Authorizing the creation of a Special Committee on Gaming Alternate Site Selection of the City Council of Philadelphia, for the purpose of holding hearings and making written recommendations to identify alternate locations for slots parlors in the City based on a set of objective and independent standards that would minimize neighborhood impacts and to identify economic policies to retain the viability of license portability.

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania’s General Assembly and Governor Rendell duly enacted Act 71 of 2004, entitled “Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act,” which permitted two Category 2, stand-alone slots parlors in the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, City Council does not object to the advent of gaming within the City limits but also recognizes the serious detrimental affects that gaming can and will have on the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board announced that the two Philadelphia licenses would be awarded to SugarHouse Casino, located at Delaware and Frankford Avenues, and Foxwoods Casino, located at Columbus Boulevard and Reed Street. These two sites are in close proximity to residential and commercial properties that would be negatively impacted by increased traffic congestion, crime and other quality-of-life concerns that this body finds unacceptable; and

WHEREAS, Section 1329 of the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development and Gaming Act states each slot machine license shall only be valid for the specific physical location within the municipality and county for which it was originally granted, and no slot machine licensee shall be permitted to move or relocate the licensed facility without board approval for good cause shown. City Council feels that the detrimental impacts on near neighbors qualifies for “good cause” and encourages the applicants to petition the Board for portability; and

WHEREAS, City Council recognizes the financial commitment that both developers have made to their respective sites and that, should they agree to apply for portability, provisions must be made to address their financial concerns; and

WHEREAS, Simultaneous to recognizing the potential problems at the developers’ current locations, alternative sites should be proposed based on independent, apolitical and objective standards; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby authorizes the creation of a Special Committee on Gaming Alternate Site Selection of the City Council of Philadelphia, consisting of three individuals appointed by the Council President, one appointed by Council’s Majority Leader, one appointed by Council’s Majority Whip, one appointed by Council’s Minority Leader and one appointed by Council’s Minority Whip, none of whom are elected or appointed officials and all of whom shall reside in the City of Philadelphia, for the purpose of holding hearings and making written recommendations to identify alternate locations for slots parlors in the City based on a set of objective and independent standards that would minimize neighborhood impacts and to identify economic policies to retain the viability of license portability.

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