6/1/2011 is a Code Orange – Ozone Health Watch Day.

Regional ground-level ozone is expected to exceed the federal health-based air quality standard. The weather pattern is ideal for the formation of unhealthy levels of ozone in the lower atmosphere. MORE »

2011 SEPTA ‘STOP Hunger At Your Station’ FOOD DRIVE

WHO: Mayor Michael A. Nutter
Joseph M. Casey, General Manager of SEPTA
Bill Clark, Executive Director of Philabundance

WHAT: SEPTA is holding the annual ‘STOP Hunger At Your Station’ food drive. Food donations will be collected at SEPTA Regional Rail stations, subway and bus transit stations throughout the region for Philabundance. The food drive will run from Monday, June 6 through Monday, June 20.

Philabundance is in need of staple foods including canned tuna, canned pasta, canned beef ravioli, and plastic jars of creamy peanut butter and jelly.

WHERE: Outside City Hall, North Apron

WHEN: Wednesday, June 1 2:00 p.m.

MAYOR NUTTER TO HONOR BERNARD HOPKINS IN CELEBRATION OF HIS HISTORIC CHAMPIONSHIP WIN

WHO: Mayor Michael A. Nutter
Bernard Hopkins, WBC & Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World
Champion
WHAT: Mayor Nutter will honor newly crowned WBC and Ring Magazine Light Heavyweight World Champion, Bernard Hopkins, in celebration of Hopkins’ victory over Jean Pascal, making him the oldest fighter in boxing history to win a world title.
WHERE: ‘Rocky’ Statue outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Eakins Oval, 26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
WHEN: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 12:00 pm

MAYOR NUTTER ANNOUNCES OPENING OF COSMIC CAFÉ AT FAIRMOUNT PARK’S LLOYD HALL

Philadelphia, May 26, 2011 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced the grand opening of Cosmic Café at Fairmount Park’s Lloyd Hall today. Lloyd Hall, #1 Boathouse Row, is a multi-use recreation facility operated by the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Parks and Recreation. Executive Chef and owner of Cosmic Catering, Peg Botto, has committed to using seasonal, organic and local ingredients whenever possible. Outdoor seating on the deck and patio offers patrons of Cosmic Café a scenic view of the Schuylkill River and Boathouse Row.

“It is a testament to the innovative work of Parks and Recreation Department staff that we now have seven locations within our park system where visitors can get nutritious, delectable meals and snacks” said Mayor Nutter. “It is an added bonus when the proprietor, in this case Chef Botto, is a leader in the sustainable business and food movement.”

This café is another example of the Department of Parks and Recreation’s commitment to providing first class amenities to its visitors. Cosmic Café is one of seven eateries located within the city’s park system. The café will provide wholesome meals and snacks to thousands of visitors to Kelly Drive. Cosmic Catering was chosen through a competitive proposal process and will also cater for Lloyd Hall.

“Facilities like Cosmic Café at Lloyd Hall are helping to turn our already dynamic park system into the most visitor-friendly urban park in America,” said Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources Michael DiBerardinis.

Additional cafés and restaurants supported by the City of Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation:

Trolley Car Café at the Bathey
Café Cret
Centennial Café at Ohio House
Cedars House Café
Valley Green Inn
Water Works Restaurant

About Lloyd Hall

Lloyd Hall has a dual role as a community recreation center and a public boathouse for the City of Philadelphia. It is located at #1 Boathouse Row on Kelly Drive. Built by the Fairmount Park Commission and completed in 1998, Lloyd Hall is a hub of activity on any given day.

The recreation center is used by many local groups, including the Fairmount Sports Association for league sports, free-play basketball and volleyball. During large events the outdoor patios can accommodate up to 200 people. Lloyd Hall is a Fairmount Park property operated by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation.

City of Philadelphia Scheduled Maintenance

The Division of Technology (DoT) is performing routine maintenance.

The maintenance is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1, 2011 from 6:00 PM EDT to Thursday June 2, 3:00 AM EDT.

Zoning Code Proposals

In May 2007, nearly 80% of the voters approved a ballot question that called for the creation of a Zoning Code Commission to reform and modernize Philadelphia’s Zoning Code.  The Commission began working shortly thereafter, and on May 11, 2011, the Commission voted to send its preliminary report to City Council for review. Council is required to begin a public hearing on the zoning code proposals within 45 days. After Council closes the public hearing, the Zoning Code Commission must consider recommendations from City Council and then send a final report to Council for action. ZCC Preliminary Report. Zoning Code Proposals.  Additional information is available at www.zoningmatters.org.

CITY’S PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT AND OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY REACH ACCORD WITH ERNEST J. BOCK & SONS, Inc.

Philadelphia, May 23, 2011 – The City’s Procurement Department and the Office of Economic Opportunity have reached an agreement with the general contracting firm of Ernest J. Bock & Sons, Inc. (EBS) to address alleged irregularities identified in the City Controller’s Auditor’s Report of July 2010 concerning EBS’s compliance with the City’s Antidiscrimination Policy, and the City’s administration and enforcement of the Policy in connection with the construction of the building exterior and certain interior work for the new “connector” building between Terminals D and E and the Philadelphia International Airport.

In a joint effort to address the alleged irregularities in the Controller’s Report concerning compliance with and enforcement of the Policy, EBS and the City have agreed to undertake the following actions.

First, EBS has and will continue to voluntarily refrain from bidding on any City or City-related contracts until April 1, 2012. This extends the period of negotiated withdrawal from the City’s procurement process that began with EBS’s withdrawal of its low bid on another airport contract in August 2010, and will total approximately twenty (20) months.

Second, EBS and the City will jointly prepare, develop, and present a series of workshops and seminars to provide contractor integrity education and strengthen the capacity and independence of ready, willing, and able minority-owned companies participating in City contracts. EBS will collaborate with the Office of Economic Opportunity on the content of this series and will fund this effort. The educational effort will focus on compliance with contractual obligations, and technical assistance for minority-owned businesses. In addition, the workshops will also address the potential legal consequences of violating the City’s Anti-Discrimination policies.

Mayor Nutter offered his view on the agreement: “This agreement with EBS is unprecedented with regard to the City procurement process. It accomplishes two key goals: it demonstrates that the City has turned a corner using a new approach to enforce M/W/DSBE provisions in its contracts, and it puts contractors who want to do business with the City on notice that practices that circumvent equal opportunity goals will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form. We said more than three years ago that it was a new day, and this agreement demonstrates our resolve. We mean what we say.”

City Procurement Commissioner Hugh Ortman said, “We are now going to be taking a closer look at those who seek to do business with the City, especially with respect as to how M/W/DSBE contractors will be included in the competitive bidding process as we move forward.

City Controller Alan Butkovitz said, “This agreement is a first step in ensuring that when vendors are awarded City contracts, they will follow through with their commitment to the City by fulfilling their minority participation goals in accordance with the contract.”

Angela Dowd-Burton, Executive Director for the Office of Economic Opportunity, expressed her commitment to working with EBS on this educational endeavor. “Building a portfolio of qualified M/W/DSBEs able to do business with the City and in the private sector at a higher level is what we strive to achieve.”

Thomas Bock, Vice-President of EBS, expressed his enthusiasm to work with the City in order to improve awareness and appreciation for the City’s Anti-Discrimination policies: “Ernest Bock & Sons is eager to assist the City in developing a universal understanding among contractors performing public works contracts that, with our efforts, the Philadelphia construction industry will be able to provide invaluable, and much-needed assistance in the development of a quality MBE, WBE, and DSBE program.”

MAYOR NUTTER MAKES CITY RECREATION CENTERS SMOKE FREE

Philadelphia, May 23, 2011 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter, accompanied by Deputy Mayor for Health and Opportunity Donald F. Schwarz and Deputy Mayor for Environmental and Community Resources Michael DiBerardinis, signed an executive order to make the more than 200 city owned recreation centers, playgrounds, and pools 100% smoke-free, including all outdoor spaces. This announcement comes days before the celebration of World No Tobacco Day on May 31^st. The Executive Order will reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, give smokers another reason to quit, and decrease the likelihood that children see adults smoking.

“We’re making this change so that recreation spaces can be healthier, safer, and cleaner for the tens of thousands of kids and adults who learn, play, and gather here every year and for all of the city’s recreation center staff,” said Mayor Nutter. “The Philadelphia Smoking Ban prevents citizens from receiving second hand smoke in many of our city’s businesses. Now, we are protecting the citizens in our recreation centers.”

Dr. Schwarz added, “The examples that we set for our children have profound effects on their physical and psychological development. We must send kids a consistent message that smoking is unsafe, un-cool, and un-powerful. Smoking leads to nearly 2,500 deaths per year in Philadelphia. This is more deaths than those caused by homicide, HIV, diabetes, kidney failure, and stroke combined.”

The Executive order and a related Parks and Recreation regulation will take effect in July 2011. Approximately 1,000 signs will be posted in recreation spaces notifying visitors and staff about the new smoke-free policy. Thousands of wallet-sized cards with information about the policy and resources for help with quitting will also be distributed.

“We will need everyone’s help to make this a success,” Deputy Mayor DiBerardinis said. “Staff members, coaches, parents, civic leaders, and even kids will need to speak up. If you see someone smoking, let them know that there is a new policy that makes all rec center property smoke-free. Don’t assume they know about the new policy. Point to a nearby sign or hand them a wallet card. Then, politely ask them to put out their cigarette. Through a combined effort, I believe we can make this policy work.”

A telephone line will also be made available to receive reports of smoking violations and requests for educational sessions to help staff, coaches, parents, and even kids better understand the new policy. The Departments of Public Health and Parks and Recreation will also make additional free quit-smoking classes available at recreation centers throughout the city. This is on top of free classes held throughout the year in other community setting. For help with quitting, Philadelphians can visit www.smokefreephilly.org or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

COMMUNITIES OF FAITH TO KICK OFF ENERGY AND CONSERVATION EVENT

WHO: Mayor Michael A. Nutter

WHAT: Mayor Nutter will highlight a collaborative initiative between the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and the Department of Commerce that will provide the faith-based community with the tools to become more energy efficient.

The Communities of Faith Energy and Conservation Coalition (COFECC) will provide presentations on EnergyWorks, the Stormwater Management Incentive Program, PhillyBuyingPower, PECO Smart Ideas, and the Philadelphia Gas Works.

WHERE: City Hall, Mayor’s Reception Room, Room 202
WHEN: Monday, May 23, 2011 2:00 pm TODAY

MAYOR NUTTER TO SIGN EXECUTIVE ORDER MAKING RECREATION CENTERS AND PLAYGROUNDS SMOKE-FREE

Who: Mayor Michael A. Nutter

Donald F. Schwarz, Deputy Mayor for Health and Opportunity and
Commissioner, Department of Public Health

Michael DiBerardinis, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Community

Resources and Commissioner, Department of Parks and Recreation

What: Mayor Michael Nutter will sign an executive order that will make recreation centers, playgrounds, and pools in Philadelphia 100% smoke-free. Smoking will no longer be allowed anywhere on recreation center property – indoors or outdoors, including playgrounds, ball fields, courts, parking lots, lawns, and pool areas.

When: Monday, May 23, 2011 1:00 pm TODAY

Where: Kingsessing Recreation Center, 4901 Kingsessing Avenue