Authorizing Council's Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities in anticipation of the incoming federal administration's commitment to invest in urban infrastructure building initiatives, to conduct an independent investigation of the Water Department, so that the City will be prepared to effectively utilize any additional funding streams in the most efficient and strategic manner and pursuant to Chapters 13-100 and 13-200 of The Philadelphia Code.

WHEREAS, Chapter 13-100 of The Philadelphia Code mandates that at least once every four years City Council “make or cause to be made an independent examination of the current operations and Capital Programming and Budgeting of the Water Department; and

WHEREAS, Chapter 13-200 of The Philadelphia Code further mandates that City Council from time to time Council investigate sewer rates; and

WHEREAS, In conjunction with these independent investigations City Council is required to employ qualified consultants who will directly advise Council with respect to Water Department policies concerning capital program, capital budget and sinking fund requirements, the economic soundness of operational methods, universal meter operations, bill collecting, accounts receivable procedures, inventory control and other similar factors, as well the necessary reserves for a rate stabilization fund; and

WHEREAS, No such independent investigation has been conducted in at least ten years, according to Philadelphia Water Department reports; and

WHEREAS, Periodic engineering reports submitted by the firm of Black & Veatch would not fulfill this requirement because Black & Veatch does not serve City Council, but rather the Water Department, and its reports are intended for rating agencies and bond markets with an investment interest, not for Council, which must assess the Water Department’s viability in terms which include consideration of how much customers can reasonably be required to pay; and

WHEREAS, The incoming federal administration’s commitment to investing in urban infrastructure rebuilding initiatives, as well as recent water main breaks and issues such as storm water runoff management and combined sewage overflow, make it critical that such an independent investigation take place so that the city will be better able to effectively utilize additional funding streams and address these issues in the most efficient and strategic manner; now therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes Council’s Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities in light of the incoming federal administration’s commitment to invest in urban infrastructure building initiatives, to conduct an independent investigation of the Water Department, so that the city will be ready to effectively utilize any additional funding streams in the most efficient and strategic manner and pursuant to Chapters 13-100 and 13-200 of The Philadelphia Code.

FURTHER RESOLVED, In furtherance of such investigation, the Committee is hereby authorized to employ qualified consultants pursuant to Chapters 13-100 and 13-200 of The Philadelphia Code, which mandates that at least once in every four years that City Council “make or cause to be made an independent examination” of the Water Department.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to members of President-elect Obama’s transition team and members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation.

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