Authorizing the Joint Committees on Legislative Oversight and Commerce and Economic Development to hold public hearings to examine the ongoing leasing procedures at the Philadelphia International Airport and their relation to local, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) receives over 31.8 million passengers each year, which support the many restaurants, newsstands, and specialty retail stores throughout the airport; and

WHEREAS, Business opportunities include both permanent and temporary specialty operations, which are expanding for both national and local stores and restaurants; and

WHEREAS, The $45 million development of the food and retail program at PHL consists of 142,100 square feet of stores and eateries throughout Terminals A through F and features more than 160 in-line stores, restaurants, and services, plus nearly 30 specialty retail spaces; and

WHEREAS, The connector between terminals D and E is the newest addition to PHL in retail development and added over 7,100 square footage of retail space; and

WHEREAS, While the Boston-based company Marketplace serves as the lessees' sub landlord, the City of Philadelphia is the prime landlord; and

WHEREAS, Given the enormous opportunities that exists at PHL for businesses, leases must be handled to ensure fairness to both existing and new businesses; and

WHEREAS, Special consideration should be given to ensure that local, minority-owned, women-owned, and national participation is balanced in the retail configuration; and

WHEREAS, Providing a robust collection of retail stores and restaurants to PHL enhances the City's image, creates additional jobs, and benefits our local economy; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council's Joint Committees on Legislative Oversight and Commerce and Economic Development are hereby authorized to hold public hearings to examine the ongoing leasing procedures at the Philadelphia International Airport and their relation to local, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses.

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