Keep Lancaster Moving

By City Councilman Tim Roschel

Chair of the Lancaster City Council Public Works Committee

Understandably, many residents can not attend all the Committee and Council meetings where decisions are debated and finalized.  In an effort to better inform the public of the current issues facing Lancaster City, I am launching this blog.    However, I should admit upfront that I have a positive bias toward our City.  As a construction worker for the last 28 years, I have worked in numerous states and dozens of other cities.  Nowhere would I rather call home than Lancaster, PA.

Dialogue, Commentary and Updates on City Council Initiatives, Neighborhood Activities, and Non-Profit Efforts
to improve the quality of life in Lancaster.

January 20, 2010
Gateways to Lancaster

January 18, 2010
Refinancing Bond the City's Obligations

January 10, 2010
Public Works Working for You

January 18, 2010
Refinancing Bond the City's Obligations

Councilman Smith is the new chair of the Finance committee, and several agenda items have already come before his committee and, subsequently, before Council.  The most significant item he presented at his first meeting was Ordinance No.3 – 2010, an ordinance held over from November of 2009. 

The ordinance called for a refinancing of general obligation bonds from 2003.  The bonds, in large part, were purchased in 2003 to finance the new police station. Patrick Hopkins, director of the city’s Administrative Services, along with consultants Concord Public Finance constantly monitor interest rates to determine when and if a refinancing of bonds will be beneficial to the city.

Due to current interest rates, an opportunity to refinance became desirable.  It should also be noted that the city’s current bond rating also allowed for the refinancing.  Our bond rating remains favorable because of the recently passed 2010 budget that called for a workforce reduction and tax increases.  Neither of these decisions was popular, but they were fiscally necessary-- as our favorable bond rating bears out.

The 2003 bonds were placed at an online auction where financial institutions bid on their procurement.  We have done this online auction procedure several times in recent years (Pension Obligation Bond, Capital Improvement Bond, refinancing of Swaption Bonds) and always with a positive result.  The January 12 auction was no different.  The end result was a 3.2% savings of refunded principal, or—to state it more clearly—a $270,745 savings to the City taxpayers.

Comment on this Blog entry: Comments should be directed to Councilman Roschel at his email address. Comments are posted here.

January 10, 2010
Public Works Working for You

In recent news articles and editorials regarding the city budget, much attention has been given to potential police and fire department layoffs—as well as an increase in property taxes.  Not being discussed were the severe cut-backs the Public Works Department has endured over the past decade.  Nor have we acknowledged the superb job this department does in providing critical services to the city despite these cut-backs.

The Public Works Department has lost around 40 positions in recent years including supervisors, laborers, managers, mechanics, and operators.  Despite these losses, the department has been able to provide the following list of services:

City Operations maintain 240 miles of streets and public alleys, 17,000 traffic signs, 117 traffic intersections, 536 vehicles, and 22 public parks.  The Wastewater and Water Bureaus serve over 120,000 customers in the City and various municipalities in the County.  The wastewater plant treats 20 million gallons of wastewater per day and maintains 135 miles of sewer lines.  The two water plants that are operated by the City produce an average of 20 million gallons of water per day.  They also maintain 573 miles of distribution piping, 42,000 water meters, and the water and wastewater labs analyze over 50,000 samples per year which is required by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.  The Public Works Department performs numerous other operations (not mentioned here) that are no less significant.

The Public Works Department is also taking the lead in finding ways to reduce energy costs.  At zero cost to the taxpayers, Lancaster is participating in CitySmart, an energy management pilot program offered to selected PPL municipal customers.  The managers and supervisors from the Public Works Department attended a CitySmart workshop where they, along with the consultants, discussed building performance benchmarks and best management practices.  The consultants also offered an energy audit report for three of our municipal buildings, and an energy management master plan is forthcoming.  I can say firsthand that the city employees in attendance at the workshop were enthusiastic about the program and also excited about finding ways to cut energy expenditures.

Understandably, most of us only think of Public Works when we have a complaint. But I think due praise should be given to all the women and men of the department whose daily professionalism and dedication tackle a staggering amount of work that keeps our city running. Because let’s face it, without properly cared for parks, streets, water and sewage systems, Lancaster would not be the outstanding city that it is.

And just one final note, many residents know that Rick Gray left his very successful law practice (at a huge pay cut) to serve as our Mayor.  The service and sacrifice of Public Works Director, Charlotte Katzenmoyer, should also be highlighted.  Ms. Katzenmoyer has two advanced degrees in engineering; she supervises over 200 employees; and she manages a $41+ million budget. What would a CEO in the private sector with that kind of responsibility be worth?

Comment on this Blog entry: Comments should be directed to Councilman Roschel at his email address. Comments are posted here.

 January 20, 2010
Gateways to Lancaster

On January 12, City Council passed two resolutions authorizing the City to apply for grant applications with the State of Pennsylvania.  Often introduced by Randy Patterson, city Director of Economic Development and Neighborhood Revitalization, Council passes resolutions like these all the time, and almost always these resolutions go unnoticed and underreported.  I don’t think they should. 

Both resolutions are in regards to the former Lancaster Stockyards site, a long time blighted property that serves as a gateway to Lancaster City.  The first resolution (Resolution No. 3 – 2010) authorizes a grant application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development in the amount of $1,000,000 for site demolition and improvements.  If awarded, the city will loan the money to the developer who is performing the demolition, clearance, and constructing improvements.  The City and developers have agreed to conditions prior to monetary disbursement which removes any financial liabilities from the City.

The second resolution (Resolution No.4 -2010) authorizes a grant application for a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Grant in the amount of $2.75 million for the construction of a commercial office building-- again at the former Stockyard site.  For grants like this, the State requires a municipal body (in this case Lancaster City) to be the applicant.  The City, acting as a pass-through, then transfers the money to the developer.  And again the developer guarantees the proper use of these funds and removes the City from any financial liabilities.

Ok, so why should Lancaster residents care about these two resolutions?  For starters, tax revenue and jobs.  Once completed, the former Stockyard site will be a mixed use commercial site home to several businesses with room and parking available for future growth.  These businesses will provide jobs and tax revenue to the City.  The Redevelopment Grant mentioned will be used to facilitate a new CoreSource office.  Currently downtown, CoreSource outgrew their current location, and we are pleased to keep their business within the city limits.

Another reason to support the Stockyard project is changing the visual image of that entrance into Lancaster. Go back a few years with me to the former Harrisburg Pike entrance into the City.  Do you remember the salvage yard next to the Wendys, the empty and decaying Federal Mogul building, and the grungy looking view of the wasteland area between Harrisburg Pike and Armstrong World Industries?  Now drive by there today, notice the difference, and imagine what it will look like once the train tracks are removed and replaced with sidewalks, lighting, trees, and athletic fields. (As a member of Council in 2006, we passed a property rezoning ordinance that provided for the current allowable uses.)

Now imagine replacing the blighted Stockyard site with a thriving mixed use business park.  Add a new Lititz Pike bridge (set for construction in 2011) replacing the structurally unsafe current bridge and connecting directly into Duke Street, thus eliminating that dangerous sharp right turn onto McGovern Avenue.  Now further add the several million dollar beautification and renovation project upgrades at the Amtrak station, and a complete transformation of that whole “gateway” section of town becomes visible.

I should also mention that there is a Gateway plan for that section of town. It has been in the works for years and it’s the result of a collaborative effort between the City, Manheim Township and Lancaster County Planning.  The improvements to this area of town, along with Clipper Magazine Stadium, connect well and feed into the improvements at the former Armstrong site and F&M.

One final reason for supporting the Stockyard project is farmland preservation. The Stockyard land is located in a growth opportunity area (GOA).  County Planning designates GOAs as targeted for commercial and residential growth.  These areas have the necessary existing infrastructure, and development here takes pressure off our surrounding farmland for future development.  I worked in Delaware and near Philadelphia within the past few years.  On my way home from work, I always knew when I was in Lancaster County.  I grew up here and often take it for granted, but Lancaster County does have some of the most attractive farmland in the country, and—as a city boy—I’d like to see it preserved.

Obviously, the two grant application resolutions passed by Council are only a small part of the overall vision discussed here.  But they are part of the plan; they are important; and I think the residents should know what they are and why we passed them.  Let me know what you think.

Comment on this Blog entry: Comments should be directed to Councilman Roschel at his email address. Comments are posted here.