Authorizing City Council's Committee on Streets and Services to hold public hearings to explore the issues and impact of the National Park Service's (NPS) decision not to renew the Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit, which allows amphibious tour vehicles to operate a passenger loading and unloading zone on 6th Street between Market and Arch Streets.

WHEREAS, The NPS has indicated that the CUA permit for 6th Street between Market and Arch Streets will not be reissued when the current permits expire on July 31, 2010 because of a security analysis conducted by the United States Marshal Service; and

WHEREAS, Amphibious tour operators have used 6th Street between Market and Arch Streets as a passenger loading and unloading zone for approximately 4 years without incident; and

WHEREAS, The amphibious tours are not only a popular means of exploring our historic sites but have also become a tourist attraction in and of themselves; and

WHEREAS, Amphibious tour operators are multi-million dollar companies that employ dozens of Philadelphians and contribute to our local economy; and

WHEREAS, The removal of the passenger loading zone on 6th Street between Market and Arch Streets will have a negative impact on our amphibious tour operators as well as our tourist trade; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That authority be given to the Committee on Streets and Services to hold public hearings to explore the impact of the National Park Services decision not to renew the Commercial Use Authorization permit for 6th Street between Market and Arch Streets.

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