Mayor Nutter said today that the court ruling to keep 11 libraries open could damage his plans to lease the buildings to private or non-profit operators.

"This really runs the risk of significantly hampering our efforts to get the reuse plans in order," Nutter said, noting that the ruling has "caused confusion with potential funders."

On Monday Nutter announced plans to lease the 11 libraries -- which are slated for closure due to budget cuts -- to private foundations, non-profits or community groups, who would run them as "knowledge centers." But yesterday Court of Common Pleas Judge Idee Fox ruled that Nutter could not close the branches without first getting City Council approval.

Nutter said he has already "received a number of very concerned calls," from people interested in leasing the branches. The city had identified organizations to run five of the branches.

The city plans to appeal the ruling.

... and PhillyClout feels fine.  Turning to today's newspaper:

A group of library patrons and a trio of City Council members win a big battle in the war on library branch closures.

City Controller Alan Butkovitz warms up some leftover ideas on how to save the city some money.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey takes a long look back at his new home and the year in crime.

And here's a guide to what's open and what's not for New Year's Day.

Shortly after 10 a.m. today, Mayor Nutter took the first official call into the new 3-1-1 non-emergency call line, formally kicking off the long awaited service in Philadelphia -- and providing recycling information to a curious resident.

"We promised you at the begininning of this year that we'd have 3-1-1 up and running by the end of the year," Nutter said during a press conference. "Now all Philadelphians only need one number."

Nutter said all non-emergency calls -- whether it's an inquiry about your trash day or a request to fill a pothole -- should now be made to  3-1-1. The 3-1-1 service will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via telephone. Or citizens can use a walk-in center located in room 167 in City Hall. 

"3-1-1 can even say God bless you," Nutter joked after someone sneezed.

The call center had a "soft start" back in October, when calls to the City Hall switchboard started getting transfered to 3-1-1. The center, staffed with 57 call-takers and seven supervisors, is currently fielding 3,500 calls per day, according to Call Center Director Rosetta Carrington Lue.

Managing Director Camille Barnett said the city spent about $1 million in start-up costs for the center, including software, consulting and training.

Click here for the 3-1-1 website.

Here's the formal statement, just released by the press office. We bolded sections for effect.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mayor's Statement on Today's Court Ruling on Library Closures

Philadelphia, December 30, 2008- Mayor Nutter has released the following statement:

"We emphatically disagree with today’s decision by Judge Fox.

The decision flies in the face of the Home Rule Charter which is explicit in its allocation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government.

»  More Nutter's Statement on LIbrary Ruling

Mayor Nutter doesn't seem too happy about Judge Idee Fox's ruling that the city cannot close 11 library branches as of 5 p.m. tomorrow without getting City Council approval.

Nutter called the ruling -- which references a section of the Philadelphia Code that states city buildings cannot be closed without Council approval -- a "complete violation of the fundamental tenants of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter."

"The law department is reviewing exactly what the judge said and what we'll do," Nutter said, adding that he expects to appeal.

When asked if he would keep the libraries open, Nutter was vague. "I'll consult with the law department and see what our options are," he said.

City Solicitor Shelley Smith just told PhillyClout that her department will file an appeal of the order just issued by Common Pleas Court Judge Idee Fox that put an immediate stop to Mayor Nutter's plan to close 11 library branches as of 5 p.m. tomorrow.  The closures were part of Nutter's plan to close a $1 billion-plus gap in the city's five-year financial plan.

"The city needs to appeal this ASAP because of the finances," Smith said. "The city needs to appeal this because of the principle."

At issue is section 16-203 of the Philadelphia Code, passed by Council over then-Mayor W. Wilson Goode Sr.'s objections, which requires the mayor to get Council approval before closing any city buildings.  A Common Pleas Court judge in 1988 ruled that the new law violated the city Charter.  Council appealed and a Commonwealth Court judge returned the case to the lower court, where it didn't go any further.

"Obviously we're disappointed," Smith said of Fox's ruling.  "Hopefully a Commonwealth Court judge will see it differently."

This just in from Chris Brennan at 1:15 p.m.:

Court of Common Pleas Judge Idee Fox just ordered Mayor Nutter and the Free Library of Philadelphia to halt their plans to shutter 11 branch libraries after 5 p.m. tomorrow.

 A group of seven library patrons, along with the union that represents librarians, sued Nutter and the Free Library, saying that a 20-year-old ordinance prohibits the mayor from closing city buildings without approval by City Council. Three Council members — Bill Green, Jannie Blackwell and Jack Kelly — filed a similar lawsuit.

Although the city administration has said they don't think the ordinance is valid, Fox upheld the section of the code. She noted that Nutter did not seek Council approval. "He did not do that," she said.

Fox said that because Nutter announced plans to close the libraries, he has to go before Council. "Closed is closed. The mayor used the word closed," Fox said.

Fox put a verbal order in place until Jan 5 when she'll issue a written order.

»  More BREAKING: Judge halts library closures

Yep, the 3-1-1 non-emergency call line will kick off tomorrow at 10 a.m., making the end-of-the-year deadline Mayor Nutter set for completion of the project.

Here's the press release from the city:

WHO:        Mayor Michael A. Nutter
        Dr. Camille Barnett, Managing Director
        Rosetta Carrington Lue, 311 Contact Center Director
       
WHERE:        311 Contact Center
        City Hall, Room 169

WHEN:        Wednesday, December 31, 2008                10:00 am
       
        WHAT:        The City of Philadelphia will begin operation of the 311 system on December 31, 2008.  Starting then, 311 will be the only number necessary to find out information or to access a Philadelphia City service.

                311 can be reached via the telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year or via the walk-in centered located in Room 169 of City Hall during normal business hours. 311 will be a free service available to anyone who needs to know more about Philadelphia, City services, or general information.  Residents, businesses, and visitors are all encouraged to call.

City Controller Alan  Butkovitz says the city could realize more than $400 million through collecting city debts and putting other cost-saving measures in place.

Butkovitz today released a budget analysis with recommendations on how the city could increase collections and generate new revenue. Butkovitz said the data could help reduce the budget hole of more than $1 billion which the city faces over the next five years. We'll let you know what the city says in response to his suggestions.

Some of Butkovitz's findings:

* There are 62,000 delinquent water cutstomers, who owe $117 million in unpaid bills.

* Going to paperless paychecks would save $400,000 annually.

* The police department is not referring delinquent accounts for private protection to the law department. In March 2006, there were 76 accounts worth a total of $100,000 that were more than 90 days old.

»  More Controller Says City Can Reduce Deficit By Over $400 million