I'm not23 privy to the early one that you24 referenced. The only thing I know about25 147 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 is the one that was signed in November,2 and my understanding, that was a result3 of probably the year's conversation4 between the parties involved from the5 different neighborhoods. So I'm not6 aware of the earlier one.7
Correct.12 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Same13 agreement. I see her shaking her head.14 Thank you.15 And on the issue of the special16 services district, I certainly need to be17 included in that conversation. I don't18 know who are the members of that19 organization. I know the community20 groups. I can surmise who they are, but21 the individual Board members, I'm not22 familiar with them.23
I think it's24 modeled similarly to the stadium's25 148 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 special services district, where there's2 elections that will be held locally, and3 anybody can run for those positions.4 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: That's, I5 guess, my question. Was there an6 election or were there interim7 representatives until such time there's a8 district created?9 UNIDENTIFIED WITNESS: That's10 correct.11 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Do you all12 know who the people are?13
Yes.14 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Could15 someone supply the Chair with the names16 of those representatives? I'd like to17 see them myself.18 (Witness approached witness19 table.)20
I did not21 successfully avoid getting to the table.22 However, good morning. I'm Leigh23 Whitaker. I'm the Communications24 Director for -- oh, it's afternoon --25 149 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 SugarHouse casino. I apologize.2 The CBA -- pursuant to our3 development agreement, the City asked if4 we'd be willing to sign a CBA as part of5 that agreement. That agreement evolved6 over the course of probably 12 or 147 months. We ended up signing last year in8 November 2008. When I say "evolved," it9 had a lot more things related to the10 immediate community than the original11 sort of standard agreement that was12 attached to our development agreement13 had.14 We signed the CBA with Fishtown15 Action and New Kensington CDC. They have16 appointed interim Board members for now17 in advance of some elections that they18 will have once the SSD is formally19 complete. I don't believe that they've20 signed the documents yet. They have been21 working with a lawyer probably the last22 eight or nine months -- five or six23 months to formalize this SSD, or special24 services district.25 150 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 There are two people from the2 river side of Delaware Avenue from3 Fishtown who are on the -- who had been4 appointed interim. They are Delores5 Griffith and Tim Breslin, who lives about6 700 feet from our site. There are two7 members from Northern Liberties, Joe8 Rafter, who owns Liberties Tavern on9 Second Street, and Kevin Kelly, who lives10 on Front Street, probably about a11 thousand feet or so from our site.12 There is a representative from13 East Kensington Neighbors Association.14 I'm not aware of that person's name. I15 apologize.16 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Sandy17 Saltzman, by any chance?18
I believe19 Sandy -- I'm not sure who represents20 Kensington. I think it may be Sandy21 Saltzman, though. And then there's22 another woman, Peggy Rasipski from Olde23 Richmond Civic Association.24 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Right.25 151 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 Who is the attorney representing the --2
They are3 represented by Scott Sigman, who used to4 be with Bochetto and Lentz, but has since5 left to form his own practice.6 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you.7 I don't have any other8 questions. Thank you.9
Thank10 you.11 The Chair recognizes Councilman12 Clarke.13
Oh,15 your light was on.16 Any other questions or comments17 from members of the Committee?18 (No response.)19
Sorry. I25 152 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 had to walk out of the room for a second.2 I just wanted real quick about the EOP.3 You got to come back up here.4
This6 relates to a conversation that I had7 earlier with some businesspeople who were8 members of the minority community in the9 City of Philadelphia and earlier10 conversations about operations within the11 facility as it relates to restaurants and12 other types of concessions.13 Can you just for the record14 tell me where you are with that? I know15 that there was some conversation16 traditionally that's handled internally17 by the operations, but --18
Right. At the19 current time, our plan is to run all the20 restaurants internally, so without any21 external operators. If you look at the22 other casinos in the area, Chester, the23 current Philly Park, that's pretty much24 standard for casinos that are regional in25 153 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 operation.2 If you go to Las Vegas, a lot3 of the restaurants in Vegas are run by4 third-party operators or management5 agreements, but the regional markets they6 tend to be more run by the casino.7
All right.8 Well, in Philadelphia we tend to do9 things differently. Because of the10 nature of this particular casino, the11 location, the need to be all inclusive --12 it looks like you guys may be the only13 one for a while -- we really would like14 to entertain providing opportunities.15 And, no, I'm not talking about creating16 the environment that we have at the17 Airport. We have all these vendors. But18 I think that we do have strong19 entrepreneurs in some facets of the20 minority community, and they would like21 to be in a position to have conversations22 about playing a role internally within23 the casino operations as it relates to24 restaurants or concessions. And I know25 154 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 what's happened recently, but one of the2 things that happened with the Phillies,3 as an example, which is why they believe4 to be one of the greatest new stadiums,5 both aesthetically and from an6 operational perspective, is that they had7 enough foresight to understand that8 bringing some of the local flavor to the9 Phillies concession operations actually10 enhance the operation. I don't know if11 you had a chance to go back -- what's12 that, Ashburn Alley? And, I mean, it's13 really a great experience, and it has14 that local flavor.15 So it will be helpful if you16 guys looked at maybe a model similar to17 that in some respects to just kind of18 have those kind of conversations, because19 I think we have some -- Philadelphia is a20 unique place. And I'm not saying that21 you should be selling Tastykakes in22 there, but I just think that there are23 some things that could conceivably24 happen.25 155 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1
We'd like to sell2 Tastykakes.3 But in the interim facility, we4 have a very limited food and beverage5 program, so it would be difficult to do6 that particular piece, but once we7 expanded the larger facility, we can8 certainly take a look at that.9
The13 Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco.14 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you,15 Madam Chair.16 Just to follow up on the17 interim facility as it relates to food18 and beverage. How will your facility19 compare to Harrah's in Chester?20
To Harrah's21 Chester?22 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: They have23 one, I guess, more upscale restaurant. I24 was only in there for about an hour and a25 156 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 half a couple weeks ago. Linen dining.2 And the other was just a small little --3
Right. Well, it's4 an interesting question. Harrah's5 Chester actually has many restaurants,6 but the few times I've been there,7 they're either closed or they're very8 underutilized and the product is not very9 good.10 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: They must11 have been closed when I was there,12 because they only had two.13
The restaurant14 you're referring to, both times I've been15 there it's been closed. Actually, one16 time it was open. There was one table17 dining, and the other times it was18 closed.19 We're going to have a smaller20 food and beverage footprint, but we feel21 that we're going to be very busy. We're22 going to offer a more price-competitive23 product, better quality. I think we're24 going to have a lot of people coming25 157 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 there, and it's going to be a much better2 product than what I think is at Harrah's3 right now.4 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you.5 Thank you, Madam Chair.6
Thank7 you.8 Any other questions or comments9 from members of the Committee?10 (No response.)11
Do we12 have anyone else that would like to13 testify on this bill?14 (No response.)15 COUNCIL PRESIDENT VERNA:16 Seeing no one, this will conclude our17 public hearing. We will now go into our18 public meeting.19 The Chair recognizes Councilman20 Kenney regarding Bill No. 090354.21
I believe,22 Madam President, there's an amendment to23 354, which I guess will be offered by the24 sponsor.25 158 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1
Does2 everybody have a copy of the amendment?3 (Yes.)4 COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you,5 Madam Chair. I move that the amendment6 to Bill No. 090354 be approved.7 (Duly seconded.)8
It9 has been moved and seconded that the10 amendment be adopted.11 All in favor will say aye.12 (Aye.)13
The17 ayes have it and the motion carries.18 Again, the Chair recognizes19 Councilman Kenney.20
Thank you,21 Madam President. I move that Bill No.22 090354, as amended, be reported out of23 this Committee with a favorable24 recommendation and a request made for25 159 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 rules suspension to allow first reading2 at our next Council session.3 (Duly seconded.)4
It5 has been moved and seconded that Bill No.6 090354 be reported out of Committee with7 a favorable recommendation, as amended;8 further, that the rules of Council be9 suspended so as to permit first reading10 at our next session of Council.11 All in favor will say aye.12 (Aye.)13
The17 ayes have it and the motion carries.18 Again, the Chair recognizes19 Councilman Kenney.20
Thank you,21 Madam President. I move that Bill No.22 090359 be reported out of this Committee23 favorably with a request for a rules24 suspension to allow for first reading at25 160 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 our next Council session.2 (Duly seconded.)3
It4 has been moved and seconded that Bill No.5 090359 be reported out of Committee with6 a favorable recommendation; further, that7 the rules of Council be suspended so as8 to permit first reading at our next9 session of Council.10 All in favor will say aye.11 (Aye.)12
The16 ayes have it and the motion carries.17 The Chair recognizes Councilman18 Kenney regarding Bill No. 090381.19
Thank you,20 Madam President. I move that Bill No.21 090381 be reported out of this Committee22 with a favorable recommendation and a23 request made for a rules suspension to24 allow for first reading at our next25 161 5/26/09 - RULES - BILL 090354, etc.1 Council session.2 (Duly seconded.)3
It4 has been moved and seconded that Bill No.5 090381 be reported out of Committee with6 a favorable recommendation; further, that7 the rules of Council be suspended so as8 to permit first reading at our next9 session of Council.10 All in favor will say aye.11 (Aye.)12
The16 ayes have it and the motion carries.17 This concludes our public18 meeting of the Committee on Rules. Thank19 you all very much.20 (Committee on Rules concluded21 at 1:00 p.m.)22 - - -23 24 25 162 1 CERTIFICATE2 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the3 proceedings, evidence and objections are4 contained fully and accurately in the5 stenographic notes taken by me upon the6 foregoing matter on May 26, 2009, and that7 this is a true and correct transcript of same.8 9 10 11 12 13 ______________________________14 MICHELE L. MURPHY15 RPR-Notary Public16 17 18 (The foregoing certification of this19 transcript does not apply to any reproduction20 of the same by any means, unless under the21 direct control and/or supervision of the22 certifying reporter.)23 24 25