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Approving a new plan, estimated costs and proposed method of assessment of the Old City Special Services District for and concerning business improvements and administrative services to the Old City area of the City of Philadelphia and authorizing a change to the registered office address of the Old City Special Services District, all under certain terms and conditions.
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WHEREAS, The Old City Special Services District of Philadelphia (District) was incorporated as a municipal authority for a term of five years under the provisions of the Municipality Authorities Act, Act of May 2, 1945 (P.L. 382, No. 164) as amended, (the Act) and as authorized by Bill No. 970093 (approved May 14, 1997); and
WHEREAS, Bill No. 020737 (approved January 23, 2003) authorized an extension to the term of the District as a municipal authority to December 31, 2022; and
WHEREAS, The District's registered office address currently on file with the Pennsylvania Department of State is 35 South Letitia Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106; and
WHEREAS, The District proposed and City Council desires to authorize a change of such registered office address to 231 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106; and
WHEREAS, The District wishes to continue providing business improvements and administrative services to the Old City area; and
WHEREAS, The District has completed a new Plan and Five Year Budget (the Plan), attached as Exhibit A hereto, detailing certain business improvements and administrative services to the District, together with the estimated costs and the proposed method of assessment and charges; and
WHEREAS, After duly advertised public hearings held by the District pursuant to the Act, legally sufficient objections to the Plan have not been received either from persons representing the ownership of one-third (1/3) of the properties in the district or property owners within the district whose property valuation as assessed for taxable purposes amounts to more than one-third (1/3) of the total property valuation of the district; and
WHEREAS, As required by the Act, the Plan has now been submitted to City Council for its review and approval; and
WHEREAS, It is desirable to the City that the Plan to continue providing improvements to the Old City Special Services Area be approved for 5 more years; and
WHEREAS, It is City Council's intent, in enacting this Ordinance, to authorize a change to the District's registered office address and to take the action required under the Act to approve the Plan; now, therefore
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. City Council hereby authorizes the District to change its registered office address on file with the Pennsylvania Department of State to 231 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106, and to notify the Secretary of the Commonwealth of such change.
SECTION 2. The Plan and Five Year Budget for the Old City Special Services District (Plan) attached as Exhibit A hereto, including the maps and other documents and supporting data which form a part of the Plan, submitted by the Old City Special Services District (District) having been duly reviewed and considered, is approved.
SECTION 3. The District is authorized to take such action as may be necessary to carry out the Plan for a period of 5 years. City Council authorizes the District to proceed with minor changes in substantial conformity with the Plan. Any major changes must be approved by Ordinance.
SECTION 4. The Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the District, in a form approved by the City Solicitor, for taking legal action to collect District assessments and charges.
SECTION 5. The City resolves to cause the level of security and maintenance services provided by the City to the area served by the District to be established in the future at the same levels as would have been provided in the absence of the services to be provided by the District, unless there shall be a City-wide reduction in services.
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