WHEREAS, In August 2008, Mayor Michael Nutter signed Executive Order 11/08, transferring the duties of the Capital Program Office as follows: the fiscal management and administration to the Director of Finance; the personnel and technology functions to the Department of Human Resources and the Division of Technology respectively; and all other project management functions to functions to the Department of Public Property; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Capital Program Division is to
maximize the value of the taxpayers' capital investment in public facilities through careful budget planning, proper financial controls, and thoughtful, timely and cost effective project management of design and construction; and
WHEREAS, The Capital Program is financed by City general obligation bonds, self sustaining revenue bonds, and matched in some cases by state and federal grants as well as private funding. The City of Philadelphia currently manages a capital program of approximately $2.65 billion; and
WHEREAS, Each year, a list of requested capital improvements (including estimated costs for design and construction) to systems, facilities, and infrastructure for city agencies is assembled. These requests then go to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, who reviews the list and assesses the needs of the different agencies with the Budget Office and Managing Director's Office. The list is then modified to reflect the anticipated size of the year's bond issue for the Capital Budget. The final list is then given to the Mayor for his review, adjustment, approval, and presentation to City Council. When the Capital Budget and Program become law and the corresponding loan and authorization is also approved by City Council, the Mayor, and the voters, the Capital Programs may issue RFPs for the projects that were approved; and
WHEREAS, After projects have been approved, there is often an extended time period before any work begins on the capital project; and
WHEREAS, There are numerous capital improvements needed throughout the City and in all City agencies, and therefore, it is important for the improvements to be reviewed, approved, bid out, and completed efficiently and in a reasonable time period
; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council Committee on Legislative Oversight to hold public hearings to investigate
the processes within the Capital Program to execute funding for capital projects and improvements and to identify and address regulatory and statutory obstacles in order to streamline the system and create a more efficient process.
End