►
Description
The Special Committee on Regulatory Review and Reform of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, September 12, 2018 to hear testimony on the following item:
170179 Resolution authorizing the creation of a "Special Committee on Regulatory Review and Reform," to identify archaic, superfluous, and confusing provisions in The Philadelphia Code and in departmental regulations; and to recommend revisions that streamline, clarify and enhance the City's regulatory environment, for the purpose of accelerating the growth of well-paying jobs in Philadelphia while ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents.
A
A
I
know
we
have
a
quorum
by
the
attendance
of
to
my
right,
co-chair
Commerce
director
held
Epps
to
my
left,
co-chair
and
present
CEO
of
the
Greater
Philadelphia
Chamber
of
Commerce
rob1
dealing
as
well
as
some
of
my
colleagues
on
a
special
committee
council
members,
Bobby
Heenan
out
on
Berger,
as
well
as
a
number
of
special
committee
subcommittee
chairs,
based
on
the
fact
that
we
have
a
quorum.
I'll
ask
the
clerk
to
read
the
title
of
the
hearing.
A
A
Leslie
Spina
from
the
Child
Care
Committee,
Mike,
Brown
and
Pam
fly,
pin
construction
and
real
estate
committee
a
Nick
bear
and
saved
by
Ted
luck
on
the
food
and
hospitality
committee.
A
new
scooped
and
Jennifer
Rodriguez
from
the
small
businesses
committee
Lori
act,
men
from
the
tech
startups
committee
and
Chet
Redick
from
the
manufacturing
committee.
We
are
here
today
to
reaffirm
the
commitment
of
our
city,
government
and
business
community
to
work
together
to
strengthen
our
business
climate
and
their
ability
to
start
grow
and
maintain
operations
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
A
About
18
months
ago,
in
partnership
with
the
council,
president
I
introduced
resolution
number
one:
seven,
zero,
one,
seven
nine,
which
authorized
this
special
committee.
In
that
time,
we've
had
six
subcommittee
subcommittees,
consisting
of
public
and
private
stakeholders,
exploring
industry,
specific
issues
particular
to
city
operations,
be
they
legislative
policy
or
regulatory.
We're
proud
of
the
work
that
has
been
accomplished
or
begun,
which
the
members
will
be
witnessing
for
us
in
detail
shortly
before
we
get
into
their
testimony.
I
want
to
review
the
guidelines
to
ensure
a
swift,
equitable
and
productive
hearing
chairs.
A
Epson
Wonder
Ling
have
remarks
following
mine,
one
to
other
council
members
of
that
chance
to
speak,
we're
here
from
two
panels
of
subcommittee
chairs,
each
of
which
will
have
three
minutes
to
testify.
At
the
end
of
both
panels,
all
members
of
the
special
committee
will
will
have
an
opportunity
to
ask
questions,
but
for
but
the
time
for
that
is
also
limited
and
remember,
my
staff
will
be
keeping
everyone
accountable
to
their
allotted
time.
We
thank
you
in
advance
the
bonding
by
this
time
frame
so
that
everyone
has
an
equal
chance
to
be
heard.
A
Finally,
I
want
to
reiterate
my
thanks
to
everyone.
Who's
been
involved
in
this
process
for
my
co-chairs
and
fellow
council
members
to
the
business
leaders
who
have
volunteered
their
time,
expertise,
business
support
entities
like
the
sustainable
business
Network
and
a
greater
Northeast
Philadelphia
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
the
Greater
Philadelphia
Chamber
of
Commerce
for
their
participation.
C
Mr.
tri
chair,
counselor
cork,
thank
you
and
good
morning,
members
of
the
Special
Committee
on
regulatory
review
and
reform.
As
stated,
my
name
is
Harold
T,
Epps
and
I
am
the
director
of
commerce
for
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
along
with
my
colleagues,
councilman
Darius
green
and
Rob
Wunderland
of
the
Greater
Philadelphia
Chamber
of
Commerce
I've
had
the
pleasure
of
serving
as
one
of
the
chairs
of
the
special
committee
on
regulatory
review
and
reform.
I
want
to
recognize
the
council
president
for
his
leadership
in
establishing
this
important
body.
As
councilman
Green
has
just
noted.
C
To
accomplish
this,
six
sub
committees
were
formed:
childcare,
construction
and
real
estate,
food
and
hospitality,
small
businesses,
tech
and
startups
and
manufacturing.
These
subcommittees
met
monthly
and
worked
on
issues
spawning
from
repealing
outdated
regulations
to
working
or
new
legislation
to
designing
new
and
innovative
palates
to
improve
customer
service.
C
C
Excuse
me
to
eliminate
a
long-standing
complaint
from
the
business
community
related
to
the
payment
schedule
of
the
business
income
and
receipt
tax,
thereby
reducing
the
tax
burden
on
new
businesses.
We've
created
a
weekly
newsletter
to
keep
the
businesses
abreast
of
legislation
and
regulations
that
could
impact
them
a
quarterly
newsletter
to
how
they
process
improvement
in
various
city
departments
and
worked
with
Illinois
to
develop
an
over-the-counter
site
application
to
help
save
businesses,
time
and
money.
We
have
made
a
commitment
to
implementing
change
right
away
and
I
am
proud
of
what
we
have
accomplished
to
date.
C
That
being
said,
the
work
is
not
done.
Not
even
close.
One
of
the
biggest
challenges
and
opportunities
that
we
have
in
front
of
us
is
to
improve
our
business
processes
and
cross
departmental
coordination
so
that
businesses
receive
the
services
and
support
that
they
need
in
order
to
launch,
grow
and
thrive.
When
processes
are
complex,
they
favor
those
with
more
time
more
resources
and
more
money.
This
creates
an
uneven
playing
field
and
stifles
entrepreneurship.
C
We
must
continue
to
engage
the
private
sector
and
think
outside
of
the
box
about
how
we,
as
a
city,
can
innovate
to
meet
the
challenges
and
demands
of
the
21st
century
economy.
A
partnership
such
as
the
special
commission,
with
the
active
involvement
of
the
private
sector
and
two
branches
of
government
government
is
a
unique
opportunity
to
affect
important
change.
We
are
truly
grateful
to
the
business
leaders
who
are
so
Jonsey
gave
their
time
to
this
endeavor.
We
hope
we
can
continue
to
engage
you
as
advisers
to
this
important
work.
C
E
Green
and
and
to
you
and
to
Commerce
director
Epps
I,
know
I
speak
on
behalf
of
the
Chamber
of
Commerce
for
Greater
Philadelphia
and
the
city's
business
community.
We
really
do
appreciate
this
opportunity
to
work
in
good
faith,
to
create
an
engaged
and
sustained
process
to
improve
the
interrelationships
between
entrepreneurs
and
enterprises
and
employers
in
this
city
with
our
city,
government
and
I
also
want
to
echo
and
amplify
councilman
Derek
Greene's
comments
about
council
presidents,
Clark's
leadership
around
this
specific
issue.
E
I
know
it
was
Councilman,
green
and
commerce,
director
Epps
that
approached
the
council
president
about
the
establishment
of
this
commission,
and
we
found
that
to
be
a
refreshing
step
in
the
right
direction
to
create
an
ongoing
process
in
which
there
is
this
collaboration
between
the
free
enterprise
system.
That's
got
the
mantle
of
responsibility
to
grow
the
economy
of
this
city
and
the
government
that
serves
us
all.
E
I
also
want
to
really
commend
and
thank
a
number
of
key
leaders
from
our
business
community,
those
active
in
the
Chamber
of
Commerce
for
Greater
Philadelphia,
who
donated
and
committed
countless
hours
of
their
time
and
their
staff
time
and
and
have
worked
really
hard
to
get
us
to
this
point
today
and
will
continue
hopefully
to
serve
as
part
of
this
process.
They
are
Leslee
spanha
who
has
been
leading
our
child
care
subcommittee,
Michael,
Brown
and
Pamela
fly
have
co-chaired.
E
The
construction
and
real
estate
subcommittee,
saboted,
la
and
Nick
bear
have
co-chaired
the
food
and
hospitality
subcommittee,
Chet
Riddick
has
chaired
our
manufacturing
subcommittee.
Jennifer,
Rodriguez
and
Anuj
got
to
have
co-chair
the
small
business
subcommittee
and
representing
the
University
of
Pennsylvania
Lori
Ackman
has
been
representing
our
burgeoning
startup
and
tech
sector
by
chairing
the
tech
and
startup
subcommittee
I
mentioned
a
moment
ago
that
we
are
buoyed
and
working
in
good
faith
as
to
what
we've
created
over
the
past
year
and
I
want
to
just
make
a
couple
of
broad
comments.
E
Today,
the
top
of
the
fold
news
headline
for
those
that
still
hold
and
read
a
newspaper
is
that
we've
built
this
there's
this
institutional
way
to
look
at
from
a
regulatory
perspective,
from
a
statutory
prophetic
perspective
and
from
a
government
process
perspective.
Ways
in
which
this
government
can
be
more
responsive
and
sensitive
to
the
ever-changing
once
needs
and
attitudes
and
marketplaces
of
our
free
enterprise
system
and
what
we
are
hopeful
for
it.
The
chamber
of
commerce
for
Greater
Philadelphia
is
that
this
will
continue
far
too
often.
E
Those
of
us
that
are
old,
hands
and
public-service
know
that
an
extraordinary
amount
event
of
attention
and
calories
and
mindshare
and
effort
and
time
is
always
spent
on
the
effort.
The
process
to
get
somewhere
and
rarely
is
time,
spent
on
the
outcome
and
did
you
achieve
the
result
you're
hoping
to,
and
so
even
though
16
ordinances
repealed
is
I
use
the
word
to
get
modest.
It's
an
outcome.
E
It's
a
measurable
outcome
that
I
think
we've
built
this
infrastructure
in
this
process
that
will
serve
us
well
to
measure
even
more
and
dare
I,
say
bolder
opportunities
at
real
revelatory
reform.
For
this
government
time
is
not
our
friend,
capital
and
free
enterprise
now
moves
an
increasingly
faster
pace
in
a
global
marketplace,
and
so
this
interim
report
is,
as
Comus
director
F,
says,
good
work,
but
part
of
a
journey
to
follow.
Thank
you.
A
Don't
thank
you
a
co-chair,
bundling
at
this
time.
We're
gonna
call
up
our
first
panel,
which
are
the
childcare
construction,
real
estate
and
food
and
hospitality
subcommittees
if
lens
a
subpoena,
Mike,
Brown
and
Pam
fly
as
well
as
Nick,
Bay
and
st.
with
tedlar
can
come
up.
Well,
while
we
have
the
first
part
of
the
panel
with
miss
Tina
as
well
as
Mike
and
miss
fly.
F
Good
morning,
members
of
City
Council,
my
name
is
Leslie
FINA
I'm,
the
executive
director
of
kinder
Academy.
We
operate
five
high
quality
program
centers
in
Northeast
Philadelphia,
that's
500
families
I
serve
as
the
co-chair
for
the
child
care
subcommittee,
reporting
to
the
special
committee
on
regulatory
review
and
reform.
F
Every
member
of
the
subcommittee
was
committed
to
this
work,
presenting
to
and
collecting
feedback
from
over
200
providers
from
every
corner
of
this
great
city.
Our
recommendations,
as
contained
in
the
report,
focus
on
creating
a
clear
path
to
open
and
operate
child
care
programs.
The
most
important
among
these
is
the
creation
of
a
child
care
license
comparable
to
the
family
daycare
license,
which
would
create
more
clarity
for
childcare
center
operators
and
improve
compliance
with
important
health
and
safety
regulations.
F
The
current
system
of
following
the
same
regulations
designed
for
the
rent
restaurant
industry
creates
confusion
for
everyone,
including
health
inspectors.
We
also
meet
recommendations
that
focus
on
clarifying
and
adopting
congruent
language
across
agencies
and
improving
communication
from
regulatory
agencies
to
child
care
professionals,
to
keep
them
informed
of
important
updates
and
health
issues.
There
are
many
opportunities
to
streamline
the
process
of
doing
business
and
continuing
to
be
competitive
in
Philadelphia.
F
We
hope
our
work
leads
to
continued
improvement
and
access
to
operating
small
business,
as
well
as
expansion
of
high
quality
childcare
centers
for
family
to
cheat
families
to
choose
from
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
In
closing,
I'd
like
to
thank
everyone
who
participated
in
this
process,
including
the
department
of
car,
the
Health,
Department
L&I
and
members
of
City
Council
I
would
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
may
have
for
me
at
the
end
of
this
panel.
Thank
you
very
much.
G
Good
morning,
members
of
the
Special
Committee
on
regulatory
review
and
reform,
my
name
is
Michael
Brown
I'm,
the
chairman
and
CEO
of
environmental
construction
services
and
Managing
Partner
of
360
Nexus
I
serve
with
Pamela
fly
as
the
co-chair
of
the
construction
and
real
estate
subcommittee.
This
morning,
I
would
like
to
highlight
a
few
accomplishments
of
the
subcommittee
and
some
of
our
future
goals.
Our
subcommittee
main
focus
was
real
estate.
Sorry,
the
main
focus
of
the
real
estate
subcommittee
was
to
identify
ways
to
improve
the
regulatory
process
around
the
construction
and
real
estate
industries
in
Philadelphia.
G
Our
group
was
comprised
of
representatives
from
real
estate
development
contractors,
educational
institutions
and
building
and
contractor
associations.
Our
subcommittee
created
and
distributed
surveys
to
several
Philadelphia
area
trade
groups,
including
the
building
industry,
association,
homeowners,
association
of
Philadelphia,
the
development
workshop,
mechanical
Contractors,
Association
and
others
in
order
to
identify
the
most
significant
regulatory
challenges
facing
the
development
community.
Today,
the
feedback
we
received
on
the
surveys
helped
us
to
drive
our
recommendations
to
the
special
committee
early
on
our
subcommittee
identified
issues
with
both
the
approval
process
for
domestic
water
service
and
the
local
plumbing
code.
G
As
key
areas
in
need
of
improvement
working
with
the
water
department,
we
helped
to
identify
and
encourage
improvements
in
the
permitting
process
for
domestic
water
service.
That
will
help
to
streamline
the
entire
development
process
and
make
Philadelphia
a
better
place
to
do
business.
As
stated
in
the
report,
our
subcommittee
has
also
been
proactive
in
the
replacement
of
the
current
plumbing
code
with
a
new
plumbing
code
that
is
more
consistent
with
the
international
plumbing
code
in
an
effort
to
make
the
city
more
business-friendly
and
easier
for
development.
G
A
code
that
is
understandable
to
design
professionals
outside
of
the
city,
while
receiving
valuable
input
from
our
local
trades
allows
for
greater
investment
in
Philadelphia.
Furthermore,
design
professionals
will
have
the
option
of
designing
for
codes
that
are
standard
across
the
country,
while
taking
into
consideration
things
that
are
unique
to
our
city.
A
member
of
our
regulatory
reform
committee,
we're
proud
to
say,
has
been
on
the
plumbing
advisory
board
and
has
been
active
in
its
rewrite.
G
However,
there
is
still
more
work
to
be
done
to
make
the
proposed
changes
to
the
plumbing
code
a
reality
as
well
as
to
implement
the
additional
changes
needed
to
improve
the
regulatory
environment
for
the
construction
and
real
estate
industries
in
Philadelphia.
We
hope
to
continue
to
collect
those
ideas
through
our
members
and
through
an
outreach
to
the
entire
community,
including
our
you
know,
citizens
other
contracting
associations
and
people
that
are
affected
by
these
codes
to
facilitate
changes
that
make
development
and
construction
Philadelphia
easier,
ultimately
driving
for
a
more
vibrant
and
flourishing
city.
A
H
Good
morning,
good
morning,
members
of
the
Special
Committee
on
regulatory
review
and
reform,
my
name
is
Nick
Bayer
I'm,
the
founder
and
CEO
of
sac
news,
coffee
and
I
am
joined
by
Saba
table
the
owner
of
Booker's
and
oxen
two
fantastic
restaurants.
Here
in
Philadelphia
together,
we
served
as
the
co-chairs
of
food
and
hospitality
subcommittee
this
morning,
we'd
like
to
highlight
a
few
accomplishments
of
the
subcommittee
and
as
well
as
some
future
goals.
H
The
main
focus
of
the
food
and
hospitality
subcommittee
was
to
bring
together
a
diverse
group
of
food
business
owners
to
identify
and
address
some
of
the
main
challenges
we
face
face,
whether
opening
it
first
food
business
in
Philadelphia
are
trying
to
grow
and
expand
here
in
the
city.
Members
of
our
subcommittee
included:
restaurants,
franchisees
food
truck
owner
operators
and
food
business
consultants.
One
of
the
main
accomplishments
of
this
group
was
partnering
with
commerce,
Philly,
3-1-1
health
and
L&I
to
launch
a
food
business
process,
improvement
pilot
which
is
set
to
kick
off
this
month.
H
The
pilot
will
use
a
customer
relationship
management
tool
to
guide
new
food
businesses
through
the
process
of
opening
a
new
food
business
by
streamlining
communication
and
decreasing
wait
times.
We
hope
that
the
pilot
is
just
the
beginning
of
an
overall
shift
and
how
food
businesses
interact
with
the
city.
We
know
that
opening
a
new
food
business
in
the
city
can
take
more
than
a
year
and
at
the
cost
of
expediting
paperwork
can
cost
a
new
business
thousands
of
dollars
before
it
even
opens
its
doors.
H
We've
recommended
simplifying
some
of
the
most
difficult
processes,
such
as
signage
and
sidewalk
cafes,
by
creating
by
right,
permitting
based
on
clear
and
consistent
guidelines
set
forth
by
the
departments.
As
we
all
know,
Philadelphia
is
the
birthplace
of
American
entrepreneurship,
and
that
is
best
seen
and
for
most
of
us
enjoyed
in
our
food
and
beverage
hospitality
industries
in
closing
we'd
like
to
thank
everyone
from
both
the
public
and
private
sectors
who
came
together
to
begin
addressing
these
issues.
H
Councilman
green.
We
really
appreciate
you
putting
together
such
a
great
group
of
people
with
with
Commerce
director
apps
and
with
Rob
wandeling.
It's
been
fantastic
to
be
able
to
work
with
silk,
Sylvian
Libby
from
commerce
and
everybody
from
LMI
and
health
and
Philly
3-1-1
really
came
together.
It
was,
it
was
really
impressive
from
a
business
owner
perspective
to
see
the
city
lean
in
and
really
want
to
do.
Something
about
this
are
our
food
beverage
and
hospitality
sector
is
so
critically
important
to
the
city
and
I.
Really.
Thank
you
so
much
for
for
putting
this
together.
I
A
I
A
I
know
we're
looking
at
using
some
of
the
CRM
software
that
I
think
was
initially
identified,
that
we
had
some
extra
licenses
apart
of
301
process,
so
as
you're
tracking
that
timeline.
Are
you
also
looking
at
how
the
serum
software
could
help
reduce
the
time
period
between
one
step
to
the
next,
especially
represent
communication
between
departments?
Indeed,.
H
A
I
think
that's
a
real
key
point:
the
opportunity
for
communication,
because
from
the
business
perspective,
there
are
certain
things
the
issues
having
a
challenges
going
forward
and
the
Sue
Department
may
not
have
the
full
perspective
context
of
those
challenges,
especially
because,
when
my
perspective
time
is
money.
It
also
on
the
other
side,
having
the
business
owner
to
see
some
of
the
challenges
that
some
of
the
administration's
have
any
reference
to
communicating
between
Department.
There's
other
challenge
that
they're
having
so
I.
A
E
The
city
of
Philadelphia
I
think
one
things
we
ought
to
examine
in
the
pilot
is
compare
that
against
say:
King
of
Prussia
and
Cherry
Hill
by
example,
and
then
Boston
and
Austin
in
Washington,
DC
by
example,
so
that
we
can
determine
whether
or
not
this
work
on
process
actually
puts
us
in
a
better
position
to
be
competitive,
with
municipalities
close
by
in
cities
that
we
compete
with
all
the
time
for
capital.
Thank
you.
C
So
I
have
a
daughter,
really
reiterate
that,
because
to
cover
us,
what
we
see
live
me
on
a
weekly
basis
is
institutions
that
are
in
the
food
and
beverage
making
choices
around
literally
where
in
the
world
they
won't
open
up
their
next
venue,
and
so
as
we
do,
this
work,
it's
important
that
we
have
the
best-in-class
data
and
will
depend
upon
you
to
help
with
got
us
there.
My
question
is
back
to
mr.
Brown,
and
that
is
the
plumbing
code,
which
I
know
just
enough
about
to
be
dangerous.
G
So
I
think
one
of
the
the
biggest
things
with
the
plumbing
code
is
that
we
have
to
have
a
collaborative
process
in
identifying
what's
best
the
best
steps
forward.
When
we
conducted
our
initial
surveys,
the
purpose
was
to
bring
in
contractors,
associations,
developer
associations,
local
people
in
the
design
professional
community
to
ensure
that
we
take
into
consideration
everything
that's
happening
with
new
advances
in
plumbing
Philadelphia
is
a
city
with
an
old
infrastructure
we're
a
little
different
than
we
are.
G
Then
a
new
city
that's
coming
out
of
the
ground,
so
you
have
to
take
into
consideration
what's
already
existing
inside
of
Philadelphia,
but
that
does
not
mean
to
throw
away
what
the
new
advances
in
plumbing
are.
The
importance
is
to
have
a
standardized
code
that
allows
us
to
quickly
get
things
through
the
permitting
process
without
any
ambiguity.
C
So
as
I
understand
it-
and
this
is
really
coming
from
my
stellar
first
deputy
Sylva
gay
Gary
Howard-
is
part
of
the
next
step
is
for
each
committee
to
have
three
to
five
very
clear
steps
that
are
going
to
be
taken
for
further
simplification.
That
will
get
us
outcomes
as
CEO.
Wonder,
let's
talk
about
is
to
all
three
committees.
Do
you
feel
like
you're
at
that
point,
to
help
us
with
definitive,
clear
next
steps
that
we
need
to
take
over
the
next
nine
months,
I'm
units
like
a
school
year?
C
G
I'll
speak
for
real
estate
and
construction.
Only
I
believe
that
we
completed
task
number
one.
Now
we
have
to
reboot
and
recharge
for
task
number
two:
have
we
begun
that
process?
Yet
no,
we
just
finished
finalized
task,
one
of
getting
our
survey
out
getting
input.
Now.
What
we're
hoping
is
that
we
get
direction
from
special
committee
to
establish
the
steps
going
forward
to
further
our
task
and.
F
C
F
I
think,
as
we
looked
at
the
challenges
that
face
this,
the
field
in
general,
there
we
went
from
a
very
broad
perspective
down
to
pinpointing
some
action
items
that
we
can
move
forward.
That
makes
sense
to
do
and
are
the
first
steps
in
making
it
more
streamlined
to
open
a
business
and
to
be
compliant
with
all
the
regulatory
guidelines
that
are
required
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and.
H
Yeah
I
think
there's
there's
great
confidence
in
that
I
mean
I.
Think
the
CRM
is
gonna,
be
a
huge
help
and
I
think
that
it's
it's
really
encouraging
to
know
that
we're
all
pulling
in
the
same
direction,
whether
we're
from
the
private
sector,
the
public
sector,
we're
pulling
in
the
same
direction
and
that
we're
going
to
allow
the
velocity
needed
to
be
able
to
make
a
decision
to
open
a
food
or
beverage
or
hospitality
establishment
and
be
able
to
bring
it
to
life.
H
J
Thank
You
mr.
chair
and
I
want
to
congratulate
and
commend
you
and
your
efforts
and
your
co-chairs
for
really
shepherding
the
committee
and
the
business
reform.
You
know
I
find
it
as
a
district
council
person
I
have
to
it's
a
little
more,
even
though
the
issues
are
macro.
You
know
across
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
climate,
with
business,
businesses,
attraction
and
retention
and
streamlining
a
lot
of
of
the
processes
and
governance,
and
it's
you
know
startups
and
how
they,
the
departments,
can
really
leverage
private
and
public
sectors
together.
J
To
ensure
that
you
know,
businesses
really
get
online
quick
and
offer
the
products
and
services
that
you
know
is
needed
here
in
the
city,
so
I
get
to
see
that
a
little
more
firsthand,
but
what
I
haven't
seen
lately
up
until
you
know
this
committee
and
some
recent
attempts
is
a
collaborative
effort.
It
really
you
know,
reaching
out
to
the
stakeholders
and
the
businesses
themselves
and
asking
them
alright.
What
are
your
obstacles
or
would
or
your
real
issues
and
delays?
J
What's
weighing
you
down
and
being
a
part
of
the
committee
in
you
know,
in
a
smaller
part,
not
as
a
co-chair,
you
know
I
come.
We
were
able
to
streamline
some
of
your
early
recommendations
on
with
some
of
the
smaller
restaurants
or
commercial
corners
and
I
think
you
know,
with
small
business
being
a
large
part
of
our
communities
and
making
sure
that
a
vacant
property
we're
building
on
a
commercial
corridor.
That's
really
kind
of
the
the
face
of
our
community
where
we're
really
trying
to
promote
and
attract.
J
You
know
what
the
city
is
all
about,
and
it's
many
a
multitude
of
levels
and
facets.
You
know
we
shouldn't
have
a
wait
time
four
years,
so
you
know
making
sure
that
you
know
in
our
commercial
court
is
all
giving
example.
With
your
recommendation.
You
know
we
have
by
right
opportunities
for
small
business
entrepreneurs
and
restaurants
to
you
know,
have
outside
seating
during
a
particular
time
in
a
year
limited
to
space
and
meeting
the
requirements
by
the
Department
of
L
and
I
and
and
Health
Department.
J
J
You
know
with
some
of
the
programs
that
the
Commerce
Department
has
you
know
with
our
storefront
improvement
programs
or
safe,
can
programs
and
some
of
the
other
incentives
that
encourages
you
know
some
of
the
business
to
open
up
where
I
think
it's
it's
gonna,
be
walkable,
presentable
and
sustainable
and
and
I.
Think
that
really
you
know
personifies,
you
know
what
we're
all
about
and
we're
trying
to
accomplish.
J
You
know
for
the
positive
and
really
reaching
out
and
bringing
those
who
are
the
end
users,
the
startups,
the
you
know,
the
risk
takers,
the
you
know,
passionate
neighborhood
people
who
want
to
start
up
a
business
and
educate
our
kids
and
and
offer
some
sort
of
product
know
that
that
we
hear
you
and
and
and
I
think
we're
I
think
we're
on
the
right
path.
Counsel
into
passes
too
often
changed
the
rules.
J
One
is
an
indicator
on
where
we're
headed
with
with
this
committee,
so
I
just
really
want
to
take
the
opportunity
to
thank
you
all
for
allowing
me
to
be
a
part
of
it.
You
know,
council,
president
Sall
and
need
for
creating
a
special
committee
on
small
business
and
a
business
reform
and
I
think
it's
really
proven
itself
successful
in
a
short
period
of
time,
so
glad
to
be
a
part
of
the
process,
and
you
know
look
forward
to
continuing
to
see
this.
J
A
K
Mr.
chairman,
thank
you
very
very
much
and
also
to
reiterate
what
my
colleague,
councilman
Heenan,
has
said.
I
I
thank
all
participants,
particularly
the
co-chairs
as
well,
and
also
the
leadership
of
our
president
of
City,
Council,
Darrell,
Clarke
and
also
the
mayor
of
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
because
without
their
buy-in,
none
of
this
will
get
done
and
I
think
we
have
great
opportunity
and
people
have
already
spent
hours
and
hours.
I
actually
do
have
a
question.
If
I
may
I
could
ask
mr.
K
H
K
K
Ted
Alisa,
thank
you
and
one
last
question
in
just
if
you
have
an
understanding
and
then
this
is
a
different
than
a
council
hearing,
of
course,
with
larger
cities.
Where
do
you
think
we
are
now
without
a
pilot?
I
mean
how
is
a
comparative
to
Boston
or
even
New
York.
As
far
as
timing
to
open
a
restaurant,
with
your
knowledge.
I
Have
friends
who
do
own
restaurants
there
and
also
Virginia
from
my
perspective,
I
think
like
Virginia,
is
probably
more
streamlined
than
Washington
DC,
but
I
mean
I,
can't
really
compare
it
to
like
Boston,
but
in
DC,
for
example,
the
Health
Department
is
probably
more
efficient
than
their
L&I,
whereas
here
I
feel
like
Ellen
is
more
efficient
than
the
Health
Department.
That
is
one
of
the
experience
that
I've
experienced
as
a
restaurant
owner
I
feel
like
the
Health.
I
Department
is
a
little
outdated
in
terms
of
their
processes,
as
well
as
the
documentation
of
what
you
have
to
submit
it.
Contour
like
Ellen
I,
will
have
a
structure
process
and
what
you
have
to
do
from
the
plumbing
requirement.
But
then
Health
Department
has
something
totally
different
than
what
L&I
requires.
So.
L
C
I
H
No,
not
at
all
I,
just
just
add,
I
totally
agree
with
what
Thomas
said
so
we're
fortunate
to
have
rest
cafes
in
DC,
getting
ready
to
open
in
Pittsburgh
and
one
of
our
subcommittee
members
is
Justin.
Rosenberg,
the
founder
of
Honey
Grove,
basing
or
flat
Alfia
and
they've
opened
quite
a
bit
into
your
New
York,
believe
it
or
not,
is
actually
a
much
more
expeditious
process
and
okay
thought.
I
H
Think
that's
one
of
the
critical
components
here
is
that
our
process
is
slow
and
obviously
time
is
costing
us
money.
I
think
that
there
are
some
technological
challenges
which
I
think
the
CRM
is
going
to
help
quite
a
bit,
because
you
know
hearing
L&I
and
health
talk
sure
they
want
to
help
us,
but
there's
a
lot
of
technological
challenges
that
are
holding
them
back
and
I
think
that
New
York
DC
what
we're
seeing
in
Pittsburgh
they've
made
some
investments
there
that
have
allowed
for
that
process
to
go
faster,
and
hopefully
this.
K
C
H
A
One
last
question:
I
have
before
we
go
to
the
next
panel.
If
I
can
miss
Mina
come
back
up
as
well,
I
missed
mr.
Lee,
you
could
actually
actually
Rebecca
I,
miss
Tina
and
mr.
Brown
to
come
back
to
the
panel.
As
you
were,
listening
to
the
pilot
for
food
and
hospitality
from
your
industry
from
childcare
and
construction
of
real
estate,
do
you
see
the
benefit
of
a
similar
type
of
CRM
type
of
technology
being
used
in
a
pilot
perspective
in
your
industries
and
how
that
be
helpful?
A
F
I
think
we
could
benefit
vastly
from
you
know,
taking
some
samples
of
how
long
it
takes
part
of
the
issue.
The
big
part
of
the
issue
is
the
confusion
that
someone
new
to
the
industry
does
not
know
what
they
need.
So
they,
if
we
had
a
checklist,
which
is
what
we'd
like
to
accomplish
with
doing
a
childcare
license,
they
would
know
that
they
need
approval
from
in
the
fire
department.
F
Oh,
you
need
something
else
before
I
can
let
you
proceed
so
there
is
a
vast
amount
of
wasted
time
and
a
very
high
level
of
frustration,
because
it's
unclear
the
order
of
what
has
to
happen
and
and
who
these
things
go
to
and
whether
you
can
do
them
yourself
or
you
need
an
attorney
to
do
them,
and
we
frequently
heard
when
we
were
interviewing
and
and
I
said
we
we
spoke
to
over
200
people
across
the
city.
It's
always
they
said
and
and
I
don't
know
who
they
is,
and
nobody
else
does
either.
F
So
if
we,
if
we
could
put
vais
on
a
piece
of
paper
and
say
here's
what
they
said
you
need
to
do,
then
we
would
really
eliminate
the
time
I
have
seen
people
take
up
to
a
year
trying
to
get
a
childcare
center
open.
If
you
need
zoning,
that's
a
whole
nother
issue.
We
obviously
that's
not
on
the
table
today,
but
if
having
efficiencies
in
place,
will
allow
people
to
do
the
right
thing,
the
first
time
and
not
try
to
get
around
the
challenges.
G
And
I,
second,
that
from
the
construction
industry,
so
one
of
the
things
that
came
out
of
our
survey,
how
do
you
do
business
in
Philadelphia?
It's
standardized,
it's
our
standard
procedure
for
everything
that
you
do
or
do
you
find
that
the
way
you
get
things
done
is
by
going
through
some
circuitous
route?
G
You
know
that
you
know
we
won't
say
you
know
what
what
the
exact
was
you
know
secured
us
routes
are,
but
people
don't
understand
how
to
get
things
through
through
certain
departments.
Well,
and
it's
not
standard.
This
is
going
to
sound,
really
dumb,
but
you
know
in
the
interest
of
keep
it
simple.
Stupid
I
mean
when
you
go
to
get
your
pizza,
it's
real,
simple!
You
go
online.
You
order
your
pizza,
it's
like!
Oh,
your
pizza's
here
this.
G
G
We
said
you
know
key
performance
indicators
and
we
try
to
get
better
and
faster
and
not
have
side
doors
on
how
to
get
things
through
for
some
people
and
other
people
have
to
go
the
circuitous
route
and
you're
going
to
get
to
that
through
technology,
and
we
could
set
up
a
pilot
program
and
we
could
take
a
couple
of
buildings
or
a
couple
of
developers,
a
couple
of
projects
and
see
how
we
can
track
how
they're
getting
through
the
different.
You
know,
agencies
and
then
from
there.
F
This
isn't
finger-pointing
it's
about
having
a
lack
of
understanding,
because
for
me,
if
you
need
to
know
what
milestones
are
for
a
two-year-old,
I
can
tell
you
if
you
need
information
about
the
plumbing
code.
I
can't
tell
you
so
I
rely
on
someone,
that'll
and
I
to
give
me
good
information,
so
I
I
think
that
we're
all
looking
to
make
sure
that
we're
doing
the
right
thing
and
we
have
a
path
to
the
end
goal
and
having
everything
checked
off
and
complete,
especially
when
it
comes
to
the
health
and
safety
of
children
and.
G
As
a
plumbing
contractor,
I,
don't
even
know
when
okay
but
the,
but
you
know
everything
has
to
be
expedited.
The
only
way
we
get
clarity
is
if
I
expedite
a
plumbing
license.
I
know
that
then
I'm
gonna
get
it
in
time.
If
you
do
not
expedite
a
plumbing
license,
you
have
no
idea
when
you're
gonna
get
a
plumbing
license,
so
you
have
to
pay
for
expedited
and.
G
Mean
it
costs
you
$250,
it
could
cost
you
and
it
depends,
but
you
got
to
understand
like
for
us,
let's
say
we're
doing:
multifamily
housing
or
we're
doing
a
series
of
houses
and
we
have
a
thousand
construction
projects
and
you
have
to
pay
an
expediting
fee
for
each
individual
one.
If
each
one
is
under
a
different,
you
know
inspection
it.
So
it
gets
cost
prohibitive.
You
know,
but
you
shouldn't
have
to
do
that.
I
shouldn't
have
to
expedite
everything
that
I
go
through
just
to
get
a
date.
G
D
A
M
You
like
me
to
go
first
well.
Thank
you
very
much
good
morning,
members
of
the
Special
Committee
on
regulatory
review
and
reform.
My
name
is
Chet
Riddick
I'm,
the
president
CEO
of
Alpha
Enterprise
Group
I,
served
as
the
chair
of
the
manufacturing
committee.
This
morning,
I
would
like
to
highlight
a
few
of
the
accomplishments
of
this
committee
and
some
future
goals.
The
main
focus
of
our
subcommittee
was
to
identify
repertory
impediments
to
attract
retention
and
growth
of
manufacturing
businesses
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
M
Our
group
was
comprised
of
companies
such
as
rose
industry,
the
large
amount
of
the
large
metal
fabricator
at
the
Navy
Yard
North
East
fence
company,
a
small
family-owned
business
manufacturer
in
Northeast
Philadelphia
and
Petey
Baylor,
a
midsize
manufacturer
of
recycling
equipment
in
Port
Richmond,
the
greater
North
East
Chamber
of
Commerce,
a
non-profit
member
included.
Many
of
the
manufacturers
in
the
North
East
also
participated
in
hosted
one
of
the
committee's
guest
speakers
for
several
of
their
industrial
members.
M
Working
working
with
the
committee
working
with
the
Commerce
Department
P,
IDC
and
council
maintenance
office.
We
identified
a
number
of
conditions
negly
affecting
manufacturing.
We
first
discussed
general
issues
affecting
all
businesses
in
Philadelphia
taxes,
shortage
of
skilled
workers,
competition
from
States
and
countries
with
dramatically
low
labor
costs,
access
to
capital
and
public
financial
incentives
and
the
difficulty
of
dealing
with
city
bureaucracy.
And,
as
you
heard
from
other
committees
here
today,
they
talked
about
how
to
get
things
through
the
process
and
how
to
get
things
through
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
M
We
recommend
that
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
the
Zoning
Board
of
Adjustment
resists
request
of
developers
to
rezone
or
grant
variances
for
residential
and
commercial
conversion
of
industrial
zoned
real
estate.
This
will
preserve
existing
supply
and
enable
manufacturing
companies
to
compete
on
price
when
looking
for
land
and
buildings
for
their
companies.
As
stated
in
the
report,
our
subcommittee
has
proposed
developing
a
formal
coordination
process
with
the
Commerce
Department,
the
City
Planning
Commission
City
Council
and
the
Zoning
Board
of
Adjustment
and
the
manufacturing
committee
to
oppose
the
residential
and
commercial
conversion
of
industrial
land
and
buildings.
M
In
conclusion,
I
would
like
to
stress
that
the
regulatory
committee
and
reform
should
be
an
ongoing
process
to
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
to
the
public
and
private
leadership's
I
would
like
to
thank
the
City
Council
I
like
to
say
the
city
Commerce
Department
Herald
EPS
I
would
like
to
thank
you,
councilman
at-large
Derek
green
I,
like
to
thank
you
wandering
for
creating
this
commission
and
providing
the
opportunity
for
me
to
testify.
Today.
I
am
happy
to
answer
any
questions
that
you
may
have.
N
Good
morning,
members
of
the
Special
Committee
on
regulatory
review
and
reform,
my
name
is
Lori
act.
Man,
I'm
the
chief
marketing
communications
and
program
officer
at
the
Penn
center
for
innovation
for
the
past
18
months,
I've
also
served
as
the
chair
of
the
tech
startup
in
life
sciences
subcommittee.
This
morning,
I'd
like
to
share
a
few
priorities
of
this
subcommittee
and
some
recommendations
we've
made
for
our
ongoing
work
and
also
thank
you
for
being
convening
this
committee
and
forming
the
subcommittee.
It's
been
amazing
to
be
part
of
it.
N
First
I'd
like
to
highlight
that
Philadelphia
is
becoming
a
more
attractive
city
for
the
tech,
startup
and
life
sciences
community.
By
the
day,
recent
new
developments
and
investments
by
some
of
our
leading
educational
institutions,
corporations
and
nonprofits
have
transformed
the
environment
for
growing
emerging
companies
by
providing
infrastructure,
resources
and
investment.
N
Some
representative
examples
include
Penn's
retrofit
of
an
old
DuPont
paint
manufacturing
site
into
the
Penn
evasion,
Center
an
incubator
and
co-working
space
for
tech,
life,
science
and
robotics
companies,
Penn's
new
partnership
with
Johnson
&
Johnson
innovation,
which
is
establishing
a
j-pod
or
presence
at
the
Penn
evasion
Center
to
support
and
connect
with
the
life
sciences,
innovation
and
startup
community
in
Philadelphia,
drexels
launch
of
an
incubator,
an
Innovation
Center
at
3401,
Market
Street,
the
Science
Center's
expansion,
and
soon
to
open
innovation.
Space
managed
by
the
Cambridge
Innovation
Center.
N
The
launch
of
Comcast's
lift
labs
in
their
new
second
tower
in
Center
City,
the
launch
of
the
Vanguard
Innovation
Center
in
Center
City,
the
growth
and
expansion
of
Philly,
Tech
Week
organized
by
technically
Philly,
and
the
growth
and
expansion
of
the
amplify
Philly
effort
at
South
by
Southwest
managed
by
Philly
start-up
leaders.
The
members
of
her
subcommittee
are
excited
to
continue
to
grow
and
strengthen
strengthen
this
ecosystem
here
in
our
hometown
and
are
passionate
about
promoting
diversity
and
inclusion
in
our
industries.
N
One
of
the
main
accomplishments
of
this
subcommittee
was
working
with
the
administration
and
councilman
Tobin
Berger
to
address
the
payment
structure
for
the
business
income
receipts
tax,
which
requires
a
business
to
make
an
annual
estimated
payment
based
on
revenue.
They
have
not
yet
earned.
This
hits
new
businesses
with
limited
cash
flow,
particularly
hard
for
the
past
several
months,
but
their
subcommittee
and
the
Small
Business
subcommittee
helped
convene
roundtables
and
gathered
feedback
from
our
networks
to
help
the
city
modify
the
payment
structure
in
a
way
that
helps
businesses
without
hurting
the
city's
budget.
N
I'd
also
like
to
commend
the
revenue
commissioner
Frank
Breslin
and
the
first
deputy
revenue
commissioner
Marisa
Waxman
for
working
closely
with
us
and
being
very
encouraging
and
transparent
about
alternatives
and
actually
the
impacts
us
would
have
for
the
city
and
the
businesses
that
they
have
to
engage
with.
We
believe
this
kind
of
communication
between
the
public
and
private
sector
is
essential
to
creating
the
type
of
environment
that
fosters
innovation
and
entrepreneurship.
We
know
that
Philadelphia
can
become
a
global
leader
in
technology
and
life
sciences.
N
We
also
know
that
we
have
the
human
capital
here
in
our
city
to
feel
this
innovation
and
we
look
forward
to
the
ongoing
work
of
growing
and
diversifying
the
talent
pipeline
in
our
industries.
I
think
the
outcome
of
this
legislation,
which
maybe
the
councilman
wants
to
talk
more
about,
could
be
a
great
win
for
this
effort.
Our
subcommittee,
the
full
committee,
the
city
and
the
community
of
stakeholders,
we've
convened
so
I'm
really
excited
about
that,
and
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
today
and
I'm
also
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
Thanks.
A
D
Good
morning
members,
the
Special
Committee
on
regulatory
review
and
reform,
my
name
is
anushka
pita
and
I'm
general
manager
of
the
Reading
Terminal
Market
I
served
as
chair
of
the
small
business
subcommittee,
along
with
my
colleague
and
friend
Jennifer
Rodriguez.
This
morning,
I
would
like
to
highlight
a
few
accomplishments
of
this
subcommittee
and
some
future
goals
before
I.
Do
that
do
just
want
to
thank
a
couple
of
people,
including
councilman,
Tom
Berger
and
his
staff,
who
have
been
incredibly
committed
and
engaged
throughout
the
entire
process
and
two
gentlemen
sitting
in
the
back.
D
There,
Darrell
Davis
from
the
chamber
of
commerce
and
Jonathan
Schneider
from
the
Department
of
Commerce,
who
provided
invaluable
staff,
support
throughout
this
process
and
kept
us
in
line
and
forward
moving.
The
small
business
subcommittee
represented
a
diverse
group
of
business
owners,
coalitions
and
chambers
coming
together
to
provide
insight
about
the
city's
website
and
online
forms,
licensing
processes,
burdens
related
to
tax
policy.
D
In
the
city's
dumpster
medallion
system,
the
small
biz
subcommittee
was
committed
to
improving
the
regulatory
process
for
local
businesses
across
commercial
corridors
and
helping
them
understand
how
to
better
interact
with
city
government
through
continued
collaboration
with
councilman
Tom
Berger,
the
Department
of
Commerce
Department
of
Revenue
and
the
life
sciences
and
startup
subcommittee.
We
were
able
to
start
a
discussion
on
allowing
first-year
businesses
to
pay
their
second
year,
be
irt
liability
and
quarterly
installments.
It's
no
secret
Philadelphia
has
a
fairly
complex
tax
code,
one
that
often
places
unique
burdens
on
unique
new
and
existing
businesses.
D
Here
in
the
city.
Simplifying
the
tax
compliance
burden
for
new
businesses
will
do
more
to
grow
our
local
economy
and
create
jobs.
I'm,
confident
legislation
will
be
passed
in
the
near
future
to
make
it
easier
for
new
businesses
to
operate.
The
small
business
subcommittee
was
also
able
to
convene
meetings
with
the
Department
of
licenses
and
inspections
to
discuss
recommendations
for
repealing
regulations
for
unused
licenses
and
permits
further
cleaning
up
the
Philadelphia
code
from
archaic
legislation.
D
Our
subcommittee
also
met
with
the
health
to
to
discuss
ways
to
improve
education,
so
businesses
can
learn
how
to
comply
with
Health
Department
regs
and
not
receive
violations
that
can
be
disruptive
to
a
business
operation.
We
also
discussed
the
need
for
improved
signage
regulations
that
provide
for
a
simpler
and
less
subjective
process
that
is
not
incredibly
onerous
as
it
currently
is.
However,
there
is
still
work
to
do.
As
stated
in
the
report.
L
Good
morning
my
name
is
Jennifer
Rodriguez
I'm,
the
president
and
CEO
of
the
Philadelphia
Hispanic
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
I
am
here
today
pleased
to
have
been
have
worked
in
collaboration
with
a
newish
for
the
last
year
and
a
lot
of
the
effort
that
we
collectively
this
group
has
put
forward
and
an
important
document
that
has
been
issued.
I
will,
however,
say
that
I
am
rather
disappointed
that
the
only
council
person
in
this
room
is
councilman.
L
Donna,
Berger
I
thought
that
we
would
have
an
opportunity
to
really
have
a
dialogue
with
a
broader
community
and
and
council
in
general.
So
I
think
it
should
be
noted
that
when
the
business
community
shows
up
in
City
Council,
we
would
like
our
council
representatives
to
join
us
in
a
conversation.
I'll
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
Of
course.
A
I
guess
one
question:
I
would
like
to
ask
us
so
much.
The
question
I
asked
the
last
panel
in
reference
to
the
pilot
that
was
discussed
in
reference
of
food
hospitality
from
the
perspective
of
small
businesses
and
technology
manufacturing.
Can
you
vision
a
pilot
that
would
also
be
helpful
for
those
areas
and
also
what
departments
that
you
would
think.
M
One
of
the
things
that
we
focused
on
in
our
committee
was
looking
at
the
process.
That's
in
place
in
terms
of
how,
when
businesses
come
into
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
what
is
their
first
point
of
contact?
How
do
they
get
information
on
opportunities
areas
where
they
can
do
business
here
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
and
what
we
found
is
that
the
website
was
the
first
place
that
people
were
driven
to
and
that
the
website
was
not
informative
enough.
They
actually
give
a
footprint
of
where
to
go.
M
How
to
who
to
talk
to
and
what
you
needed
to
do
to
be
able
to
come
into
the
city
Philadelphia
end
and
do
work
we
did
on
so
under
student.
We
did
understand
that
the
Department
of
Commerce
does
have
an
a
representatives
in
its
department
that
they
can
people
can
go
to,
but
there's
just
no
direction
to
tell
people
that's
one
of
the
places
they
can
go
first
to
do
business.
C
A
C
Coming
from
the
private
sector
completely
agree
with
you,
but
I
think
in
response
to
that
there
has
been
the
first
round
of
many
series
of
enhancements
to
the
website.
I
would
ask
Lauren
Cox
to
come
forward
and
provide
some
additional
updates
on
where
we
are
in
response
to
that,
because
we
have
heard
it
and
some
improvement
has
been
made
and
again
war
to
come.
But
since
I'm
not
the
expert
and
she
is
I'll,
let
her
speak.
O
O
And
sort
of
organize
things
in
the
way
that
we
felt
people
were
trying
to
use
it.
The
great
thing
about
this
new
platform
is
that
we
in
the
department
have
a
lot
more
control
over
it.
So
we've
heard
some
of
the
feedback
from
your
committee
and
obviously,
as
we
continue
to
get
that
feedback,
we'll
make
additional
changes.
If
you
know
you
guys
tell
us,
we
still
have
no
idea
where
to
find
the
incentives.
Okay,
let's
try
to
move
it
around.
O
Let's
package,
it
a
little
different
move
it
up
in
terms
of
where
it
appears
on
the
website,
so
we
are
in
the
first
phase
of
that.
We
just
switched
it
over
a
little
earlier
in
August
and
we'll
be
continuing
to
make
those
updates.
Some
of
the
related
departments
have
not
gone
through
that
change.
Yet
so
revenue
went
through
that.
Similarly,
about
six
months
ago,
L&I
has
not
gone
through
it.
Yet
planning
has
not
gone
through
it.
O
Yet
health
is
a
little
more
complicated,
but
eventually
they
will
all
be
on
the
same
platform
and
everything
will
be
able
to
move
a
lot
smoother.
So
Commerce
is
making
sure
that
we
are
in
the
room
when
those
other
departments
are
going
through.
The
change
that
way
we
can
help
represent
the
business
community,
make
sure
that
things
are
moving.
The
way
that
we've
heard
that
you
would
like
them
to
and
they're
organized
in
a
way
that
makes
a
little
more
sense
so
and.
O
N
E
N
Think
actually,
above
to
defer
to
the
councilman
and
also
invite
up
Sylvie
from
the
Commerce
Department,
to
provide
a
little
more
detail,
we
have
done
extensive
stakeholder
outreach
and
had
several
in-person
meetings
and
I
think
the
change
is
as
much
symbolic
as
practical,
which
is
actually
really
exciting
about
it.
Well,.
K
Thank
you
really
for
the
shout
out
earlier
and
mr.
Gupta
as
well.
Thank
thank
you
very,
very
much
being
a
member
of
this
committee,
but
also
being
a
councilman
at-large
and
talking
to
other
business
owners.
I
have
heard
this
over
and
over
again
on
how
onerous
this
tax
is
this
tanks
not
only
and
we're
not
getting
rid
of
the
tax?
It's
the
collection
process.
You
realize
we
are
the
only
government
in
the
certainly
in
the
United
States
that
collects
tax
like
this.
K
As
far
as
the
obligation
is
there
for
a
full
year
ahead
of
time,
no
other
city
does
it
no
state.
Does
it,
and
certainly
the
federal
government
does
so
we
really
have
to
get
in
line,
because
this
collection
strategy
on
our
behalf,
actually
leads
to
the
reputation
of
this
city
being
very
onerous
and
very
bad
on
taxes.
K
This
leads
to
when
I've
said
this
a
thousand
times
it's
based
on
my
gut,
not
on
any
collective
wisdom
as
far
as
doing
a
poll,
but
you
asked
me
10
accounts,
and
you
tell
me
where
you
want
to
start
your
business
I
truly
believe.
It's
me
personally
that
nine
of
them
will
tell
you
not
to
come
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia,
and
the
collection
of
this
tax
is
one
of
them.
K
We're
going
to
have
a
town
hall
meeting
later
this
month,
where
people
can
voice
this
as
they
voiced
to
me
the
need
to
do
away
with
this
type
of
collection
strategy
I'm,
also
at
the
behest
of
the
administration
and
others
working
with
them
going
to
amend
the
bill
that
we
have
currently
passed
in
a
way
that
is
more
palatable
all
around,
but
but
will
continue
the
process.
I
will
say
this
as
as
a
legislator
as
a
city,
councilman
I
am
totally
committed
to
changing
this
collection
strategy.
I,
don't
care
what
it
takes.
K
Eventually,
it
has
to
come
to
an
end.
It
is
not
good
for
business
and
the
dollars
that
it
saves
are
miniscule
in
a
four
billion
dollar
budget.
We
just
have
to
work
really
another
way.
So
that's
my
strategy
briefly
and
I
am
committed
to
continue
to
work
on
it
and
then
the
other
thoughts
I'd
be
happy
to.
P
That's
been
wanting
this
change
for
a
long
time.
We
said
that
doesn't
quite
get
us
to
where
we
want
to
be
so.
We
contacted
the
councilman
and
we
said:
could
we
work
on?
Maybe
even
getting
it
even
better
over
the
summer
and
he
graciously
accepted
and
we
did
round
tables,
we
did
a
survey
and
we
ended
up
with
what
we
will
be
ending
up.
Hopefully,
tomorrow,
there'll
be
some
changes
with
allowing
for
quarterly
payments
in
that
second
year.
P
So,
instead
of
deferring
the
double
payment
in
that
second
year
of
paying
taxes,
businesses
would
true
up
on
whatever
they
off
rum
the
year
before.
No
sorry,
they
pay
the
year
before
his
liability
and
then
they
would
be
able
to
pay
their
estimated
payment
in
quarterly
installments
and
then
by
the
third
year
of
paying
taxes
they're
like
any
other
existing
business.
Basically,
now
the
councilman
wanted
to
have
quarterly
payments
for
everyone.
That
is
something
that
the
administration
would
like.
However,
it
poses
a
180
million
dollar.
P
Essentially
it
goes
against
our
balance
or
180
our
fund
balance
and
because
we
have
a
relatively
low
fund
balance
as
a
city.
That's
a
problem,
but
at
the
Town
Hall
is
really
it's
an
opportunity
to
talk
to
the
treasurer
to
rob.
Dabo
we're
gonna
have
someone
from
pfm
Kathy
Klepper
to
really
discuss
this
and
just
discuss?
What
are
the
priorities?
Because
the
administration
really
is
open
to
making
changes
along
with
council,
and
we
just
need
to
prioritize
given
financial
realities.
So.
E
I
think
that
we
should
move
beyond
the
symbolic
on
this
issue
and
applaud
Jennifer
Rodriguez
and
her
Chamber
of
Commerce
or
her
members,
because
this
is
this
is
real.
It
goes
beyond
symbolism
and
I,
don't
remember
offhand.
The
total
amount
of
tax
anticipation
notes
this
government
issues
annually
to
fund
current
operations,
but
to
me
this
should
be
applied
to
all
enterprises.
E
We
hear
that
continually
that
you
know
this
government
tends
to
segment
and
target
enterprises
with
legislative
initiative.
Here's
a
chance
where
all
boats
would
rise
with
the
same
tide,
and
it
has
to
be
by
the
way
to
your
point
on
the
fund
balance.
This
is
an
accrual
balance
sheet
issue,
not
a
cash
issue
for
the
government
and
therefore
I,
don't
think
at
all
there's
any
barrier
at
all
to
you
know
as
you
do
the
short
term
debt
vehicles
with
this
government
and
I
mean
I.
E
E
P
C
From
the
Commerce
Department's
Rob,
we
completely
agree
with
you
what
we
have
said
with
the
council,
and
this
is
the
first
step
in
a
journey
and
we
do
not
plan
to
stop.
This
is
something
that
we
definitely
need
to
be
into
a
Philadelphia's
competitive
on,
and
our
present
condition
makes
us
worst
in
class.
Nowhere
near
best
thing,
that's
worst,
a
class
I.
A
Think
I
had
a
couple
of
additional
questions,
one
for
a
Miss
Ackerman
from
the
tech
startup
perspective.
You
talked
about
a
number
of
the
initiatives
between
Comcast
Drexel
Vanguard,
your
institution
at
Penn,
PSL,
Science
Center.
Has
there
been
any
opportunity
to
conversation
with
those
entities
are
coming
together,
either
on
a
quarterly
or
twice
a
year
basis,
just
to
communicate
among
themselves
regarding
because
each
one
is
doing
some
really
unique
things,
but
I
think
if
there's
a
way
they
did
no
kind
of
work
in
a
collaborative
way.
That
would
be
really
beneficial.
I.
N
Agree-
and
this
has
been
raised-
you
know
for
a
few
years
by
a
number
of
places,
including
the
I,
think
the
recent
Brookings
report
about
how
to
I
guess,
leverage
our
innovation
assets,
better
I
would
say
we
coordinate
very
often
informally
around
many
of
these
initiatives.
One
thing
that's
great
and
I
know
it's
become
an
issue
in
terms
of
available
lab
space
of
the
city.
We
refer
our
startups,
who
get
funded
and
need
space
to
each
other
constantly.
N
So
in
terms
of
Penn
Drexel,
the
Science
Center
1776,
all
the
kind
of
startup
infrastructure
around
town,
we're
kind
of
one
huge
referral
network,
with
everyone's
priority.
Being,
let's
keep
these
startups
that
started
in
the
city
in
the
city,
so
I
see
a
lot
of
collaboration
there.
We
collaborate
very
actively
around
Philly
tech.
We
around
the
amplified
Philly
around
some
of
these
special
initiatives.
I
know
that
chambers
new
precision,
medicine
initiative
is
going
to
be
very
collaborative
around
many
of
these
entities
as
well
I.
N
You
know,
there's
certainly
an
opportunity-
perhaps
maybe
with
leadership
from
the
city,
to
create
an
innovation
council
to
have
you
know,
I,
don't
know
if
it's
quarterly
or
twice
a
year
or
to
convene
all
these
entities
to
find
a
few
things
to
collaborate
on
in
the
past,
some
of
those
and
have
been
driven
by
special
circumstances
like
you
know
the
Democratic
convention,
or
just
maybe
the
Amazon
effort.
So
there
hasn't
people
really
come
together
around
huge
initiatives,
but
I
would
say
there
isn't
like
a
consistent
table
other
than
the
recent
kind
of
Brookings
study.
N
A
Then
one
other
question
for
your
group:
has
there
the
issue
of
venture
capital
come
up
under
I've,
had
conversations
with
various
people
in
the
maker
community
and
other
aspects
of
the
tech
stock
community,
where
the
issue
of
venture
capital
has
been
a
concern?
Was
that
part
of
the
conversation
at
all
it.
N
C
N
Would
say
from
the
pen
perspective
this
year
this
calendar
year,
our
pen
startups,
are
going
to
raise
over
500
million
dollars
like
at
a
unprecedent,
unprecedented
level,
we've
ever
seen
before
in
FY
18.
Actually,
we
just
old
calculated
this.
The
startups
out
of
pen
brought
in
almost
four
hundred
and
fifty
million
dollars,
so
I
feel
like
the
visibility
and
momentum
around.
What
we're
all
collectively
doing
is
making
it
easier
to
attract
venture
capital
to
these
high
potential
startups.
N
M
For
one
absolutely,
we
have
a
warehouse
in
the
northeast
of
Philadelphia
and
we
refined
several
different
times
because
of
the
noise
level,
and
what
we
had
found
is
that
the
the
noise
level
ordinance
was
so
outdated
in
regards
to
about
five
decibels
that
any.
If
you
just
drop
the
ink
pen,
you
know
in
the
neighbor
calls,
then
we're
gonna
get
a
fine,
and
so
we
didn't
talk
about
trying
to
set
up
a
separate
industrial
area
or
a
book
or
a
bank
of
land
or
areas
within
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
M
If
you
go
back
to
2010,
there
was
a
very
extensive
report:
industrial
use,
land
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia
and
that
report
I
think
is
still
active
today
or
should
be
looked
at
today,
because
there
is
already
a
study.
That's
been
done.
Several
thousands
of
dollars
have
been
spent
in
that
report.
To
define
areas
in
Philadelphia
may
need
to
be
updated
currently
right
now,
but
there
are
areas
in
Philadelphia
that
can
be
attractions
to
businesses
coming
into
this
area.
A
Okay,
I'm,
seeing
no
other
questions
for
a
second
panel
I
want
to
thank
all
of
the
attendees
here
from
members
of
the
special
committee.
The
subcommittee
co-chairs
for
presenting
information
as
I
think.
Both
both
co-chairs
myself
acknowledge
this
is
just
the
beginning
of
a
process.
I
think
just
in
this
conversation
this
morning,
a
number
of
additional
ideas,
I
know
have
come
to
my
perspective.
A
That
could
be
done
some
from
a
legislative
perspective
or
just
from
a
city
leadership
perspective
of
trying
to
no
push
this
ball
forward
and
how
we
can
enhance
and
grow
small
business
growth
in
our
city
with
that
I'd
like
to.
If
there's
no
other
comments
from
any
co-chairs,
I
like
to
move
from
the
public
hearing
to
go
into
the
public
meeting
section
of
the
special
committee
hearing,
I
would
like
to
acknowledge
coach
reps
for
a
motion
on
a
report
of
the
special
committee
as
a
as
it
was
considered
by
this
committee.
Thank.