Appropriations committee advances three FY25 budget amendments, including Lemon Hill World Cup site work and Germantown 250 funding request

Philadelphia City Council’s Committee of Appropriations advanced three related budget measures—bills 250071, 250072 and 250073—at a public hearing and reported them favorably to full council for first reading.

Sabrina Maynard, budget director, told the committee that the three measures include a spring mid‑year transfer ordinance and two capital ordinance amendments. “The proposed investments are for critical legal needs in FY25 both for outside counsel and for indemnities and on making immediate term event preparedness investments in advance of 2026 special events,” Maynard said. She also said “the operating ordinance is being amended to add additional funds for partner organizations in advance of special events in 2026.”

Why it matters: The administration said some capital work must begin during FY25 so larger construction and site work can be completed in time for events linked to the 2026 World Cup, which the city has said will include Fan Fest activities beginning in May 2026.

Maynard identified specific site improvements requested under the capital amendments for work at the Lemon Hill site in Fairmount Park, where the administration has been coordinating with Philadelphia soccer to prepare a Fan Fest space. She described the planned work as including “tree brush pruning, ADA ramps, and pedestrian access improvements, site grading and drainage improvements, design of sidewalk and traffic signal improvements for pedestrian safety, and work on the Lemon Hill Overlook structure.” She told the committee that the Office of the Director of Finance, the Managing Director’s Office, the Office of Innovation and Technology, and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation are included in the request.

Community testimony included a request tied to the city’s 2026 commemorations. Kristen Clark, founder and executive director of the Germantown Arts District, urged support for the Germantown 250 project. “This is a vital initiative preserving our city's history while investing in its future,” Clark said, arguing that Germantown should be included in citywide plans for the 250th anniversary and that council investment is necessary for the neighborhood to benefit from the events and related attention.

Council discussion thanked department staff and first responders for recent emergency response work and expressed support for focusing resources on neighborhood participation in 2026 events. Multiple council members thanked the finance and administration teams for negotiating the amendments and emphasized the goal of ensuring neighborhoods and historically Black and women‑led organizations can participate in 2026 activities.

Committee action: Vice Chair Gilmore Richardson moved that bill 250071 be reported from the committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules be suspended to permit first reading at the next council session; the motion was seconded (second not specified in the hearing record) and approved by voice vote. The committee then approved an amendment to bill 250072, moved by Vice Chair Gilmore Richardson and seconded for the amendment (record notes Councilmember Lazada seconded the amendment). The committee voted to report bill 250072 as amended with a favorable recommendation and to suspend the rules for first reading (the committee record notes Councilmember Goedier seconded the bill motion). The committee also moved and approved bill 250073 for favorable reporting and suspension of rules for first reading (Councilmember Thomas is recorded as seconding that motion). All three measures were advanced by voice vote; no roll‑call tallies were recorded in the hearing transcript.

What the measures change: The bills as described in testimony would (1) amend capital program ordinances adopted June 14, 2024, to revise appropriations and totals for FY25 capital projects; and (2) authorize transfers and appropriations from the grants revenue fund to the general fund and the transportation fund for FY25 to support partner organizations and event preparedness. The administration said some of the operating and capital additions are intended to cover outside counsel and indemnity needs in FY25 as well as event‑readiness work.

Implementation notes and timing: Maynard emphasized that starting certain work in FY25 is needed so additional construction and site work can be completed in time for the May 2026 kickoff of events. The bills refer to previously adopted ordinances (approved 06/14/2024) that the measures would amend; specific dollar amounts and line‑item details were provided to committee members in the testimony packet but are not fully stated on the public hearing record.

Next steps: Each bill was reported from the committee with a favorable recommendation and will be submitted for first reading at the next council session per the committee motion.

Ending: The committee concluded the hearing after the votes and thanked witnesses and staff for their testimony and work on the amendments.