spreaders or mount plows, depending on what season it. We would have refueling capability at a site. And that's basically -- basically, it's preventive maintenance and repairs.

And that will be a five-day-a-week operation?

We are looking at five days. We're also planning, if it's necessary, when our Streets Department has to slip their mission to a Saturday pickup. We move our operation to support them on Saturdays. We anticipate that it will be an initial five-day, two-shift except for when the Streets Department has to work Saturday because of a Monday holiday.

What will those hours be of operation?

Pardon?

What will the hour of operation be?

Approximately 7:00 in the morning until midnight. 1590 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just I have to comment, and I think Mr. Fox smiled when you were talking about replacement cycle. I had a detective in the Police Department, Mr. Harrison, call and ask me if I could use any of my influence to get him a classic car tag for his police car, his unmarked unit. I say that in jest because I know we've dumped a tremendous amount of money into some 1988 and '87 vintage Plymouth Grand Furies. To me, that's beyond the realm of trying to manage a fleet, and I'm hoping that your budget reflects some money to replace some of those old vehicles. Some of them may already be gone and replaced, but I hope that never put ourselves in a situation again where we have to keep vehicles on the road. You mentioned five years. We're talking decades in this City sometimes that we keep some of our cars. Just spot-checking to see some of the money that we've spent in trying to keep those cars on the road is just horrendous. But I know you were under a 1591 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 situation where you couldn't buy any replacement vehicles to replace some of those older -- especially those police cars, those unmarked police cars. The other point that I'd like to make, I don't think it's any secret that I like cars and have been interested in cars and trucks my entire life, and I can tell you, and I want to say this publicly, before I came to City Council, I was responsible, indirectly responsible, for a fleet of vehicles, a large fleet of vehicles. And I can tell you, looking at the new compactors and our fleet of fire engines, the police cars are in a different world of their own, but I don't think I've seen a more attractive, well-maintained fleet anywhere in the country. When I see a Philadelphia fire truck at a parade, I feel good about it because I don't think I've seen even comparing to some of the volunteer companies out in the suburbs. And I think that reflects the people also that you've got working at Fleet Management. I visit the shops and I'm glad that you're modernizing and enhancing some of the facilities in those shops because your people 1592 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 work, I think, under some of the worse circumstances that you could even describe. I walked into a facility where there was a picnic bench actually in the center of the shop where they had to eat their lunch. You quickly, when I brought that to your attention, corrected that situation. So I just tell you, the attitude, the concern about the fleet of this City is obviously the people that work with you do a great job in keeping this fleet on the road, and I'm proud to be associated with it. It's an excellent fleet. I know you've had your problems. I just kidded with you about the age of some of the equipment, but on -- just what I described, I think you should be very pleased with what's going on, at least from my perspective.

Thank you very much. We have some of the best technician and professional people that I have ever worked with in the last 35 years. Under some of the conditions initially, like you said, Councilman, eight years, A, I've made the statement that this was one of the worst fleets that I have ever seen as far as maintenance repair. And all it took was giving people an 1593 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 opportunity to be trained, challenged, provided the resources even under some of those conditions. And today I'm very proud to look back. Hindsight, I guess, is 20/20, but some of the finest people I ever had to work with has been here in the City of Philadelphia.

It's obvious. So thank you from me. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Mr. Harrison, I'd like to read this at the issue of the transfreight site. We were told very emphatically that the hours of operation would be, I believe, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your testimony today indicates to the contrary. You said that they would be in operation from 7 a.m. till midnight?

That's the present operation for Seventh an Pattison operation.

That will never do. There was an agreement that was reached and it was supposed to be from 7 to 5. Now, if that's been changed, I want to know it.

I will go back to the 1594 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 drawing board and rethink and relook at our operation.

Well, you better rethink about that very soon. Certainly, before they make settlement on that property.

Madam President, if that is the agreement then, that is the agreement that I will adhere to on behalf of the Office of Fleet Management.

I want that in writing. I want that in writing from you, if you don't mind.

(Witness nods.)

The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.

Just one major question. Mr. Harrison, can you explain the genesis of the high school internship program that's mentioned in your testimony? It wasn't clear when that started. But I first just really want to commend you for having such a program and it's certainly something that would be most interesting to try to replicate in some of our other departments. It's a tremendous opportunity 1595 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 for a young person. And again, according to your testimony, 67 students have participated in the program, of whom have become employees. It's a 5 great way, I guess, from your perspective to 6 literally train an grow your own talent. 7

Thank you very much, 8 Councilman. The genesis was back in 1992 when I 9 first met with District Council 33 and Local Union 10 1637 where a concept of developing a mentorship 11 program, an internship program. They asked me 12 would I support such a program, and I said 13 absolutely yes because I'm a product of a type of 14 academic program back in the '50s and '60s, which 15 I couldn't be a rocket scientist, I couldn't be, 16 you know, a doctor or lawyer but I was interested 17 in automotive mechanics and it gave me an 18 opportunity to get in on an mentorship program and 19 work as a hands-on intern. And here I am 40 years 20 later a fleet manager for a large city. 21 We worked out the details with the 22 District Council 33 and developed different 23 criteria and skill sets, and the principal high schools that we approached, Edison High School and other these high schools already have an 1596 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 automotive program and it was natural for us to select, you know, candidates that really want to be a part of our profession, mentor them with skilled master auto and master truck technicians, and give these young people an opportunity to see light, as I call it, at the end of the tunnel. No 8 more part-time programs where it's just summer school, summer work and then go back to school. We wanted a program that if they dedicated themselves to our profession, we would encourage and see that they receive a full-time civil service position. And the nice part about it is that we can train them to our standards on compliction and diversity of equipment that you never will find in the private industry. And the skill sets that they are developing, they are become a tremendous resource to us. And these 19 persons that are now full-time civil service 20 employees represent 7 percent of our technical 21 workforce, and that gives us additional resources 22 considering that it's a technician market in the 23 United States. There's approximately 61,000 automotive and truck technicians positions that remain vacant because of the economy and because 1597 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 of the cost it takes to enter our profession. So it's a way for us to draw from Philadelphia's resources in the high schools, give young people an opportunity to have a full-time position in Fleet Management. And I'd like to call upon Christine Derenick who is my personnel officer who has talked to other City agencies as well as to SEPTA as well as to even some other municipalities within Pennsylvania and outside of Pennsylvania. This is the only successful internship program in Philadelphia or in the State.

I was going to ask you, have you had an opportunity to share this information or this program, for instance, with some of the other operating departments for whatever it is they do? Thre may be young people who want to have an opportunity. For instance, I saw L&I Commissioner Ed MacLaughlin come in. There might be some people who want to get into that kind of work, and with the exception of having them maybe going around with Dominic Verdi or Richard to some of their nighttime activities, there might be some good learning experiences for 1598 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 young people in a wide variety of departments in the City. So I'd be interested, not necessarily for the record, but if you could maybe give us a page or two or three on how you put together such a program, what were the details, the meetings, the discussions, and give us some indication of how we might be able to expand this throughout the city government.

It's a great program and I will respond to you. Thank you.

Thank you. Lastly, just a technical question. Mr. Harrison, when I call you either early in the morning or very late at night with some emergency, does Fleet Management have any particular role in the removal of abandoned vehicles?

Right now, Fleet Management does play a minor role with supplying records and the car carriers to support the Operation Sunrise project, and Fleet Management has been a part of the task force that the Managing Director has put together in planning the next phase of the abandoned vehicle program, but basically we're limited to the support of the 1599 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Operation Sunrise in providing input for further task force organization for the citywide abandoned vehicle project.

This will actually be the last thing I say on this topic. Your testimony also indicates on after the internship program that you are apparently aggressively pursuing educational opportunities for current employees to get their automotive service excellence master certification award as well as a bonus I guess they get for getting that master certification. You seem to indicate that, one, you were able to pay for this by redirecting some savings from your budget and the administration cost on this was $37,000?

That's correct, Councilman. In fact, it was a way to encourage our existing automotive and truck staff to seek this master certification which requires a lot of home study and correspondence work and it gave them an opportunity to improve their troubleshooting an diagnostic skills. Therefore, instead of what I call witch-hunting a problem with an electrical system, they were able to 1600 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 quickly identify it and only replace the parts that are needed to be replaced rather than a multitude of parts and try to guess at what the failure is.

Okay.

So with those savings we were able to redirect it into, not only paying bonuses, but for recertifications purposes to pay us a small pittance there.

Great. Very good. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you very much of. You're doing excellent job really, that's really, really great, great work and we appreciate your great service to us. Do you work with west Philadelphia High School by chance?

Yes, we do, ma'am.

I understand they won awards last year and up this year for some of the work that they do in automotive training which is not well known.

We visited their workshop looked and at some of the vehicles that 1601 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 they were working on and we keep encouraging them to, you know, put student into the internship program. Not that we are a lost art, but we are a proud profession that requires the same skills as someone that, let's say, wants to further themselves in computer technology or any of the other professions.

Thank you very much. Councilwoman Brown.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to echo the compliments of Councilman Nutter and Councilwoman Blackwell regarding finding a tangible way to involve young people. I missed the answer to the question on how old this initiative is. How many years old is it?

We started discussions 1992, and it was in 1993 that we came together with the District Council and Local 1637 and we launched it in July of 1993, and it's been a program that we've expanded within our organization, not only to the automotive technical 1602 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 side. But to the body repair side. And we're also looking at other career professions within Fleet Management as well as outside our department or agency.

So that a career path is a part of it?

Absolutely.

You've mentioned two schools, Edison and West Philadelphia. Are there others?

Yes, there is, there's Simon Gratz and there's Swenson's Skill Center in West Philadelphia, and Edison.

As you move to prepare the information that Councilman Nutter requested to the Chair, I'd also be very interested in the makeup of that program, the details so that he, I, and others can advocate how those kind of initiatives can be multiplied throughout school system. Thank you.

Okay.

Councilman Rizzo. 1603 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just have one operational question that I let slip by, and this is something that's been on my mind for a lot of years. Are there any major fleets -- I guess I'll ask the question this way: Are there any major fleets that operate their own car wash facility? I know that SEPTA has a bus wash, and I've mentioned this to you before that it is a bit complicated. You can get a police car washed over here, but you can't bring a Recreation Department car to that car wash and you can't go over here because they only do police cars. It's very discouraging to a person that would like to take care of their vehicle that they use to get it washed, and I'm wondering is it a better deal to subcontract like we do or would there some day be some consideration of having a car wash? I'm not talking about elaborate. All these car rental operations have their own right on premise right up here on Market Street. At one of these fueling locations, would a car wash that could provide that type of service, is that feasible or is that something you've ever looked 1604 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 at? And if haven't, I'd appreciate you at least looking at to see.

It's an absolutely great idea, Councilman. In fact, when we were doing some renovations at our public safety facility at Front Street and Hunting Park, we put a drive-through car wash here to support on a limited basis marked patrol vehicles and other small vehicles after they refuel. Unfortunately, the other facilities that we have are so limited in space that we're using what was once 20, 30, 50 years ago a quasi-wash bay as a work bay to, you know, sustain our maintenance repair operation. And I agree with you, there should be a blend of in-house car and truck washing even though it may seem minor in terms of, well, doing a car wash or a truck wash, we get an opportunity to see the vehicle, we get an opportunity to talk to the driver and some get feedback on how the vehicle. It's almost like a pre-, during-, post-trip inspection right there at a car or truck wash. As well as use commercial vendors to supplement that activity.

Councilwoman Miller 1605 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 was just asking me a question, and I'll give her the answer in a second. I'm glad to hear that that's something that may someday may be, but I'm just talking about today. If you could just fix the problem of a City employee -- and I've asked this question year after year after year and it's still, in my opinion, not fixed because I saw some very dirty vehicles right after the storm and I said to the people operating it, "Why don't you go run that thing through the car wash and get the mud off it?" They were down in the park. It was really some rough service. And they said, "They told us we can't get the car washed here. The police cars can get washed, but the Department of Recreation, the Fairmount Park Commission can't get their cars washed at that location. If you could just fix this problem where a City vehicle can get washed at any location, it makes sense that that happen.

We have citywide contracts with many car washes. I will make sure that Recreation, Park, or any department can utilize that car wash facility as well as the Police Department. I didn't know that was 1606 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 happening.

One other comment is that, again, it's a big operation and on occasion, the fueling locations especially for the police cars -- I'll give you an example. The 5th District has been without fuel now four weeks. Those cars have to go to the incinerator, which they weren't welcome, believe it or not, six months ago they couldn't get in there to get fuel. They had to go all the way down to the 39th, leave their district to go to the 39th to get fuel. You would think that any fueling location, especially for a police car, they'd be able to go anywhere to get fuel, but they can't. And the lieutenant mentioned to me at the 5th District that the gas pumps shut down at Domino Lane on the weekend. These are automated systems. They shouldn't ever be shut down. They should work hours a day, 7 20 days a week, because if you have an automated 21 system at the 5th, why is the Domino Lane facility 22 shut down? They have to go now because they can't 23 get fuel all the way down, like I mentioned, to 24 the 39th District. There's apparently an underground tank problem at the 59th, and it's 1607 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 obvious why that isn't operational. But I don't understand why they shut fuel off at the Domino Lane incinerator.

I'll speak to the Streets Department that has the watch person that attends that facility and see if we can get that reopened again as an automated site to support --

I was told that person is a Fleet Management employee. If you could work that out, it would be appreciated.

Okay. The watchman is manned by the Streets Department; and during the working hours, we man the fuel site, so we will speak to the watchman to make sure that the gate is accessible to anyone that wants fuel.

But the pumps were shut down, sir.

Okay. We'll make sure that they're on.

They shut the electricity off to disable them for some reason; I don't know why.

We will cure that problem, Councilman. 1608 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005

Councilman, are you finished?

Yes. Thank you Madam Chair.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen. I would just like to remind my colleagues that we're really behind schedule.

I'll be very brief listening to the Council President and adhering to her direction. First, I wanted to say that I think the work your department does is excellent. I've never failed to get superb service both time quality. Now having said that, let me ask you one question that may be helpful. I sometimes sit in the front of the car, sometimes I sit in the back. Invariably when I sit in the back, I bump into something in the head and I think somebody has struck me but it's that little light that is in the back of our cars and it's always sticking out so that it always hits me and I'm never prepared. Is this any way it can be connected? I put it into the notch each time, and invariably if ever 1609 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 sit in the back it hits. Do you have any thoughts on that?

Yes, I do, Councilman.

Is there any trick to it? Am I missing something?

There may be a small clip or a holder that is --

There is one there. And I carefully put it into the clip after it hits me.

Does it stay in the clip after you put it into the clip.

Well, I think it does for the trip. But invariably if I come back later again, it's going to smack me again.

We could look at other alternative lighting. I mean, we're not locked into that what we call the gooseneck light I think is the flexible light, and we retrofit or rework another type of lighting device for you.

Do you go to anybody in particular?

Well there's several brands on the market. This particular brand was 1610 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 just something that we were using in police cars, so we just transferred that concept over into, you know, other types of administrative vehicles so this could be some reading capability. It's what we call a map light or little spotlight in the rear seat. But we can look at other alternatives that would maybe protect you or other people from hitting head as they move around in the back seat area.

The last question is I've got this phone from the City, cellular phone. It doesn't fit the attachment in the car. It's too big. Is there any way of getting -- are there other kinds of attachments, or is that the only one that they have that fits a smaller size? But I get this from the Property Department in the City.

Right that is by Public Property. I can contact Public Property for you and they can adjust the holder to the type of phone that you're using. There's probably three or four different styles of cellular phones and they constantly change every six months. So that requires the holders that are in our vehicles to 1611 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 be changed over also. So I'll make a note of it and ensure that your vehicle, again, through Public Property is given its appointment and the holder is changed over to reflect the cell phone that you personally use.

Maybe at the same time --

And at the same time, we'll look at the gooseneck lighting and try to come up with a fix.

Good. Thank you very much. Thank you, Madam President.

Your welcome. Are there any other questions from members of the committee? (No further questions.)

Thank you very much.

Thank you, madam.

The Historical Commission. (Historical witness comes forward.)

Thank you so 1612 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 much for your patience.

I am Richard Tyler, Historic Preservation Officer for the Philadelphia Historical Commission. The proposed budget for Fiscal 2001 requests $260,364, an increase of $5,954 above the current estimated obligation which result from neighborhood contract negotiation. This budget will fund a staff of five, and with this budget and staff, the Commission can reasonably expect to meet the major objectives of creating or designating two historic districts, a concern of many of the members and constituents and five individual buildings as well as expeditious permit review and expeditious handling of the federally mandated historic resource assessments. I'd be pleased to attempt to answer any questions the Councilmembers may have.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.

Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon, Mr. Tyler. 1613 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005

Good afternoon.

In my area, particularly in Germantown, there are historical buildings or buildings that have certified historical that have just been there for a long, long, long time and no one is buying the buildings. The ones that I'm talking about specifically are abandoned, but we can't get them demoed. Some of them are falling down and the structures are bad, but we can't seem to get them demoed. Just at the point that they're maybe going to be demolished, someone from your commission steps in and then everything is stopped. What do you plan to do with some of these buildings?

When it comes to demolition, we have several circumstances. The ordinance provides for demolition in the public interest or if the owner can demonstrate financial hardship, that is, that the building is no longer economic. The only way which buildings come down quickly is without going through one of those due processes is if the Department of Licences and 1614 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 Inspections determines that the building is systematically or systemically imminently dangerous, that is, could collapse. Some of the ones involved with demolition may have been with a program funded with Community Development Block Grant funds. In that case, we have to apply federal standards and criteria which, again, have to demonstrate there's no feasible and prudent alternative to the demolition. If you have specifics, I'd be glad to attempt to answer them for you either here or --

We do have specifics. I was actually hoping that -- and I'll give this to you. I won't talk about all of them right now, but there are many -- not many, but there are enough buildings, historical buildings that have been certified historical in Germantown specifically that were blighted 20, 30 years. Every time we moved to get L&I to come out and demolish it, the Historical Commission stepped in and it was stuck and it was still blighted.

Give me an example of that, Councilwoman.

I will give you 1615 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 that, and we can set up a meeting to figure out what to do. Some of them are very old mansions abandoned years and years and years.

There have been a few demos taking place following its determination by L&I that they were imminently dangerous.

If they're certified historical, does that mean it cannot be demolished?

No, ma'am, it does not. They can be demolished if it's not economic to rehab the building or to use the building.

Sir, speak into the microphone.

Sure. The building can be demolished if it is shown that there is no 18 economic value in the building. Say, the cost to maintain the building would far exceed its value. Also, in the public interest. We haven't had a public interest demolition since 1984 when the ordinance was passed. What I envisioned that to be is, say, with the expansion of the Convention Center, there are one or two historic buildings there, I would hope that the Historic Commissions 1616 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 would approve the demolition in the public interest to facility the development of the Convention Center. Now, some of what's going on in Germantown may involve not the local ordinance and action by the commission as commission, but rather to the use of federal funds. And there we locally, although of much of the federal and state authority has been delegated to us, which I think is a great benefit to the City, if we can conduct these reviews like that and keep those dollars flowing. Some of you have experienced, as President Verna has, in working with us in that way. But we cannot sign off on demolitions under our agreements with the state and federal governments. That may be the root of the problem here. I'm sorry I don't know. I'd be very pleased to meet with you in your office.

Okay, we'll do that. Do you also have the resources if it's one you can't certify for demo, do you have the resources to renovate them?

To remedy them?

To renovate the 1617 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 building, to rehab the building?

No, no, not in our budget.

Okay. We'll just talk about it later, but I did want to bring that to your attention because it's important to us, too.

I understand. I'd be very pleased to meet with you on that.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam President.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Earlier when the Streets Department was here, we talked about the Germantown Avenue Bridge over the Wissahickon Creek that five years that bridge has been closed to northbound traffic. Is there any issues that you're involved in or the Historical Commission's involved in that's delaying that project?

Not the Commission itself, Councilman. Just as we have with HUD monies, we also have Federal Highway Administration monies. 1618 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 We assess what is on or eligible for the national register. If there's a federal involvement in a project as there is with that bridge and then what would be the effect of the project on the historic resource following federal guidelines spelled out in their regulations. On the bridge in question, I undertook personally the initial assessment of that bridge, determined because it was in the Chestnut Hill Historic District and boundary of the Fairmount Park Historic District is along the bridge, it is historic. The piers go back to 1786, as I think you're probably aware. The demolition by definition is an adverse effect and that would require a memorandum of agreement, again, part of the whole federal process. Normally they go through in a routine manner. And what would come out of that agreement with the appropriate state and federal agencies is, yes, the bridge cannot be salvaged, and it can't be. We'll record it, that is photograph it to Historic American Engineering records standard, and the design of the new bridge will be compatible with its setting. I have complete confidence in the Department of Streets and its consultants, because 1619 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 done it repeatedly, to produce a high-quality design. This project, in part because of the community and other things, has been held up. As I understand it, we're now at the stage where the Streets Department absent this memorandum, which I recommended seven years ago and drafted one version of it, it's been through several since, until state and federal officials sign that, the City can't even spend any more planning money. And I think you're aware of some of the circumstances holding up the signature of that document. But we made the initially call it's historic, it's in an historic district. Demolition is an adverse effect, but there are always resolutions to that. I'm amazed and at times appalled that this one has been delay the way it has. And I would say it's not on the Historic Preservation people that it's been delayed.

Thank you, sir. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen. 1620 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005

Thank you, Madam Chair. Was the problem of a 17th Street garage ever resolved?

Yes, Councilman. The Commission --

What was the resolution?

The Commission by vote 6 to 5 approved the owner's application.

You say 6 to 5?

Yes, sir.

By the time of that final vote, had there been a dismissal of one of the members of the Commission?

I'm sorry, will you repeat that?

Had there been a dismissal from the Commission of one of its members by the Mayor?

There were changes made in the composition of the Commission.

Prior to the vote, or was it after the vote? 1621 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005

After the vote, Councilman.

After the vote. So -- but I think your victory level is still pretty good, isn't it, your victory percentage? Isn't your victory percentage at the Historic Commissions quite high?

The Commission has 9 members. 10

It has what? 11

Fourteen members. 12

Now, didn't I read 13 in the last couple weeks about a member of the 14 Commission how who has a case before the Commission?

No, the case is not before the Commission, Councilman. If you're referring to the 1600 block of Sansom Street --

I believe so.

Those buildings, although on national register is part of the Rittenhouse District, are not locally designated and are not subject to Historical Commission review. The only way we would see it is if there were federal funds involved and back to the memorandum of agreement 1622 2/22/00, Operating Budget, Bill 000005 we have for local review which I mentioned to Councilwoman Miller, this project has no federal funds in it that I know of. The owner obviously is not going to use the federal tax incentives for rehab, and thus, the National Register listing is meaningless. It's only if there's a federal involvement, it's expressly a federal planning tool, not a regulatory tool. But the Commission's not involved.

So the Commission doesn't have jurisdiction?

No involvement in this one.

Okay, thank you very much. I think the work of the Commission is extremely important.

Thank you.