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Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, and the Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into lease agreements with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (“PAID”) under which the City would lease to PAID on a project-by-project basis land and facilities in the Fairmount Park system, recreation centers, playgrounds and branches in the Free Library of Philadelphia system (collectively, the “Facilities”), and which would permit PAID to sublease some or all of the individual Facilities on a project-by-project basis to charitable organizations who wish to make capital repairs, renovations, and improvements to the Facilities and then to allow those organizations to operate public programs in them, all in conformity with the Economic Development Financing Law, Act 1967-102 (P.L. 251), as amended, all under certain terms and conditions.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Background.
1. The City of Philadelphia owns and manages a vast network of parks in the Fairmount Park system, more than 160 recreation centers and playgrounds, and more than 50 branches of the Free Library of Philadelphia.
2. The Fairmount Park system, the City’s recreation centers and playgrounds, and the Free Library of Philadelphia provide a vast range of recreational, athletic, learning, and creative opportunities that are vital to the health and well-being of Philadelphia citizens.
3. Philadelphia citizens are entitled to first-class, modern, safe, and clean parks, recreation centers and playgrounds, and libraries.
4. Many of the City’s parks, recreation centers, and libraries suffer from deferred maintenance and have not been improved or upgraded for far too long.
5. From time to time the City receives requests to lease a park, recreation center, playground or library facility to a charitable organization whose mission is to improve public facilities and operate public programs in them.
6. The Mayor and the City Council of Philadelphia believe it will benefit Philadelphia citizens to make it possible to lease park, recreation, and library facilities through PAID to charitable organizations who can improve those facilities and operate public programs in them.
SECTION 2. This Ordinance authorizes the Commissioner of Public Property, the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, and the Director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into lease agreements (“Leases”), materially like the form of Exhibit “A”, attached to this Ordinance with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (“PAID”) under which the City would lease to PAID on a project-by-project basis land and facilities in the Fairmount Park system, recreation centers, and branches in the Free Library of Philadelphia system (collectively, the “Facilities”), and which would permit PAID to sublease some or all of the individual Facilities on a project-by-project basis to charitable organizations who wish to make capital repairs, renovations, and improvements to the Facilities and then to allow those organizations to operate public programs in them.
SECTION 3. This Ordinance authorizes the City Solicitor to review and approve the Leases and all instruments and documents necessary to effectuate this Ordinance, including PAID’s form of sublease and also authorizes the appropriate City officials to execute and deliver those instruments and documents. In accordance with this Ordinance, the City Solicitor may require in those documents all provisions the City Solicitor determines are necessary and proper to protect the interests of the City of Philadelphia and carry out the purpose of this Ordinance.
EXHIBIT “A”
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