WHEREAS, The Mayor's Neighborhood Transformation Initiative ("NTI") proposal has stimulated public discussion about neighborhood revitalization, community development, and how best to allocate limited resources to achieve agreed upon ends; and
WHEREAS, Other cities have successfully engaged in public discussions about the implementation of City-wide strategies designed to meet three key goals: retaining population, increasing population, and catalyzing revitalization sufficient to make a difference in physical and economic terms; and
WHEREAS, While there is broad agreement in Philadelphia that the goal of revitalization efforts should be to attract and retain population, there has been little discussion about how to achieve those goals given limited resources; moreover, the goal of attracting population might require different approaches than the goal of retaining existing population; in addition, the need to develop City-wide strategies for creating affordable housing and market-rate housing opportunities for current residents must be addressed as part of an attraction/retention program; and
WHEREAS, This is an appropriate time for Philadelphia to seek local and regional knowledge, technical skills and talent across the public, private and non-profit sectors, and to examine best practices in cities that have successfully met the challenge of urban revitalization, to help develop a long-term housing and economic development strategy appropriate to Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, For these reasons, Council deems it appropriate to authorize the creation of a Task Force to advise Council as it makes decisions concerning the NTI and other housing and economic development matters; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Council President is hereby authorized to appoint a City Council Housing and Economic Development Task Force. The Task Force shall provide Council with advice on a variety of matters as determined by the Council President in accordance with this Resolution. The Task Force shall consist of such number of members as the Council President deems appropriate, provided it includes representatives of each of the following groups: Philadelphia community development corporations and community based organizations, Philadelphia area community development financial institutions, Philadelphia area banking institutions, businesses, academic institutions, Philadelphia real estate professionals, Philadelphia area developers, Philadelphia area economists, City planners, and local and state public officials.
RESOLVED FURTHER THAT the Task Force shall:
(1) Advise Council on successful approaches to improve the viability of low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, and on such other matters as determined by the Council President.
(2) Provide analysis and recommendations to Council concerning NTI and related matters, including:
(a) Evaluating the progress of NTI, including monitoring NTI production goals and timelines;
(b) Making recommendations to Council and to the Mayor concerning proposed improvements to NTI policies and programs;
(c) Evaluating proposed investments of NTI resources;
(d) Monitoring activities and expenditures related to demolition and relocation, including receiving and reviewing monthly reports from the Redevelopment Authority concerning relocation and displacement caused by NTI;
(e) Receiving, reviewing and providing analysis and recommendations to Council concerning reports and budget documents required by the provisions of Bill No. 010646 and by provisions of The Philadelphia Code and CDBG Plans relating to housing and community economic development; and
(f) Holding annual hearings in each Councilmanic District for the purpose of providing residents with information about NTI, CDBG Programs and other housing and community development programs and soliciting input from residents concerning such programs.
(3) Examine ways to build on existing housing and economic development activities, including NTI, CDBG, Economic Stimulus Funds, PIDC Funds, City capital funding and other public and private development funds, to define a broader agenda with concrete strategies for preserving and improving Philadelphia's neighborhoods.
(4) Issue an annual report to the Council President and to the Mayor summarizing Task Force activities, findings and recommendations regarding housing and community development programs conducted during the previous year.
End