Introduced
Marked unanimous; no member-by-member tally published.
Official action detail
A motion was made by Councilmember Miller that this matter be Introduced. The motion carried unanimously.
Source: LegislationDetail.aspx · gridLegislation
WHEREAS, Council is authorized by the Community and Economic Improvement Act ("Act") (53 P.S. §18101 et. seq.) to establish by ordinance neighborhood improvement districts and to designate certain entities to administer programs and services within such districts in order "to promote and enhance more attractive and safer commercial, industrial, residential and mixed-use neighborhoods; economic growth; increased employment opportunities; and improved commercial, industrial, business districts and business climates;" and
WHEREAS, Before an ordinance establishing a neighborhood improvement district is enacted, the Act requires that a preliminary plan for the district be mailed to property owners within the district, and that a public hearing be held on the preliminary plan; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of this resolution is to initiate action to create a neighborhood improvement district in the Chestnut Hill area, to be known as the "Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District," and to ensure that all actions required by the Act to establish such a district are taken prior to enactment of an ordinance formally establishing the district; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, THAT Council hereby initiates action to establish a neighborhood improvement district in an area that generally includes both sides of Germantown Avenue from 7640 to 8705, both sides of Bethlehem Pike from 10 to 104 and on certain blocks for streets that intersect that portion of Germantown Avenue, to be known as the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District. Council hereby approves as the preliminary plan for the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District, the preliminary plan attached as Exhibit "A," and Council adopts as the City's report concerning the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District, the report included as part of that preliminary plan.
RESOLVED FURTHER, THAT The Committee on Rules is hereby authorized and directed to take all actions required by the Community and Economic Improvement Act ("Act") prior to enactment of an ordinance formally establishing the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District, including the holding of any and all public hearings required by the Act. The Clerk of Council shall arrange for all mailings and publication of all notices required by the Act, as directed by the Chair of the Committee on Rules.
Exhibit A
PRELIMINARY PLAN
FOR THE
CHESTNUT HILL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ("DISTRICT")
AND REPORT OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA CONCERNING THE DISTRICT
1. The name of the proposed neighborhood improvement district shall be the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District ("District"). A map of the District is attached as Exhibit A-1 and an enlarged copy of the map shall be kept on file with the Chief Clerk to be made available for inspection by the public during regular office hours.
2. The service area of the proposed district shall include all taxable (for real estate purposes) commercial properties on both sides of Germantown Avenue from 7640 to 8705, plus those commercial properties on Bethlehem Pike between 10 and 104 (commercial properties only), and on certain blocks for streets that intersect that portion of Germantown Avenue that are listed in Exhibit A-2. This area is referred to as the "whole district." While the service area does contain owner-occupied residential properties, these properties will not be assessed, though residential rental properties will be assessed. Furthermore, tax-exempt properties located within the district will be encouraged to contribute cash or in-kind services.
3. A list of all properties to be assessed is attached as Exhibit A-2.
4. A list of proposed improvements and services within the District and their estimated cost for the first year of operation are as follows:
a. Marketing: Marketing services may include, but are not limited to: business attraction strategies, such as the completion of a retail study that would identify specific action steps needed, block by block, to fill stores with strong merchants, the creation of professional marketing materials that include demographic information and details about vacant properties, and the development of working partnerships with local commercial realtors; business promotion strategies, including a campaign to encourage additional shops to be open for business on Sundays and exploring the possibility of bringing the historic 23 Trolley back to Chestnut Hill for shoppers on Sundays (Budget allocation for Year 1: $46,000)
b. Security, Parking and Circulation: Parking services will include assisting the Chestnut Hill Parking Foundation with the costs associated with cleaning and repaving the parking lots it manages, hiring an outside parking consultant to perform a thorough examination of the current Chestnut Hill Parking Foundation system, and the community's current and future parking requirements. Security services include developing a stronger partnership with City Police, with a permanent District committee devoted to this need and regular meetings scheduled with Precinct officers, and conducting regular security workshops for merchants and employees in the district. Circulation work will include the development of a signage program that orients shoppers in Chestnut Hill. (Budget allocation for Year 1: $68,500)
c. Appearance: Appearance services will include the development of a unified streetscape plan that will detail pedestrian lighting, crosswalks, benches, flower barrels and street trees; regular sidewalk and parking lot cleaning; improved sidewalk lighting; maintaining the holiday tree lights and greens; planting and maintaining flower barrels and baskets. (Budget allocation for Year 1: $50,000)
d. Administration: Administrative costs include the expense of hiring a Project Manager to oversee the day-to-day aspects of many of the projects outlined in the proposed plan and a portion of the salaries of an Executive Director and Administrative Assistant (Budget allocation for Year 1: $75,000)
5. The proposed budget for the first two fiscal years is attached as Exhibit A-3.
6. The proposed revenue source for financing all proposed improvements, programs and services will be assessments on properties.
7. The estimated time for implementation and completion of all proposed improvements, programs and services is five years, which corresponds to the initial term of the District.
8. The administrative body that will govern and administer the District is the non-profit corporation Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District.
9. The by-laws of the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District are attached as Exhibit A-4.
10. The method of determining the amount of the assessment fee to be levied on property owners within the District is as follows: The cost of services for the District will be equitably apportioned among all benefiting properties within the whole district service area. Properties will be assessed using the assessed values as most recently certified by the Board of Revision of Taxes (BRT). Using the BRT assessments from 2003, the district assessment fee will be equal to .99% of the assessed value of the property.
11. The specific duties and responsibilities of City of Philadelphia and the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District with respect to the District are as follows:
a. The City will be responsible for maintaining the same level of municipal programs and services within the District after its designation as a neighborhood improvement district as before such designation. The City will also be responsible for applying liens on properties for non-payment of property assessment fees as set forth in the Act at 53 P.S. $18107(A)(10).
b. The Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District shall fulfill all the duties and responsibilities of a Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association (NIDMA) as set forth in the Community and Economic Improvement Act (53 P.S. $$18101 et. seq.). In its capacity as the NIDMA, the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District shall annually submit an audit of all income and expenditures to the Department of Community and Economic Development and to City Council within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, and submit a report, including financial and programmatic information and a summary of audit findings, to City Council and to all assessed property owners located in the District (as required by 53 P.S. $$18109). In addition, the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District shall be responsible for collecting all assessment fees levied within the District.
12. A written agreement will be signed by the City and the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District containing the following provisions:
a. The respective duties of the City and the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District with respect to the District as set forth in paragraph 11 above;
b. The City's agreement to maintain within the District the same level of municipal programs and services that were provided within the District before its establishment;
c. A "sunset provision" under which the agreement will expire in five years and not be renewed unless the District is continued beyond that date pursuant to reenactment of the ordinance establishing the District; and
d. The Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District's agreement to be responsible for the collection of all property assessment fees levied within the District and the City's agreement to file any necessary liens for nonpayment of property assessment fees as set forth in the Act at 53 P.S. $18107 (A)(10).
13. The District will allow for and encourage tax-exempt property owners to provide in-kind or financial contributions to the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District, if not assessed, in lieu of a property assessment fee.
14. The negative vote of at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the property owners within the District, or property owners within the District whose property valuation as assessed for taxable purposes amount to fifty-one percent (51%) of the total property valuation located within the District proposed in the final plan, shall be required to defeat the establishment of the proposed District by filing objections to the clerk for the governing body of the municipality within forty-five (45) days of presentation of the final plan.
EXHIBIT A-1
EXHIBIT A-2
Proposed Properties for the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District
7640-52 Germantown Ave
8033 Germantown Ave
8331 Germantown Ave
7700 Germantown Ave
8034 Germantown Ave
8333 Germantown Ave
7707 Germantown Ave
8035 Germantown Ave
8335 Germantown Ave
7709 Germantown Ave
8036-R Germantown Ave
8337 Germantown Ave
7715-17 Germantown Ave
8040 Germantown Ave
8339 Germantown Ave
7719 Germantown Ave
8042 Germantown Ave
8341 Germantown Ave
7721 Germantown Ave
8100 Germantown Ave
8400 Germantown Ave
7723 Germantown Ave
8103 Germantown Ave
8401-3 Germantown Ave
7725 Germantown Ave
8104 Germantown Ave
8405 Germantown Ave
7727 Germantown Ave
8106 Germantown Ave
8407 Germantown Ave
7800 Germantown Ave
8107 Germantown Ave
8409 Germantown Ave
7811 Germantown Ave
8108 Germantown Ave
8413 Germantown Ave
7813 Germantown Ave
8109 Germantown Ave
8418-24 Germantown Ave
7815 Germantown Ave
8110 Germantown Ave
8419 Germantown Ave
7829 Germantown Ave
8111 Germantown Ave
8425-27 Germantown Ave
7830 Germantown Ave
8112 Germantown Ave
8426 Germantown Ave
7833 Germantown Ave
8113 Germantown Ave
8428 Germantown Ave
7834 Germantown Ave
8114 Germantown Ave
8429 Germantown Ave
7837 Germantown Ave
8115 Germantown Ave
8429-R Germantown Ave
7841 Germantown Ave
8116 Germantown Ave
8430 Germantown Ave
7900-2 Germantown Ave
8117 Germantown Ave
8432 Germantown Ave
7904-6 Germantown Ave
8118 Germantown Ave
8433-35 Germantown Ave
7908-10 Germantown Ave
8119 Germantown Ave
8434-36 Germantown Ave
7916-18 Germantown Ave
8121 Germantown Ave
8437 Germantown Ave
7921 Germantown Avenue
8122 Germantown Ave
8438 Germantown Ave
7924 Germantown Ave
8125 -27R Germantown Ave
8439 Germantown Ave
7925 Germantown Ave
8125-27 Germantown Ave
8440 Germantown Ave
7926 Germantown Ave
8126 Germantown Ave
8441 Germantown Ave
7928 Germantown Ave
8129 Germantown Ave
8442 Germantown Ave
7930 Germantown Ave
8131 Germantown ave
8450 Germantown Ave
7932 Germantown Ave
8133 Germantown Ave
8500-10 Germantown Ave
7934 Germantown Ave
8135 Germantown Ave
8501-5 Germantown Ave
7939 Germantown Ave
8136 Germantown Ave
8507 Germantown Ave
7942-46 Germantown Ave
8137 Germantown Ave
8511 Germantown Ave
7945 Germantown Ave
8138 Germantown Ave
8512-16 Germantown Ave
8000 Germantown Ave
8140 Germantown Ave
8513-15 Germantown Ave
8001-7 Germantown Ave
8142-44 Germantown Ave
8517-19 Germantown Ave
8002-6 Germantown Ave
8200-18 Germantown Ave
8518-R Germantown Ave
8009 Germantown Ave
8201-3 Germantown Ave
8518 Germantown Ave
8010 Germantown Ave
8217-19 Germantown Ave
8520 Germantown Ave
8011 Germantown Ave
8220-22 Germantown Ave
8521 Germantown Ave
8012 Germantown Ave
8223-29 Germantown Ave
8522 Germantown Ave
8013 Germantown Ave
8224 Germantown Ave
8523 Germantown Ave
8014 Germantown Ave
8226 Germantown Ave
8524-26 Germantown Ave
8020 Germantown Ave
8232 Germantown Ave
8527-29 Germantown Ave
8022 Germantown Ave
8234-36 Germantown Ave
8528 Germantown Ave
8024 Germantown Ave
8314 Germantown Ave
8530 Germantown Ave
8026 Germantown Ave
8316-R Germantown Ave
8532 Germantown Ave
8030 Germantown Ave
8316 Germantown Ave
8600 Germantown Ave
8031 Germantown Ave
8328-34 Germantown Ave
8601-3 Germantown Ave
8605-7 Germantown Ave
Intersecting blocks
8608 Germantown Ave
18 West Willow Grove
8609-11 Germantown Ave
24 East Willow Grove
8612 Germantown Ave
184-186 East Evergreen Ave
8614 Germantown Ave
8-10 West Evergreen
8615 Germantown Ave
9 West Evergreen
8616-18 Germantown Ave
14-16 West Evergreen
8617 Germantown Ave
40-54 West Evergreen
8620 Germantown Ave
201 West Evergreen
8622 Germantown Ave
10 West Gravers
8623 Germantown Ave
5 East Highland
8623-R Germantown Ave
9 East Highland
8624-26 Germantown Ave
12-14 East Highland
8625-39 Germantown Ave
13 East Highland
8628 Germantown Ave
9-23 West Highland
8630 Germantown Ave
14 West Highland
8632 Germantown Ave
14 West Highland
8634 Germantown Ave
22 West Highland
8636 Germantown Ave
25 West Highland
8638 Germantown Ave
27 West Highland
8640 Germantown Ave
29 West Highland
8705 Germantown Avenue
30 West Highland
7673 Winston Road
1 Summit Avenue
10 Bethlehem Pike
47-49 Bethlehem Pike
84 Bethlehem Pike
85 Bethlehem Pike
86 Bethlehem Pike
89 Bethlehem Pike
90 Bethlehem Pike
92 Bethlehem Pike
97 Bethlehem Pike
101 Bethlehem Pike
102-4 Bethlehem Pike
105 Bethlehem Pike
Exhibit A-3
Proposed Budget for Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District
Year 1
Year 2
Physical Appearance
Hire Public Space Cleaner/Community Service Rep
Extend Holiday Lights down Bethlehem Pike
Advocate Rezoning where necessary
Work Proactively with DRC
Street Tree Program, Maintain Flowers
Sidewalk Snow Removal--explore paid arrangement with property owners
Advocate Zoning for Projecting Signs
Sub-Total
$ 50,000.00
$ 50,000.00
Strengthen Local Economy
Welcome Package for Prospective Businesses; proactively recruit new stores
Block/retail analysis
Business District Development--demographic information, customer surveys, etc.to be included in marketing package
Unified Store Hours--Advocate and Promote
Sunday Shopping Trolley--explore, share costs, sponsors?
Upgrade CHBA Web site to include available property and doing business in Chestnut Hill information
Sub-Total
$ 46,000.00
$ 57,500.00
Security, Parking Circulation
Parking Plan
Parking Lot Deferred Maintenance
Streetscape plan (traffic slowing measures, signage, sidewalk lights, etc.)
Implement Streetscape plan (attract city and state capital budget money, work government and community partners)
Uniforms/Communications System for Parking Lot Attendants and Community Service Representative
Security Training
Advocate External Signs (highway exits), Business Locator Signs, Directional Signage
Sub-Total
$ 68,500.00
$ 61,000.00
Administration (Project Manager salary and benefits, percent of Executive Director and Admin Ass't salary)
$ 75,000.00
$ 75,000.00
TOTAL
$239,500.00
$243,500.00
Exhibit A-4
BY-LAWS OF THE CHESTNUT HILL BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, INC.
ARTICLE I - OFFICES; REGISTERED AGENT
The principal office of the Corporation shall be located at such location or locations in Philadelphia, PA as the Board of Directors ("Board") may hereafter designate. A registered agent may be designated by the Corporation.
ARTICLE II
(a) Operate a Neighborhood Improvement District (NID) and function as a Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association (NIDMA), as defined by the Neighborhood Improvement District Act, 73 P.S. § 831, et seq.
(b) Formulate, promote and implement the economic revitalization and general welfare of the commercial area of the NID.
(c) Provide a self-help mechanism by which relevant interests can expand business opportunities and sales, improve property values and enhance the environment for residents, shoppers and visitors;
(d) Mobilize public and private resources for this purpose.
ARTICLE III
Each Director may serve a maximum of three (3) consecutive two (2) -year terms. A Director may not serve on the Board again until at least one (1) year has elapsed since the end of his/her last term.
ARTICLE IV
ARTICLE V
The Vice-Chairman of the Board, at the request of the Chairman or in his/her absence, or during his/her inability to act, shall perform the duties and exercise the functions of the Chairman of the Board, and when so acting shall have the powers of the Chairman of the Board. The Vice-Chairman shall have such other duties as may be assigned to him/her by the Chairman.
The Chairman shall have general charge and supervision of the activities and affairs of the Corporation. When authorized by the Board, he/she may sign and execute in the name of the Corporation all authorized instruments, except in cases in which the signing and execution thereof shall have been expressly delegated by resolution of the Board to some other officer or agent of the Authority.
ARTICLE VI
SECTION VII
(1) the director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office under 15 PA C.S. Section 5101, et seq.; the breach or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness.
This Section 7.03 shall not limit a director's liability for monetary damages to the extent prohibited by the provisions of the Pennsylvania Nonprofit Corporation Law of 1988.
SECTION VIII
Approved:
___________________________________ Secretary
___________________________________ Chair
DATE: ___________________
End
Timeline
A file can move through several public steps, including introduction, hearings, amendments, votes and final action. This timeline puts those events in date order, groups routine entries from the same day, and attaches published member votes to the action they record.
Marked unanimous; no member-by-member tally published.
A motion was made by Councilmember Miller that this matter be Introduced. The motion carried unanimously.
Source: LegislationDetail.aspx · gridLegislation
Other recorded action without a published tally.
Source: LegislationDetail.aspx · gridLegislation
Other recorded action without a published tally.
Source: LegislationDetail.aspx · gridLegislation