The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
"Authority"or"Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority."An agency and public instrumentality of the Commonwealth and a body politic and corporate created pursuant to this chapter or created under the former provisions of section 4 of the act of June 27, 1986 (P.L.267, No.70), known as the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority Act, formerly codified at 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 59 (relating to Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority).
"Board."The governing body of the authority.
"Bonds."Notes, bonds, refunding notes and bonds, interim certificates, debentures and other evidence of indebtedness or obligations which the authority is authorized to issue pursuant to this chapter or was authorized pursuant to the former provisions of sections 7 and 8 of the act of June 27, 1986 (P.L.267, No.70), known as the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority Act, formerly codified at 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 59 (relating to Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority).
"City."Any city or county of the first class.
"Construction."The acquisition, design, erection, extension, renovation, rehabilitation, conversion, furnishing, fixturing, equipping, enlargement or substantial repair of a convention center or part of a convention center and activities substantially related to such acquisition, design, erection, extension, renovation, rehabilitation, conversion, furnishing, fixturing, equipping, enlargement or substantial repair of a convention center or part of a convention center.
"Convention center."Any land, improvement, structure, building or part of a building, or a property interest in any land, improvement, structure, building or part of a building, whether owned by or leased by or to or otherwise acquired by the authority, and appropriate for large public assemblies; the holding of conventions; conferences; trade exhibitions; and other business, social, cultural, scientific and public interest events. The term includes a main convention area and other buildings, structures or facilities for use in conjunction with the main convention area, including provision for off-street parking, retail areas and other improvements related to the convention center owned by or leased by or to the authority for the purpose of producing revenue to assist in defraying any costs or expenses of the convention center.
"Cost of a project."All or any part of the cost of construction, acquisition, alteration, enlargement, furnishing, fixturing and equipping, reconstruction and rehabilitation of a convention center project. The term includes all of the following:
(1) Cost of all lands, structures, real or personal property, rights, rights-of-way, roads, franchises, easements and interests acquired or used for or in connection with a project.
(2) Cost of demolishing or removing any buildings or structures on acquired land, including the cost of acquiring lands to which buildings or structures may be moved or located.
(3) Cost of all utility lines, structures or equipment.
(4) Charges and interest prior to, during and for a period of six months after completion of construction and acquisition.
(5) Provisions for reserves for principal and interest and for extensions, enlargements, additions and improvements.
(6) Cost of architectural, engineering, financial and legal services, plans, specifications, studies, surveys, estimates of cost and of revenue.
(7) Expenses necessary or incident to determining the feasibility or practicability of constructing the project.
(8) Other capital cost or expense as necessary or incident to the construction, development and acquisition of the project, to the financing of the construction, development and acquisition and to the placing of the project in operation. This paragraph includes a proper allowance for contingencies and the provisions of reasonable initial working capital for operating the project.
"Expansion or substantial renovation."Any construction with an estimated total cost of more than $300,000,000 initiated after substantial completion.
"Federal agency"or"Federal Government."The United States of America, the President of the United States of America and any department or corporation, agency or instrumentality designated or established by the United States of America.
"Main convention area."All facilities, furniture, fixtures and equipment necessary or incident to the purposes of a convention center. The term includes:
(1) meeting rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, ballrooms, reception areas, registration and prefunction areas, truck loading areas and access to truck loading areas, accessways, common areas, lobbies and offices; and
(2) areas appurtenant to any of the areas listed in paragraph (1).
"Obligee of the authority"or"obligee."Any bondholder, trustee or trustees for any bondholders when a party to any contract with the authority.
"Philadelphia Metropolitan Statistical Area."The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Division of the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pennsylvania-New Jersey Delaware-Maryland Metropolitan Statistical Area as announced on June 6, 2003, by the United States Office of Management and Budget pursuant to Standards for Defining Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas by the Office of Management and Budget for the 2000 Decennial Census of the United States Census Bureau, as published in the Federal Register, Vol. 65, No. 249, on December 27, 2000, comprising the Pennsylvania counties of Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery and Chester.
"Project."Any site, building, structure, equipment, furnishing and other facilities or undertaking in respect of a convention center which the authority is authorized to acquire, construct, improve, install, maintain or operate under the provisions of this chapter.
"State public body."The Commonwealth and its executive, administrative and independent agencies, its departments, its officers, its boards, its authorities, its commissions and its instrumentalities.
"Substantial completion."Construction which is sufficiently completed in accordance with contract documents and certified by a convention center authority's architect or engineer, as modified by change orders which are subject to review and approval by the Secretary of the Budget and the chief financial officer of a city, so that a main convention area can be used, occupied or operated for its intended use. In no event shall a project be certified as substantially complete until at least 90% of the work on the main convention area is completed.