►
Description
The Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 1:00 PM, in Room 400, City Hall, to hear testimony on the following items:
170856 An Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Public Property to acquire a trestle over Germantown Avenue just below Cresheim Valley Drive and to enter into an agreement to license from PECO Energy Company a certain strip of land running parallel to a portion of Cresheim Creek, all under certain terms and conditions.
170904 An Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Parks & Recreation, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into an agreement with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for maintenance of a shared use trail located at the Girard Avenue Interchange and Interstate Route 95, under certain terms and conditions.
170989 An Ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation, on behalf of the City, to enter into one or more agreements with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development to amend, restate, or otherwise replace the lease and sublease authorized by Bill No. 090330 to permit the Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation, Inc., to construct, operate, maintain, and repair a Holocaust Memorial Plaza on the "Premises" identified under the previously authorized lease and sublease, all under certain provisions.
Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs
Chair: Councilwoman Cindy Bass (8th District)
Vice Chair: Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District)
A
This
hearing
is
called
to
order.
This
is
a
public
hearing
of
the
City
Council
Committee
on
parks,
recreation
and
Cultural
Affairs,
and
the
purpose
of
this
public
hearing
is
to
hear
testimony
on
bills
number
one:
seven:
zero,
eight
five,
six
one:
seven:
zero,
nine,
zero,
four
and
one
seven
zero.
Nine.
Eight
nine
I
want
to
recognize
the
presence
of
a
quorum
of
committee
members
and
the
members
who
in
attendance
are
councilman,
Curtis,
Jones,
jr.,
councilman,
Kenyatta,
Johnson
and
Councilman.
C
Good
afternoon
Council
of
ambassadors
of
the
Committee
on
parks,
recreation
and
Cultural
Affairs,
my
name
is
Tiffany
Thurmond
and
I
am
here
today
on
behalf
of
Philadelphia
Parks
and
Recreation
in
support
of
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero,
eight
five.
Six,
this
bill
authorizes
the
Commissioner
of
the
department
of
public
property
to
acquire
a
Trussell
of
Germantown
Avenue,
just
below
crushin
Valley
Drive,
to
enter
into
an
agreement
to
license
from
Peco
energy
company,
a
certain
strip
of
land
running
parallel
to
a
portion
of
crushin
Creek,
all
of
the
certain
terms
and
conditions.
C
This
will
allow
Philadelphia,
Parks
and
Recreation
to
develop
the
crushin
Valley
Trail,
which
will
connect
student
Avenue
and
the
neighborhood
of
Mount
Airy
to
the
extensive
trail
system
in
the
Wissahickon
Valley
Park.
The
trail
will
also
allow
for
recreational
use
by
pedestrians
and
limited
non
motorized
traffic,
including
bicycles,
strollers,
skateboards,
skates
and
roller
blades.
This
this
trail
will
be
designed
constructed
owned
and
maintained
by
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
by
and
through
Philadelphia
Parks
and
Recreation.
C
A
You
any
questions
from
the
panel
and
we've
been
joined
by
Councilwoman
Maria
Canyon,
a
Sanchez
and
I
do
want
to
take
this
moment
an
opportunity
to
thank
everyone
who
worked
so
hard
on
this
particular
project,
which
is
in
the
8th
district,
we're
very
very
excited
about
the
possibilities
and
what
can
come
from
this
transfer
and
what
will
happen
in
the
northwest.
So
thank
you
so
much
for
all
of
your
working
for
everyone
who
worked
on
this
particular
matter.
Councilman,
Tolkein
burger.
Madam.
E
Thank
You
councilman,
my
name
is
Robert
Armstrong,
as
Tiffany
said
my
farms
rode
off
for
parks
and
recreation.
We
estimate
that
this
will
receive
thousands
of
people
using
it
per
year.
We
have
upwards
numbers
on
the
Schuylkill
River
trail
of
over
a
million
and
with
our
ancillary
trails
in
the
Wissahickon
Valley
Park
and
in
Crescent
Valley.
We
really
think
this
is
gonna,
be
a
wonderful
connection
and
will
be
a
way
for
residents
of
Stenton
Avenue
on
down
in
this
area,
to
Germantown
Avenue
to
access
the
West,
2nd
Valley
parks,
they're.
E
Not
only
what
people
be
able
to
use
the
trail
just
for
walking
walking
the
dog
things
like
that,
riding
their
bike
on
the
trail
itself,
but
also
to
connect
to
other
trails
that
are
heavily
heavily
used
and
vice
versa.
If
you're
right
Nick-
and
you
come
up
to
this-
if
you
and
you
can
get
up
to
set
an
avenue
because
we're
gonna
build
a
way
to
get
up
to
senton
Avenue.
So.
D
E
D
A
Very
welcome.
Thank
you
any
other
questions.
Okay!
Well,
thank
you
very
much,
and
can
we
have
the
clerk
now
read
the
title
or
actually
is
there
anyone
else
here
to
testify
on
this
bill?
Yes,
please
come
forward.
Please
come
forward
if
you're
here
to
testify
on
bill
number
one:
seven,
zero,
eight
five,
six.
F
My
name
is
Susan
Dannenberg
and
I'm.
The
chair
of
the
board
of
the
Friends
of
the
crushin
trail
I
want
to
thank
this
committee
and
councilmen
vast
for
the
opportunity
to
speak
here
today,
and
also
for
the
consideration
of
the
ordinance,
the
friends
that
Crescent
Trail
was
an
informal
group
until
six
years
ago,
when
we
decided
to
incorporate
and
apply
for
nonprofit
status
in
order
to
better
advocate
for
the
building
of
the
trail
in
the.
F
In
the
intervening
time
we
have
advocated
for
the
right-of-way
and
our
volunteers
have
built
two
miles
of
natural
surface
trail
within
the
Fairmount
Park
section
of
this
trail.
It's
part
of
a
larger
context.
The
circuit
trails
covers
the
nine
County
area,
Pennsylvania
New
Jersey,
and
this
is
a
key
link.
It's
one
of
the
few
trails
that
crosses
from
Philadelphia
into
Montgomery,
County
and
Montgomery
County
is
also
eager
to
add
their
portion,
and
that
really
allows
us
to
leverage
this
investment.
F
We're
not
just
building
a
one-mile
trail
we're
actually
building
a
link
between
Philadelphia,
Montgomery
Montgomery
will
then
go
on
to
build
another
six
miles
of
trail
that
will
hook
back
into
the
network.
So
we
appreciate
you
considering
this
and
I
want
to
personally
thank
the
parks,
recreation
and
Cultural
Affairs
Committee
for
considering
the
ordinance
and
urge
you
to
pass
the
ordinance
with
all
due
haste.
Well,.
A
G
My
name
is
Timothy
Carey
and
I'm.
A
member
of
the
Bicycle
Club
of
Philadelphia
I
reside
in
Center
City.
Even
to
go
up
to
Crescent
Valley
would
be
wonderful
to
go
over
this
bridge
and,
as
you
know,
how
much
beautiful
the
city
is
having
the
boardwalk
have
any
money
off
trail
bridge
and
now
that
you
just
got
the
swing
bridge
the
chrétien
Valley,
it's
a
trestle
huge
overlooked,
be
spectacular.
G
It
will
be
on
the
front
page
of
the
New
York
Times
when
you
open
that,
and
what
better
and
I
as
a
cyclist
will
make
the
effort
to
go
all
the
way
up
there
and
our
club
has
many
members
in
Philadelphia
and
vicinity
and
will
use
it
for
recreation
and
probably
also
some
people
will
use
it
for
commuting
for
transportation,
so
I'm
a
favor
I
would
encourage
the
committee
to
vote
positive
on
this
issue.
Thank
you.
Thank.
D
G
D
G
A
B
Number
one:
seven:
zero:
nine
zero
for
an
ordinance
authorizing
the
Commissioner
recreation,
on
behalf
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
the
Commonwealth
of
Pennsylvania
Department
of
Transportation
for
maintenance
of
a
shared
East
Trail
located
at
the
Girard
Avenue
interchange,
an
interstate
route
95
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
Thank.
C
The
trail
would
link
the
East
Coast
Greenway
and
the
Port
Richmond
Trail
connect
the
local
community
from
Richmond
Street
and
Allegheny
Avenue
to
the
Delaware
River
and
allow
for
recreational
use
by
pedestrians
and
limited
non
motorized
traffic,
including
bicycles,
stroller,
strollers,
skateboards
rollerblades.
The
trail
will
be
constructed
by
PennDOT
and
owned
by
the
Commonwealth
of
Pennsylvania.
The
city
buy-in
through
Philadelphia,
Parks
and
Recreation
will
provide
maintenance
for
the
trail
for
at
least
four
years.
C
A
B
Number
one:
seven:
zero,
nine,
eight
nine,
an
ordinance
authorizing
the
commission
of
the
Department
of
Parks
and
Recreation
on
behalf
of
the
city,
to
enter
into
one
or
more
agreements
with
a
Philadelphia
Authority
for
industrial
development
to
a
men
restate
or
otherwise
replace
the
lease
and
sublease
authorized
by
bill.
Number:
zero:
nine,
zero:
three:
three:
zero
to
permit
the
Philadelphia
Holocaust
Remembrance,
Foundation
Inc
to
construct
operate,
maintain
and
repair
a
Holocaust
Memorial
Plaza
on
the
premises
identified
under
the
previously
authorized
lease
in
sublease
all
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
Thank.
C
Justin
bass
and
members
of
the
committee
on
parks,
recreation
and
coach
will
Affairs.
My
name
is
Tiffany
Thurmond
and
I'm
here
on
behalf
of
the
Philadelphia
Parks
and
Recreation
I
am
here
today
to
testify
in
support
of
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero,
nine,
eight
nine.
This
bill
authorized
the
Commissioner
of
Philadelphia,
Parks
and
Recreation
to
enter
into
one
or
more
agreements
with
the
Philadelphia
Authority
for
industrial
development
to
amend,
restate
or
otherwise
replace
the
lease
sorry
I
lost
my
place,
otherwise
replace
the
sublease
beliefs
and
sublease
authorized
by
bill
number:
zero.
C
Nine
zero,
three
three
zero
to
permit
the
Philadelphia
Holocaust,
remember
its
foundation
and
corporation
to
construct,
operate,
maintain
and
repair
a
Holocaust
Memorial
Plaza
on
the
premises
identified
under
the
previously
authorized
lease
and
sublease
the
Philadelphia
Holocaust.
Remember
its
foundation
is
a
nonprofit
organization
that
will
construct
a
Holocaust
Remembrance
Plaza
on
the
west
of
the
West
intersection
of
Benjamin
Franklin
Parkway,
located
at
16th
and
arch
Street
in
bill
number:
zero,
nine
zero.
C
Three:
three:
zero
City
Council
previously
authorized
the
Commissioner
of
Parks
and
Recreation
to
an
agreement
with
the
Philadelphia
thority
for
industrial
development
under
which
they
entered
into
a
sublease
with
the
foundation.
The
foundation
now
wishes
instead
to
construct
an
open
public
plaza,
which
is
a
substantial
change
from
what
city
council
previously
authorized.
The
plaza
will
contain
six
panels
with
text
that
summarize
the
Holocaust
and
construct
basic
elements
of
the
Holocaust
with
democracy
in
the
United
States.
The
plaza
will
also
have
a
remembrance
wall
to
promote
contemplation
and
reflection.
C
A
You
I
see
no
questions
from
the
panel.
Is
there
anyone
else
here
to
testify
I'm
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero,
nine,
eight,
nine
and
seeing
none!
That
concludes
our
public
hearing
and
will
now
go
into
a
public
meeting
on
build
numbers,
one:
seven:
zero,
eight,
five,
six,
one:
seven:
zero,
nine,
zero,
four
and
one
seven:
zero.
Nine,
eight,
nine
and
the
chair
recognizes
councilman
councilmember
Jones
for
motion;
one
bills
number
one:
seven:
zero,
eight,
five,
six,
one:
seven:
zero,
nine,
zero,
four
and
one
seven:
zero.
Nine,
eight
nine.
H
Thank
you,
madam
chair
I
move
that
Bill's
number
one:
seven,
zero,
eight
five
six
bill,
one:
seven,
zero
904
and
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero!
Nine,
eight
nine
be
moved
out
of
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation,
a
further
move
that
the
count
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
to
allow
the
first
reading
of
this
these
bills.
In
our
next
session
of
council,
okay,.
A
It's
been
moved
and
properly.
Second,
that
bill
number
one:
seven:
zero,
nine,
eight,
nine
B
one:
seven:
zero,
nine,
eight,
nine
one:
seven,
zero,
nine,
zero,
four
and
one
seven
zero.
Eight
five
six
will
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation,
with
a
request
that
the
rules
of
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
at
the
next
session
of
council,
all
in
favor,
say
aye.
Anyone
opposed
okay,
this
the
eyes
have
it
and
the
following
bills:
one
seven
zero,
eight,
five,
six,
one:
seven:
zero,
nine,
zero,
four
and
one
seven
zero.
A
Nine
eight
nine
will
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
a
request
for
a
suspension
of
the
rules
to
permit
reading
at
the
for
next
session
of
council.
This
concludes
the
public
meeting
on
these
bills
and
there
being
no
further
business
before
the
Committee
on
Parks,
Recreation
and
Cultural
Affairs.
Thank
you
all
very
much
for
your
attendance.