Title
Authorizing the creation of a “Special Committee on City Infrastructure Projects under the American Jobs Plan”, to develop and recommend strategies for implementing, leveraging, and ensuring inclusion in City infrastructure projects funded under the American Jobs Plan.
Body
WHEREAS, The President’s proposed American Jobs Plan is an historic eight-year plan by the federal government to invest nearly two trillion dollars over eight years, in our nation’s infrastructure including roads, bridges, ports, airports, mass transit systems, electric power grids, water systems, buildings, and housing; and
WHEREAS, The American Jobs Plan would provide billions of dollars to states and municipalities, and could help fund infrastructure projects in the City of Philadelphia including improvements to SEPTA systems, the airport, City water systems, housing, the Navy Yard, and Philadelphia ports, roads and bridges, possibly creating thousands of family-sustaining jobs for Philadelphia residents; and
WHEREAS, Funding under the American Jobs Plan should be leveraged with other City programs through strategic, inclusive implementation of projects with the greatest impact on the challenges facing city residents including gun violence, lack of opportunities and unemployment; and
WHEREAS, The City’s Neighborhood Preservation Initiative invests up to $400 million in affordable housing, basic system repair, retaining walls, permanent housing for the homeless, along with commercial corridor investments that include working capital, property rehabilitation and entrepreneurship, which could all be leveraged with the American Jobs Plan to serve more residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, A focused analysis by the Special Committee, with recommendations on how best to implement, leverage and ensure inclusion in projects funded by the American Jobs Plan and other City programs, offers a strategic pathway to achieving the greatest return on our investments; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby authorizes the creation of a “Special Committee on City Infrastructure Projects under the American Jobs Plan”, consisting of members appointed by the Council President, to develop and recommend strategies for implementing, leveraging, and ensuring inclusion in City infrastructure projects funded under the American Jobs Plan and other City programs.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That in furtherance of these goals, the Special Committee’s duties shall include, but not be confined to: convening regular meetings for planning and coordination purposes; tracking the City’s progress towards the implementation of City infrastructure projects; examining the efficacy of current programs and policies; identifying local and national best practices; engaging community leaders; increasing capacity for data collection and analysis; developing metrics to measure progress toward strategic goals; reviewing allocation of City resources to ensure optimization of results; and holding public hearings to highlight the Special Committee’s progress and solicit public input.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Special Committee shall submit a full report to the Council and the Mayor and make its findings and recommendations available to the public.
End