2026-10-21 - Committee on Public Property and Public Works

01:10[music]

01:58[music]

03:16>> Good afternoon everyone.

03:19I note that the hour has come and we

03:21will begin our public hearing

03:23for the committee of public property and

03:26public works.

03:29Uh will the clerk please call the roll

03:31and take attendance of members that are

03:32in attendance. If you're in attendance,

03:34please indicate that you are here uh by

03:37saying present when your name is called.

03:39>> Councilmember Gauthier.

03:40>> Present.

03:42>> Councilmember Driscoll.

03:43>> Present.

03:44>> Councilmember Harrity.

03:45Councilmember Young.

03:46>> Present.

03:47>> Vice Chair Squilla.

03:49>> Present.

03:49>> Chair Lozada.

03:50>> Present.

03:52>> Thank you. A quorum of committee is

03:54present and this hearing is now called

03:55to order. This is a public hearing for

03:58the Committee of Public Property and

03:59Public Works regarding bills number

04:02260567,

04:0426038

04:07638, I'm sorry. 260638,

04:10260763,

04:12260798,

04:14and 260799.

04:18Um

04:20Will the clerk please read the titles of

04:22the bills?

04:24>> Bill number 260567

04:26renaming and designating Girard Fountain

04:28Park located on 300 block of Arch Street

04:31as Janet Coulter Park.

04:33Bill number 260638

04:34renaming and designating the building

04:36located on the property of Dorothy

04:38Emanuel Recreation Center commonly

04:39referred to as Dorothy Emanuel

04:41Playground building located at 8501

04:43Pickering Avenue as the Marlene Traits

04:45Neighborhood Center in the City of

04:47Philadelphia. Bill number 260763

04:49authorizing the Commissioner of Public

04:51Property on behalf of the City of

04:52Philadelphia to enter into a lease or

04:53sub-lease agreements with the

04:54Philadelphia Authority for industrial

04:56parcels of land generally referred to as

04:58Victory Gardens and Emerson Landfill for

05:01environmental remediation of the land,

05:03development of the facility at said

05:05premises, and the use as a training

05:07facility all under certain terms and

05:08conditions. Bill number 260798 renaming

05:11the Penrose Recreation Center to the

05:13Shirley K or Shirley M. Kitchen

05:15Recreation Center to honor the life and

05:17legacy of Shirley Kitchen, a pioneering

05:19public servant and civic leader with an

05:21immeasurable impact on the greater North

05:23Philadelphia community. And finally,

05:24Bill number 260799

05:26authorizing the Commissioner of Parks

05:28and Recreation on behalf of the City of

05:30Philadelphia to enter into a multi-year

05:31agreement with Broad Street Love Park

05:33LLC for the for the design, construction

05:36management, and operation of a food and

05:38beverage concession at the Welcome

05:39Center building saucer in Love Park all

05:42under certain terms and conditions.

05:46Thank you. We will now hear witnesses

05:49and panels

05:51uh for bill number 260567.

05:54Will the clerk please call the first

05:56panel we have to testify on bill number

05:58260567.

06:00>> Thomas Hair, battalion chief,

06:01Philadelphia Fire Department.

06:13>> Good afternoon. Thank you for being with

06:14us today. Please state your name for the

06:16record and begin with your testimony.

06:18>> Captain Michael Rhodes, Philadelphia

06:19Fire Department.

06:21All right.

06:22Good morning, Chairperson Lozada, Vice

06:24Chair Squilla,

06:25members of the City Committee.

06:27My name is Captain Michael Rhodes of the

06:28Philadelphia Fire Department. I'm here

06:30today to testify in support of bill

06:32number 260567,

06:35an ordinance renaming and designating

06:38Girard Fountain Park located at the 300

06:40block of Arch Street as Janet Coulter

06:42Park. The Philadelphia Fire Department

06:45is quite familiar with Janet Coulter's

06:46long-time commitment and advocacy with

06:49Joe Schiavo to maintain the Girard

06:51Fountain Park,

06:52which had many years ago fallen into

06:54disrepair until the couple created Old

06:57Green City to support the small park.

07:00The PFD wholeheartedly supports this

07:02measure to rename the park after Jane

07:04Coulter. Accordingly,

07:06I respectfully request that this

07:07committee approve bill number 260567.

07:11Thank you.

07:15>> Thank you so much for your testimony.

07:17Are there any questions uh from any

07:18members of the committee?

07:21Thank you so much. Have a good

07:22afternoon.

07:23>> Thank you.

07:29>> Are there any other uh members of the um

07:32community that are here to testify on

07:34behalf

07:35>> There are no other panelists for 567.

07:37>> Thank you.

07:40There being no further panel to testify

07:43today, I will ask if there's anyone else

07:45in the chamber to testify on bill number

07:47260567

07:49whose name has not yet been called. If

07:51so, please raise your hand.

07:55With no one else here to testify, we

07:57will now proceed to bill number 260638.

08:04Will the clerk please call the first

08:05panel here to testify on bill number

08:09260638?

08:11>> Will Susan Slawson, Commissioner of the

08:12Department of Public

08:14Department of Parks and Recreation?

08:17>> Good afternoon. Thank you for being with

08:19us this afternoon. Please state your

08:20name for the record and begin with your

08:22testimony. I'd also like to recognize

08:24for the record that we've been joined by

08:27committee member

08:29Councilwoman at Large Cindy Harrell.

08:31>> Good afternoon. Susan Slawson,

08:33Commissioner of Parks and Recreation.

08:35>> Thank you so much. Good afternoon. Thank

08:36you for being with us.

08:38>> Good afternoon, Chairperson Lozada, Vice

08:41Chair

08:42who's not present here, but the

08:43committee.

08:45My name is Susan Slawson, Commissioner

08:47of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.

08:48I'm here today to testify in support of

08:51bill number 260638,

08:55an ordinance designating the the

08:57building on the property of the Dorothy

08:59Emanuel Recreation Center, commonly

09:01referred to as Dorothy Emanuel

09:03Playground building, located at 8501

09:07Pickering Avenue,

09:08as the Marlene Street Neighborhood

09:11Center in the City of Philadelphia. The

09:13Department of Parks and Recreation

09:15supports this measure and accordingly, I

09:17respectfully request that this committee

09:20approve bill number 260638.

09:24If you have any questions, I'm here to

09:26answer.

09:30>> Thank you for your testimony. Are there

09:31any questions from members of the

09:33committee? Just one question,

09:36Commissioner. You know, we've

09:38experienced some challenges, uh um, in

09:40the seventh council district in the past

09:42around name changes of parks and

09:44recreation centers.

09:46Um,

09:47what are we doing to ensure, uh, beyond

09:50us posting on newspapers that sometimes

09:53people don't read, beyond, um, the small

09:56advisory committees that are formed to,

09:59um,

10:00lead conversations in communities? What

10:02are we doing to inform the general

10:04public around these public spaces that

10:06there's a consideration, uh, being made,

10:09uh, to change a name, uh, on behalf of a

10:13of a committed, dedicated community

10:15member.

10:16>> Thank you for asking that question.

10:18Uh,

10:19we use our advisory councils if it's a

10:21rec center that's being changed and

10:23we're requesting for the name to change.

10:25And if it's a park, we use one of our

10:27friends groups to assist us with getting

10:29the information out. We ensure that we

10:32have meetings notifying community

10:33members whenever there's a name change

10:36because we have family members, um, that

10:38are concerned when their loved ones

10:41names have been on various buildings and

10:43we make a decision to change. And so, we

10:46have a process that we use. And we

10:48actually have There is a a a

10:50resolution that talks about, and and

10:52I'll get it over to all of you, um, the

10:55process of that we're supposed to follow

10:57when we're changing a name of a facility

11:00or a park.

11:01>> Thank you. Thank you, uh, commissioner.

11:04I know that um, we've worked very

11:06closely with you and and your team on

11:08making sure that everyone is informed as

11:10well as the process that we have here

11:12internally, uh, when the bill is

11:14originally introduced and before it

11:16gets, um, uh, sent to committee. And so,

11:18I just wanted to make sure that we put

11:19on the record that there is a separate

11:21process that we follow and a process

11:22that you all follow and that we do our

11:24best to do our due diligence and ensure

11:26that all community members are informed

11:29when these types of decisions are being

11:30made. Thank you so much for your

11:31partnership.

11:32>> And I want to just also say that one of

11:34the things that we do, you do your part,

11:36we do our part, and we usually come

11:37together to ensure that community

11:39members have been notified of the

11:41changes.

11:42>> Yeah, thank you. Thank you so much for

11:43that.

11:46>> Will the clerk uh please call the next

11:49panel to testify on bill number 260638?

11:52>> There are no further panels on 260638.

11:56>> With no one else here to testify, we

11:57will now proceed to bill number 260763.

12:01Will the clerk please call the first

12:02panel here to testify on bill number

12:05260763?

12:07>> LaWanda Hebert, the deputy commissioner

12:09of Department of Public Property.

12:15>> Good afternoon. Thank you for being with

12:16us today. Please state your name for the

12:18record and begin with your testimony.

12:20>> Good Good afternoon. My name is LaWanda

12:22A. Bear, and I'm with the Department of

12:23Public Property. I'm the deputy

12:24commissioner for the real estate

12:26division.

12:27>> Welcome.

12:27>> Thank you.

12:31Good afternoon, Chairperson Lozada and

12:33members of the Committee of Public

12:34Property and Public Works. My name is

12:36LaWanda A. Bear, and I am the deputy

12:38commissioner of Public Property. I am

12:40here today to testify in support of bill

12:42number 260763,

12:44authorizing the Commissioner of Public

12:46Property, on behalf of the City of

12:48Philadelphia, to enter into a lease or

12:50sub-lease agreements with the

12:52Philadelphia Authority for industrial

12:53development for all or a portion of the

12:56premises that includes certain parcels

12:58of land, generally referred to as

13:00Victory Gardens and Emerson Landfill,

13:03for environmental remediation of the

13:05land, development of a facility at said

13:08premises, and use as a training

13:10facility, all under certain terms and

13:12conditions.

13:14The purpose of this lease or sub-lease

13:16will permit the International Union of

13:18Operating Engineers Local 542

13:21to perform environmental remediation and

13:23construct an apprentice training

13:25facility, which will strengthen local

13:28hiring initiatives and provide

13:30additional pre-apprentice and apprentice

13:33training opportunities for residents.

13:35The Department of Public Property

13:36supports this measure and accordingly, I

13:39respectfully ask that City Council

13:41approve Bill number 260763.

13:45Thank you and I'll be happy to answer

13:47any questions you may have.

13:52>> Thank you for your testimony. Are there

13:54any questions from members of the

13:55committee?

13:57No.

13:58Thank you so much for being with us this

14:00afternoon. Will the clerk please call

14:02the next panel to testify on Bill number

14:04260763?

14:06>> There are no further panels for 260763.

14:10>> There being no further panels to testify

14:12today, we will ask if there's anyone

14:14else in the chamber to testify on Bill

14:16number 260763 whose name has not been

14:18called. If so, please raise your hand.

14:22With no one else here to testify, we

14:24will proceed now to Bill number 260798.

14:30Will the clerk please call the first

14:31panel here to testify on Bill number

14:34260798?

14:36>> Susan Slawson, Commissioner, Department

14:38of Department of Parks and Recreation.

14:46>> Good afternoon, Chairperson Lozada

14:49and members of the Committee of Public

14:51Property and Public Works. My name is

14:53Susan Slawson, Commissioner,

14:55Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. I'm

14:58here today to testify in support of Bill

15:00number 260798,

15:03an ordinance renaming and designating

15:06the property commonly referred to as

15:08Penrose Recreation Center, located at

15:111101 West Susquehanna Avenue, as the

15:14Shirley M. Kitchen Recreation Center in

15:17the City of Philadelphia.

15:21The Department of Parks and Recreation

15:23supports this measure and accordingly I

15:25respectfully request that this committee

15:27approve bill number 260798.

15:31I'll be happy to answer any questions

15:33you may have. Thank you.

15:35>> Thank you for your testimony. Uh the

15:37chair recognizes Councilmember Young.

15:41>> Thank you so much, Madam Chair. I thank

15:43Commissioner for being here. Um I just

15:45want to state briefly um how important

15:48this is for that community.

15:51Um

15:51Senator Kitchen uh was the light of that

15:54community and the light of a lot of

15:55places in North Philly.

15:57Um and the work for advocacy

15:59uh for for everyone. Um you know, she

16:01was a social worker by heart, right? So

16:03that I mean by nature her her job is

16:05just to help. Um and that's what she did

16:08uh for a lot of people

16:10um as a senator, um as a ward leader, as

16:13a constituent service rep. Um you know,

16:16that's what she did and so we wanted to

16:19honor her um you know, in in a way that

16:22the community again, the community

16:24wanted this. She didn't even want this.

16:26The community wanted to do this uh for

16:28her.

16:30Um and so I'm just excited to be able to

16:32do this uh for a community who loved her

16:34so much. Um and so I want to thank uh

16:38the Department of Parks and Rec. I want

16:39to thank you, Commissioner, for uh

16:41making this a smooth process

16:43um for this community. Um and so we're

16:46going to continue to honor the legacy of

16:48Senator Kitchen

16:49um you know, for for a very long time

16:51here in this city. So thank you.

16:58>> Are there any other members of the

16:59committee? The chair recognizes

17:01Councilmember Harrity.

17:04>> Yeah, I just want to echo uh Councilman

17:06Young. Uh everybody knows I always say

17:09if there wasn't a Senator Kitchen, there

17:11definitely wouldn't be a Jim Harrity.

17:13Uh

17:14the fact that she allowed me and Sharif

17:18run for her seat when she was there. She

17:20endorsed Sharif

17:22during that campaign. I was out of this

17:24stuff. I was out on the highway building

17:27highways and uh

17:29so

17:32I say that to say that well as Jeffrey

17:35said, she wouldn't want this, right? She

17:38wasn't that kind of person. She just did

17:40the work, but she deserves it and I

17:43thank you for it. I know her people

17:45thank us for it because

17:48that neighborhood, I mean, she she meant

17:50a lot to it. She meant a lot to

17:51everybody there. She meant a lot to all

17:53of us uh

17:54and it was just so sad and quick that

17:58the way we lost her here, you know, I

18:00was with her days before and you know,

18:03it's it's just sad. So, we thank you and

18:06we commend you we beat you up when we

18:08think you did something wrong. We got to

18:09commend you when you do something right

18:11for sure, right? So, we thank you and we

18:14commend you for this one. That's a big

18:16one. Thank you.

18:17>> If I can, just for the record.

18:20Sit on.

18:21Senator Senator Kitchen was one of the

18:24first women when I came here the first

18:27time

18:28um and she had a way of if there was

18:32something that was needed in her

18:33community

18:35I can tell you I still have her cell

18:37phone number. She would call.

18:39She would demand. She would ask, but

18:42once she got to know you, she was one of

18:45the sweetest people. Now, she still

18:46expected you to do what she needed done

18:49for her neighborhood, for her community,

18:51but she was a wonderful fighter. She was

18:54a strong woman for what she believed in

18:57and she believed in fighting for her

18:59community. So, I'm really honored that

19:01we're able to make this change for her.

19:05Thank you so much.

19:08Are there any other comments or

19:09questions um from members of the

19:11committee? Thank you so much for being

19:13with us this afternoon.

19:15Mr. Clark, is there anyone else

19:18who is here to testify on bill number

19:20260798?

19:22>> There are no further panels at this

19:23time. We will have public comment

19:25afterwards.

19:26>> There being no other panels to testify

19:28today, I will ask if there's anyone else

19:30in the chamber here to testify on bill

19:31number 260798 whose name we have not

19:34called. If so, please raise your hand.

19:38There being no one else, we will now

19:40move to bill number 260799.

19:46Someone who

19:46>> That'll be as part of the public comment

19:48portion.

19:51>> Did you want to

19:54public comment? She I think she signed

19:56up for public comment. Yeah. Okay. Right

19:59after.

20:03Be a panel?

20:04Okay. Can we ask you to Are you here to

20:07testify on bill number 260799?

20:10She's yes. Can I ask you to step back

20:12and then we're going to let them speak.

20:14I know that they were part of public

20:15comment, but we can

20:20Come on up.

20:21Come on up.

20:32Thank you so much for being with us this

20:34afternoon. Please state your name for

20:35the record and begin with your

20:36testimony.

20:37>> Brenda Saker.

20:39I got a little tear. Sorry.

20:41Um

20:42Brenda Saker.

20:44Um I live in the community with the

20:46senator for

20:48most of my life.

20:50And um

20:53as a community member

20:55and as a member of her team,

20:58we would love to let the light of her

21:01life continue to shine in our community.

21:04And seeing her name on the playground

21:07would inspire young folks.

21:10Um

21:16>> [snorts]

21:17>> Like you said, how this so fast.

21:19I'm sorry. I'm emotional right now. Um

21:22She just means so much to us

21:25that

21:26>> [snorts]

21:26>> I left work to come here. Everything was

21:28good.

21:30And then when the commissioner started

21:31talking, it's just like bam. The door

21:34opened again. So, it's the good.

21:40>> [snorts]

21:40>> My point to be here today is um

21:44the late senator

21:46was a great inspiration in our

21:48community.

21:50We have young ladies that are now in

21:51college. We have young kids [snorts]

21:53that come to play the game, and they

21:55look forward to being in the playground

21:58and knowing, you know, different times,

22:01different place,

22:02different events that she would be

22:04there,

22:05and we were able Thank you. I'm good.

22:08Thank you. Um

22:10to keep her life going, to let her life

22:13shine on and on and on and on and on. It

22:16doesn't stop because she's not here with

22:18us anymore. It continues every day in

22:21our lives. And as you see,

22:24it's really felt in the heart.

22:26And we just um pray that the

22:30committee would allow us to have this

22:32name change for Penrose Playground.

22:35Thank you.

22:37Oh, any questions?

22:38>> Thank you for sharing that with us.

22:40>> Thank you.

22:40>> Um Senator Kitchen had an impact on so

22:43many people, and so many people have had

22:45the opportunities that they have today

22:47and are in places that they've been

22:49today, in positions that they are in

22:51today, because of her guidance and

22:53because of her support. And so, she's

22:55someone that we will forever remember.

22:56Thank you for sharing that with us. Is

22:58there anyone else uh here to testify

23:02uh, on behalf of bill number 260798.

23:07There being none, uh, we will now move

23:09to

23:11um,

23:12bill number 260799.

23:14Will the clerk please call the panel to

23:16testify on bill number 260799.

23:20>> Susan Slawson, Commissioner, Department

23:22of Parks and Recreation.

23:32>> Thank you so much for allowing us to

23:34pivot a little bit. Appreciate that.

23:36Please state your name for the record

23:38and begin with your testimony.

23:41>> Good afternoon, Councilmember Lozada,

23:44Vice Chair Squilla, and members of the

23:47Committee for Public Property and Public

23:49Works.

23:50My name is Susan Slawson, Commissioner,

23:53Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and

23:55I'm here today to testify in support of

23:57bill number 260799,

24:01an ordinance authorizing Parks and

24:03Recreation to enter into a multi-year

24:06agreement with Broad Street Love Park

24:08LLC for the design, construction,

24:11management, and operation of a food and

24:13beverage concession at the Welcome

24:15Center building, which we call the

24:17saucer, in Love Park right here in the

24:20City of Philadelphia. The Department of

24:22Parks and Recreation supports this

24:24measure, and accordingly, I respectfully

24:25request that this committee approve bill

24:28number 260799.

24:31I have here with me today is Katie Burns

24:33Case,

24:34Business Development Manager for Parks

24:36and Recreation for additional questions

24:38if they're asked.

24:39>> Thank you so much. Please state your

24:41name for the record and begin with your

24:42testimony.

24:43>> Katie Burns Case.

24:46>> Yeah, where Stay Do you have testimony

24:48that you want to share?

24:49>> No, this is just here. She's just here.

24:51>> Um,

24:52if there are members of the committee

24:53that have questions, let's begin with

24:56um, Chairperson

24:57>> Yes.

24:58>> You can go with Councilmember

25:00I do have questions.

25:01Okay, let's begin with council member

25:03Jeffrey Young.

25:05>> Thank you so much madam chair and good

25:08afternoon again.

25:11Could you

25:12talk to us about

25:15just the process of us getting here with

25:18this project the condition of the saucer

25:22the work that was done to to get it here

25:26and also what

25:28um

25:29you know the the entity will be the type

25:31of

25:33place this will be for for us.

25:37>> Absolutely, yes. So this has been a

25:40project for a while for the department.

25:44Pre-pandemic we had a concessionaire

25:47lined up that had gone through our

25:49request for proposals process and then

25:53they were not able they did not continue

25:55onward with the with the endeavor.

25:58In 2023 we reissued

26:01this again for

26:03a RFP for somebody looking

26:06uh more in the similar model of kind of

26:08a high-end restaurant experience and

26:11received no bids.

26:12Looking at this at the end of 2024

26:15knowing that 2026 was ahead and we were

26:18looking at a lot of visibility for

26:21Philadelphia. We wanted to make sure

26:22this was a priority. So in early 2025

26:25the department offer

26:26put out a request for expressions of

26:29interest which was a new process for us

26:31and it was a way to engage the public to

26:35really figure out exactly what people

26:37wanted in the space

26:39and we got a lot of really positive

26:40feedback and engagement through that and

26:43we use that information to build a

26:46better RFP that felt like it fit the

26:49need and use of the community space

26:51really emphasizing that this is a park

26:54and this is an amenity that should be

26:56added and feel like a part of the park

26:59and not necessarily just a a standalone

27:01restaurant. So, the community really

27:02wanted something that they could use for

27:05events that would support the other uses

27:08within the park and would have both a

27:10daytime and a nighttime element. And so,

27:12the proposal that we chose and received

27:14has a cafe coffee element in the daytime

27:18and a tap room beer

27:21element at nighttime as well as having

27:24some small bites and food elements as

27:26well.

27:31>> Thank you. Can you

27:32talk about

27:35or the work

27:37that was needed in the condition of the

27:40saucer prior to

27:42the RFP process?

27:44>> Yes, absolutely. So, the

27:46building had been

27:48started with work from the

27:49concessionaire. We did receive

27:51renovation as part of the Love Park

27:53construction project that was done. So,

27:55in 2018, the the bones of the building,

27:59the structural elements were all updated

28:02and but the inside of the building still

28:04needed built the build out. So, the

28:06previous concessionaire had started a

28:08lot of work and put in very high-end

28:10things like HVAC and other elements

28:14but you can even see on some of their

28:16like the

28:19approvals and pieces, there were dates

28:20exactly like March 13th, 2020. And so, a

28:24little bit of the pause of the pandemic

28:26and then just kind of stopped in the

28:27middle of construction here, which is

28:29why we are asking for this ordinance as

28:32this concessionaire will be coming in

28:34and putting in

28:35their own money to outfit the inside of

28:38this building. Having that long-term

28:40agreement is both good for the vendor

28:42but also good for the city to make sure

28:43that we end up with a uh, a project and

28:46a building that is serves many many free

28:49years to come.

28:50>> Okay. Thank you.

28:52Uh, just a couple more questions.

28:55Um,

28:56could

28:58any of the

29:00work be done to the facility or was any

29:03work done on this facility done by

29:07the in-house workers in Parks and Rec,

29:09the skilled trades?

29:11>> Yes. So, actually I wanted to also note

29:14Councilman Young had awarded in

29:1725

29:19in 2025 ITEF funding 100K and that

29:22actually went towards the

29:24emergency elements within the building

29:26to make sure our

29:28fire

29:29fire suppression and all of those types

29:31of pieces were up to code. So, we handed

29:33over the building technically

29:36with its

29:38certificate of occupancy in its current

29:40form. So, as soon as they change it,

29:41that certificate of occupancy won't be

29:43applicable the same way, but currently

29:45and just last week we were able to host

29:48the

29:49planning commission commission

29:52engagement opportunity which is the

29:54exact type of event that the Saucer

29:56should be used for and just having

29:59a

30:00having a beer and talking about trails

30:02is a nice way to to encourage people to

30:04come and engage.

30:05>> And and there's some additional funding

30:07that also took place Council Member

30:09Young. You added there's flooding that

30:12was taking place around

30:15the grounds there and so there was

30:16additional funding that you provided to

30:17ensure that I mean we're in the center

30:20of Center City. That is one of the most

30:22visited places here in Philadelphia and

30:24so we reach out to you quite often for

30:27support and I can take this opportunity

30:29to say thank you for ensuring that we're

30:32able to keep that most visible space um,

30:35beautified and

30:37just something where we can welcome

30:39people when they come to Center City.

30:41Thank you.

30:42>> Thank you. And my last question is

30:43related to I guess the design of the the

30:46structure

30:47and what skilled trades have done thus

30:49far.

30:51Is it something do you do does Parks and

30:54Rec typically allow the contractor to

30:58or the the person the awardee to then

31:01hire their own contractor or is that

31:03something that skilled trades could do

31:05as well?

31:06>> There are some there are some level of

31:10projects that the Parks and Rec team

31:12will not do. One because we're pulling

31:15them from our everyday 159 facilities

31:19where we need work and two the projects

31:21are just too big. There are just some

31:22things that we have to draw a line and

31:24say,

31:25you know, we can do some of the

31:28maintenance work, some of the work that

31:30needs

31:31to be done to upkeep our facilities, but

31:33we can't do everything. So part of part

31:36of these

31:37purposes of these RFPs is that we get

31:39people to come in

31:41and they're the ones that are

31:43identifying and paying for the work that

31:46needs to be done in the facilities.

31:47Money that does not have to come out of

31:50Parks and Rec's budget. Uh if the I'm

31:53not sure. I wasn't here when they

31:55restored that air conditioning, but how

31:57much was that, Kenny? Do you remember?

31:59It's hundreds of thousands of dollars

32:00>> Yeah, easily.

32:01>> that we don't have to concern ourselves

32:05with when we have somebody coming in and

32:08managing the facilities and we're

32:09getting a percentage of whatever they're

32:11making as opposed to our facility

32:13sitting and no one operating inside and

32:16we don't have the staff nor the

32:19expertise. You need expertise when

32:22you're operating whether it's going to

32:24be a coffee shop. That's not what Parks

32:26and Recreation does. So it's exciting to

32:29us that right here in the heart of

32:31Center City we'll be able to have an

32:33entity come in and we can be proud of

32:36what's going on in the inside by way of

32:38maintenance, also by

32:40the way of what we're providing the

32:41community here in Center City.

32:44>> Thank you. Is this the same operator

32:45who's already operating right now with

32:47the um

32:49I guess on?

32:50>> Yeah. Yes, technically um it is the um

32:53brewery, the beer garden um is operated

32:56currently by Broad Street Brewing, and

32:58they have a couple partners though

32:59they're bringing into the next phase um

33:02High Street Hospitality and Rival Bros

33:04were both um identified in their RFP um

33:08and they'd be part of the LLC um as part

33:11of the the next phase of the building.

33:13>> Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.

33:18>> Thank you. Are there other questions

33:19from members of the committee? The chair

33:21recognizes Council Member uh Jamie

33:23Gauthier.

33:24>> Thank you, Madam Chair, and uh hello,

33:26Commissioner. Hello.

33:28Um I will feed all substantive questions

33:31feedback to the district council member.

33:33Most of my comments are self-serving

33:35that I'm so excited that this is

33:37happening. I feel like there's been a

33:39dearth of like lunch food options since

33:42the pandemic. Um I'm so excited that

33:45something uh exciting is coming to Love

33:47Park. And plus, I had a limited amount

33:49of involvement with this project way

33:52before the pandemic um when I was at the

33:54Fairmount Park Conservancy. So, happy to

33:57see it moving forward. And that in

33:59addition to me being able to get lunch,

34:02that we're bringing even more vibrancy

34:04into uh Love Park. So, um it's it's it's

34:07it's truly exciting. Thanks and

34:09congratulations.

34:10>> Thank you, and thank you for your work

34:12prior to. We appreciate that.

34:17>> Thank you both uh for your testimony.

34:19Are there other questions?

34:21There being none, thank you uh for being

34:23with us today.

34:25Um

34:26Are there are there other panels to

34:27testify on bill number 260799?

34:30>> There are no other panels at this time.

34:33>> There being no further panels to testify

34:35on bill numbers 760799, I will ask if

34:39there's anyone else in the chamber to

34:40testify on this bill whose name we have

34:42yet to call. If so, please raise your

34:44hand.

34:48There being none, we will now proceed to

34:53public comment.

35:02With no further testimony, we will now

35:03move into public comment portion. Will

35:05the clerk please read the names of

35:07anyone who has signed up for public

35:09comment?

35:10>> Will Jones, Maeve Hasson.

35:18Oh, yeah.

35:18Sorry.

35:22>> Good afternoon. Thank you for being with

35:24us this afternoon. Please state your

35:25name for the record and begin with your

35:27testimony.

35:28>> Maeve Hogan of Old City Special Services

35:31District.

35:33Good afternoon, Chair Lozada and all

35:34members of the Committee on Public

35:36Property and Public Works. My name is

35:38Maeve Hogan and I'm the Economic

35:40Development and Policy Coordinator of

35:42the Old City Special Services District.

35:44I am here today to read into the record

35:46the testimony of Job Itzkowitz, the

35:48Executive Director of Old City District,

35:51who is unable to attend today due to a

35:53death in the family.

35:54This testimony is in support of bill

35:56number 260567

35:59related to the renaming of Girard

36:01Fountain Park on Arch Street to Janet

36:03Coulter Park.

36:05Old City Special Services District, OCD,

36:08was founded in 1997 as a municipal

36:10authority created by ordinance of the

36:12mayor and city council of Philadelphia

36:15under the Pennsylvania Municipal

36:16Authorities Act.

36:18OCD's mission is to improve

36:20Philadelphia's historic district as a

36:22place for people to meet, work, shop,

36:24and live by supplementing municipal

36:26services with maintenance, public

36:28safety, economic development, and

36:30promotional programs.

36:32When I joined Old City District in 2014,

36:35our director of operations handed me a

36:37list of 20 individuals in the

36:38neighborhood with whom I should be

36:40acquainted.

36:41As an Old City stalwart, Janet Coulter

36:44was near the top of that list.

36:47Janet was a leader with Old City Green,

36:49Old City's tree tending group, and we

36:51worked closely together as a result.

36:53Around 10 years ago, Old City Green

36:55approached our sister organization, Old

36:58City Community Fund,

37:00for sponsorship to upgrade the park

37:02under consideration today.

37:04And my board jumped at the opportunity

37:06contributing $60,000.

37:09Janet could frequently be seen

37:11maintaining the park as well as the

37:12triangle park at 2nd and Market.

37:15And the Commerce Connector, a project

37:17she helped envision a decade ago,

37:20which we cut the ribbon for yesterday.

37:24There are many other contributions Janet

37:26made

37:27just in my short time with the

37:28organization, too many to list here.

37:32Though not a member of our board, Janet

37:33was a welcome presence at Old City

37:35District meetings. Typically, Janet

37:37would sit back allowing others to speak

37:39first before finally entering the

37:42conversation with an acute observation

37:44and a wry comment. We miss Janet's

37:46wisdom and sense of humor, and we

37:48wholeheartedly support Bill number

37:50260567

37:52honoring this great resident of

37:53Philadelphia. Old City was lucky to have

37:56her. Thank you for your time, and I'm

37:58happy to answer any questions you may

38:00have.

38:02>> Thank you so much for being with us

38:05this afternoon.

38:06The chair recognizes Councilmember Mark

38:09Squilla.

38:11>> Thank you. Thank you for your testimony

38:12as

38:14I too knew Janet who was very active and

38:17send my condolences to Joe and his

38:19family. Um, but it is

38:24hearing the fire department speak of

38:26what it meant to them and and what that

38:28fountain and park was like before the

38:30volunteers got involved and

38:32it was

38:34fountain didn't work, the park was in

38:36bad shape and they came and took it on

38:39their own and spent their own money to

38:40make a city park a a welcoming space.

38:44And so Janet and Joe, both of them have

38:48dedicated themselves to the city and

38:50it's really an honor to see this

38:52named after her after all the hard work

38:55that she put into it and the people who

38:57actually seen that appreciated and to be

39:00able to do this is is kind of neat. So,

39:02thank you for your testimony and looking

39:05forward to the renaming.

39:07>> Thank you.

39:11Thank you so much. Are there any other

39:14members of the committee that have

39:15questions or comments? Thank you so much

39:17for being with us this afternoon. Is

39:19there anyone else here for public

39:21comment for any of the bills that are on

39:24the record today?

39:25>> Is there a Will Jones present?

39:28>> No, there is not then Council member.

39:30>> Given that there are no further

39:31witnesses or panels for any of the

39:33bills, we'll now move conclude the

39:35public hearing and move to a public

39:37meeting.

39:39We will begin the public meeting on the

39:41previously mentioned bills. Would the

39:44clerk please call the roll

39:46to take attendance. Members that are in

39:48attendance, please indicate that you are

39:50here by saying present when your name is

39:52called.

39:54>> Council member Grodier.

39:56>> Present.

39:56>> Council member Driscoll.

39:57>> Present.

39:58>> Council member Harrity.

39:59>> Present.

39:59>> Council member Young.

40:01>> Present.

40:01>> Vice Chair Squilla.

40:02>> Present.

40:03>> Chair Lozada.

40:04>> Present.

40:05Thank you Thank you. A quorum of this

40:07committee is present. The chair

40:08recognizes Council member Squilla for a

40:11motion on bill number 260567.

40:16Member

40:17member

40:19>> Go ahead.

40:19>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I move the bill

40:21number 260567

40:23be reported from this committee with a

40:24favorable recommendation. And further

40:26move that the rules of Council be

40:27suspended to submit the first reading of

40:28this bill to the next session of

40:30Council.

40:30>> Second.

40:32>> Thank you. The chair notes for the

40:33record that Council member Garcetti

40:35seconds the motion. It has been moved

40:38and properly second that the that bill

40:39number 260567 be reported from this

40:42committee with a favorable

40:43recommendation. And further move that

40:45the rules of Council be suspended to

40:47permit first reading at the next session

40:49of Council. All those in favor of the

40:51motion will signify by saying I.

40:53>> I.

40:53>> Those opposed? The eyes have it and the

40:56motion carries. Bill number 260567 will

40:59be reported from this committee with a

41:00favorable recommendation with a request

41:03that the rules of Council be suspended

41:05to permit the first reading at the next

41:07session of Council.

41:09The chair recognizes Council member

41:10Squilla for a motion on the amendment to

41:13bill number 260638.

41:16>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I will offer an

41:18amendment to bill number 260638.

41:21A copy of that amendment has been

41:23circulated to all members of the

41:24committee. I move that the amendment to

41:26bill number 260638

41:28be approved.

41:29>> Second.

41:30>> The chair notes for the record that

41:32Council member Garcetti seconds the

41:33motion. It has been moved and properly

41:35second that the amendment to bill number

41:37260638 be approved. All those in favor

41:40of the motion will signify by saying I.

41:42>> I.

41:43>> Those opposed? The eyes have it. The

41:45amendment to bill number 260638

41:48has been approved.

41:52The chair recognizes Council member

41:54Squilla for a motion on bill number

41:55260638

41:57as amended.

41:59>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that

42:00resolution that

42:03bill number 260638

42:06as amended be reported from this

42:08committee with a favorable

42:09recommendation.

42:10>> Second.

42:11>> It has been moved and properly seconded

42:13that bill number 260638 as amended be

42:16reported from this committee with a

42:17favorable recommendation. All those in

42:19favor of the motion signify by saying I.

42:21>> I.

42:22>> Those opposed?

42:24The eyes have it and the motion carries.

42:25Bill number 260638

42:27as amended will be reported from this

42:29committee with a favorable

42:30recommendation.

42:32The chair recognizes council member

42:34Squilla for motion on bill number 260

42:37763.

42:39>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I move bill

42:40number 260763 reported from this

42:42committee with a favorable

42:43recommendation and further move that the

42:45rules of council be suspended to submit

42:46the first reading of this bill to next

42:48session of council.

42:49>> Second.

42:50>> It has been moved and properly seconded

42:52that bill number 260763

42:54be reported from this committee with a

42:56favorable recommendation and further

42:58move that the rules of council be

42:59suspended to permit first reading at the

43:01next session of council. All those in

43:02favor will signify by saying I.

43:04>> I.

43:05>> Those opposed? The eyes have it and the

43:07motion carries. Bill number 260763 will

43:09be reported from this committee with a

43:11favorable recommendation with a request

43:13that the rules of council be suspended

43:14to permit first reading at the next

43:16session of council.

43:19The chair recognizes council member

43:20Squilla for a motion on the amendment to

43:23bill number 26076798.

43:27>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I offer an

43:28amendment to bill number 260798.

43:31A copy of the amendment has been

43:32circulated to all members of the

43:33committee and I move for the amendment

43:34to bill number 260798

43:37be approved.

43:38>> Second.

43:38>> Second.

43:39>> It has been approved It has been moved

43:41and sec- and properly seconded

43:43um that bill number

43:46260798

43:47as amended be approved. All those in

43:50favor of the motion will signify by

43:51saying I.

43:52>> I.

43:53>> Those opposed?

43:54The eyes have it.

44:00Uh the chair recognizes council member

44:04Squilla for a motion on bill number

44:06260798

44:08as amended.

44:10>> Yes.

44:12Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that the

44:14bill number 260798

44:16as amended be reported from this

44:17committee with a favorable

44:19recommendation and the rules of council

44:21be suspended to submit the first reading

44:22of this bill to the next session of

44:23council.

44:24>> Second.

44:25>> It has been moved and properly seconded

44:26that bill number 260798 as amended be

44:29reported from this committee with a

44:30favorable recommendation. All those in

44:33favor of the motion will signify by

44:34saying I.

44:35>> I.

44:36>> Those opposed? The eyes have it and the

44:38motion carries. Bill number 260798

44:41as amended will be reported from this

44:42committee with a favorable

44:43recommendation.

44:45The chair recognizes council member

44:47Squilla for a motion on the amendment to

44:50bill number 260799.

44:53>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I offer an

44:54amendment to bill number 260799. A copy

44:57of the amendment has been circulated to

44:58all members of the committee. I move

44:59that the amendment to bill number 260799

45:02be approved.

45:03>> Second.

45:04>> The chair recognizes that council member

45:06Garcetti seconds the motion. It has been

45:07moved and properly seconded that the

45:09amendment to bill number 260799 be

45:11approved. All those in favor of the

45:13motion will signify by saying I.

45:15>> I.

45:16>> Those opposed? The eyes have it. The

45:18motion carries.

45:20The bill um the chair recognizes council

45:23member Squilla on the motion

45:25uh on bill number 260799

45:28as amended.

45:30>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I move the

45:31resolution number 260799

45:33as amended be reported from this

45:34committee with a favorable

45:35recommendation and further move that the

45:37rules of council be suspended to submit

45:38the first reading of this bill to the

45:39next session of council.

45:41>> Second.

45:41>> It has been moved moved and properly

45:43seconded that bill number 260799 as

45:46amended be reported from this committee

45:47with a favorable recommendation. All

45:49those in favor of the motion will

45:50signify by saying I.

45:52>> I.

45:53>> Those opposed? The eyes have it and the

45:54motion carries. Bill number 260799

45:58as amended will be reported from this

45:59committee with a favorable

46:00recommendation.

46:03There being no further bills or

46:04resolutions on the agenda, this

46:06concludes the business before the

46:07Committee of Public Property and Public

46:09Works. Thank you so much very much for

46:11your attendance and participation today.

46:13Have a good afternoon.

46:14>> Thank you.

46:32>> [music]