Authorizing the joint Committees on Public Safety and Public Property to hold public hearings to examine alternative sights in the City of Philadelphia for the Philadelphia Prison Department to operate a training facility.

WHEREAS, Currently, the Philadelphia Prison uses the facility at 5100 Pennypack Street for training operations. This facility is also leased by the City to the Holmesburg Gun Club for recreational and training purposes; and

WHEREAS, The Holmesburg Gun Club, which has over 1400 members, has used this facility for over 70 years; and

WHEREAS, The Holmesburg Gun Club was informed through the mail in August 2007 that their lease was being terminated, effective December 31, 2007; and

WHEREAS, The purpose of the lease termination is to expand training operations at the facility for Philadelphia Prison Guards; and

WHEREAS, While members of the City Council have intervened and asked the Prisons Commissioner to try to work out a shared usage agreement with the Holmesburg Gun Club, a reasonable resolution has not yet been worked out; and

WHEREAS, Councilwoman Krajewski introduced Bill 070937 which would transfer 5100 Pennypack Street from Public Property to the Fairmount Park Commission. While this legislation will not stop the termination of the lease, it will give the Fairmount Park Commission the authority, if they choose, to draft a lease which could be more favorable to the Holmesburg Gun Club; and

WHEREAS, In a public hearing on Bill 070937, representatives from the Philadelphia Prisons Department stated that shared use of the facility was not necessarily appropriate; and

WHEREAS, Identifying an alternative property to serve as the Philadelphia Prisons training facility could be the best solution for both parties involved; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED,

BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council’s joint Committees on Public Safety and Public Property is hereby authorized to hold public hearings to examine alternative properties in the City of Philadelphia for the Philadelphia Prison to operate a training facility.

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