Philadelphia City Council Committee on Rules, 7 Sep 2016

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From YouTube: Committee on Rules 9-7-2016

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The Committee on Rules of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 to hear testimony on the following items:

160277 An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Indiana Avenue, Palethorp Street, Cambria Street, and 2nd Street.

160465 An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by North Front Street, West Berks Street, North 3rd Street and West Oxford Street.

160466 An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by North 3rd Street, West Berks Street, North 6th Street, West Master Street, American Street and Oxford Street.

160681 An Ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Front Street, York Street, Howard Street, and Berks Street.

Chair: William K. Greenlee (At Large)
Vice Chair: Mark Squilla (1st District)

A

You know the cleanliness in the security with the storefront improvement programs, as well as the safe game that you know that the city has you know in our camera systems, so I think when you look at it big. You got to look at the the bigger picture for no better words and in the collaborative and leveraging and of resources.

A

You know where you had a CDC who used to at one at one time have a lot of resources if they don't have a matching partner right now for further tax credits, I mean they're struggling for money and they're struggling to help keep our neighborhoods clean, and this provides an opportunity to do so with transparency with community input, and you know, with the city or participating for betterment of the small businesses, to succeed, not to fail but to succeed.

A

So I'm glad what you're talking about this and I'm glad you know we're continuing to conversations about pins. You know moving forward in the future.

B

Thank You councilman councilman escuela, one.

C

Last question I know anytime, we do something, you know: there's always people are for and against it. What is the percentage on this particular bid that would be paid by the property owners? It's percentage of his assessment, the.

D

Percentage is its point, two percent of.

E

Assessed value point two percent.

C

Right, okay, so an average home say a property that was valued at two hundred thousand dollars. What would it be yearly payment.

D

A property that was valued at two hundred thousand dollars would pay four hundred dollars per four.

C

Hundred dollars a.

D

Year this bid plan includes a minimum, so properties that are valued below I forget what the exact cut office, but every property owner would pay a minimum of three hundred and sixty five dollars. So.

C

D

C

D

Day, where is the okay.

B

D

B

Much Thank You counselor any other.

D

B

For mr. Murphy, seeing none thank you, maybe you could stay around just in case other question come up. Okay! Thank you very much, I! Here's where I'd like to proceed. There's a number of people who have asked the testify in support of the bid. Is there anyone here who wishes to testify in opposition.

B

One: okay, all right, here's what I like to do. Let's call a cup for all those people that are here in support that which to testify just in the interest of time. We have a all your written testimony here. I would ask that you please try to abbreviate any statements, just maybe get to the and not to all repeat the same thing, because we do have five other bills coming up and we have a hearing starting early to say afternoon.

B

Okay, so I, just ask you to cooperation on that and what we'll do is we'll call up a couple of the people off the list of the support and sir them will call you up. Okay, I miss Marconi. Won't you call the first three name, the first three names emilio.

F

Mcnew chi, thomas r, abruzzo, mando and Dominic crimi.

B

I'm seeing four people come up and there was three names caught. So what we doing here.

G

Excuse me, members of the Rules Committee. My name is Thomas Gilbertson I'm, the one of the formation advisors for this business improvement, district effort and I just wanted to. Let you know that I am here today and if you have technical questions like some of those that were just recently asked to the Commerce Department I can answer those.

B

For you, okay, thank you, sir I appreciate it. Thank you, okay, thank you and I. Think you heard the questions. Councilman Jones is about some specifics. Maybe if you can mix them in in your testimony, but again, please we have all your rent testimony, so you don't have to just repeat that. Please identify yourself and proceed. My.

H

Name is in the ulema Gucci I'm, a business owner of the Bruno brothers, the house of cheese down the Italian market with five commercial properties. Five curb stands with all within the proposed district I'll start by explaining a little more detail, not a lot how we got here today. Our efforts to improve the entire market have been a long time coming.

H

I've been involved as a member of the South Main Street Business Association for 25 years to earn my involvement, I've been the president and secretary in addition to serving as a board member, my involvement with a Blanchard Business Association dates back to a time when South Main Street that when the area was experiencing a very low point, business is relieving me more curve, stands have become vacant and the Queen market lost its annual festival and community celebration.

H

We then we don't want that to continue that way, so we got together rebooted the rights association raised funds by knocking door-to-door rejuvenated, the annual festival and beyond tackling larger issues on South Main Street. The team effort has resulted in a successful well-tended two-day festival a year round and full time visitor Center additional customer parking and a series of other small scale improvements throughout the market from business, sponsor trash cans to new curve stand awnings. These efforts have not just improved the market, but they built the greater sense of community as well.

H

They brought a sense of pride to the neighborhood. This is how we got here today before the Rules Committee to support the formation of the South Main Street area business district. As a member of south main street and washington avenue, Business Improvement District steering committee I participate in the planning and outreach efforts that we need to run into the formation of this proposal. I can say with complete confidence that our steering committee made every effort to be inclusive, principal and careful throughout the decision making and outreach efforts that took place today.

H

I am joined with the members of the Business Improvement District steering committee from South Metro, Business, Association, Board of Directors and other concerned businesses and commercial property owners throughout South Main Street.

H

In a few moments, you'll hear testimony from a bunch of the following here: Dominic Remy business and property owner president, the Business Association Greg pet store owner of single mixed use, property on South Main, Street, Ron Wellman, a business owner in the district south of washington, avenue, greg thomas property investor, owner of two mixtures properties, dave brown of business owner for a long time, anytime, market, lisa, Budnick, business and property owner richard lee steering committee member local realtor, you know, will speak to the depths of our outreach and pam's Angela who was really instrumental helping on the steering committee she's past president, the passion elsewhere, Civic Association and the building manager for the East Passyunk Avenue bid.

H

Then, of course we have thomas russell mother who will provide the testimony on behalf of Michelle game. You know who is our business manager of the South Main Street business association, she's, currently out of the country and respectfully unable to join us today. They all have any testimony for this committee.

H

This was you received letters of support from the esposito of a silly esposito incorporated who represents the largest investment interest, 17 properties within South, Main, Street area, business district and from she'll go man, not the steering committee member representing midwood and investments, movie development investments and can be owner. The properties say Don, nice street and washington avenue for many business owners on south ministry. They spend their days working hard in really carry on their birthright investments, operations and cultural practices. I am one such business owner.

H

My business degree Bose has been operational for over 75 years. Over this time. My brother bill, my cousin bill not worked tirelessly to build our cheese shops into a chain of successful specialty stores throughout Philadelphia region. That is what's great about South Main Street. This is what motivates us to me. Our district has always been a place where hard-working men and women can apply their trade and, through continued dedication, become very, very successful when you walk around south ministry. You see this happen every day.

H

This is why our district has has welcomed immigrants from countries around the world, including Italy, China, Lebanon, Vietnam, Mexico and many others. The true value of south main street area is its ability to to provide opportunity for both new and longtime Americans alike. For many years of business, association has considered exploring a business improvement district, but it did not have access the funds to undertake the years of planning necessary. Instead, we focused our efforts as a business association on developing from the development of numerous activities that are strengthened.

H

The district's economy and built great sense of community in 2006 will rejuvenate our annual two-day Italian market festival. Then in 2011 we reorganized visitor parking and in 2012 we opened a year-round visitor center to provide hospitality services to the increasing number of tourists that want to see an authentic part of Philadelphia Milwaukee ran smaller accomplishments have included placements of outdoor banners, publishing visitors, shopping, Maps business, sponsored customer trash cans and providing all goat support for new merchants and businesses. Navigating red tape issues we've accomplished the tongue on a shoestring budget, practically nobody.

H

If we could support the type of change that a bid can deliver without creating a mandatory assessment. We probably would, however, the larger issues facing our district can only be resolved through the fair and all inclusive buy-in from every commercial investor in our community. We are grateful that the Commerce Department selected us for granted foot to plan to this bid. The ground lattice to hire consultants created steering committee undertake server, is developer website pay for translation of our materials and undertaken extensive outreach campaign to explain the benefits of the bid in five different languages.

H

For the last two years, my fellow steering committee members and I have donated more than 400 volunteer hours on planning and another 400 plus hours, conducting outreach to explain to bid to all stakeholders I'm confident that our steering committee has made every possible effort to reach all business and property owners throughout the South Main Street area. All this work has brought us here to this earring. Today, our business district must compete in an ever-changing new modern world.

H

Many shoppers residents, business owners and others that appoint for our business district to overcome these issues, we face we're dealing with major cleanliness and inconvenience perception. Others feel that our district is unsafe at night and others still feel that we're falling short of our true potential.

H

All these problems can be addressed, but only if we come together and face them head-on through the creation of the business improvement district for the South Main Street area. I strongly urge the Rules Committee to support the adoption of the South Main Street area business district. Thank you very, very much. We'll.

B

Hear from all three before we open up the questions again, I know you've been for Miss campina and.

I

Have a written testimony.

J

Okay, again, okay.

B

J

You mr. chairman, mr. chairman and distinguished members of City Council like to thank you today for allowing us to approach the subject, I'd also like to thank mr. Jerry Davis for taking the time to explain today how today's procedures will work, as you said, on behalf of Michelle, can be no I. Am writing this letter to review the history of the United merchants of the South? Ninth Street Business Association, also known as the Business Association I, will also briefly describe why the bid is so important for the community.

J

I have been the association's business manager for the past 10 years. Over that time, the Association made considerable strides toward the betterment of the shopping district. We are proud of our accomplishments displayed a very small Association budget and having to work with a variety of business owners in different stages of their careers. Our association volunteer board is comprised of business owners who have served the community with professionalism and foresight to make both short and long term plans to improve the shopping experience for our visitors, customers and neighbors.

J

The South ninth Street Italian market area is a very unique shopping district. It is historically significant, yet undesignated our business district has an authentic feel that is critical for us to maintain. Our district includes curb market stands outstanding stores, restaurants, professional services, churches and to school. All of these amenities are surrounded by the top residential neighborhood in South Philadelphia. Four years ago, our association founded a visitor center located at 919 South, ninth Street to service the increasing number of visitors that come to the market to shop our stores and feel our history.

J

We have welcomed over 50,000 visitors and shoppers from all over the world since we opened the visitor center houses, the only public restroom on the street, which is a major tourist amenity. The association also manages a small parking lot on carpenter street employees. 6 x, 6. Excuse me six part-time employees and produces a very popular south of ninth Street Italian market festival, attended by 75 thousand guests yearly to reinforce the markets, authentic character. We must exceed the expectation level of a well informed consumer consumer expectations and needs have evolved over the past 101 years.

J

Our competitors, an ally mix of other commercial districts, nearby big-box stores, as well as the Internet consumers, have many choices and the ability to act and shop in all of them. We have to make improvements in our district to remain competitive in this new retail environment six years ago.

J

The idea of forming, if bid, was introduced by dual arosa, a second generation business owner in the market and association board member at the time, the Association did not have the funds to support the extensive planning effort needed to explore the bid process then, but we remained highly interested in exploring it further. We saw how other commercial districts used bids to make real improvements for merchants, property owners and customers in the corridors and one foot and wanted that for the ninth street market as well.

J

Three years ago, we were fortunate enough to receive a bid planning grant from the Department of Commerce. Over the past three years, we have worked with two consultants, hosted nine public meetings, managed a bid planning website. Did five mailings had held 12 advisory committee meetings chartered their charted the results of our bid, planning serving and altered? Our bid plan budget and our bid board guidelines. This grant has made all the difference for us and is what brings us here today.

J

The South Main Street bid will give us the opportunity to improve the environment of our very special shopping district and neighborhood community. The bid will directly address the many complaints we hear about cleanliness and trash. Our merchants, property owners and businesses will see an immediate improvement by implementing an aggressive cleaning plan to clean our entire district parking and cleanliness have always been mentioned.

J

As our top two issues due to the awnings public safety is a concern at night when it is dark, the awnings our blessing during the day, but at night there is a need for additional lady. Under the awnings, along with various other parts of the district promotional service for the entire shopping district will be increased to a year loan campaign, not just during festival time. There will be regular communication to both businesses and property owners with the implementation of a monthly newsletter.

J

The time is now to improve the landscape of South Main Street shopping district after 101 years. Now is the time to form a business improvement district for the South Main Street business district. We hope the Rules Committee will agree and permit us to move ahead with our long-held dreams for a greatly improved shopping district. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely Michelle Gambino business manager, United merchants of the south of main street business association. Thank you thank.

B

You, sir um mr. creamy creamy, yes,.

K

Good morning, Rules Committee dollar, creamy, general manager of Capri chose, meets located in the Italian market on the corner of 9th and kimmel we've been there for the past ninety six years, my family owns two properties are all go butcher shop within the South, noisy business area district.

K

The south main street area has seen a lot over its lifetime.

K

The south lyon street market started with anything poems boardinghouse and was developed as a way of providing a place for the immigrants to shop, as well as employing these new immigrants, such as my grandparents, along the way many business owners took in these new immigrants to the area, giving them a place to live and work which form the foundation of the market and the gang of may family says many newfound relationships, reform and started on industry as the market. Beyond the flourish.

K

More and more businesses reformed as the family's clear, the new generation began to help their parents, as new schools and churches sprung up to support them in the earliest. Many families purchased their groceries daily, as he stayed within the community in which they were most comfortable. Southglenn Serena survived two world wars, the Great Depression automobile shopping, mall, internet and numerous other circumstances that have faced much fluffy over the last hundred and thirty-five years.

K

The keys behind a survival story have been customer, sir customer service, quality, charisma, hard work and the ability to adapt a survival story has been a story of customer service as president in South Main Street the association of work diligently with many fellow merchants to improve the market. Despite despite our significant accomplishments, the South Main Street area continue to focus on how to adapt itself for the next 135 years. Because of this challenge, I've decided to get involved in the south length in Washington Avenue Business Improvement District steering committee.

K

The South Main Street area is a special place because it's more than a business business district. It's an authentic community.

K

Not only is the area's special for its ability to bring people together, except new immigrants from across the globe and supply a diverse range of product. The area represents multiple generation of family businesses, as well as many newcomers, even with the South Main Street areas problems. This is why this health management association began employing the formation of the Business Improvement District.

K

Our business association believe that by bringing people together, we can resolve the long-standing problem that have faced our district in the fall of 2015's during committee conducted a survey of all business and property owners within South Main Street area. As expected, the survey results show that a large majority of the response were bothered by the level of trash on the sidewalks and streets they're, also very frustrated by the lack of available customer parking throughout the area. What wasn't expected?

K

The survey also revealed that many perceived make customers perceive our shopping district as unsafe during evening hours and at night. All these issues are larger than any one business in establishing a Business Improvement District stakeholders will have a chance to address the more complex district-wide issues, while discovering additional areas for improvement through the enhanced communication between stakeholders. That a big will enable us to support.

K

For the previous reasons and I'm sure many more as time goes on. I fully support the establishment of the South Main Street area business to business district. mmm It is time, thank you. Okay,.

B

Thank you, council members. Yes, now offer you're finished good.

L

Morning, gentlemen, good morning haven't learned and listened to a number of citizens who care about moving in this direction. There have been different triggers for different districts and so I'm curious to know what what was the the tipping point, if you will that want you all together to now come forward to ask us to consider this bill.

K

Well, I think will be the biggest things. I said: we've been looking at this for a few years. We just never had the financial ability to go through with it mmm until this present hmm the feedback from from customers. You know the the customer base is changing, the neighborhood is changing, the value of the property has gone up tremendously and one of the things that I hear from the neighbors honor and I live in the area too.

K

So I live across from the shop one of the things that I hear from my neighbors is, you know, what's going on with the trash, why why can't people clean up after themselves, that's been something that's been going on, for this is that I'm 56 I've been in the market, my whole life, so 60 70 years, it's been the same problem. You know why don't people clean up after themselves? You know we have the awnings they're great, but you know there's no rights.

L

K

The audience that's a problem clearly.

L

What repeat that last statement, you have what why we.

K

Have orange awnings you have the orange and that's a trademark of the market under the audience. May businesses don't have what I think. So that's one of the things that we want to look at with the bit for writing. Writing more lightning on the street and more cameras graffiti at night in the middle of night graffiti is rampant and you know we're always called with graffiti people to come out and the city's graffiti people come out and clean and it just looks horrible.

K

So these are the things that I think are the impetus, okay behind getting us together and moving along with the bit okay.

L

It's rare that we hear testimony and there's a one hundred percent consensus. If you will so- and you know there are few things in life that are hundred percent, so recognize involved with the benefit of hindsight, what could you would you have done differently to bring it because it sounds like it's. What ninety ninety-five percent consensus is that fair to say.

H

L

H

I, don't think it's that I, but I do believe that everybody in the market wants to do right by the market. Sure you know I think we feel like we're at a level and at a stage in the life cycle of the market. I'm going to be honest with you, I mean the market has plenty of opportunity to die in my 25 26 years down there and growing up and going to school there. All my life, like we've, seen some some bad times.

H

You know when we had to dig up the street, put new pipes in and it just killed business and listen, I, walk that market and and I feel like it's so special, so unique I get to travel around the world. I get to go to places like that.

H

The in Seattle, the pikes market, place and I see what it could be sure and I say this market deserves me what's been around longer and we need to treat it as such and we're at a stage where we can't really do a whole lot more for it without having the big to help us bring it to another level. People come to Philadelphia and I want them to feel for the market. The way that I look at it and see it and feel for it.

H

I want them to be excited and not be disappointed with what what their experience is. So you know, I, truly believe that the people who have moved into the market expects something great and and I think that we owe it to them and to the legacy of the Italian market and the South Main Street area to do something about very well. My.

L

Last question to the administration: this is not a first second. Third, we have 13 bids. Did you say yeah he's not the administration.

D

And administration here, yeah they're still.

B

You can come back mr. Murphy if you want to come back up her.

L

Good morning good morning, so knowing that this new practice business practice is the wave of the future, does the administration have a template, a a blueprint, a cliff note, instruction book that you provide to citizens so that take them lessons learned from the other 13, so that those who want to move in this direction, minimize mistakes and errors in a whole nine yards is is they're coming some kind of textbook. We.

D

Do about five years ago, in partnership with Drexel, we created a guide on how to start a business improvement district in Philadelphia and that's something that I can make available to you. After so.

L

So that's not made available when does that become available for for those who want to move in this direction before, during or after um before,.

D

Before and it's a public document that at one point it was- was available on our website and it may still be, but it's a document that we share with groups around the city, and it was the basis for how the organizing of the ninth Street bid was structured. As far as surveys outreach forming a steering committee- okay in the meetings that they that were involved, yes,.

L

My colleague has asked that we, member to this committee, have a copy of that I man, I'm a former teacher. We can never assume that folks know to always go to a website to learn anything. We had to steal. The old-fashioned way has value right, and so I'm going to presume that you, gentlemen, had that document. I have seen the job document correct hello, yes, okay, all right, then. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

B

Counseling councilman scrilla thank.

C

You and one question before you go the the bid process itself and in the document that they follow and then each big particularly takes things and they tweak them to what their plan is. We have a cold bids in my district, already passionate avenue bid in center city district and each one is a little different depending on the needs of the community.

C

So I guess that's why I guess we could ask councilman jones had several questions that I asked earlier about the specifics of the ninth street bid and if we could just hear those specifics on what the plan is, I think we can then move forward to the opposition and the other people in favor I.

B

Think that was mentioned in the testimonial exactly what the kind of things are going to do. It.

H

B

H

G

Okay good morning, members of the Rules Committee, so one of the questions that I heard earlier was a number of properties involved. There 427 real properties involved in this proposal. In addition to those properties, there are 77 curb stands that are also included within this proposal. I also recall hearing a question about the cleaning services. The minimum amount of cleaning services promised under this proposed planned is three days a week that covers all areas of the proposed district that will be subject to the assessment.

G

At this time, I can take additional technical questions. Okay,.

C

I, don't have any other counsel.

B

K

Real quick security enhancements. You mentioned these categories. How.

D

Would how would that work yeah.

G

So in the first year of the those plan there was a budget for public safety improvements and that budget really accounts for three different types of services. The first is security cameras working to match existing city produce.

B

Cop now, thank you. Thank you any other any other question seeing none. Thank you all very much. Thank you for it's clear. You put a lot of time and effort into this I Lincoln, sir I think he wanted to come up and is there anyone else here other in this gentleman who wanted to testify in opposition to the bid? Anybody?

B

B

Okay, so why don't you identify yourself for the right morning, Percy, okay, my name's Mario.

M

Gerardo have several stains or ninth street and pack several properties and and I don't have a speech but I. Just I just would like City Council to understand that I took it upon myself to walk up, walk up and down the street and survey the merchants on how they feel actually more than more than half of the merchants.

M

That I talked to had no idea what was going on and the reason they had no idea was because the the mail was sent to them in such a fashion that it looked like junk mail, and you know what you do with junk mail, you throw it in the trash. You don't even open it up. In fact, I forgot to bring some of her with me, but most of the merchants that I talk to are opposed to this bid because it'll be a financial problem for them.

M

This morbid small guys on nice tree which they are more smaller than law. The larger businesses are for it, but the smaller purchase really can't afford it and the people that I've talked to that I think we're going to have more than one third objection. We're going to have much more than one-third objection to it and that's basically what I have to say: I mean they. They talk about lights and cameras, I mean if ninth street is dangerous at night.

M

Where's, our police, if you, if you get somebody's picture on a camera graffiti in the wall, all you have is a picture. You don't have a person, a name or anything like that. So what purposes our cameras going to serve? Okay, the street and this talk about the streets being clean, they're cleaner now than they ever were, and I've been on my street since grade school, 1956 1957 I started working for my father and I'm, still there and I'm 70 years old.

M

So as far as taut and another problem was the language barrier, because people didn't go to the meetings, they really should have went to the meetings, but they didn't go because they can't speak English and when I talked to them they had, they didn't have a clue. What was going on baby, they said, would bid and I explained to them, and most of them are against it. So I think when the time comes to submit the opposers is going to be much more than a third.

M

That's a thank.

B

You for I. Thank you. Listen, sir. Would you like my head, go.

I

Jajaja actually went around and it tried to get many people see as many people as I could to find out and I have a petition where I got over. 50 said that I have right now, but I still can't get to that. Other people, the ages, the Mexicans and these big storm is like the medical center and the place. Don't watch down and I noticed toilet paper that some of these things one else will see or even businesses, this houses and it's on the list and they take you can destroy yes, focus.

I

They don't read it in I. Think it's very unfair I ask you dick! It should be that if you don't vote, that should be a no because there's a lot of people that don't know about it. You.

B

Know, sir out, let me just interrupt you. There I mean you can't assume if somebody doesn't doesn't.

I

Kid here do I would know what my la battery went dead, a.

C

Furious battery's dead, oh I,.

B

I

D

N

Like every time they try to fix.

I

Nicety they put another nail in the coffin. They just cut them with the rock a lot they build up. Perhaps there they took away our parking. If we're trying to prove the market, please don't put more nail for the girlfriend. Don't did make us raise our rent. I got about nine properties, so I have to raise my rent. Oh my tenancy. Let me move out there and one of the covers just situation that we have you know and every time they try to fix it. They liked a lot like yawning its twenty years ago.

I

They want to pay attention it's over with, but when agency warning, you tell you market, they killed a whole north side because it took two years. You know got nothing to do what the situation was just got something to do with most of the god most of us, Big Daddy matter all drivers, and we know how the market supposed to be run like Mario Ted. It's never been so cleaner, just I, so shopping bags on ICS, no pretzels I still have a new statement and I picked. The bottles of birth to destroy deposit I.

I

Shall home a bit on night Jean my family faces 1939 I think it's is really going to put another nail in the coffin. Thank.

B

You okay! Thank you, sir Sir. Please nickname hi.

O

I'm Michael Mullen Eric. Thank you for the opportunity co-owners with my father, Janeiro Molinari, at an authorized motor service on South Street. We have two properties, one on ultra street and one on south main street threes. My father's on here is covering, for me we're two small guys were in a mom-and-pop shops, but we're on a street seems like this. Bill is geared to the big guys like this gentleman here said online street, but the guys aren't considering other businesses like repair shops when they're talking about marketing.

O

This seems like it's all for restaurants, meat markets, fish markets and it's not looking to differ. Hair shaft on Main Street, like the italian festival, yeah, it's great when it happens, but it's inconvenient on me. They close the streets up and it's like a parking lot guys are parking in front of my shop. I have to deal with it and it becomes a real big hassle and also our taxes. We've been I know the property value is going up, but I've got increased. Almost four hundred percent and I have one storage lot on altar street.

O

That I just played just a structure. No water, no electric, it just I, use it to park cars because we do where our engine rebuilders an overhaul. We do engine overhauls, and sometimes cars stay four or five days and as a courtesy, I put it in the shop but guys can park on line street. They come a street and they're like where's, the Italian market.

O

We, you know glare, and we say you know it's right down the street, because a lot of visitors and tourists come, but it greatly affects us to with the surveillance cameras to I, have surveillance cameras all over all over my building and I never had any I mean we had incidences, but we always caught it on camera and with the street cleaning too.

O

They also have I, think the your youth correction of guys come down and clean up the streets and a failed in the past two with the permanent park, and we still have the old side for the to our permit parking and with the street clean may be used to send their screen is down the street. They put the dirt on the street and get on the pavement. But it's been very clean, now, I always cleaned our fronts and the old-timers like these guys.

O

You always kept the neighborhood clean and just it feels like to me it's geared to ninth Street only and it's affecting other little businesses and it becomes a real burn and when the taxes are getting so high and it's not any advantage to us I, don't know how it's going to bring new business to a repair. Shop I also talked to the parks or Christopher's, auto parts and the hardware store olinsky's, and it's not drawing new business to them. They're tourists these guys are coming they want to eat. They want to look at.

O

The city, brings money to the city, to the restaurant sure, but to repair shops and two other little businesses. I, don't think it's going to greatly affect, or you know, I want to know. What's the advantage to us passing this bill, and it's very it's very broad. It's not detailed. There's not specifics in here. The meetings I had no idea about I got this letter week and a half ago and I had no idea. There was a meeting.

O

I would probably object- or maybe I would have liked it at least I had an idea what was specifically in the plan because there's a lot of questions here and I, don't know if I like it or not, it's just I'm just scared. It's going to drive small businesses out, like the old hardware stores, they're going to be going even made they're going to try to kill us and moves away and we've been there. 75 years, my dad's Italian immigrant came home 65 and he's been there over 50 years.

O

He bought it from to giordanos back 30 years ago and even with Jesse I'll Chester Dental demolition, the property. Now there's no there's no attraction that go down. Eighth Street, it's really a little strip there, but it affects us we're on that borderline of light street district, but I just don't know. What's the advantage of this bill for us and for their shops besides, four pair of shops I mean, besides that restaurants and the food industry, so.

B

Let me ask you a question: you said about not knowing all the specific I understand, there were meetings hell. Did you go down? I had no idea, you know we're.

O

Not aware of the meetings, no, not one, this is the first packet I had a week and a half ago I received this packet. It was a rumor going around, but there was no meetings. No flyers and I have a big property of it. The dwellings, three houses, big I, never received that meal was believing I would have been more prepared because the very in its very broad I see the five attachments.

O

You know the cleaning, the parking, the public safety and I don't think it's even it is still high police presence now, especially with immigration and ethics. Seen changing throughout the years. I don't feel it's unsafe. It's just I, don't know how they're going to improve safety just to have guys walking around the street, but there's on the copper cops, there's police patrolling the area, it just it just getting so congested. It's getting to a point like even the parking authority.

O

Is it's a common battle with the parking authority I have a car gets too I have to push a car out next thing. I know I turn my back. I have a parking ticket on a customer score night that you know pay for the ticket. I mean there's just common sense into her to see sometimes trying to work with pork and authority, but yeah I.

B

Don't know I'm sorry, but go ahead, sir, in the middle Darren. Did you did you attend any of these meetings that occur? You did. Okay, you were notified of. You got the notification, so it was ok and not, and let me just before, I.

M

Realize I'm on the street, where a lot of people is a lot of owners that live other places and they they just never got the notification.

D

M

Fact I tried to locate some of them and I wasn't able to do it.

B

Okay, now mr. Murphy's testimony from the city, he said that at these meetings, materials in Vietnamese, spanish and mandarin were provided. There was translation. Did you see that at the meetings that they would have made talk a little bit more than a microphone talking like that son? Yes,.

M

I hate it already. There was translators at the meetings, but I do the first few meetings I didn't go to and then but there were, the meetings I went through there were, there aren't any translators, they might have been there, but I don't see so, but.

B

The meetings that you didn't go to, where were you, where were you notified of those meetings that the first couple Mia.

M

Yes, okay, so you knew about okay, yes, okay,.

B

D

You um you want to just.

O

D

The mail notification.

B

Okay, hi councilman, taco burger I have.

M

A quick question you had you had come and testify before this committee and said that you receive mail, but you thought it was junk mail. Well, I did well, but a lot of a lot of the people. I talk to now that of this Jay. The gentleman is sitting to my left. Your right is that the piece of mail that and and did you did you think that was junk plan when you're on it or I'll know a guy could I have a quick look at that. I certainly will return it to.

M

It was an envelope like this that he received from the city of photos.

H

In an envelope liner.

E

And naturally,.

M

You would open something like this. It looks like a telephone book. I would think you would. If it's I said you thought off here, I mean it could be a tax reappraisal.

I

B

Could be giving you something for a change you never know, and.

C

Also I did it. Services were mailed out all the second I. Don't know why you just got it a week ago.

O

C

Week and a half ago, yes,.

B

Sir Kai yeah.

I

And just to show you how many people don't really wanna, we had a meeting at st. Mary's Church and there had to be 50 people there and I stood up and I says it's anybody's. For this, will you please stand? Not one person stood up and it's all you can't do that. Why not that that's.

O

Rob, thank you very much for turning out. I'm returning that to you now.

M

This is what I'm talking about, because its John again.

B

Please in the microphone because sometimes it's hard to hear.

M

They don't look like.

I

Yeah, an agenda written in one language.

C

Okay, also I just wanted to verify and let you know especially the people in opposition that there's still this is still a process. The process is out there and we follow that process along the way and if you believe, there's more than fifty percent opposition, then we have nothing to worry about so and if, if there isn't fifty percent opposition, then moves forward I mean that we only need.

C

We only do anything, read one-third right, you leave one-third, and that was something that was actually done because of some of the concerns of how the bid was run. It used to be 51% in opposition, so.

B

C

A lot less right now, so you know that if you can't get a third of it, people opposed to it. Then most likely the majority of people are in favor, wait.

M

When this is, when does this opposition start to take place, if.

B

The committee approves this today, I believe the 45-day start after today, after.

D

Today so you have 45 days and.

B

As mr. Murphy described, I believe they would have to be a letter sent to the chief clerk to the chief clerk of city council agenda.

M

Right is that Michael Decker, that's Michael.

B

Decker, yes, might.

M

Have we send it to him? Yes,.

C

Correct that doesn't come to us or anybody right to the chief clerk, and then we get all that information from the chief clerk on the final count after 45 days. Thank you.

B

Okay, any other any other questions, and each one I just want to say one thing that.

C

Each each property owner gets the right to. If they have seven properties, you could pose seven times or by assessment. If you have two properties, you can oppose twice and if not work with the steering committee. If you have questions on what it is that you want to do or concerns that you may have, because I heard that Mike you had some concerns and questions try to get all those questions answered from the steering committee and then decide how you want to vote moving forward. Okay, yeah.

M

We understand the process, okay and who's ever forward. You know it's it's fine! It's it's America, see right yeah if you're against it you're against it. If you're for your for it right. Okay,.

B

Thank you so much. Thank you for coming great retest. Okay,.

D

Thank you all very much. Thank you. Any.

B

Other question: no: okay, all right now we still have a number of people who wish to that have their day in here. All their testimony has been distributed to the committee before it's been read, I'm just asked, because we really we have five other bills being called and there's people sitting here for a long time. So how many people still wish to say something on the record: okay got three people. Three four I want.

J

B

J

B

You in support in support everybody at wish. Okay, have you already given your testimony in, do I? Have it here? No yeah I'm hearing? Yes, no, okay, all right all right all right hold on miss Marconi! Won't you just call the next three names that we have on this list and see where we go all right.

B

Yeah I'm really asking, though, for those that we had testimony particularly already. Please yourself sit there and read it. We have people have been patiently waiting for a long time. I mean I. Think the first three witnesses that came up in support pretty much covered they need for what they feel is the need for the bid, but miss Marconi. Won't you call name's Greg.

F

Pastore Ron Baumann and Greg damus.

B

We got to hear I know if Cole one more. Oh, wait! A minute he's coming. Okay, come on.

D

E

D

E

Pursue my name's Greg past or you do have my Testament rice, so in the spirit of that I will not read my testimony. I won't even shorten my testimony. I will just say that I have been involved with the steering committee for the whole two years. It was a process that I independently reached out and asked is: are we ever going to have a bid on ninth street I was told funny. You should say that we're actually developing a steering committee, the process was very open. It was very thorough. The outreach was excellent.

E

I can personally testify to the fact that on at least two occasions, I have hand-delivered things in the market. So all through the process, whenever there was any kind of necessary distribution of information, it was mailed to the best practical mailing and it was also door dropped.

E

I've gone on christian street and ninth street in washington, avenue walking into businesses and saying hey, there's a thing about a meeting coming up, handing it to people so the process of notification and the outreach has been as good as it reasonably could be, and I strongly on substantive reasons. I strongly support the bed. I have one property in it and they were very welcoming to me as someone who is a smaller landlord in the bid. Thank.

B

You thank you, sir. Please state your name. My.

P

Name is Ron bellman a partner at connies, rickrack, located 1132, South, ninth Street and you know again: I will respectfully refrain from reading my statements that you have it already and I would concur with most of the other support.

P

That's here today in terms of the issues that face the market, I did not like most people here grow up in the Italian market, I'm a northeast philly guy for the most part, but I have spent a better hat better part of 10 years in the market through my affiliation with Connie's rickrack, and you know I've always I've always looked at this place with all you know. Growing up, you know, Emilio mentions where rocky ran no I'm a rocky, not just like everybody else in Philly.

P

So this was a mystical place to me and I always was very appreciative. The culture and the even the old world aspect of the market.

P

It was so different from any place else in the city, and I was really honored to be a part of it for and more you know, with mortimore more integrally involved over the last three years when I became a partner at Connie's wreck, wrak Michelle Gambino invited me to sit on the board, which I graciously accepted and I worked very hard over the last few years to help make the market a better place and to help get everybody to love the market as much as I did.

P

But you can't ignore the things that are going on down there in terms of trash and security and cleanliness. And again it's been. You know, just like other people of said. Like Dominic said it's off like customers every day, you're down there you're in it you're in the thick of it every day, you're in the trenches and you're hearing these students from your customers that people that are coming in and it's white as responsible business owners.

P

Why, wouldn't you want to address those issues and the fact that matter is that, if all these things you know we could sit here, and we can pretend that they're not an issue, but they are, and if they're not going to, if they're not going to solve themselves, if they were going to solve themselves, they would solve themselves already.

P

So the reason that I support the bid is because I feel it's a it's an organized formal way to bring all the constituents and stakeholders in the market gather to make it better and address these issues that was determined by actual research surveys. I mean, besides all that you know all the hearings that took place in terms of the formation of it. This all started with a survey that went out to the general population said: what do you? How do you feel the market could be better and again over and over again it was cleanliness.

P

There was security, it was parking, so the bid was planned with those particular issues in mind, and I think that the you know again with the level of outreach that was done, but multiple meanings, direct mails, Councilwoman brown. To your point. We you know, we did, you know, recognize the constituent base of the market and say we can't just have a wet. We can't just rely on emails to go out. So, of course, the rectum l pieces were used in conjunction with email website word of mouth signage around the market.

P

So you know there was a coordinated effort to make sure that people knew about this. You know there was average. We had a Vietnamese, you know the translator. We had people that you know reached out to the different diverse community, because we have a lot of Latino. We have a lot of Asian, you know, and so we had people to you know on board to reach out for them. So oh no I really feel that this is a way that's going to help bring everybody together instead of tearing it apart.

P

You know I feel like this has been his. Obviously has been a very divisive topic for everybody, but you know the the people who are going to ultimately foot the bill, for this are the ones that are ultimately going to gain the most by this. So you know it's really. You know to me.

P

We could just keep arguing back you're, never going to get everybody to upgrade to your point, so you really have to have a formal organized way to bring everybody together, and this is really the only thing that's on the table, that's in place that allows us to do that. Okay, thank.

B

You thank you, sir. Please.

Q

Yes, my name is Gregory dimas I'm approaching this a little differently; I'm, not a business owner there, and but I am a longtime resident of the area and I'm a property owner in the Italian market. Ninth street washington avenue pasig avenue district I'm overly from northeast philly like ron and moved into south philly about 32 years ago, into the italian market area and felt like I came back to my roots. It's where my family originally came from.

Q

I saw something there and I saw that something had a lot of potential and I started to accumulate properties through borrowing, money and finding business partners.

Q

About 20 years ago we were trying to form some kind of a group to do something with the Italian market and patchy on what is now pushing square and it sort of fell apart and I thought if I accumulated enough properties in the same area, that I would be able to actually make some kind of a change in other places that has happened but has not happened along the Italian market district. So I started it.

Q

The fest myself of my commercial properties, I'm down to two out of about a dozen, so you can see over the years, they've sort of become discouraged and in far away, I was called to be part of this business. District I'm involved in neighborhood associations and of the things of that nature and I.

R

Jumped on an opportunity.

Q

Because I thought, maybe this was the last opportunity for me. You know before I get rid of everything to make this work. I was in on the Pasha hunk avenue business district very early on with four properties. I wasn't involved in getting it started, but I watched what was going on. I went to the meetings. It was very contentious. There's no doubt and I didn't even quite understand what all of this men, but I went along with it and I have to it.

Q

Not only went so well, but I actually moved from of the Bella Vista tell you market area for their self into the passion. Gavin, oh area, because that is improved. So much and there's so much more opportunity for me in terms of lifestyle with restaurants and places to go- and you know just walking out my door, it really took the place of the Italian market area. So I'd really like to see this happen.

Q

You know not just as an investor with my property values growing. Hopefully my rents will increase, but, like my rents on passyunk avenue are almost double what they are in. The italian market. Bottom line and the difference is: we have customers there on passyunk avenue, it's lively, and so the tenants can afford to pay stronger rents. So I understand that they're worried about their tenants paying rent, but if they had a better base of customers coming through or more customers coming through, because it was improved, maybe they would collect more rent for it.

Q

That's pretty much what I'd like to see I, don't think anyone would mind paying more rent if the business was there. Alright.

B

Thank you, Miss names appreciate it. Okay, let me just say before I recognize, councilman Heenan first record reflect councilman Johnson member committee's present, but miss Bowman on Connard things. You said, we've had a lot of these bids. Come through this committee. That's how it goes and, as we said often times, they are very contentious at first and some people you're never going to because they have different issues that they're interested in.

B

But I think it's, I don't think it's unfair to say and the pass hunk might be a good example and mayfair is it's coming along that generally people think they work after they're there they're going for a while.

B

So I think I don't think that's an unfair statement and I understand why people have problem, though nobody wants a pagan where we heard that through the soda tax, a lot of people didn't want to pay more, but sometimes you have to pay to get services and and again I'm not here to sell the thing but I think in fairness, I think on the record it these things have seemed to work as as they proceed, it's not always pretty, but they seem to work and.

P

I think you know it's important to understand. You know the track record and the history of the people that have been in the market for 75 80 to 100 years and understand that maybe things didn't always work out in the past, but that's not a reason to be an obstacle to progress and recognizing the issues and the bid's not perfect. The process isn't may not be perfect.

P

The bid plan and it's kind of oil is may not be perfect, but I think that the the stakeholders, especially the ones who run on position and again this has been divisive not only on the market but within my own partnership yeah. So you know I'm right in the thick of it and I'm under you know, I'm regularly. You know having these conversations and trying to understand.

P

You know what the sticking points are and I think that you know it's a lot of it has to do with you know if the bids going to go through it. Maybe it's not just about not wanting to pay that if it is going to go through, then you know: where is it going to go? You know how are these services going to be managed and I do personally feel that mad at services are of a wave of the future in business.

P

Okay- and you know that collectively, you can get more bang for your buck and more value, but the people who are opposition really have to understand that there will be oversight and there will be the you know: the ability to fine-tune these budgets.

P

What we're proposing now in terms of budgets or plant is just a proposed plan and that there will be a freely elected board that they are very much have the opportunity to be a part of and provide that oversight and that insight to make sure that their interests are being protected and that nothing shady is going on. I mean that's really what it comes down too right. So so.

B

There'd be time for more discussion. All I get that councilman Heenan yeah.

A

I have I just want to add to that there is. There is a lot of time for more discussion and I know it firsthand dealing with the Commerce Department, who has done a fantastic job. You know with it with the bid up and up and Mayfair, and you know the the public in the community to businesses right had been brought closer together because of it all right all for the common good, and you know there is oversight, there are checks and balances.

A

There are elections of the board, there are meetings and there's you know definite progress. I mean get the gentleman to your right. Talk about. You know moving his business from pelvis at them.

A

You know to pass john cabot who, having a property value, double I mean you know not saying that property value with double all right, but there is a history when you think of Philadelphia, you think of certain things in the Italian market in that surrounding area is one of those must visits in the city, philadelphia and the investment, and I think I've heard it and I noticed to be true up in 11 average, all right. Some of the larger properties- you know with the more square footage you know, invest a little more into itself.

A

Right is a dollar a day. A dollar a day that gets reinvested right back to your own community, went to your own neighborhood in your own block, all rights providing the services re that leverages. You know in-store programs or it that that the Commerce Department has safe games or marketing, not only marketing existing businesses and vendors or because you have a lot of vendors there all right, but but attracting new vendors very encouraging to come down, because this place is clean.

A

This place is safe and we want you here so I think that you know after there is in a long delay, is a delay. It's been, it's been a while, since a bid has actually you know, prior to mayfair I think people are starting to really. You know take a look at that.

A

These are the services that we need to invest, not into city government, all right put back into your own businesses, because that's where the money's going and in it and it's managed by the businesses in the community with City, you know with the oversights and checks and balances. So I wish you all luck here. I'm in favor of you know the creation. It is, however, you guys work out whatever your defined service area is and how that structured, but overall or it is a definite positive for the community into businesses. Okay,.

B

Thank you Thank You councilman, think well said any other questions seeing none. Thank you all very much. Thank you for your time, miss mark on. Why don't you call the other name, see who's still here and wants to again I think we kind of got your point across if I could say that would all due respect, David.

F

Brown Lisa Budnik Richard, Lee, Pam, zens, Allah, okay,.

C

B

Yeah right yeah, what we got passing hi I would ask somebody else coming up. Oh.

D

B

Please identify um it all due respect, please beeper, okay, because we really have been at the spot, got it good.

S

Morning, my name is Pam's and Zola and I was invited to join the committee two years ago. At the time, I was the president, the passion square, Civic Association and, in addition, I for the last five years have been the billing clerk for the East Passyunk Avenue business improvement district, so I came aboard with a really different perspective: I, don't own property I, don't own a business, but I came with president of the Civic Association and everyone in our neighborhood. It's not just about ninth street or the surrounding area.

S

We live in South Philadelphia. We want the energy that is on East Passyunk Avenue down on ninth Street and the surrounding area. When I bring visitors, I've been very fortunate. In my life, I've lived all over the world and I bring people down. I live on federal street and I bring people down from all over the world and I bring them down visiting to my neighborhood South Philadelphia, and when we go from East Passyunk Avenue down to the ninth Street area, they say the Energy's gone. Why is this different? How come this is the same.

S

We lived in Hong Kong the markets. There didn't look like that at the end of the day they clean them up. I want this I believe in this I think it can work. I know we can work, I see what happened on passyunk avenue, I've lived here only eight years, but boy is it my home and am I enthusiastic about East Passyunk Avenue I want it for ninth street I've been on this committee. The outreach has been incredible. You saw that they did in different languages. Well, we sent personal. I was out there talking.

S

The committee was out there talking to people. We had all the various languages people did know about this. Thank you. Okay. Waste I'm, you any more of your time, but I appreciate.

B

D

A shout-out me.

B

I think is a good example of what has been going on, sir, whoever like to go next good.

D

Morning I'm david brown from saludos.

P

Foods, you already have my statements, so I want to save all that. Thank you quickly. What I want to say is the.

J

Market I've, been in for 32 years, I started as a 16 year old kid. The market went through some.

P

J

D

You've gone back with the association of joining a business association, it's blossomed and we're stuck now. We can't go any further. We need to get a concerted effort from everybody on the Block, a lot of people that don't want a bid. It's strictly a financial thing and I understand that. Okay, there's nobody here millionaires, but the problem is for the cost less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day. You can make a severe change.

J

In the market, it's.

D

That simple, okay, I, don't we're all smart people here. Why won't you better your business and your property values for a buck and a half a day? It's.

K

Silly not to okay, that's.

P

Just my opinion, but he's already have my statement.

J

B

And whispering, okay, god, you've kind of broke it down. Well, go.

G

Ahead man answer yeah. Thank you for giving me the opportunity. My name is richard lee. I was introduced to the committee about to street to a little bit over two years ago, so because of my collection with the local Asian American community I, remember one of our crew of the public hearing. There were some members on the cut the the Lamaze said. Why is the Chinese and you have nice Chinese? uh No actually I did hear her say that, but I didn't I, just pretend that you know and what they were talking.

G

This is a combined force. We do see the opportunity I do have myself managing and also help in managing I feel like business in South, 93 and I myself. Also a business owner near there, I'm kimani, some tough streets and wines in China, tompa channelized a little far away. So they try to use my collection with the local chinese community and I want to testify. There are different language used either public hearing and they are we.

G

The committee tried very hard to to outreach every people from different racial background, a cultural background which I myself a drive to different places, try to explain the situation and the tribal everybody likes the idea, but they don't like to pay the money. So that's basically this. In addition, we see they eat a salad, honey market really like right now, the stands and everything really like a third well, the market we need to make it prettier, make it more profitable and beneficial to the local community.

G

We are the part of the Asian community support in a bit I'm, actually representing I, thought I believe there are people, don't like it, so I think that's it. Okay. Thank you, sir. Thank.

B

You very much thank you all any question seeing none. Thank you all. Thank you for your time. Is there anyone else here to testify come on up.

N

B

Didn't hear what he said, what do you think you.

C

Want that the do.

B

You want, do you want to say.

C

Something sir sure.

B

I will let them come on.

B

Again, I'm asking everybody, please be brief. Please.

S

Ok, my name is sheila's agar and I owned a property 927 South a street and I'm very for the project, but I feel I'm a property owner and it's my sole income is from that one property and I'm very nervous about being pushed out because I don't know whether I can afford the extent of the percentage. They say it's not much. But for me it's a hardship and I'm willing to put in something but I I'm, not really I. Don't have a business and I'm just concerned with whether I can afford to put that out.

S

B

I'm cheese ma'am: do you live there? I do.

S

Not live in the property, okay,.

B

So you're you rent the property out. Yes, okay, alright, so you are because.

S

If you, if you are, is.

B

A residence or a business, it's.

S

It's a residence or.

D

Property is a three-family, please state your name wake your name. My name is all icky on her, some Sheila's husband, ok, so we've lived in the property and it's a three family dwelling. We lived through three.

B

D

A property rented out the two apartments we had to move out because of family reasons to take care of my father, and so, but we still own the property we plan to come back. The issue is that you know, and we don't plan to sell the property, so there's no benefit of our real estate taxes going up from the city and now to be additionally charged to support the business district. We don't benefit from the business district, the trash generation, the the traffic. You know, issues that's all generated by the businesses.

D

We don't benefit from that we're the ones that have a problem parking on the street I. Don't think that the homeowners should be charged to develop the business homeowners.

C

Excuse me, homeowners are not charged only properties that all our lived in by the homeowner right. So if you live in the property you're not charged the right, if.

D

You have more than one apartment in it. You do right.

C

Yes and yes, because that's a business so now you're generating income from that from that property, so now you're part of the business. What happens is you do benefit? Because, as the property values go up and you get higher rents and the streets are cleaner and people are able to park and other things that benefits you so, instead of paying, you know fifteen hundred dollars a month in rent, then maybe you pay two thousand dollars a month in rent and therefore that benefits you and then that also helps offset the cost of your bid assessment.

C

So therefore, you benefit from the bid being in place. That's how that's how it is planned out the work now I'm, not saying that's how it's going to work, because we don't.

D

C

D

Every way, the only benefit of my property value going up is, if I turn around and sell it. So if I minute.

B

No, no, no, you could get more wet if also, if the, if the area.

D

We hear this a lot in.

B

When the we have these hearings- and you know I mean it can be debated, but the argument is if the area is made nicer, that you can then generate more rent and is more desirable, it makes your property more desirable, so I mean you can agree or disagree with that. But I think that is the premise of the argument. Now, if you just live there yourself, you wouldn't be.

B

You know a single family, but you are rating income, so maybe you're, not a business like a restaurant or somebody that sells you know all the products, but you are a business in the sense that you are producing. Are you getting income from the property that you own so I just.

S

I guess what I'm asking is that there are your this carte blanche.

S

You know about how you know like one site, one idea fits all and I'm saying: maybe I don't know what the businessman who was complaining, what his his is, what happens with his financial state but I'm, saying that if there's a way to consider so that you know in gentrification people say: yes, your property is going up, but then you can't afford to pay your taxes, so I'm, saying I think if there could be a consideration, I don't want to not pay I feel like I want the community to improve and I want to do a share, but I don't know whether I can afford that chair and then I would be taxed and would have to sell my property.

S

You know because they say if you don't pay the amount I'm scared of that. That's all I'm saying look I'm just talking about my own particular situation and I feel like I, have no recourse but to either pay that money or not and I'm nervous poor time.

C

Same kinds of one thing also, I mean if you have three properties and you're running them, and you raise the rent ten dollars on each not.

S

To report you have three.

C

Yards three units free, rentals, three rentals and you raise ten dollars a month on each rental. You have your money for the taxes, so.

J

B

Is that something.

C

That you could do and then- and you know you talk to your tenants and see if that's something they'd be willing to do. I.

S

Didn't know whether that how do you know that that's what it is? According to my percentage for my what my property's worth your.

C

Time is point I just gave an example: that's three hundred sixty dollars right, so it might be. Maybe it's fifteen dollars a month if it's more than that, I don't know when your value of your home. As you know, you have to do your assessment times point two percent find out how much that would be and then try to justify your your increase. That way. Okay, I mean so I mean the burden, obviously would be a burden.

C

But then again you know more people would want to live there, and hopefully those people would want to stay there because they're staying there now and they would want to stay there when the neighborhood gets better yeah.

L

Yeah good, okay.

N

Thank you, sir lunch. You, my name is Chris advances, I own a couple properties and businesses throughout the area. I have a couple concerns I'm for the market getting stronger. I lived in the market. I went to st.

N

Paul's, I, remember, raggedy, knows I, remember the history of the Italian market, I think that I have such potential, such as the Meatpacking District of the new york city and the marketplace in seattle, but with that there's always concerned proper allocation of funds and to piggyback off what my lovely neighbor was saying is that there are certain areas of the market. There are certain areas of this bid, that's going to benefit more so than in residential areas and that there's a flat tap across the board for adding to this fund.

N

So would there my question is: would there be consideration of of that of a different percentage, not in a commercial corridor, since, since a lot of the interest was for the safety and the lighting of the streets, which is needed definitely needed and I'm for the Thai market getting stronger? Please understand that I just want to make sure that I understand where everything is going. So there's also the fact that as property values rise, so does the dues associated per year.

N

However, there's a cap of twenty four thousand dollars for the Italian market of the merchant fund I think it's what the association of the the of the merchants on the street of their cats yearly of 24 k.

N

So if their cap 24k and they're, essentially the largest beneficiary of it, that seems a little not balanced in my opinion. So that's one point: I want to bring up to this, and also the fabric of this of the neighborhood is going to change and it should change and it should change for the better. It should change like East Passyunk, where there's lively people walking around and there's life and there's energy and there's there's a buzz about and there's national acclaim.

N

But neighboring residents have to be prepared for the addition of more liquor licenses. They have to be prepared for the addition of more late-night traffic. They have to be prepared for more vehicular traffic, so I'm prepared for that being a young person who lives in the city I just hope that the mature demographic of that neighborhood is also prepared for that, since they are we contributing to that I.

C

Don't know if that's necessarily true, because, depending on the steering committee and the the mission of the the bid, you know it could be some bids, don't want, don't allow any new liquor licenses in their in their bids. I mean it's not necessarily the case that you have that you know some bids even help, maybe subsidized rents for people, so it's more affordable, there's all different reasons why you have it, but in the end, if the area becomes better, it's up to the individual property owners how they want to live it just that's.

N

For sure, that's that's definitely that's a definitely given rent and.

C

But I would still work with the steering committee and give send them your concerns. And if there's small amendments that could be made along the way, I mean that they're they're able to make them and.

N

I have another question: the Meatpacking District that I mentioned as well as the marketplace that Emilio mentioned. Are they do they have bids, were they created, were they created out of a bid? Did they what spurred that progress and that economic development in those areas was a private money? Was it was the public money? Was it? Does anyone know that answered that question? Where.

B

We talked about them new york, new.

N

York in new york.

C

City in seattle, yeah I believe the Meatpacking District is like, like Soho and those other they're all bids, yeah right, they're, all they're all created by what happens, is because of the money stays within your district yeah. It's not like when you pay tax as it goes into long black hole and you nobody knows where it goes, but but when we, when you have the money that goes, I should just say that I'm sorry.

B

C

You opposite, but when, when you have money going into it, you you see a report every year, you see where the money goes, whether you pay. You know, people who are working in think.

N

It's a great thing, I, truly think it's a great thing.

C

And comes back into your neighborhood I understand that that's how the Meatpacking District work, that's how Soho and some of these other neighborhoods in New York to create. If these bids work but I mean we're, not listen, you have it. You have properties in there. You have a right- and you have a say but I.

C

What I would just say continually talked to the steering committee: try to get all your answers, resolved and work with them to see if things may be able to be tweaked in a certain way and then, at the end of the day, vote your conscience and what you think is the best thing for your property and that neighbor and then.

N

One last question: what's the vision of it, we talked about lights. We talked about safety, we talked about the trash like. What's the vision like where.

C

Is the one yet what's the end game besides,.

N

Increased property value because the city is increasing naturally on its own I, don't.

C

I mean that the steering committee would tell you that the best to make the neighborhood safer, cleaner and you know better for business and make a more walkable and I think that's the main goal for most bids, but I mean again work with the steering committee. You want on their mission and their goal, because at the end of the day, your vote, you know, could be a vote between making the bid happen and making it fails.

C

You know, but all this I would recommend you know meeting with the steering committee going to as many meeting as possible and and seeing if they could answer your questions and if they don't answer your questions satisfactorily, you know, then, then you vote your. What you leave is the best way to go. Every.

B

N

You for your time. Thank you. Thank.

B

You thank you, sir. You wanted.

B

I

Anyone else at.

B

After this gentleman it once the test run. Okay, please state your name in my name's.

D

Walter slider a little 740 Christian street I just.

J

Want to know what are you trying to do with nice tree like make it up, make it Ike all nice thing? What am I? Do you pose that nice tree close like five six o'clock, yeah man? What.

D

You look, do you live I, live there I'll there anything for you all.

B

Do you just live there, you just a resident work or do you email.

D

B

D

Me up well mother living apartment building. It's.

B

An apartment, okay on the apartment building well, as far as what they're going to do, I think is the councilman scrilla said to the other gentleman I think you have to interact with the or you know with the steering committee and and if you have ideas or you have questions I think you need to ask them that you know but I think in all fairness, I think when they were testifying up here, they kind of said the ideas of what they were. Looking for. You know increased safety.

B

You know better lighting, a walkable community, all that kind of thing it's a more safer community, but I mean as far as specifics have you gone any of the meetings and nobody.

D

B

No Masika, you.

D

Live there yourself, I live I, live there homo loca, all.

C

Right I would recommend me to get trying to get information from your.

J

C

J

Shall I got a crush about the cameras and stuff, but their security.

A

D

Straight that bad, not at all, like an apron ain't that bad like underneath the Christmas, the cameras won't do for me. I.

B

Mean you know, there's a difference of opinion. You know what is safe to some people. Isn't it safe to others? I mean that's, you know, that's your opinion. I have to say cameras when you say what it would do for you. If something happened in front of your property, I guess it could do something for you so I mean that's. You know, but again you know participate with the with the folks, and you know by counseling scroll said the other gentleman.

B

If you're not satisfied that certain your opinion and the either you or whoever is the owner of the property can can voice their opinion. But as far as the specifics about where exactly things are gonna, be that's not our decisions there. That's the steering committees decision, alright, okay, alright! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I would anybody again. No one else out here to testify. In this bill we are going to move on to our next bill. Miss Marconi. Please read the title of the bill. Please bill.

F

Number one sec, co 377 an ordinance to amend the philadelphia Zoe mask by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located with an area bounded by indiana avenue, palam street cambridge street in second street Thank.

B

You, mr. Gogarty morning.

R

B

R

Morgan counselor ridley members of the Rules Committee martyred rogowski, the division director of the development division of the city, Philadelphia City Planning Commission, here to testify on bill number 160 277, which was introduced in the City Council on April 7 2016 by councilmember Sanchez. The number 160 277 amends the Philadelphia zoning maps by changing the zoning designations. Certain areas of land locate within the area bounded by Indiana, halethorpe, cambria and second Street properties.

R

Currently zoned I to in medium industrial, will become cm x, 3 commercial mixed-use to encourage the development for the Hispanic Association of contractors and enterprises pase. This project, picasa indiana, will provide housing to people 62 years of age and over who are currently independent. This four-story 46645 building will include 50 units with 12 units for disabled or impaired individuals. Project will also include a garden and nine parking spaces. Philadelphia City Planning Commission considered goal number 160 277, that's meeting of april nineteen.

R

Twenty sixteen recommended approval with the amendment for a sunset provision that will expire on january. First twenty20 I'd be happy to answer any questions at this time. Okay, thank.

B

You Thank You counsel, when Sanchez thank.

L

You just for the record Maria Gonzalez, who was here for like the last couple of hours, yeah has written testimony that will be submitted as part of record I want to thank the planet Commission for working with us all that okay.

B

Thank you any other questions from each group, all right, seeing none. Thank you, sir. Any Moss here testifying bill number 160 277, seeing miss Marconi on next bill. Please.

F

Bill number one second coo for 65: an ordinance to amend the Philadelphia's any mass by changing the zoning designation as a certain areas of land located with an area dominant by month from Street West, Brook Street north early in west oxford street morning.

R

Katherine Greenlee members, the Rules Committee maribor gorski division, director of development division at the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, here to testify on bill number 160 for 65, which was introduced in the City Council on May 12 2016 by councilmember Sanchez phone number, 160 465 amends the Philadelphia zoning maps by remapping, an area bounded by north front street west bourke street north third street and west oxford street move this bill and Bill number 16 year old 466, while intended to correct zoning and advance the goals of the lower north district plan.

R

A part of the city's comprehensive plan remapping promotes housing development in sports commercial uses. It maintains Gordon transportation, links, mufflers adjacent residential uses and improves pedestrian crossings along east-west lines of travel. It also supports the transition away from industrial uses, except for strategic industrial blocks. It zones for multifamily developments along the edges of significant parks, recreation, centers and plazas, and maintains and increases the current employment base within the empowerment zone.

R

City Planning Commission staff attend the two meetings hosted by South Kensington community partners and two meetings where business owners organized by the Philadelphia commerce department staff solicited and organized our excuse me and vetted feedback from old Kensington neighborhood association, the association of Puerto Ricans on the March City Council, and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, Philadelphia, Commerce, Department, and also specific land owners and business owners. While this bill, as well as vulnerable 160 466, are generally consistent with the comprehensive plan staff emphasizes.

R

That is the product product of significant compromises brokered by Commission staff between civic associations, city agencies and business owners, specifically the future of industrial blocks within the empowerment zone, which accomplices this neighborhood north square and west kingston came into contention. According to a Commerce Department survey conducted in 2015, at least 1,100 jobs exist within the empowerment zone. Sixty percent of those south of Bourke Street, but the largest industrial employers, are on a foods at 1801, North Street with 120 employees and general echo econo pack at 1729, North, sixth Street, with 92 employees.

R

The Commission staff believes that some level of industrial zoning must be maintained to accommodate light. Industrial operations, Philadelphia City, Planning Commission, considered bill number 160, 465 and its meaning of jun, 14, 2016 and recommended. If for approval, I'd be happy to answer any questions at this time. Thank.

B

You mr. Gorsky councilman Sanchez, yes,.

L

I just wanted to put for the record again I wanted to thank the planning commissioners work with us. As many of you know, the American Street industrial commercial corridor is one where the city has made significant investment about protecting the industrial jobs that exist in in the area and while we're experiencing some under utilization and and with the help of Planning Commission are going to introduce some commercial utilizations.

L

I think this is our attempt at balancing all of the development interests that exists in in the area and why the lower part of American Street, president Clark, has allowed some of the residential development only that the jobs in this particular zone be protected and therefore we wanted to be very deliberate and protecting the industrial and the high high-end industrial utilizations at the same time, allowing for intellectual other indictment, intellectual industrial uses and some commercial utilization all with the goal of creating jobs, and so I really want to thank the Planning Commission for their patience as we work through our neighbors.

L

Clearly, these bills do not make everybody happy, which means they must be good. Thank you.

B

Yeah, okay, thank you, counseling any other questions on this bill. Anyone else here to testify on bill 1604 65, seeing none miss Marconi on next bill. Please the.

F

Owner 1604 66 an ordinance to amend the philadelphia zoning map, a change in zoning designation, certainly as of land mochida, with an area bound by my 3rd Street West Brook, Street, North, sixth Street West master Street, American Street in Oxford, Street good.

R

Morning, america gorski the division director of development division at the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, here to testify on bill number 160 466, which was introduced in the City Council on May 12 2016 by councilmember Sanchez bill number 160 466 amends the Philippines owned by maps by remapping, an area bounded by newer third Street West bourke street north sixth Street West master, Street, American street and west oxford street. The body of this testimony is virtually identical, to which I just read for 160 465, so to cut to the chase.

R

The Philadelphia City Planning Commission considered bill number 160 466, that's meaning of jun 14 2016 and recommended it for approval as well. Thank.

B

You any questions for mr. Gorsky on this bill, seeing none anyone else. Your testify on bill, 1604 66, seeing none miss Marconi on next bill bill.

F

Number 160 681 an ordinance to amend Philadelphia's any maps by changing the zoning designation. Certain areas of land okita with an area bounded by punch street york street Howard Street Brook Street morning.

R

Catherine Greeley members, the Rules Committee on Marty burger, whiskey division, director of development division at the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, here to testify on bill number 160 681, which is introduced in the City Council on jun 16 2016 by councilmember sanchez phone number, 160 681 amends the fluffy zoning maps by our mapping, an area bounded by with Front Street, West, bourke street north howard street and york street and nora square in west kensington. This bill is intended to advance the goals of the lower north district plan, a part of the city's comprehensive plan.

R

The remapping encouraged about encourages development of vacantly of currently vacant land and buildings, and matches that of a similar zoning effort underway across front street in east kensington. Philadelphia City Planning Commission considered bill number 160 681, that's meaning of July 19 2016 and recommended it for approval, not be happy to answer any questions at this time. Thank.

B

You any questions at council minutes. I would counsel in San Jose fer. Yes,.

L

Thank you um here again, the Planning Commission has been working with us. This is off of a transit-oriented stop, which is the York dolphin station. As many of my colleagues know, I've been pushing the B Corp legislation, and this is one of the corridors where I want to entice potential V Corps corporations to come to this map allows some of the repurposing and reuses of large buildings within this commercial corridor to maintain a commercial utilizations on the first floor, but allow for folks to invest in in some of the upper floors again.

L

I want to thank the Planning Commission for working with me with the goal again of creating jobs on creating generating good traffic among a a cart earth as extremely diverse and has a lot of potential. So thank you. Thank.

B

You counsel, councilman top a burger, yes, I.

M

Just have a statement on this.

O

Bill and I really want to take this moment to thank Councilwoman.

M

Sanchez for really what appears to be amazing progress in developing Front Street in Kensington, there was a news article written in the fall off inquire on this, and this work doesn't come easy. I want to thank her for her leadership that in this area- and this really seems like there seems to be a new business opening there each month- I mean that's a phenomenal.

O

Record and I just want the record to reflect that and my.

M

Enthusiastic support for this bill, Thank.

B

You councilman any other questions or comments, seeing none any one else here to testify on bill. 160 681, seeing none and just for the record. The last three bills will have amendments that will be offered at the committee meeting miss Marconi. Our last bill today, bill.

F

Number one sec, 06 12 an ordinance establishing a neighborhood improvement district consisting of a parcel located at the northeast corner of fifteenth Street in Chestnut Street, commonly known as 1441 Chestnut Street, to be known as the headquarter.

F

Hotel, neighborhood improvement district designating, Philadelphia Authority for industrial development stove as neighborhood improvement, district management association for the district approving a plan for the district, including a list of proposed improvements in their estimated cost, providing for special financing assessments to be levied on property owners within the district to secure the repayment of tax, increment financing and goodness authorizing the director of Commerce.

F

On behalf of the city and executed agreement with the neighborhood improvement district management association for the district and authorizing the neighborhood improvement district management association to assess property owners within the district, then their own terms and conditions collect your cause to be collected. A special financing assessment to be used in accordance with the approved plan and they're put tax increment financing plan. All accordance with the provisions of the community economic improvement act.

B

Mr. mom walk ahead please afternoon, good.

E

Afternoon, mr. chairman members of the committee on rules, my name is John moonwalk I'm, the deputy director of real estate development in the cities, office of planning and development I'm here to testify in favor bill 1606 12, establishing a headquarter, hotel, neighborhood improvement district. The intent of this legislation is to create a neighborhood improvement district that overlaps with the TIF district created for this hotel project through bill 13-0 686, passed by City Council and signed by the mayor on December through December 18 2013 I, just want to correct my submitted testimony as 2003.

E

It was actually 2013. The nib will exist for approximately 20 years to coincide with the time and location of the TIF. The knit is comprised of a single parcel owned by cheslyn development LP, the developer of a 780 thousand square foot 755 remote l intended to support the newly expanded pennsylvania convention center. In addition to increasing the economic activity of this important center city location, the headquarter hotel will create a significant number of temporary and permanent jobs. Constructions.

E

Hotel will support 1,800 jobs representing over 95 million dollars in wages during the three-year construction period once completed. The hotel will support 450 permanent jobs and 375 million dollars in wages over the next 20 years. The developer is also partnering, with the city's workforce development agency philadelphia works to maximize the number of positions filled by philadelphia residents seeking jobs and to provide opportunities for internships for students of the Philadelphia public school system.

E

The NIT will be governed by the Philadelphia authority for industrial development, which will act as the neighborhood improvement district management association, also known as the nigma under the community and economic improvement act. The mid mo will have the power to make assessments for improvements to the district for debt incurred in connection with improvements and for administrative costs related to managing the NIT.

E

You will also allow to make assessments and pledges and pledge the assessments and any wounds associated with those assessments to a bank as security for any shortfall of actual incremental taxes collected from amounts needed to pay the debt service on the TIF loan. The office of planning and development is interested in providing this hotel project with a tool to convert incremental tax shortfalls into leans in order to help entice third-party lenders to invest.

E

In the TIF, by layering and mid on top of a test district jessalyn development, limited partnership will be able to secure any shortfall between the projected incremental taxes in the actual incremental taxes, with a high priority lien, which can be requirement of TIF lenders for loans of this size and term. The creation of is indeed does not provide additional financial financial assistance from the city into this project, but we see the need as a logical and important extension of the TIF that has already been created and it may increase the ability of chess lesson.

E

Development LP to monetize its TIFF. A more successful placement of tiff with a third-party investor will only help to ensure the success of the 755 room headquarter hotel. For these reasons, we support bill 1606, 12 and there's also an amendment that should have been circulated that clarifies that these liens would not exceed any city municipal lean, and we support that amendment. Okay,.

B

Thank you any questions for mr. Matlock, seeing none anyone else here to testify on bill number one: six: zero, six, one, two seeing none! Thank you! Thank you. Sorry. You had to wait that long wheel, it's okay! If that were the first ones, gonna, ditch councilman squirrels fall.

C

B

That concludes the the hearing of the Rules Committee. We will now go into our public meeting and the chair recognizes councilman scrilla.

C

Thank you. Thank you. Mr. chairman, we like to move the adoptions of the amendment of bill number 160 686, the the amendment to bill number, 160 465.

C

It also the amendment of bill number 160 466, the amendment bill number 160 681 and the amendment of 160 612 is.

B

There, a second it's removed and seconded on the adoption, any amendments, all in favor, aye, opposed hearing, none and the a all. The amendments are adopted. Councilman scroller.

M

C

To move the bills as amended of 160 686 and throw number 1 60 61 to as amended with no suspension reported.

G

Out of committee with a favorable recommendation.

C

B

Removed and second.

E

B

In favor aye opposed hearing none bill numbers, 160 686 as amended and won 6-0 6-1 to as amended our reporter House Committee, with a favorable recommendation. Councilman swell like to make a motion to you: Oh bills,.

C

Number 160 277 bill number 160 465 is amended. 160 466, as amended 160 681, as amended reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation dispensers. The rules would be read at the first council says it's.

B

Been moved and second at all in favor aye opposed hearing none bill numbers, 1, 60 to 70 71 60 for 65, as amended 160 for 66 is amended and 160. 681 is a minute reporters committee with favor of recommendation with a rule suspension to allow for reading at our next session of council. This concludes the business today of the Rules Committee. Thank you all very much for your participation. Thanks.

B