NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, in accordance with Sections II.B.4-5 and II.C.2 of the Regulations of the City of Philadelphia Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board (Rate Board), that technical and public hearings will be conducted on the date and times indicated below on the proposal of the Philadelphia Water Department (Water Department) to implement the annual adjustment to the Tiered Assistance Program Rate Rider (TAP-R) by revising related water, sewer and fire service connection quantity charges. Both hearings are open to the public and will be conducted remotely via Webex Meeting in light of the current restrictions related to COVID-19.

The virtual technical review hearing, at which only registered Participants may speak, will begin at 10:00 am on Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

The virtual public input hearing, at which any person may speak, will begin at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

Persons who wish to speak at the virtual public input hearing should sign up no later than Monday, July 13, 2020 at 4:00 pm by sending an email to WaterRateBoard@phila.gov, including your name and contact information.  Members of the public may also submit written comments via email (including identifying information) to WaterRateBoard@phila.gov by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, July 14, 2020.

To listen to or participate in the above hearings, use the link to the hearing: https://philagov.webex.com/philagov/j.php?MTID=mc5bdb0f6d2cfb7cca0539353ac63b551 or call:

1-203-480-8023 US Toll
1-866-523-9994 US Toll Free

The access code for the meeting is 129 988 6149.

The Water Department’s rate proposal and related information are available at www.phila.gov/departments/water-sewer-storm-water-rate-board/rate-proceedings/2020-annual-rate-adjustment.  Anyone who (1) needs further information, (2) has questions concerning the hearing schedule and procedures or (3) requires assistance for translation or disability, may contact the Rate Board at WaterRateBoard@phila.gov or the Water Department at laura.copeland@phila.gov.

The COVID-19 Relief Pennsylvania Statewide Small Business Assistance program is a new program from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that will provide grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 to small businesses that have been economically impacted by COVID-19.

Learn more, including how to apply.

Revised fees for most permits, business licenses, and trade licenses issued by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) are in effect for new applications filed on or after July 1, 2020.

A regulation published in May 2020 increased L&I permit and license fees by up to 3.5 percent. Fees were last changed in 2017.

The 2017 fees will continue to apply to applications filed before July 1st.

Review the new permit and license fees.

L&I has cut the standard review time for new online permit applications to 10 business days. Formerly, the 10-business-days timeframe was only for reviews that applicants had paid an extra fee to “accelerate.”

With standard review times now falling within the same 10-business-days timeframe as accelerated reviews, L&I has temporarily suspended the accelerated program. L&I continues to accept new permit applications only online via eCLIPSE.