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From YouTube: Feb. 24, 2015: City Council Hearing on Rules (Pt. 3)
Description
During the public hearing of the Rules Committee, testimony was heard on Bill No. 140906: An Ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by amending Section 14-203, entitled "Definitions," and by amending Chapter 14-500, entitled "Overlay Zoning Districts," to add a new Section 14-516, entitled "/UED Urban Experiential Display Overlay Control District," all under certain terms and conditions.
A
I
think
we
could
agree
that
all
three
of
them
don't
have
tremendous
architectural
value.
We
have
a
parking
garage
on
the
Avenue
of
the
Arts.
We
have
what
amounts
to
a
big
box
hotel
on
the
corner
of
twelfth
and
arch
when
it
comes
to
the
convention
center,
we
wanted
to
create
something
at
the
corner
of
broad
and
race.
It's
a
very
expansive
corner.
A
C
Thank
You
mr.
chairman
and
then
I
know,
we've
been
working
on
this
for
a
long
time
and
it
till
this
morning.
Obviously,
but
I
think
we
took
into
consideration
a
lot
of
the
concerns
that
everyone
had
along
the
way
and
and
I'm
under
the
pure
belief
that
you
know
we
don't
know
the
key
to
success,
but
the
key
to
failure
is
trying
to
please
everyone.
So
in
that
case
we
really
really
took
a
lot
of
heart
and
information
from
the
planning
commission
from
the
administration
from
even
scenic
philadelphia
and
others.
C
Why
we
were
going
along
this
path
and
again
not
everybody's
going
to
be
happy,
but
I
think
we
found
that
I
really
a
compromise
that
can
work
and
again.
This
just
is
allowing
the
you
EDS
to
be
in
a
specific
location,
and
then
we
got
to
go
back
through
the
process
again
if
each
one
is
going
to
be
individually
and
vetted
through
all
these
processes,
so
I
mean
I,
want
to
thank
Thaddeus
and
run
and
in
front
of
you
have
something
to
add
on
that.
I
would
appreciate
it.
A
Yeah
in
word:
yes,
the
way
the
legislation
is
currently
structured.
You
have
to
have
a
minimum
of
three
local
designers,
architects
involved
and
that's
for
the
purposes
of
legislation.
If
you
look
at
an
implementation
that
we
would
be
involved
in,
we
have
a
tremendous
resource
in
the
various
art
schools
that
are
in
this
city
and
I'd
like
to
go
to
the
art
schools
and
get
a
their
efforts
on
each
of
the
ue
DS
weighing
in
I.
Think
it
would
make
it
a
very
interesting
process
and
a
very
interesting
outcome.
Then.
A
E
C
Sure,
well,
let
me
just
add
in
one
second
I'm,
sorry
Councilwoman,
when
we
first
decided
about
the
signs,
my
main
thing
with
signage
and
then
also
in
the
city's
ability
to
maintain
things
that
we
do
has
been
lacking
and
I
told.
That
is
the
only
way
we
do.
This
is
if
we
were
able
to
maintain
the
facilities
around
the
area
which
I
called
an
impact
fee.
C
An
impact
fee
was
something
that
I
felt
that
the
people
close
by
who
have
nonprofits
in
that
area
would
be
able
to
receive
some
of
those
funds
in
order
to
keep
up
the
surrounding
area,
who
were
immensely
impacted
by
the
you
Ed.
Therefore,
they
would
be
able
then,
to
clean
up
the
streets,
maybe
light
the
street
maybe
put
shrubbery
or
things
around
the
areas
that
they
needed,
and
so
we
thought
that,
within
a
certain
boundary
of
the
you,
Ed
and
nonprofit
in
that
area
should
be
the
one
that
would
be
eligible
for
these.
C
A
Thank
You
councilman,
if
I
could
just
add
to
that.
To
answer
your
question,
we
have
two
pieces
to
the
nonprofit's.
We
have
the
financial
peace
which
councilman
scroll
it
so
eloquently
outlined
through
a
community
benefits
agreement
of
putting
those
money
back
into
the
nonprofit's
that
serve
the
areas
in
the
immediate
vicinity
of
the
you
Ed.
We
then
have
the
communication
component
where
each
you
Ed
is
required
to
have
eight
percent
of
its
time
for
a
non-profit,
and
they
answer
your
question.
A
C
A
F
Pagina
Thank
You
mr.
chairman,
very
well
thought
out
and
delivered
presentation,
and
thank
you.
I
think
the
different
concept
with
the
cba's
you
know
going
to
the
local
neighborhood
group
is
something
that
at
least
says.
I
think
some
of
our
attention
I'm
going
to
circle
back
on
the
license
fees.
Now
you
said
there
was
a
four
thousand
dollar
license
fee
for
each
of
the
sign.
Is
that
correct?
That's.
F
D
F
A
lot
more
technical,
clean
up
to
and
in
additions
to
this
to
dis,
built
it
right
to
get
there
get
where
you
need
to
go,
and
just
another
question
in
you
know
just
a
brief
cursory
review
of
the
amendment
they
talked
about.
Well,
it's
probably
in
a
vegetable.
The
enforcement
of
of
these
signs
by
third-party
L&I
hell
is
that
we've.
A
Set
up
the
provisions
in
a
fashion
that
they
could
be
done
by
Ellen
I,
if,
if,
if
council
wanted
to
see
that
amended
to
have
a
third
party,
do
that
at
the
possibly
even
the
expense
of
the
developer,
we
would
be
amenable
to
that.
But
the
emphasis
councilman
is:
is
that
measuring
the
light,
as
you
well
know,
once
you
figure
out
how
it
should
be
done,
it's
really
not
rocket
science.
I.
Think
the
process
of
getting
people
to
agreement
on
how
it
should
be
measured
is
more
of
the
hurdle.
Oh
and.
F
What
measurements
to
set
the
the
automatic
dimming
devices
for
the
digital
displays
is
what
the
agreement
should
be,
but
as
long
as
it's
consistent
with
somebody
out
to
work
there,
outdoor
advertising
and
an
accessory
non
accessory
signs,
that's
that's
something
worth
you
know
discussing
as
we
move
forward.
Yeah.
A
The
only
thing
I
can
add
to
that
councilman's
we
as
a
company
operate
the
second
largest
digital
signage
network
in
the
region
and
the
provisions
of
point
three
foot
candles
above
ambient
light
levels.
What
we
use
to
function
on
all
of
our
displays
and
we've
had
not
only
no
issues
with
it,
but
we've
also
found
that
at
that
level
we
also
conform
to
existing
municipal
light
spillover
regulations.
No.
F
And
I
agree
and
I
think
that
if
you
well
know
the
the
measurement
nationally
with
some
of
these
digital
displays
or
in
it,
though,
having
the
conversion
and
both
of
them
in
the
legislation
and
having
it
at
the
point,
3
or
point
zero,
three
above
ambient
light
is
I
think
absolutely
the
way
to
go.
Thank.
B
B
G
Thank
You
mr.
chairman
members
of
the
committee,
it's
my
pleasure
to
be
with
you
here
still
morning.
Mr.
chairman,
early
too
I'm
John
McNichol
president
CEO,
the
Pennsylvania
Convention
Center
authority,
I'm
here
today
on
behalf
of
our
board
of
directors
and
for
myself
to
endorse
the
legislation
before
the
committee
and
urge
its
passage.
I
want
to
thank
councilman
swell
for
his
hard
work
on
the
legislation
and
recognize
that
his
efforts
had
answered
a
lot
of
questions
at
our
board
level
to
get
us
comfortable
with
where
we
are
I'll,
be
as
brief
as
possible.
Mr.
G
chairman,
make
myself
available
to
the
committee
individually
or
whenever
it
would
be
necessary,
I'd
like
to
go
back
and
explain
just
very
quickly
the
need
that
we
have
at
the
convention
centers.
You
know
the
convention
center
was
expanded
in
2011,
with
an
investment
of
somewhere
in
the
order,
789
million
dollars,
Pennsylvania
taxpayer
dollars
that
went
into
expanding
the
facility
up
to
its
current
boundaries
of
Broad
Street.
That
was
a
major
public
works
project,
actually
the
the
largest
in
the
history
of
the
Commonwealth
of
Pennsylvania.
Doing
so
believe
it
or
not.
G
We,
the
planners,
did
not
necessarily
contemplate
some
of
the
needs
for
things
like
digital
signing
along
Broad
Street.
So
we
have
this
beautiful
expansion
and
this
this
wonderful
presence
on
Broad
Street.
However,
you
could
drive
right
past
it
and
not
know
it
was
the
convention
center.
If
you
were
from
out
of
town,
so
we
literally
had
a
branding
need
and
a
digital
signage
need
there.
G
We
did
have
in
our
capital
budget,
nine
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
dollars
to
address
digital
signage
on
the
facility,
and
we
were
contemplating
various
treatments
we
had
some
lighting
design
and
signage
companies
come
in,
give
us
some
recommendations.
And,
frankly,
mr.
chairman
and
members
of
the
committee
was
all
fairly
uninspired
because
of
the
setback
at
the
front
face
of
our
building
on
Broad
Street,
anything
that
we
were
to
put
on
the
front
of
the
building
you
would
likely
drive
by
without
notice.
G
It
frankly
would
have
been
most
of
the
treatments
that
we
received
were
fairly
static.
Anything
that
we
would
have
done
to
the
broad
and
raised
corner
outside
again
would
have
been
fairly
pedestrian
treatment.
It
would
have
been
sort
of
a
big
pole
with
a
big
lighted
sign
on
it.
You
can
get
somewhat
creative,
but
you
couldn't
get
as
creative
as
what
was
brought
to
us
by
the
folks
at
catalyst
outdoor
in
their
presentations.
I
should
mention
the
committee
that
they
we
did
a
lot
of
due
diligence.
G
We
the
commences
under
authority
and
our
board
in
analyzing
this
from
a
holistic
perspective,
about
what
our
needs
were
and
how
we
could
meet
those
needs
in
the
most
responsible
way
possible.
Understanding
that
everyone
in
the
room
here
practically
is
a
fiduciary
of
the
taxpayers
in
some
form
or
fashion.
We
take
that
charge
very
seriously
and,
to
that
end
the
board
had
some
some
requirements.
One
is
that
is
if
we
were
to
enter
into
this
partnership
under
the
you
Ed
program
and
allow
the
sign
of
joy,
broad
and
race
which
we
were
inclined
to
do.
G
It
would
give
us
the
opportunity
to
first
forego
the
expense
of
nine
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
dollars
of
capital
expense
that
we
could
redirect
to
other
important
projects
in
the
center.
That's
a
key!
So
right
off
the
top.
We
have
that
savings
in
our
quiver.
That's
something
that
I
think
is
is
meaningful.
G
In
addition
to
that,
the
promise
of
the
guarantees
under
the
lease
and
rent
agreements
would
be
a
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
minimum
each
year
or
twenty-seven
percent
of
the
gross
revenues
generated
by
the
signage
that's
meaningful,
and
that
would
be
a
meaningful
return
on
taxpayer
investment
back
to
the
Center
for
other
uses.
That's
in
addition
to
the
nonprofit
contribution,
that's
already
been
discussed.
G
We
also
feel
a
need
by
putting
branding
on
the
building
you'll
notice
that
the
proposed
treatments
and
future
treatments
would
likely
have
the
Pennsylvania,
Convention,
Center,
loge
or
logo,
or
name
type,
on
the
actual
sign,
giving
us
badly
needed
signage
on
Broad
Street.
So
that's
something
that's
very
important.
The
board
was
concerned
about
and
got
satisfaction
in
our
discussion
and
in
our
term
sheet
with
catalyst
or
proposed
terms
with
catalyst
content
control.
G
Some
things
that
the
committee
may
not
have
considered
but
I'd
like
to
offer
because
I
think
it
sets
us
apart,
is
a
somewhat
unique
actor
in
this
play
is
that
we
have
customers
coming
in
from
all
over
the
country.
They
have
many
choices,
they
can
choose
other
facilities
around
the
country
when
they
choose
Philadelphia
over
Boston
or
over
Washington,
DC
or
Baltimore
or
other
places
Chicago.
G
They
come
with
an
expectation
of
certain
amenities
that
a
building
will
bring.
We
we
don't
have
digital.
We
don't
have
a
sufficient
digital
package
for
those
customers.
Today,
we
would
love
to
be
able
to
enhance
that
it's
an
upsell
opportunity
for
us.
It's
also
becoming
something
of
an
expectation.
It
would
be
nice
for
Philadelphia
and
the
Pennsylvania
Convention
Center
to
actually
be
the
first.
The
Councilwoman
basses
question
I
know:
did
you
notice
that
it
was
something
we'd
actually
have
the
opportunity
to
lead
on?
G
It
would
be
nice
for
our
convention
center
to
lead
the
way
and
to
have
unique
type
of
branding
and
sign
signage
outside
of
the
building.
I
think
it
would
be
a
great
amenity
for
our
customers
and
would
be
a
great
platform
for
them
to
see
more
of
the
center
other
distinguishing
characteristics
of
the
center.
I
think
that
are
very
important.
It's
an
exciting
alternative
to
the
otherwise
uninspired
treatments
that
we
discussed
will
include
it
in
our
marketing
materials
and
we
believe
it
will
actually
draw
even
more
customers
to
the
center.
G
G
How
many
people
call
us
and
say
when
is
the
Flower
Show
after
the
fact,
just
having
that
opportunity
out
front
could
potentially
draw
in
ticket
purchasers
which
actually
drive
revenue
for
us
on
the
food
and
beverage
side
and
other
opportunities
and
I
think
it
also
helps
to
bring
some
public
awareness
to
the
convention
center.
A
lot
of
folks,
even
city
folks,
may
not
really
be
familiar
if
they
haven't
visited
the
center
that
that's
what
it
is.
So
we
want
to
be
proud
of
the
Pennsylvania
Convention
Center.
G
We
see
this
is
a
way
to
brand
our
building
and
and
to
make
it.
You
know
express
the
you
know
the
wonderful
nature
of
what
it
is.
The
board
went
through
a
very
deliberative
process:
I,
try
and
accelerate
this
for
you,
but
understand
that
the
board
deliberated
two
subcommittees
of
our
Board
of
Directors,
the
capital
improvements
committee
and
our
administration
and
management
committee.
Both
deliberated
both
heard
testimony
on
the
matter
and
presentations.
Catalyst
was
very
helpful
and
providing
that
information
to
our
board
members
and
her
and
our
committees.
G
Both
subcommittees
of
the
board,
passed
unanimously
resolutions
that
forwarded
them
to
the
board.
The
board
then
unanimously
voted
to
approve
and
empower
myself
as
president
and
CEO
to
enter
into
a
lease
agreement,
all
of
course
contingent
upon
future
approvals,
first
being
City
Council.
So
we've
we've
done
an
awful
lot
like
that.
I
mentioned
our
fiduciary
responsibility
at
the
end
of
the
day,
I'm
driven
by
one
thing,
we've
changed
our
capital
program
so
that
it's
a
reinvestment
strategy.
It's
got
to
either
save
the
taxpayers
money.
G
It's
got
to
make
the
taxpayers
money
and
if
it
doesn't
do
those
two
things
at
the
same
time,
then,
frankly,
it's
not
a
priority
for
us,
but
this
is
a
nice
way
for
us
to
work
through
our
capital
program
to
enhance
the
customer
experience
and
grow
the
business
at
the
Pennsylvania
Convention
Center,
so
I'm,
proud
to
enthusiastically
support
the
legislation
and
thank
the
committee
for
its
time.
Thank.
H
B
H
The
one
thing
the
convention
center
has
proven
is
that
you
can
mix
the
old
and
the
new
and
come
up
with
something
that's
much
better
and
again,
following
on
many
of
the
questions
here
earlier,
including
Councilwoman
baths,
I
think
to
be
the
first
one
into
the
digital
age,
on
the
edge
of
something
that
goes
back
to
you
know
the
19th
century
in
the
1850s
is
just
you
know
something
that
puts
Philadelphia
above
and
beyond
every
other
jurisdiction.
The
second
reason
why
I'm
here
to
support
this
is
obviously,
as
you
see,
on
the
slides
from
catalyst.
H
We
will
be
the
beneficiary,
the
reading
terminal
market
corporation
of
some
of
the
revenue
that
comes
back
as
a
non-for-profit
and
one
of
the
greatest
challenges
that
we
have
is
maintaining
and
operating
a
building.
That's
over
150
years
old,
the
city
under
former
councils
forced
the
convention
center
authority
in
the
80s
to
rebuild
the
market.
They
did
a
great
job,
but
that's
coming
on
30
years,
but
no
one
left
us
with
a
capital
account.
So
we
kind
of
you
know
do
the
best.
We
can
we
raise
some
money.
H
We
borrow
some
money
and
I
think
we're
doing
you
know
a
fine
job,
but
many
of
the
improvements
that
the
city
and
the
convention
center
authority
did
in
the
80s
are
coming
to
end
of
life
so,
rather
than
add
four
to
five
dollars
a
foot
to
the
existing
merchants.
This
would
be
just
you
know,
a
godsend
for
us
to
fund
our
capital
into
the
future.
Thank
you
thank.
I
I
I'd
also
like
to
mention
it
also
who
have
come
today
is
Tom
Lynch,
as
a
former
president
of
the
union
league
Amanda,
getting
suit
with
sales
manager
for
the
capital
grill
and
a
Tim
moyer,
who
is
a
resident
at
Symphony
house,
but
also
is
the
volunteer
leader
of
our
over
1,500
members,
friends
at
the
admin
of
the
Arts
and
we're
here.
Basically,
today,
too
enthusiastically
support
the
the
proposal.
I
Avenue,
the
Arts
Inc
has
been
around
for
20
years,
and
its
primary
job
is
to
work
with
the
stakeholders
of
the
admin
of
the
Arts
to
focus
on
what
we
can
do
with
our
public
and
private
partners
to
support
the
public
environment
and
to
market
to
drive
traffic
to
this
economic
engine.
The
oven
of
the
Arts
generates
well
over
three
I'm.
Sorry,
three
quarters
of
a
billion
dollars
of
economic
impact
annually
has
over
1.1
million
visitors
and
its
reputation.
I
You
all
know,
through
this
process
of
working
with
our
stakeholders,
we've
really
had
an
opportunity
to
do
some
meaningful
due
diligence,
I
think
on
this
project.
We've
had
multiple
discussions
and
presentations
at
our
board
of
directors.
We
have
worked
with
the
executive
committee
of
the
Friends
of
the
admin
of
the
arts
or
who
are
an
all-volunteer
organization
of
folks
that
live
or
work
on
the
Avenue.
I
We
have
a
monthly
council
meeting
of
stakeholders
from
all
of
the
businesses
and
venues
on
the
admin
of
the
Arts
to
discuss
issues
that
are
important
to
the
stakeholders
and
obviously
this
initiative
has
been
on
that
agenda
for
quite
some
time
and
we
have
reached
out
certainly
on
an
individual
basis
to
business
leaders
and
stakeholders
on
the
Avenue
to
seek
their
opinions
as
well
as
a
result
of
all
those
discussions,
our
Board
of
Directors
and
the
executive
committee.
The
Friends
of
the
admin
of
the
arts
are
very,
very
optimistic
and
positive
about
approving
this
recommendation.
I
We
feel
that
it'll
it'll
be
additive
to
the
whole
quality
and
the
image
of
the
admin
of
the
Arts
it'll
be
a
revenue
generator
for
the
city.
It
will
promote
both
the
not-for-profits,
which
there
are
a
significant
number
on
the
Avenue
in
terms
of
the
venue's,
the
businesses
there,
but
also
provide
a
broad
opportunity
for
other
not-for-profits
within
the
city.
The
funds
that
have
been
committed
to
the
avenue
of
the
arts
organization
to
help
support
the
public
environment
is
a
game-changer.
I
The
list
of
things
that
need
to
be
done
is
almost
infinite
and
it's
always
a
challenge
to
be
raising
money,
to
figure
out
what
the
right
priorities
are
and
to
generate
this.
This
money
to
community
organization
as
a
predictable,
sustainable
source
of
funds
is
powerful
in
terms
of
the
organization
to
be
able
to
do
what
needs
to
be
done
to
maintain
and
enhance
the
safety
attractiveness,
beauty
of
this
very,
very
important
asset
for
the
region
in
the
city
and
to
help
market
to
support
the
businesses
and
the
future
development.
I
That's
on
going
down
in
terms
of
the
discussion
that
was
going
on
earlier
in
turn
around
the
perception
and
risk
of
having
these
types
of
things
in
the
market.
Generally.
I
would
just
like
to
point
out
to
you
that
for
years
now
there
has
been
the
advertising
cube
on
the
kimmel
center
itself,
which
is
lit
all
hours
of
the
day
and
night,
and
there's
really
been
nothing
but
positive
associated
with
that.
The
opportunity
here
is
to
broaden
that
out
that
device,
for
obvious
reasons
is
used
primarily
for
the
kimmel
center.
I
In
its
events,
this
broadens
out
that
opportunity
to
other
organizations
on
the
Avenue
and
throughout
the
city
to
advertise
and
create
awareness
also.
Lastly,
each
night,
every
night
of
the
week
between
City,
Hall
and
pine
street,
we
light
every
building
on
the
Avenue
and
if
you
walk
down
there
and
you
see
it,
it's
a
beautiful
thing-
it
enhances
the
image
and
the
experience.
So
from
my
perspective,
this
isn't
really
new
and
the
checks
and
balances
that
are
being
discussed
and
put
into
place
by
counsel
and
and
the
Commission
and
the
Arts
Commission.
I
All
these
will
sure
that
this
thing
is
done
with
the
highest
level
of
quality
and
with
the
involved
involved
that
we
have
with
the
catalyst,
outdoor
and
the
strength
of
our
councils
and
our
boards
we're
comfortable
that
the
things
going
to
be
executed
with
the
highest
quality
possible.
Lastly,
we've
generated
after
reaching
out
to
the
1500
friends
we've
generated
about
a
hundred
and
forty
letters
of
positive
support
in
favor
of
the
initiative.
Some
thank
you.
Okay,.
B
I
A
microphone
please
yeah,
yes,
for
years,
we've
been
involved
with
North
Broad
Street,
as
well
as
as
Avenue
Renaissance
north
forms.
As
a
separate
organization.
Our
organization
becomes
more
focused
more
exclusively
on
South
Broad.
Now
we
continue
to
work
with
the
folks
that
are
trying
to
get
that
organization
built
so
that
we
can
do
everything
we
can
to
support
its
growth
and
future
success,
and
we're
also
continuing
to
work
on
the
north,
broad
street
lighting
and
landscaping
initiative,
which.
I
Right
now
attend
regular
project
meetings
for
that
and
continue
to
support
that
effort.
But
as
time
goes
on-
and
I
believe
focus
is
a
good
thing
that
there'll
be
more
focused
and
dedicated
by
avenue
renaissance
in
north
to
North,
Broad
Street
and
the
a
venir
the
Arts
incorporated
organization
focusing
on
sound
okay.
B
The
reason
I
raised
that
you
talked
about
again
all
the
lighting
you've
done
it
and
I
know
there's
a
difference
of
opinion
on
this,
but
I've
always
thought
that
the
lighting
adds
kind
of
vitality
and
thus
vitality
adds
people
yeah,
that's
what
we
want
and
you
certainly
see
people
South
Broad.
It's
still
a
struggle,
sometimes
a
little
bit
when
we
go
north,
so
I
was
wondering
maybe
mr.
McNichol
you
can
comment
as
far
as
that
kind
of
adding
you
know.
B
G
E
G
You
know
to
use
a
scientific
term
right
so
when
we
have
two
hundred
and
thirty-five
thousand
people
come
through
the
Flower,
Show
and
250,
some
thousand
people
come
through
the
Auto
Show
and
the
whole
thing
and
they're
working
into
the
evening
early
evening
hours
I
mean
just
imagine
how
much
more
electric
that
front
of
the
building
would
be
than
it
is.
We
have
an
LED
curtain
wall
that
can
give
you
some
nice
lighting
and
different.
G
G
So
if
we
have
the
nephrology
convention
coming
in
with
25,000
kidney
doctors,
you
know
it
would
be
nice
to
recognize
their
contribution
to
our
economy,
because
they're,
generating
on
the
order
of
45
million
in
economic
impact
of
the
city,
I
think
we
they
certainly
deserve
to
have
some
branding
associated
with
it.
So
I
agree
with
you:
I
think
it
would
certainly
liven
up
our
neck
of
the
woods
on
Broad
Street,
but
I
think
it
would
be
done
in
a
tasteful
way
and
in
a
way
that
wouldn't
be.
You
know,
Gordian
in
any
sense
and.
G
And
we're
very
conservative
board.
Our
board
is
a
very
conservative
group
by
nature.
I
mean
we
walk
slowly.
I
mentioned
that
we
take
our
responsibility
to
the
taxpayers
very
seriously.
So
this
is.
This
will
be
a
very
calculated
approach,
as
it
has
been
many
many
hours
and
meetings
have
gone
behind
this
in
from
our
boards
involvement,
our
staff
so
I
assure
the
committee
that
will
continue
with
that
due
diligence
and
make
sure
we're
responsible
citizens.
Okay,
thank.
C
B
C
C
F
You
mr.
chair
and
thank
you,
gentlemen
for
for
your
testimony,
I
just
want
to
make
a
few
quick
comments
to
a
mr.
McNichol
and
I
just
want
to
to
congratulate
contrite
congratulate
you
when
your
exemplary
performance,
the
convention
center.
As
of
lately
in
changing
your
strategy,
I
was
just
Eddie
stop
by
a
manufacturing
conference
that
was
just
here
last
week
within
the
last
week
and
a
half,
and
you
know
5,000
participants
over
400
vendors
and
the
chairperson
in
the
executive
director
of
that
show.
F
So
this
is
their
first
time
here
in
Philadelphia
and
they
had
such
a
wonderful
experience
that
they
will
be
back
next
year.
So
I
think
your
your
comments
here
and
the
way
you've
you
and
your
team
has
strategized
the
new
tactics
in
a
visitor
and
convention
center
experience
has
been
the
first
class
product
as
which
we
deserve
as
the
first
class
city.
So
I
take
all
what
you
say.
F
You
know
at
the
highest
regard,
and
you
know
the
proof
is
in
the
pudding
and
you
have
certainly
you
know,
increase
bookings,
you
have
changed
a
way
or
labor
force
is,
is
produced
as
a
team
and
continuity
and
its
producer.
You
know
a
lot
of
revenue
opportunities
for
us
so
with
that
being
said,
I'm
going
to
bridge
into
today
and
and
the
ue
DS
here
you
had
mentioned
in
your
and
your
comments
and
your
testimony
that
you
you're
going
to
be
able
to
save
nine
nine
hundred
thousand
dollars
in
capital.
F
A
G
So
will
will
take
and
divert
what
we
would
otherwise
spent
nine
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
there
abouts
on
the
digital
signage
on
the
front
of
the
building
will
be
able
to
put
that
money
back
into
our
capital
budget
will
be
able
to
reallocate
that
for
more
important
projects.
Related
to
the
expansion,
for
instance,
will
be
spending
nine
hundred
thousand
dollars
this
year
on
high
density,
wife,
I've
and
throughout
the
expanded
portion
of
the
facility.
G
Why
do
we
have
to
do
that
because
we're
going
to
have
the
world
meeting
of
families
and
Pope
Francis
coming
to
town
and
then
we're
going
to
back
it
up
in
2016
with
the
democratic
national
convention
coming
to
town,
and
so
the
demands
on
the
on
the
building
are
not
going
to
get
less
they're
going
to
get
significantly
harder
for
us.
But
those
challenges
are
easy
challenges
to
face.
Given
the
fact
that
the
business
as
you
mentioned,
councilman
Heenan,
is
really
on
an
exponential
climb.
G
We've
booked
since
May
of
last
year,
28
new
major
citywide,
shows
worth
850
million
in
economic
impact
of
the
region
that
we
have
never
seen
that
kind
of
growth
in
the
history
of
the
conventions
that
are
dating
back
in
1993.
We've
never
seen
this
much
interest
in
that
facility.
We've
never
seen
greater
cooperation
to
a
person
to
an
organization
from
our
show
labor
force
all
the
way
through
to
our
convention
and
visitors.
Bureau,
our
hotel,
yrs
Reading,
Terminal
Market,
all
of
our
partners
in
the
region
that
make
the
convention
center
such
a
wonderful
experience.
G
We
now
have
a
model
in
place.
That's
proven
that
it
can
work.
The
customer
that
you
mentioned
was
pack
expo
east
came
here.
It's
a
box,
manufacturing
packaging
convention
and
exhibits.
Not
only
are
they
coming
back
their
book
now
for
three
more
years:
17,
19
and
21
as
a
result,
not
of
anything
that
I
did
but
of
the
team
effort
that
resulted
in
a
very,
very
positive
experience
for
their
attendees
and
their
exhibitors.
G
So
I
thank
you
for
coming
over
and
visiting
that
show,
but
understand
that
the
economic
impact
of
the
show
this
year
was
over
25
million
dollars
to
the
region.
For
that
show,
coming
we're
going
to
take
it
from
a
two-hole
show
to
what
I
believe
will
be
a
four-hole
show
by
2019
and
there
and
they're
going
to
be
great
partners
with
us
in
that.