Stated Meeting, September 27, 2012

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, September 27, 2012 10:20 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DENNIS O'BRIEN COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO MICHAEL A. DECKER,

Good morning, everyone. (Good morning.)

The hour has come. We have established a quorum. I would ask all guests and visitors to please retire behind the rail and ask Councilmembers to take their seat. This morning to give our invocation, the Chair recognizes Father John B. Flanagan, President of Roman Catholic High School. He is here today as the guest of Councilman Bill Greenlee. I would ask the members and guests please rise. (Members and guests rise.)

I thank the Council and Councilman Greenlee for the invitation this morning. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord God, may everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue that all our prayers and good works may be guided by you. God, unite us and inspire us to be a people of service, kindness, and many good works. We pray now for all people who are poor, homeless, and hungry. God, please bring healing to those who are sick of mind, body or soul. Let us always strive to be a city united in brotherly love, placing the dignity of every man, woman, and child first and foremost in our governance. May our speech and actions reflect true love and compassion to all. May we be concerned with endowing young people with proper guidance and education and endowing every citizen with peace and prosperity. And, finally, Lord, we thank you for this day and humbly ask you to bless all people of this esteemed Council and the City of Philadelphia and all here gathered. all this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Amen.)

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Thank you again.

Thank you so much, Father. Thank you. Councilmembers will be at ease. (Council at ease.)

Thank you. The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 20th, 2012. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 20th, 2012 be approved. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 20, 2012 stand approved. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The Journal is approved. The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.

Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the majority, a leave of absence is requested by Councilman Jim Kenney.

Thank you, Councilman. Leave shall be granted. The Chair now recognizes Councilman O'Neill.

Mr. President, on behalf of the republicans, there are no requests for leave of absence.

Thank you, Councilman. I will dispense with the regular order of business at this moment to welcome all guests and visitors here today. We really appreciate you coming down to see your government in action. We hope that you enjoy your day, and we look forward to you coming back again in the very near future, possibly next Thursday. So, again, thank you all very much. At this time, I would like to recognize Councilman Jones, who will present a resolution recognizing October 1st through October 5th, 2012 as the Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development Week. Would Ms. Barbara Oliver and those accompanying her please join the And we also have Councilwoman Blackwell, Councilman Goode, Councilwoman Brown, and Councilman Oh joining the Councilman, and Councilman Green.

Many people in our national history recognize the contributions of the Freedom Riders, who broke down barriers of integration and lunch counters and education institutions around the nation. But after the Freedom Riders came the Freedom Writers, and they wrote legislation that was inclusive in the final frontier of inclusion, which is economic development. The difference between a productive taxpayer often is revenue from a job or an opportunity through contracting. Freedom Writers such as Congressman Parren Mitchell, who stood up in the halls of Congress and fought for inclusion, more locally Freedom Writers such as Lu Blackwell, Congressman -- you saw the warm welcome that the her contribution. Freedom Writers like Dr. Robinson, John Macklin, Wilson Goode, Sr., who made a difference in Philadelphia local politics, but nationally it created MED Week. And MED Week is what dreams are made of for minority businesses, the dream of inclusion, to be a subcontractor that works and graduates to be a prime contractor some day, to hire people in our neighborhoods and our respective districts, to be gainfully employed. The idea is not just to make millionaires but to make regular thousandaires and taxpayers and people that work every day. So to that end, we have a resolution supporting the National Minority Business Development Agency and recognizing October 1st through October 5th, 2012 as the Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development Week, which provides critical information for fostering the growth and competitiveness

Whereas, since 1983, the President has proclaimed the National Minority Enterprise Development Week to recognize the outstanding achievements of Minority Business Enterprises to honor those corporations and financial institutions that support minority business development. Regional conferences and activities are organized by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Government Contracting and Business Development; and

Whereas, the MED Week celebration was started locally in Philadelphia in 1984 to honor and promote minority owned businesses in the Philadelphia area. The organizers of the first MED Week activities were Barbara Daniel Cox, former Director of Women's Commission, and Bilal Abdul Qayyuum, Assistant to the Deputy Director of the City Commerce Department; and Whereas, the support and development of minority businesses remains an integral part of our nation's commitment to development, equality, and opportunity; strong economic engagement in minority communities creates and sustains jobs in communities which might otherwise have been overlooked; and

Whereas, small businesses in Philadelphia and across the country are the cornerstone of economic growth, creating two-thirds of net new jobs in the country and compromising -and comprising 50 percent of America's employment; and

Whereas, the Philadelphia MED Week Committee consists of corporations, local colleges and universities, local and regional government agencies, and are committed to supporting opportunities for minority businesses; and Whereas, Philadelphia's MED Week has grown exponentially since its inception and this year includes a wide variety of sessions such as "Magnetic Marketing: Getting Business to Come to You," "Starting a New Business," "Building Your Team Bloomers: Invoking the Entrepreneurial Spirit" and "Emerging Trends and Markets"; and

Whereas, 2012 Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Awards Reception will celebrate 28 years of minority enterprise development in the Philadelphia region and feature Black Enterprise Senior Vice President and Editor-At-Large Alfred A. Edmond; now therefore

Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that it hereby supports the National and recognizing October 1st through October 5th, 2012 as Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development Week (MED Week), which provides critical information to foster the growth and competitiveness of minority business communities. Further resolved, that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia MED Week Committee as evidence of our strong -- right, Wilson, Blondie, Councilwoman -- strong and sincere support of this legislative body. Thank you. (Applause.)

The Chair recognizes Ms. Oliver for remarks.

Good morning, everyone. On behalf of the Philadelphia MED Week Committee, I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you. I'd like to thank our Council President, Councilman Clarke, our various Councilmembers that are supporting of bill, and you, the City of Philadelphia. The minority community could not do it without you and neither could I. So thank you very much. (Applause.)

Good morning. Thank you to Council President and everyone here today for the opportunity to stand here. I would like to say we're like the poster company for what the Councilwoman just was saying. We're the company that started off as a subcontractor working with GCA, who helped us -- put us in a position to be a prime company. So we try to do the same thing. That's why we're involved with MED Week. It's the best thing that we can do. Thank you for the opportunity. (Applause.)

Thank you. Council will be at ease. Oh, I'm sorry.

That's okay. Thank you. Tiff to close. I want to say, Chris didn't introduce himself. His name is Chris Wertz from T.U.C.S Services, and he is our title sponsor for MED Week, and he is definitely the poster child for the successes of MED Week, for the information that's delivered. And we'd like to thank Council. We'd like to thank the business community and all the participants on our MED Week Committee for putting on this wonderful week of professional development. And if you're interested in registering, you can visit our website at phillymedweek.com. Thanks. (Applause.)

Council will be at ease. Thank you. (Council at ease.)

Thank you so much. At this time, I would like to Bass, who will present a citation to Cheryl Ann Wadlington. Would Ms. Wadlington and those accompanying her please join the Councilwoman at the podium. And we also have Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez, Councilwoman Blackwell, and Councilwoman Tasco joining the Councilwoman, and also Councilwoman Brown. Before we start, I'd like to ask individuals, please keep your voices down so we can hear the presentation.

Good morning. Good morning. (Good morning.)

It is a wonderful day, and I am so honored to be here with my friend, Cheryl Ann Wadlington, and to talk about the work that she's done here in Philadelphia on behalf of our young people. I don't think that there is anything that is more success or successful outcome when it comes to young people, and particularly when you look at young women, there are a different set of issues and things that we need to address, and one of the things -- I can't say the one thing. One of the things that I really love about Cheryl Ann is that she reaches people exactly where they are, not where she wants them to be, not where we'd like them to be, but you have to be able to reach young people right where they are. And so she does an outstanding job of that, and it's an honor for me to recognize her today with a citation and also to acknowledge her new book which she just put out called The DivaGirl's Guide to Style and Self-Respect. Pick up a copy at your local bookstore. And the title of the book sounds cute, but what's inside really addresses some of the things that we need to have our young people know about, be familiar with, learn to love themselves, respect yourself, and that addresses so many of the other things that we see on the other end of that spectrum. So without further adieu, I just want to get started with presenting the citation to my good friend. Whereas, Cheryl Ann Wadlington is one of the nation's premier fashion and beauty journalists and a leading consultant in the field of personal growth and development; and

Whereas, Cheryl Ann Wadlington attended the Fashion Institute of Technology and Fashion Merchandising at Bauder Fashion College where she majored in advertising and communications; served on the faculty of the Temple University School of Communications and the advisory board of Cheyney University's Fashion Merchandising program; and Whereas, Cheryl Ann Wadlington founded Evoluer Image Consultants, an Philadelphia that provides clients with extensive makeovers, personal shopping and wardrobe management; and

Whereas, Cheryl Ann Wadlington is also the founder of The Evoluer House, a non-profit organization, whose core mission is to empower at-risk girls by nurturing positive self-expression and personal development and which has graduated more than 700 socioeconomically challenged girls from this highly successful personal development program. Through this program, Ms. Wadlington serves as a mentor and role model to young women throughout the City of Philadelphia; and

Whereas, in March 2012, The DivaGirl's Guide to Style and Self-Respect, penned by Ms. Wadlington, was published. Since its release, the book has received positive reviews for the wealth of information touches on issues that girls face every day and encourages them to tackle adversity with a bold sense of style. The DivaGirl's Guide has been described as, and I quote, "a refreshing and holistic guidebook for tweens and teens to chart their course through the rocky road of blossoming into a woman," end quote, and also a thorough and complete instruction manual that prepares and empowers our young ladies... from internet, social, personal, phone, and texting etiquette, to knowing how to present and represent one's self in public places, to networking and making yourself unforgettable (in a good way) everywhere you go. This DivaGirl's Guide truly covers it all; and

Whereas, Cheryl Ann Wadlington has engaged in a labor of love with her efforts to empower young, at-risk women and provide them with the tools that they need to become productive members of society. With the Guide to Style and Self-Respect, Ms. Wadlington has done more than talk about helping our young people. She has actively sought to impart her sage wisdom upon them, as well as founding an organization designed to assist young women in their journey to adulthood; and now therefore

Be it resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that it hereby honors and commends Cheryl Ann Wadlington for her excellent work on behalf of young people on the occasion of the release of her book, The DivaGirl's Guide to Style and Self Respect. Congratulations. (Applause.)

Ms. Wadlington, please give remarks.

Good morning. (Good morning.)

I want to thank City Council for this wonderful recognize Council President Darrell Clarke and Cindy Bass. I cannot thank you enough. She was one of the first people who stepped up to support, when I said there's nothing for young women to do in this city and we have a lot of issues here. And she has been a part of the ability of Evoluer House to, so far, nurture and empower 700 girls from some of the roughest inner cities in this city. Cindy, I cannot thank you enough. Come here, give me a hug, girl. I also have to recognize Blondell Reynolds Brown. Before she was City Councilwoman, she and I were in Camden right after the Rodney King incident, and we were teaching girls empowerment -- and Frances Jones back there -- we were teaching girls in some of the roughest areas. We used to have to dodge drug dealers, but we didn't care. We were determined. And, Blondell, you were right still there when I came to her in this city and said, Blondell, we have some issues with our girls, STD rates are high, there's teen violence, what can we do. She was one of the persons who listened, and since then, we were instituting programs in 28 recreation centers throughout the City. So I cannot commend you for that. Jannie Blackwell, who has been so supportive -- where are you, Jannie -since I was a little girl. (Applause.)

And, Jannie, I cannot thank you enough for not just your support with helping young girls in the City, but also supporting my brother in revitalizing the area of Middle Creek. And he just passed away, and I want you to know he was one of the persons who helped develop BEBASHI, which is an organization that is helping blacks health issues, and it is now helping 22,000 people who are facing all kinds of areas. So thank you, Jannie. And I also want to thank my family who is here. I want to thank people from the School District who are here who supported me. We even have people who came from New York from Analon Entertainment Television. You know I know how to get attention. We have representatives here from BYN Charitable Trust, who are here, who have supported me. My next-door neighbor Sally, who I love so much, she's here. My family members are here, volunteers, and some of the Evoluer girls, as we call them, from the non-profit organization, is here. So I'm not going to hold up too much of your time, but all I can say is that the decisions you make will determine what happens in this city. So I'm hoping that all of you, when you hear my name and when you hear the Evoluer House, please take my call, because it's about not helping me; it's about helping somebody. Thank you so much. (Applause.)

Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)

The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-of-Arms please deliver the messages from the Mayor to Mr. Decker. Will the Chief Clerk please read the messages from the Mayor.

To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, pursuant to Sections 4-604 and 2-307 of the Home Rule Charter, I am today transmitting to the Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission regarding the following bills: Bill Nos. 120645, 120657, and 120660; and I am pleased to advise you that 26, 2012, I signed the following bill that was passed by Council at its session on September 20, 2012: Bill No. 120616; and I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Wister III Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 5128 Wakefield Street, all under certain terms and conditions.

Thank you. Do you have any other messages, Mr. Decker?

I have none, Mr. President.

Thank you, Mr. Decker. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney. Not here. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.

Thank you, Mr. President. Today I introduce three resolutions, two non-privileged and one privileged.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Thank you.

Hold on one second, Mr. Decker. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.

Are we doing anything from committees?

I'm sorry.

We're not there yet.

Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, please proceed.

A privileged resolution commending the efforts of the many organizations and individuals that work to educate and encourage ex-offenders to exercise their right to vote.

That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.

And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the use of Neighborhood Transformation Initiative bond to acquire title reports, plot plans, legal descriptions and appraisals.

That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar.

And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Fourth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.

That will also be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.

Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one bill co-sponsored by yourself and Councilman Squilla and also a resolution on your behalf.

Thank you, Councilman.

An ordinance amending Section 9-212 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Newsstands," by revising the requirements for advertising and permitting the placement of awnings on newsstands and permitting the sale of additional products from newsstands.

That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.

And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Eighth, Twenty-Ninth, Thirty-Second, Thirty-Seventh and Forty-Third Wards of the City of Philadelphia.

That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Henon.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions.

Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.

Mr. President, I have no bills or resolutions today.

Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair now recognizes Councilmember Johnson.

For my good friend Councilman O'Brien, Mr. President, I have one bill, two non-privileged resolutions and two privileged resolutions.

Thank you, Councilman.

An ordinance approving the seventh amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Point Breeze East Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by the southerly side of Washington Avenue on the north, the westerly side of Broad Street on the east, the northerly side of Moore Street on the south and the easterly side of Twenty-Fifth Street on the west.

That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.

And a privileged resolution honoring, recognizing and commending Jeri Lynne Johnson, founder of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, for her extraordinary service and dedication as a musician, conductor, and historian.

That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.

And a privileged resolution honoring, recognizing and commending CeaseFirePA for its extraordinary service and dedication to reducing gun violence by educating and mobilizing people across Pennsylvania.

That resolution will also be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.

And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the use of Neighborhood Transformation Initiative bond proceeds to acquire title reports, plot plans, legal descriptions and appraisals.

That will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar.

And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the use of Neighborhood Transformation Initiative bond proceeds to acquire title reports, plot plans, legal descriptions and appraisals.

That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.

Thank you, Mr. President. No bills or resolutions.

Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Green.

Thank you, Mr. President. No bills or resolutions.

Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Brien.

Thank you, Mr. President, and greetings to my friend Councilman Kenyatta Johnson. I have no bills or resolutions today.

Thank you, Councilman. The Chair now recognizes Councilmember Goode.

Thank you, Mr. President. I offer no bills or resolutions today.

Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.

Good morning, Mr. President. No bills or resolutions this morning.

Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.

Thank you, Mr. President. One resolution today.

Thank you, Councilman.

A non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-First and Thirty-Eighth Wards of the City of Philadelphia.

That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.

Mr. President, I have no bills or resolutions.

Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.

Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one bill and two resolutions.

Thank you, Councilman.

An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the line item appropriation of certain amounts in the annual operating budget ordinance, and to require the expenditure or encumbrance of amounts so appropriated.

That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.

And a resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the line item appropriation of certain amounts in the annual operating budget and to require the expenditure or encumbrance of amounts so appropriated, under certain terms and conditions.

That resolution will also be referred to the appropriate committee.

And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the use of Neighborhood Transformation Initiative bond proceeds to acquire title reports, plot plans, legal descriptions and appraisals.

That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Bass.

Good morning, Mr. President. I have two resolutions on behalf of the Administration and one non-privileged resolution.

Thank you.

A privileged resolution authorizing City Council's Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings regarding the impact of arts and culture on Philadelphia's regional economy.

That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.

And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Seventeenth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.

That will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar.

And a non-privileged resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Wister III Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 5128 Wakefield Street.

That resolution will also be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. Councilmember Oh.

Thank you, Mr. President. I offer no bills or resolutions.

Thank you, Councilman. The next order of business is reports from committees. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode for a report from the Committee on Appropriations.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Appropriations reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Mr. Decker, will you please read the report.

To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Appropriations, to which was referred 120650, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'City Funds Deposits, Investments, Disbursements,' by authorizing the establishment of a Responsible Banking Review Committee," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Goode.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 120650. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 120650. say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. This bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Henon for a report from the Committee on Public Property.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Public Property and Public Works reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read the title of the report.

The Committee on Public Property and Public Works, to which was referred Bill No. 120534, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity,' to prohibit certain activities that damage, deface, or risk damage to, public artwork or memorials, and to provide for penalties for violations of such prohibitions," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you, sir. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Henon.

I move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit the first reading this day of Bill No. 120534. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 120534. say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Squilla for a report from the Committee of Streets and Services.

Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Streets and Services reports ten bills with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read the report.

The Committee on Streets and Services, to which was referred Bill No. 120563, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Brill Street, both sides, Street"; and Bill No. 120564, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Ellsworth Street, north side, Second Street to Front Street"; and Bill No. 120566, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Iseminger Street, west side, Porter Street to Ritner Street"; and Bill No. 120567, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Fitzwater Street, north side, 13th Street to Juniper Street"; and Bill No. 120648, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 9-S by striking from the City Plan and vacating Senate Street from a point approximately one-hundred six feet west of Rosewood Street to its terminus westwardly therefrom"; and Bill No. 120653, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Aquinas 2021 construct, own and maintain various encroachments within the City right-of-way on Chestnut Street between 20th and 21st Street and on Ranstead Street between 20th Street and 21st Street"; and Bill No. 120657, entitled "An ordinance authorizing PNC Bank to construct, use and maintain encroachments within the right-of-way on South Street between 10th Street and Alder Street and on Alder Street between South Street and Bainbridge Street"; and Bill No. 120659, entitled "An ordinance authorizing KHP II Chestnut, doing business as Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, to construct, own and maintain various right-of-way encroachments at 433 through 41 Chestnut Street"; and Bill No. 120660, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No. 040511), entitled 'An ordinance authorizing the revision of a portion of City Plan No. 55 in the area bounded by Aramingo Avenue, Frankford Creek and Adams Avenue,' by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein"; and Bill No. 120661, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 271 by relocating the southeasterly curbline of Delaware Avenue from Spring Garden Street to Ellen Street," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Squilla.

I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the ten bills that were just read into (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended this day to permit the ten bills just reported from committee. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)

All those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The ten bills just read will be placed on the First Reading Calendar today. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that those bills just reported with suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on the First Reading Calendar for the next session of 9/27/12 - STATED - 1ST READING Council -- Second Reading and Final Session of Council. Mr. Decker, will you please read any other bills on the First Reading Calendar.

Bill No. 120301, entitled "An ordinance continuing the Mt. Airy Business Improvement District beyond its termination date, in an area that generally includes both sides of Germantown Avenue from 6300 to 7631 and certain blocks of streets that intersect that portion of Germantown Avenue and for which Mt. Airy Improvement District Inc., a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, is the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District.

Thank you. This bill will be placed on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of 2ND READING calling up bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.

Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today: Nos. 120731, 120735, 120736, 120740, 120743, 120744, 120615, 120643. All other resolutions and bills are being held.

Thank you, Councilman. Before considering the resolutions and bills on the Final Passage Calendar, we will have public comment. Public comment will be as follows: If you are interested in commenting on any bills and resolutions that are on the Final Passage Calendar today, you must sign up at the table to my left. The guidelines for the public testimony is the following: You will be given three minutes for your testimony on bills and resolutions. You will see a podium in the middle of the Council session -- sorry; in the middle of the Chambers. There will be a device on the podium. It will be green when it's your time to talk. When it turns yellow, that means you have 30 seconds left. When it turns red, it means that your three minutes are up. At that time, the mic will be terminated. Mr. Decker, I please ask you to call the name of the first individual who is interested in testifying.

Jordan Yeager, commenting on 120740. (Witness approached podium.)

Good morning. Thank you, President Clarke, and I'd like to thank Councilmembers Jones, Johnson, and Reynolds Brown for introducing Resolution 120740. My name is Jordan Yeager. I'm an attorney and I represent the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, the Borough of Yardley in Bucks County and Nockamixon Township in Bucks County. What we are here today is to ask for Council's support for this resolution, which would in turn support a decision that we obtained from the Commonwealth Court striking down what's known as Act 13. As just like Philadelphia, municipalities around the Commonwealth protect their residents, protect their children, protect their businesses by taking into consideration local concerns and enact ordinances that respect those local concerns. And so you don't place incompatible land uses next to incompatible land uses. You don't put a dangerous factory next to a school, next to a day care center, next to people's homes, and we do that through zoning. What Act 13 did was take away that local authority. It took away that local authority not just for Nockamixon Township in Yardley Borough in Bucks County, not just for municipalities in the southwestern part of the state where Marcellus Shale is happening in the north, but also here for the City of Philadelphia. It took away that local control for municipalities around the Commonwealth. And so municipalities around the Commonwealth stood up and challenged Act 13, and we obtained an order from Commonwealth Court striking Act 13 down as unconstitutional, because it denies local municipalities like Philadelphia the opportunity to protect their residents, to protect their residents from dangerous land uses. There may be proper places for drilling activity, but we have to respect local communities' ability to say where that is. And the Commonwealth Court struck it down, but the Commonwealth, the folks in Harrisburg, have decided to appeal that to the state Supreme Court. Over 100 municipalities around the state, including the City of Pittsburgh, have issued resolutions supporting the activities of Yardley, of your sister municipalities around the state, such as Yardley and Nockamixon, and we ask that this City Council join with those municipalities around the state and stand up for local democracy. Stand up for local governments' ability to recognize what land uses are appropriate where, rather than have those powers taken away by folks in Harrisburg. We thank you for your consideration of this resolution, and we thank you for the continuing work that you're doing.

Thank you.

Shannon Pendleton. (No response.)

Shannon Pendleton. (No response.)

Maya Van Rossum, commenting on 120740. (Witness approached podium.)

Good morning. My name is Maya Van Rossum. I'm the Delaware Riverkeeper. My organization is the Delaware Riverkeeper Network. We have members throughout the watershed, including many, many here in the City of Philadelphia. I am here to ask you to please vote yes in support of Resolution 120740, and I'd like to thank Councilmembers Jones, Johnson, and Reynolds Brown for bringing this resolution forward. This is a very important issue, because we have families and communities across the Commonwealth who are being sacrificed for shale gas drilling. They are truly suffering. They're suffering in terms of their health, their jobs, their quality of life. If you had come to Shale Gas Outrage last week held in the City of Philadelphia, you would have heard many of those personal stories about how people are being so harmed by shale gas drilling. If drilling were to come to the Delaware River watershed, we would be among those who would be sacrificed to this dangerous industry. Now, there is little that communities across the Commonwealth can do to protect themselves, but what little power they do have is through their zoning authorities and through the municipal code. And Act 13 tried to strip all of that power away from municipalities from the cities of the Commonwealth. So the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and seven townships joined forces to challenge that Act, and thankfully we got a court to strike it down. And we now -- but it's going on appeal, as Jordan Yeager just told you. We now need the City of Philadelphia to stand with all of us, to join with the other towns and the other organizations from across the Commonwealth who are joining together to try to preserve the power of cities, of towns across the State of Pennsylvania so that we can protect our citizens, we can protect our communities. We urge you to pass this resolution, because, one, it's the right thing to do, to help families protect themselves or to help local officials help families or provide the protection to families across the Commonwealth that's needed, to those who are suffering, who will be suffering as drilling barrels down upon us. We ask you to do it because while we now have a moratorium that protects the City of Philadelphia from the ravages of gas drilling that could be taking place upriver, if that moratorium were to be removed, we would surely want all of those communities upriver to have as much power as possible to do what they can to protect themselves and, in turn, to protect downstream City of Philadelphia. We urge you to pass this resolution because while the moratorium against drilling now prevents drilling in our watershed, it doesn't protect all of the infrastructure that would be required to support that drilling, like pipelines and processing facilities that could so directly impact the City of Philadelphia. And we ask you to pass the resolution because it's a dangerous precedent to have the Legislature giving so much power to industry and, at the same time, sacrificing all of our communities. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Sandra Folzer, commenting on 120740. (Witness approached podium.)

Thank you and thank you very much. Since we do live in a democracy, we depend upon people like yourselves in the Council to protect us, and this Act 13 would be devastating. I happen to live in Philadelphia, but I also spend a lot of time -- I have some land up north in Tioga County where the shale gas is in full swing, and firsthand I have seen the devastation. I have seen people who have been sick. I have seen farmers where they were promised that the gas drilling would not be close to their barn, close to their house, when in fact they're put right next door, and in one case, one farm, something like eight out of the ten young cows that were born died. So you can't assume good graces that, Oh, if we allow the gas companies to do what they want, they'll be thoughtful. It's not the case. So anyway, I please ask you to protect our water and protect our communities. Thank you.

Thank you.

Iris Marie Bloom, commenting to 120740. (Witness approached podium.)

Thank you so much. I'd like to thank especially Councilman Curtis Jones, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, and Councilman Kenyatta Johnson for sponsoring this, and thank any Councilmembers who vote yes on this resolution today. This resolution is about health, it's about justice, it's about democracy, and it's about our food. Really briefly about health, when the New York City water system was studied by an engineering firm, that engineering firm concluded there should be no shale gas drilling within seven miles of New York City's watershed, seven miles, but Act 13 allows gas drilling within just a few hundred feet. And people have been impacted with their water changed and their liver and spleen enlarged and all kinds of terrible health effects when it's 4,000 feet away. In terms of justice, the Act 13 clause that this resolution opposes strips municipal rights not just from Philadelphia but from every municipality across the state to protect their residents. So that's a matter of justice. We have to maintain our ability to protect our residents. That's fundamental to our democracy. It's a democracy issue, because if we allow this industry to write our laws, then we don't have a democracy anymore. We have a gasocracy, and that's not what we want. We want to keep our democracy. And, finally, it's about our food. Very briefly, as you just heard Sandra mention, there are new instances of cattle and other farm animals being poisoned by shale gas drilling, and these animals are not quarantined. They are sent to slaughter and they are in our food system in all kinds of ways. So when we protect -- when we protect anywhere, we protect everywhere. That means our food, our water, our air. I want a yes vote on this resolution, and thank you so much.

Thank you.

Matt Walker, commenting on 120740. (Witness approached podium.)

Good morning. My name is Matt Walker. I'm the Community Outreach Coordinator with Clean Air Council. We're an environmental health group based here in Philadelphia. Thanks for the opportunity to speak this morning. Opposing Act 13 sends a clear message that Philadelphia defends Pennsylvania's municipalities' right to make decisions to protect residents' public health. Passing this resolution would underscore how imperative it is for local governments to have the power to decide where or even if the shale gas industry can operate equipment that emits harmful air pollution in people's backyards. Passing this resolution is a symbolic gesture that demonstrates City Council's understanding that the Commonwealth Court decision to strike down a section of the law would have stripped -- a section of the law would have stripped local municipalities of their power to regulate or ban the natural gas industry. With a loss of regulation comes a loss of power to protect public health and the environment. Every stage of the shale gas extraction causes air pollution that can potentially impact public health and even accelerate climate change. A vote to support Resolution No. 120740 is a vote for public health and a healthy planet. Real quick, on the air quality, the state of Wyoming, which is a sparsely populated state with no major industry except for natural gas, last year smog levels were, quote, "above the worst day in Los Angeles all last year," and that's according to Wyoming's Department of Environmental Quality. They said the natural gas industry is the source of this unprecedented air pollution spike. Many tons of harmful pollutants are emitted each year by massive engines at compressor stations and all different pieces of equipment. They emit things like volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, nitrogen oxides, or NOx. And all this pollution basically bakes in the air to form ground-level ozone, which is the main ingredient in smog. Ground-level ozone has been linked with the aggravation of asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema and increase susceptibility to pneumonia and bronchitis. These emissions can contain fine particulates and carcinogens associated with cancer, stroke, and premature death. Many VOCs are known carcinogens and have been linked to devastating neurological and developmental issues, brain damage, liver, and kidney damage. Methane is also 72 sometimes more potent in greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide in the next two most critical decades when looking at climate change. Natural gas, which is mostly methane, will have a significant impact on climate change. The gas industry is the largest human-made source of methane emissions globally. Compared to coal, the climate change footprint of shale gas is at least 20 percent greater and possibly more than twice as great in the 20-year timeframe. Studies estimate that almost 8 percent of methane from shale gas operations escape to the atmosphere in venting and leaking over the lifetime of a well. Compared to coal, the climate change footprint of the shale gas is at least -- I already said that. Sorry. Scientists also estimate that a warmer climate will increase the frequency days with unhealthy levels of ground-level ozone. Again, please vote yes on this resolution to oppose Act 13 and support the Commonwealth Court's decision. Thank you.

Thank you.

Jeffrey Shralow, commenting on 120740. (Witness approached podium.)

Thank you so much for this opportunity to speak, and thank you to whoever introduced Proposition 120740 and to anybody who votes in favor of it. I am a nurse. This is an unusual place for me to be. I usually am sort of in my place when addressing critical issues on the floor of my hospital, but I find this to be just an amazingly critical moment right now in our city's history, and I think this is an historic moment. I attended, as a health professional, a symposium on the potential health effects of the fracking industry, of hydraulic fracking, and the media coverage of it kind of presented it as a debate on the potential health effects. It was quite clear at this symposium that there is no debate on the health effects. It is -- the evidence is quite clear. What the big question was is how to do the research to prove that there is such tremendous harmful effects. And the reason that it's so hard to do research is because of huge blockades and obstacles to doing the research, and Act 13 is a fundamental part of these blockages. There is actually a physician gag order. So if somebody comes in with health effects directly related to the gas industry, the physician has a gag order from preventing them -researchers -- excuse my uncomfortableness. I just really want to try to get out as much information as possible. Researchers at the symposium, veterinarians who clearly were able to see that there were problems with cattle and farming were not able to do any of the research because of non-disclosure laws. It is my belief that Act 13 is an unconstitutional bill -- is an unconstitutional law in violation of Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which provides the citizens clean water and clean air and natural resources. I am a proud Philadelphian. I live in Philadelphia. I work in Philadelphia, and I think that Philadelphia's stance on green initiatives has really been amazing, but the lack of concern over the fracking industry -- and I believe last year Mayor Nutter said something along the lines of it's not the time now to fight the gas industry, that that's not acceptable, that it's really a critical moment in our city's history and that we can kind of go into a position where things get really bad and we're going to be dealing with a lot of health effects and we sort of -if this is drilling in the Delaware, which is the moratorium now, but it's only a matter of time before this comes up again, and this is a step in that direction. So it's a very, very important, critical moment that we actually begin to move in the direction of sustainability. Economically it's very viable. There is a direction that's clear, and I believe that voting in favor of this proposition is an instrumental moment for our city. Thank you.

Thank you.

Sam Bernharda, commenting on 120740.

Thank you, City Council. My name is Sam Bernhardt. I'm the Pennsylvania organizer for Food and Water Watch, a national consumer advocacy organization working to keep our public resources safe, accessible, and affordable. I am here to speak against Act 13 and so in favor of the resolution in question. Act 13 contains numerous draconian provisions, but perhaps, most importantly, it takes away municipal zoning authorities related to shale extraction and the shale industry at large. The legislation pertains not only to hydraulic fracturing itself but to the infrastructure around it. So it pertains to polluting compressor stations and it pertains to landscape altering, pipelines, et cetera. Local communities should be allowed to decide whether such infrastructure exists in their community. Perhaps, most importantly, Act 13 is a blatant infringement on municipalities' constitutional right to zone in their backyards. This resolution, if passed, would add to the groundswell of public outcry against Act 13 as it faces a coming decision in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. And so I urge City Council to vote affirmatively for this resolution. Furthermore, I ask that City Council continue to fight for the people of Pennsylvania by in the future passing a resolution calling for an outright ban on fracking. Thank you.

Cynthia Masiejczyk.

That was pretty close.

Commenting on 120740. (Witness approached podium.)

Yes. I'm here to support Resolution 120740. Thank you. This is so upsetting. Where is freedom in this country anymore? We have sold out to the gas companies. And I can't speak sweet and nicely. These people, I agree with everything they said, and I hope that anyone who disagrees with this take a ride, get a bus, whatever, and go down, look at some of these areas that have been devastated by this industry. I'm sorry if I sound angry. I can't stay calm anymore. I just don't believe what is happening. This is a disgrace. It's an abomination to allow such loss of freedoms. This is Philadelphia. This is where the revolution started and -- excuse me. Here's something that I found on the internet, and this is very interesting. They're talking about here's a little-known gas stock and they're trying to sell it because they may have 200 percentage of incomes. They're talking about why it's perfect to be able -- so our energy department can export to China, and in the meantime, they're going to ruin our environment, our water, and our air, our farming ability. I mean, Pennsylvania is a farming state. Think about it. A farming state. You want to eat beef that has benzene and other chemicals in it? Already they're showing up with arsenic in rice. I mean, come on, guys. This is a big issue. I mean, thank you so much for anyone who is supporting this bill. And, you know, start looking at the results and take a bus and go look and see what it looks like in those places that are devastated. So that's all I have to say.

There are no 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.

Anyone else to testify on today's bills and resolutions? (No response.)

There being none, thank you very much for your testimony. We will now consider bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, would you please read the title of Resolution No. 120731.

A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Sixth, Twenty-Fourth, Forty-Sixth, Fifty-First and Sixtieth 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Wards of the City of Philadelphia.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

Moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. Resolution 120731 is adopted. Mr. Decker, title to No. 120735.

A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the American Street Industrial Corridor Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1300 Cadwallader Street.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. Resolution 120735 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 120736.

A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Seventh, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-Third and Thirty-Seventh Wards of the City of Philadelphia.

Thank you. Again I recognize Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)

Moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)

The ayes have it. 120736 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 120740.

A resolution supporting the Commonwealth Court decision which found Act 13 unconstitutional because it removes from local governments the ability to meaningfully legislate in a manner that protects the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens by addressing localized concerns to oil and gas development and violates both the Pennsylvania and U.S. Constitutions, creating a zoning scheme that supersedes the protections local officials are sworn to uphold; as well as the health, safety and welfare of its residents that local officials must protect.

Before I call for a motion, the Chair would like to recognize Councilman Oh.

Thank you very 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING much, Mr. President. I just wanted to say that I do support this resolution because I do believe we have to protect the rights of local governments to have say and to reflect the best interest of citizens. In doing so, however, I do want to point out that the natural gas industry is a very important industry to the United States as well as to Pennsylvania, and I think in this situation, that the natural gas industry, which ultimately, as City Group has identified, that energy independence for the United States of America would produce 3.6 million new jobs. China, for example, pays nine times as much for natural gas than we do, and we here in the City of Philadelphia do have the ability to produce natural gas and to export it. So while there's great concerns about the environment, which I do share, but I do say that my support of it is to 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING let the people have their say, but I do not want to state that at this point in time that my vote for the resolution is a condemnation of the natural gas industry. I think it is a very important industry for our state and for our nation, and if there are issues, I'd like them to come out more solidly with greater evidence of the dangers, which I would certainly be very interested in protecting the health of our citizens.

Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.

So I filter all of that out to say he's voting for the resolution, so I thank the gentleman for his support. I just want to point out the fact that we are not against the gas industry. We are against the process of fracking. In deriving that energy that 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING mother nature has bestowed upon us 200 million years ago, we're taking the quick way out to get it. And what happens upstream impacts downstream, and 50 percent of our water supply in the City of Philadelphia comes from under the Marcellus Shale provisions. One good thing that has come out of it is that they've agreed to do early warning systems, so that we can be at least aware of if in case of a natural catastrophe, that Philadelphia can begin to take the steps to protect itself. I know the people in the Gulf spill wished they would have had some of those early warning systems in place for their environmental protection. Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.) 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. Resolution 120740 is adopted. (Applause.)

Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120743.

A resolution calling on the Congress and the President of the United States to direct the Veterans Administration to allow maximum flexibility in authorizing our returning Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans to access civilian health care providers when these veterans are unable to obtain timely mental health and other critically needed medical care from the Veterans Administration.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Squilla.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. Resolution 120743 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 120744.

A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING situate in the Thirty-First Ward of the City of Philadelphia.

The Chair again recognizes Councilman Squilla.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. Resolution 120744 is adopted. We will now move to bills. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120615.

An ordinance approving the fifth amendment of the 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING redevelopment proposal for the American Street Industrial Corridor Urban Renewal Area, being the area generally bounded by Lehigh Avenue, Berks Street and Montgomery Avenue on the north, by Second Street and Philip Street on the east, by Girard Avenue, Oxford Street and Jefferson Street on the south and by Germantown Avenue, Sixth Street and Third Street on the west, including the fifth amendment to the urban renewal plan and the third amendment to the relocation plan, which provides for the additional land acquisition of approximately forty-nine properties for residential, institutional, industrial and related uses.

This bill having been read on two separate days, the question now, shall the bill pass finally. Please call the roll, Mr. Decker.

Councilwoman 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Bass.

Aye.

Councilwoman Blackwell.

Aye.

Councilman Goode.

Aye.

Councilman Green.

Aye.

Councilman Greenlee.

Aye.

Councilman Henon.

Aye.

Councilman Johnson.

Aye.

Councilman Jones.

Aye.

Councilman Kenney. (No response.)

Councilman O'Brien. 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING

Aye.

Councilman O'Neill.

Aye.

Councilman Oh.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.

Aye.

Councilman Squilla.

Aye.

Councilwoman Tasco.

Aye.

Council President Clarke.

Aye. The ayes are 15 [sic]; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120643.

An ordinance authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of a Service Agreement between the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development relating to the financing of the repayment of a certain deferred funding obligation, the issuance by the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development of bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness in one or more series, to finance repayment of such deferred funding obligation; and the obligation of the City of Philadelphia to pay in full when due the Service Fee.

This bill having been read on two different days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll. 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING

Councilwoman Bass.

Aye.

Councilwoman Blackwell.

Aye.

Councilman Goode.

Aye.

Councilman Green.

Aye.

Councilman Greenlee.

Aye.

Councilman Henon.

Aye.

Councilman Johnson.

Aye.

Councilman Jones.

Aye.

Councilman Kenney. (No response.)

Councilman 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING O'Brien.

Aye.

Councilman O'Neill.

Aye.

Councilman Oh.

Aye.

Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.

Aye.

Councilman Squilla.

Aye.

Councilwoman Tasco.

Aye.

Council President Clarke.

Aye. The ayes are 15 [sic]; the nays are zero. A majority of all members 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. This concludes our -- I'm sorry. Mr. Decker, do you have any other resolutions?

A resolution commending the efforts of the many organizations and individuals that work to educate and encourage ex-offenders to exercise their right to vote, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.

Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.) 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING

The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted.

And a resolution honoring, recognizing and commending Jeri Lynne Johnson, founder of the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, for her extraordinary service and dedication as a musician, conductor, and historian, introduced by Councilman Johnson.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

Moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING

And a resolution honoring, recognizing and commending CeaseFirePA for its extraordinary service and dedication to reducing gun violence by educating and mobilizing people across Pennsylvania, introduced by Councilman Johnson.

The Chair again recognizes Councilman Johnson.

Mr. President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted.

And a resolution 9/27/12 - STATED - 2ND READING authorizing City Council's Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings regarding the impact of arts and culture on Philadelphia's regional economy, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.

Thank you, Mr. President. I ask for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted.

There are no Calendar, Mr. President.

Thank you so much. That now concludes the Calendar. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. I just wanted to thank all of my colleagues here for their support and hard work for this city. I think it's so important to let the voters know and be encouraged that we are working hard, because the voters and the residents of our city need to have the encouragement to look optimistically towards the future. With the support of this City Council, we've created a committee to look at making our city more competitive, to create more jobs, to bring more our city, and with that in mind, I went to Korea this past weekend where I met with representatives and executives from both Korean Airline and Asiana Air. But I also met with executives from Hyundai Rotem, and on both accounts, the meetings were very good, which reflected opportunities for our city. Pennsylvania did $41 billion in exports last year, and Philadelphia itself saw an increase of $3.4 billion for our MSA, this region. Those are real jobs and real dollars, but the problem for us is, we don't have direct flights to one of the largest, most growing portions of the world, and, that is, Asia. We need direct flights to Asia, and I think that with that, we will have a bridge to bring more people and more opportunities and more jobs to our city. When I met with Hyundai Rotem, they wanted to extend their heartfelt thanks to this Council body for its hard jobs, 320 jobs, here in Philadelphia, and the international Vice President will be visiting our city the beginning of October to look at further opportunities to create more jobs in our city. That's the kind of thing that we are doing. And I just want to certainly thank Mark Gale, our CEO of our international airport, for the outstanding work that he did and especially to the consultant that he brought, Howard Mann, who did a fantastic job, with great detail of explaining why Philadelphia is a target-rich environment for Korean Air, Asiana Airlines or any airline that will be interested in our city. You can come in. There's a lot of money to be made here, and if you don't capture this market, somebody else will. So thank you very much.

Thank you, Councilman. Good work. The Chair now recognizes

Thank you, Mr. President. Two quick items. One, each of the members has a Rubik's Cube on their desk. It is a result of several tours that on behalf of Public Safety and my Vice Chair, Councilman Henon, we visited the Police Academy. We visited the Fire Academy. Members of respective staffs went along to observe that. We're going tomorrow to the Philadelphia Prisons. We met with the judiciary to talk about issues that we have in preparing for our budget. So I want to thank all those who attended those tours. And also segue now to our block party that we're having at 5700 block of Haverford at Shepard's Recreation Center in reference to Be the Vote. This was the result of your initiative, Mr. President, to say that we needed to be more proactive in this non-partisan issue of voter ID. I want to particularly thank who, from the other side of the aisle, reached out and said this is an important issue, irrespective of red states, blue states. It's not an R thing, not a D thing, but the right thing to do to allow people to vote. So we'll be out there all day. I'm pleased to report, Mr. President, dozens of people are on their way to the DUVU, and I had a conversation yesterday about the extreme lines and how important many of them were senior citizens that can't stand standing in line. So we have some of our strategic partners going with them to make sure that that stay is tolerable. So irrespective of what the judiciary does, whether they rule it unconstitutional, whether they delay it, we're hoping to be prepared for the November election. Thank you, my colleagues, and thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Councilman. Thank you for your continued good work. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Greenlee.

Thank you, Mr. President. Since I've been in City Council and even before that, when I was with Councilman Cohen, I've been Council's representative on the board of what was then called the Atwater Kent Museum, which is now I think more aptly named the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent. In short, it's our city's history museum. And for a rather lengthy period of time, the museum was closed for renovations, but on Saturday, it reopened finally but to very positive reviews, and I think well earned. It has many interesting items. Just a couple examples, the wampum belt given to William Penn and the desk that President George Washington sat at in the President's House. And there's a lot And also since it endeavors to be a true and accurate museum, it also deals with some of our more negative history, including past racial and religious discrimination in Philadelphia. It has a great deal of interactive material, and for those familiar with the museum, that floor-length map of every street in the city is still there. And as definitive proof that we're talking about Philadelphia, there's presently a room dedicated to Philly sports and an exhibit dedicated to Philly beer. So we're really talking about Philadelphia here. For those who don't know, the museum is located at 15 South 7th Street between Market and Chestnut in the 1st Councilmanic District, and it's now open Tuesday to Saturday 10:30 to 4:30, and the cost is, I believe, modest. So I urge all listening to visit our history museum. It's our museum, and I believe you'll find it well worth it. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.

Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank you for your leadership in allowing us to have a van to go pick up people and take them to certainly, especially seniors, where we went to several senior citizen homes and senior citizen centers to certainly pick up seniors and allow them the opportunity to get registered. On a second matter, I'd like to thank Councilman Jones for mentioning the late and great Lucien Blackwell, who introduced the set-aside bill when minorities were getting less than one-tenth of one percent. It's still a struggle in this city and across this country. We thank him for that. thank him because at Gustine Recreation Center in his district -- in fact, our own Brother Shump will be involved tonight as we try to honor the Lucien E. Blackwell Boxing Showcase yet another year for 2012 Olympics and supporting many boxing bouts. Everybody knows that Lucien Blackwell was a Diamond Belt and involved with boxing all of his life, and we thank Fred Jenkins, "Cyclone" Hart and many other individuals who will be involved there. Also tonight, of course, as many of you know, Glen Bryant plays piano and keyboard -- he can do three at one time -- at our wonderful Malcolm X. Park in my district. Finally, on Monday at noon in the Caucus Room, we will have Ms. Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, to give us a briefing and update us on what's going on with education so far as the AFT is three or four issues of the day. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman. And we all miss the great work by former Councilman, Congressman, all-around-good-guy Lucien Blackwell. Thank you so much.

Thank you.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.

Thank you, Mr. President. During last week, I had the opportunity to participate and partner with Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who I want to applaud her efforts, in hosting a forum at the Philadelphia International Airport around the issue of minority participation. It was a great turnout, and her leadership focused solely on not just getting individuals involved with the contract and professional services that are and as we propose the expansion of the Airport but, more importantly, monitoring and enforcing those contract opportunities from a quantitative approach. And so I just want to thank you for allowing me to participate and partner with you on that event, and I'm looking forward as that project moves forward to the results, because I believe in this great city. With all the contracts and services and lobbying that takes place, for the expansion of business growth, definitely there has to be a plate at the table for those who operate minority and disadvantaged businesses, and I don't believe there should never be an excuse where those type of opportunities aren't taking place. Last, but not least, again, I've been in the streets all throughout my district, most recently in Southwest Philadelphia working with Captain Hodges from the 12th Police District trying to the issue of youth gun violence. We recently lost a mother to some senseless acts of violence, as well as her daughter being shot, and then only to return after I got finished doing outreach in the southwest area back in South Philadelphia, to hear that there was more shootings. But I have been in contact with the District Attorney's Office. Separate from the hearings, we're going to be aggressively looking at how do we step up our efforts and support the GunStat program that strategically goes after those violent individuals who carry guns. It's probably a small percentage of individuals in the community that's raising most of the hell that we see. And so I will continuously find ways, push for us to be innovative in addressing this issue, because I believe all this work that we're doing will be in vain if we can't get a grapple on the killings that are taking place on a move close to 260 murders. That's not even talking about the shootings. I want to thank my colleague Councilman Mark Squilla who joined myself and more than 20 community organizations in the viewing of a movie called The Interrupters by Philadelphia CeaseFire, and it's an intervention program that goes after and tries to stop conflicts before they arise. And so I thank Mark for taking time out of his schedule and for coming to show his support on this critical issue, in which I believe the City is in a crisis if we don't get a grapple on it moving forward. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Thank you, Councilman, and thank you for your continued good work on ensuring that we maintain the level of safety that's acceptable in the City of Philadelphia, because clearly at this point, it is not. your great work. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Squilla.

Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to explain a little bit of the ordinance that I introduced today about the Charter change. I know it may seem like maybe an overreach to try to get an understanding of what Council really needs to do. As Councilmembers are out there and on the ground seeing what the community needs and the wants of certain departments, what this ordinance would do is allow Councilmembers to write up to 10 percent of the budget and, therefore, redirect it by mandating the Administration to spend it in a way that Council sees fit. And what that will enable us to do is, we have legislation, say it's for nuisance properties, and we feel maybe the District Attorney's Office could use a couple extra dollars, we could mandate those funds. If we feel being done out there by unlicensed contractors or paying people cash, maybe we can add more money to L&I so we can get more services. And this will allow us to be able to do that through this Charter change, and I just think it's a way to give Council a little ability -- since people come to us all the time when there's an issue and they have certain organizations meet with Councilmembers to try to get more money, this will now allow us to be able to do that. So I just wanted to explain that a little bit the reason why I thought it was necessary to introduce, and looking forward to maybe having hearings on this and to push it forward and hopefully eventually get it onto the ballot. So thank you.

Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes

Mr. President, I would be remiss not to say thank you to Councilman Kenyatta Johnson who joined us as Chair of City Council's Committee on Transportation and Utilities and to say that, yes, when I look at the e-mails I continue to receive, it was a day well spent by well over 325 MBE/WBEs, and a dozen primes showed up, from the Keatings of the world to the Gilbanes and others. So it was useful, but the operative word or instruction for us -- and I shouted out Councilman W. Wilson Goode several times during that morning, who has been a real partner and a leader when it comes to opening up the door more and leveling the playing field for MBE/WBEs. But the instruction for all of us going forward is monitoring and enforcement. And the partnership at the Airport under the leadership of Rina Cutler and Mark Gale are, I believe, serious in continuing to make sure that we don't talk about it, but we actually be about monitoring and enforcement given this $6.4 billion effort that's going to last over the next ten years. So our mission continues, Mr. President. Thank you, Councilman Johnson.

Thank you, Councilwoman. I was told it was a very successful event, more than 300 people. Good work. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.

Thank you, Mr. President. There are a lot of things, exciting things, that are going to be happening in the 9th Councilmanic District, and for those of my constituents who are watching and listening, I'd like to just remind them that on Saturday, we will have Let's Love Logan Day between 11:00 and 5:00 at Tara Shevchenko Park, which is at Broad and the move, and it's very exciting. A lot of things are happening over there. Also at Lawncrest Recreation Center on Saturday we're having a recycling event. So anyone who has items they want to recycle, large TV sets and things like that, they can come to the Lawncrest Recreation Center between 1:00 and 3:00. And also we're going to have at Lawncrest a day with LaSalle University. On Saturday morning, we'll have -- the Finley Youth Advisory Board will have a back to school day with discussions about activities and also giveaways. So that's from 10:00 to 2:00. We invite all listening. We invite my colleagues to come, and we certainly hope that the folk in the 9th District will participate with these activities. And we thank those who have spent their time and effort to organize these events. We thank them for their involvement in the community.

Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilwoman, one quick question. Is it okay for a guy from the 5th District to bring in an old TV up to the recycling event?

Oh, sure. Sure. They're very successful, those recycling days. We've had -- this is the second one. So, please, any of you who want to get rid of your old TV's and things of that nature, please bring them up.

I have one I need to get rid of. I had to check.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman. No other speeches? At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.

Yes, Mr. President. Thank you. I move that Thursday, October 4th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)

It's been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 4th, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. Council stands adjourned. ) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on September 27, 2012, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A add 70:9 108:4 81:17 84:12,13 approved 4:25 Abdul 10:3 added 100:2 AFT 102:25 America 78:16 5:6,13 35:24 ability 21:9 52:20 additional 29:2 agencies 10:25 American 75:3 approving 25:8 53:10 60:12 84:14 agency 8:20 9:14 84:2 102:22 30:23 38:16 72:10 77:10 address 16:7 12:2 18:2 America's 10:19 74:24 83:25 78:21 108:9 25:14 38:22 aggravation amounts 36:4,6 87:6 able 16:13 67:9 75:6 63:22 36:15,17 approximately 67:11 72:6 addresses 16:23 aggressively Analon 23:10 44:21 84:15 108:7,14 17:3 105:12 and/or 114:23 aptly 99:13 abomination addressing 65:24 ago 80:3 Angeles 63:7 Aquinas 44:25 71:19 77:13 105:22 agree 71:10 angry 71:16 Aramingo 46:4 absence 5:15,19 adieu 17:6 agreed 80:10 animals 60:23,25 area 9:23 22:21 6:5 adjourn 112:23 Agreement 87:7 Ann 15:3,21 16:9 25:13 30:25 Academy 97:9,10 adjourned 113:2 air 61:6,16 62:6 17:9,15,24 18:7 31:2 38:21 46:3 accelerate 62:23 113:7,15,16 62:21 63:2,11 19:21 20:13 48:10 75:4 84:4 acceptable 68:6 ADJOURNME... 63:18 67:19 annual 36:4,15 84:4 105:7 106:24 112:1 113:1 72:9 95:6 96:17 anybody 65:20 areas 21:22 23:4 access 81:18 Administration airline 95:6 96:18 anymore 60:17 71:14 accessible 69:10 37:12 81:15,22 Airlines 96:17 71:7,17 arsenic 72:14 accompanying 107:19 airport 96:11 anyway 58:23 Article 67:17 6:25 15:6 Administration's 103:20 104:2,3 appeal 52:23 arts 37:20 93:5 accounts 95:8 9:16 109:23 55:23 artwork 42:5 accurate 100:4 adopted 74:20 Airy 48:9,15 applaud 103:18 Asia 95:19,19 accurately 114:5 75:22 77:4 81:7 aisle 98:3 Applause 12:16 Asiana 95:6 96:17 achievements 9:7 82:16 83:20 Alder 45:12,13 13:6,21 14:19 assist 20:8 acknowledge 91:3,25 92:24 Alfred 11:21 20:19 22:16 Assistant 10:4 16:17 93:24 allow 58:20 60:15 24:6 81:8 associated 64:3 acquire 27:15 adoption 74:9 71:19 81:15 apply 114:21 Association 48:18 32:8,17 36:25 75:11 76:18 98:7 101:16 appraisals 27:17 assume 58:19 acquisition 84:15 80:20 82:4 83:8 107:16 108:6,14 32:10,19 37:3 asthma 63:22 Act 51:8,22 52:11 90:17 91:14 allowed 70:2 appreciate 6:11 atmosphere 64:23 52:12 55:14,19 92:13 93:13 allowing 101:11 approach 104:6 attached 40:9 58:5 59:24 60:6 adulthood 20:9 104:7 approached 42:9 46:16 61:21 65:9 adversity 19:4 allows 59:24 50:18 54:4 attended 17:15 66:20 67:14 advertising 17:18 all-around-goo...