STATED MEETING 1 3/10/2022 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 10, 2022 10:18 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK STATED MEETING 2 3/10/2022
And good morning to everyone. Thank you for being here today. Before we begin the Council session today, I would like to make the following announcement: Due to the continuing threat to public health from COVID-19, City Council is currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make this remote meeting possible. Instructions for how the public may view the meeting and offer public comment are included in the Stated Meeting notice that was published in the Daily News, the Inquirer, and the Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. The Clerk will please call the roll to take attendance, and members that are in attendance, say a couple of words to make sure that your image is displayed on the screen. Mr. Decker, please call the STATED MEETING 3 3/10/2022
Good morning, Mr. President, colleagues, and the City of Philadelphia. Good morning.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. I'm present.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues and the City of Philadelphia.
Good STATED MEETING 4 3/10/2022 morning, Council President, colleagues, and Philadelphia. Present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. And good morning to the City of Philadelphia. I am present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the City of Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Effectiveness.
Good morning, Council President. Good STATED MEETING 5 3/10/2022 morning, colleagues. I am present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Sending out prayers and support to all of the young people who have been impacted by senseless gun violence.
Good morning, Mr. President, colleagues, and welcome to the Democratic Caucus in the House to Philadelphia.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I'm present. STATED MEETING 6 3/10/2022
Good morning, Mr. President and colleagues and to the viewing public.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. And thank you, Archbishop, for joining us this morning. I'm present.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues. Present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning to the listening public.
And good morning to everyone. We've clearly established a quorum, so we're going to get started. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes the Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer of Heavenly STATED MEETING 8 3/10/2022 here today as the guest of Councilman Johnson. I would ask all members and guests and visitors to please bow your head. ARCHBISHOP PALMER: Thank you, Mr. President. City Councilpersons and to the City of Philadelphia, let us pray. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far on our way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lord, we are so grateful for this day ordained by you that we would gather to conduct business for the City of Philadelphia. We thank you for these, Lord, who have chosen to serve, who have been elected by the people to represent their needs. We thank you that they are giving of their time and their talent to do the work, not just for the whole but also for the part. STATED MEETING 9 3/10/2022 Lord, we pray that you will bless them for their sacrifice. We pray that you will cover their families and all attached to them. Keep them under your protected care by the angels assigned to them. We pray, God, that you will help them as they discuss the business to keep in mind those that are the least, the lost, and the last. We pray that decisions will be made with compassion, empathy, and understanding, but that truth will always win out, and because when truth is present, then we all win. We pray, God, that those that come before them will be able to be respectful and will be able to be heard, and that in the hearing, wisdom will come, which is the principal thing given by you. And until then, God, we pray that you will help us as a city to be able to decrease that violence, that we will respect each other despite our STATED MEETING 10 3/10/2022 faith, in gender, in ideas, in philosophies, but that we will want the peace and the respect of life that is due everyone in our city. We pray for our youth. We pray for our police, our fire and first responders. We pray for our teachers and our schools. We pray for every household with a mom, a dad, a grand-mom, or kinship care. And we pray, God, that you will just let your spirit fall on this your city, the City where our nation began, and that we will again allow the spirit of peace, understanding, kindness, brotherhood and sisterhood to reign. We love you and we thank you for life today. Now, help us as we conduct the business at this moment. Help us to do it in decency and in order, with fidelity and in a most excellent way. And if you do it again, God, one more time where someone will be helped, where we can help somebody along STATED MEETING 11 3/10/2022 way, then our living, our efforts will never be in vein. This is my humble prayer for all who are listening, and we give you thanks, in the name of God the father, our creator, in the name of God the son, Jesus, our redeemer, and in the name of the Holy Ghost, who is our comfort and keeper is my prayer. Amen, amen, and amen. Thank you so much, and God bless you. (Amen.)
Thank you, Archbishop, so much. We appreciate your invocation and, more importantly, your spiritual guidance this morning. Thank you. Thank you so much. ARCHBISHOP PALMER: Thank you, sir. God bless you.
Thank you. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the STATED MEETING 12 3/10/2022 Thursday, March 3rd, 2022, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of March 3rd, 2022 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 3rd, 2022 stand approved. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and our Journal is approved. And our next order of business is request for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank STATED MEETING 13 3/10/2022 you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. And the Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning certain legislative matters that may arise during the course of today's session of Council and that were not listed on the Calendar circulated prior to today's session. Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that any of the following matters, if considered today, be added to the agenda for this session of Council and, as required by law, subsequently published on an amended agenda after the consideration of those matters: resolutions authorizing hearings, amendments to bills on first reading, the reconsideration of a bill vetoed by or re-called from the Mayor, STATED MEETING 14 3/10/2022 substantive action to be voted on in this session, a motion to withdraw a bill or resolution that is not on the Calendar, and a motion placing a bill or resolution on or returning a bill or resolution from the Suspension Calendar that is not listed on today's Calendar. The purpose of this motion is to provide the public with notice concerning possible actions by Council that arose too late to be included on the Calendar that was published prior to today's session. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the legislative matters stated by Councilwoman Parker may be added to the agenda for today, should those matters arise during the course of this session of Council. All in favor indicate by saying aye. STATED MEETING 15 3/10/2022 (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion passes. And our next order of business is communications. Mr. Decker, please read the messages from the Mayor or any other communications that you may have in your possession.
Yes, Mr. President. 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, March 2, 2022, transmitting to the Council the recommendations of the City Planning Commission on the following bills: Bill Nos. 211020, 220118, and 220119. And I am pleased to advise you that on March 2, 2022, I signed the STATED MEETING 16 3/10/2022 remaining bills which were passed by Council at its session on February 24, 2022 and that on March 9, 2022, I signed the following bill which was passed by Council at its session on March 3, 2022: Bill No. 220051-A. And I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body an ordinance authorizing the Chief Information Officer for the City of Philadelphia, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to purchase licenses for e-mail, cloud services, enterprise software, data services, security software, and other related computing products and services, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Appreciate that. And our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. And by way of a reminder, we are asking that all resolutions, including privileged resolutions, be STATED MEETING 17 3/10/2022 placed on the Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council, unless they are being referred to committee. In our current remote environment, this procedure will provide an appropriate opportunity for public comment. I would like to thank you very much in advance for your anticipated cooperation. Mr. Decker, please read the titles of the legislation that's being offered today by our members.
Councilwoman Parker offers two resolutions. On behalf of Council President Clarke, a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 1403, 1409, 1412, 1415, 1416, 1421, 1435, and 1441 North 17th Street and 1624 Jefferson Street in the Fifth Councilmanic District.
Next STATED MEETING 18 3/10/2022 week's Calendar.
And on her own behalf, Councilwoman Parker offers a resolution honoring and congratulating the Independence Blue Cross Foundation on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary.
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers one bill and one resolution, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Finance, Taxes and Collections,' by adding a new Chapter 19-4500, entitled 'Annual Reporting Relating to Unclaimed Property.'"
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson.
Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. President. Today I am introducing legislation to help account for the City of Philadelphia's unclaimed property. STATED MEETING 19 3/10/2022 Unclaimed property refers to funds or other financial property owed to individuals or institutions that has been turned over to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania due to lack of action by the owner. There is nearly $4 billion, billion dollars, in unclaimed property in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The City of Philadelphia has at least 250 claims listed in the Commonwealth's online database, and it could be many more. As our city looks to our post-COVID-19 recovery, we need to ensure we are not leaving any resources on the table. Our total obligations are increasing, and like many other cities, our budget has taken a huge hit. So every dollar owed to the City of Philadelphia must be collected and accounted for so we can continue to provide Philadelphians with quality resources and services. STATED MEETING 20 3/10/2022 This bill will require the Director of Finance to submit an annual report to City Council and the City Controller of all unclaimed property owed to the City, a status update regarding claims in process, and the total amount of revenue returned to the City of Philadelphia each year. And for all of our Philadelphia residents who are out there maybe listening to the session, you may have unclaimed property as well, and you can go to the Pennsylvania Treasury website to learn more and search and see if you have unclaimed property at PAtreasury.gov/unclaimedproperty. Thank you, Council President, and I'm looking forward to these hearings.
Thank you, Councilwoman. I think I'm going to go to that site. Thank you. That bill is referred to committee. STATED MEETING 21 3/10/2022
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson also offers a resolution celebrating and congratulating Girl Scouts of the USA on the occasion of its 110th Anniversary and thanking Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania for its service to the girls of Philadelphia.
Councilwoman Gym offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'The Building Construction and Occupancy Code,' by revising Section PM-202 of Subcode PM ('The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code'), entitled 'General Definitions,' to revise definitions related to drinking fountains and water dispensers; and revising Section PM-502.6 of Subcode PM, entitled 'Schools,' to add provisions related to drinking facilities in schools and requiring filtration systems."
The STATED MEETING 22 3/10/2022 Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gym.
Thank you very much, Council President. Today I am introducing legislation to effectively eliminate lead from drinking water across Philadelphia schools. This builds on the work that this Council body has been leading to implement stricter testing requirements and expand water access, but now we are moving to require the full transition of Philadelphia schools to modern, lead-free hydration systems. The reality is is that the only safe amount of lead in our school kids' water is zero, and this legislation helps make that a reality. Every child deserves safe, clean drinking water, and this pandemic made clear that there are ways that we can do that. The new filtration stations not only are an enormous amenity in school buildings that are far too old and really do need upgrades, but they're also proof STATED MEETING 23 3/10/2022 that we can actually -- we don't have to tolerate any amount of lead in the drinking water. As long as the filtration systems are up to date and operational, the amount of lead that's passing through them is effectively negligible, if not zero. And so we look forward to the work that we'll be doing in pursuit of this legislation to get it moving. I want to absolutely thank our partners at the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Penn Environmental Research and Policy Center, the team at the Healthy Schools Initiative, and most of all my colleagues, who have been wonderful advocates on the issue of not only water access in the 21st century but, most importantly, just modern, healthy school buildings. I want to thank Councilmembers Bass, Brooks, Gauthier, Gilmore Richardson, Green, Johnson, Parker, and Squilla for their partnership on this. STATED MEETING 24 3/10/2022 Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
Councilman Jones offers one bill and two resolutions, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the relocation of the southwesterly curbline of Ridge Avenue, from Calumet Street to a point northwestwardly therefrom, and the northwesterly curbline of Calumet Street, from Ridge Avenue to Kelly Drive, on City Plan No. 163, authorizing the plotting on said City Plan of an area for public pedestrian use extending along the northwesterly side of Calumet Street, from Ridge Avenue to a point southwestwardly therefrom."
The bill is referred to committee. Councilman, did you want to be recognized on this one or -
Okay. Thank you. The bill will be referred to committee.
And a resolution honoring and celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of inspiring women leaders: Benazir Bhutto, Sarah Boone, Brigadier General Hazel Johnson-Brown, Meta L. Christy, Admiral Michelle Howard, Mae Jemison, Katherine Johnson, Condoleezza Rice, Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Madam C.J. Walker, in honor of Women's History Month.
So I'm going to talk about this, but I'm going to talk about the next one. I happen to serve with nine amazing female members of Council and they are following a long line of amazing women, and it's not women's history, it's STATED MEETING 26 3/10/2022 American history, it's international history, these trailblazers that we're recognizing next week as a part of Women's History Month. But as an enlightened male, I want to stand beside my sisters and thank them for holding it down, not only in their personal lives and their communities but in this body, and recognize that there is compatibility of some of the names that are mentioned, from everything from domestic kinds of contributions to inventions, to being the first African American woman in space. So you share that kind of ethos.
Thank you. That will be next week's Calendar. Mr. Decker, the next resolution.
And a resolution welcoming President Joseph R. Biden and the House Democratic Caucus to STATED MEETING 27 3/10/2022 Philadelphia on March 9, 2022 to March 11, 2022 for the annual House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference.
Yeah. Thank you again, Mr. President. I rise to recognize them, welcome them to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, because the House Democratic Caucus, along with Joe Biden, I want you to think for a minute. As we enter into the budget season, what kind of discussions would we be having right now if we did not get their assistance on a number of financial packages that they put forth for cities like Philadelphia? Right now we would be in doom and gloom. We would be closing rec centers. Pools would have never opened. We would have been facing layoffs, and I don't know how our response would have been for the pandemic. STATED MEETING 28 3/10/2022 So welcome to Philadelphia and thank you very much for fighting for cities like Philadelphia around the nation, and I hope that we will be able, Mr. President, following you, some time while they're here this weekend, to present this resolution but also maybe even sneak a peek of the issues that they're discussing, because they're not coming here to party and pop bottles, as my kids would say. They're coming here to talk about important issues we will face in the coming years. So welcome to Philadelphia and thank you for all you've delivered and all you might deliver. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. That will be on next week's Calendar.
STATED MEETING 29 3/10/2022 Okay. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
I move to suspend the rules for this resolution so it can be considered in today's session. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor of said motion indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. This particular resolution will be on today's Final Passage Calendar.
Councilman Johnson offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on South 61st Street, both sides, between Lindbergh Boulevard to STATED MEETING 30 3/10/2022 just past Eastwick Avenue."
Councilman Domb offers one resolution honoring NBC10's Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz on the occasion of his upcoming retirement and recognizing his twenty-seven years with the First Alert Weather Team and his forty-two year career on television reporting the weather.
Thank you, Council President. I'd like to congratulate our favorite bowtie-wearing meteorologist, Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz, on the announcement of his retirement, and of course by the sound of it, he won't be sitting on the beach somewhere but instead he'll be continuing to raise awareness for our world's climate crisis. Very important. STATED MEETING 31 3/10/2022 Glenn Schwartz has been chasing storms and reporting the weather for 42 years. Twenty-seven of those years are here in Philadelphia with our local NBC10 Weather Team. He's been a trusted source of weather news on our sunniest days and also on our snowiest and rainiest days. His reporting has put him in the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia's Hall of Fame and has encouraged his authorship of a fictional novel, The Weathermaker, about a character named Neil Stephenson who can control the weather, but of course that power comes with consequences. Glenn Schwartz is a Philadelphian through and through, born and raised here, graduating from Central High School and then Penn State University. He is a Philadelphia sports fan and a promoter of our city. He loves Philadelphia and has always come through in his reporting here. STATED MEETING 32 3/10/2022 When his retirement officially becomes effective in May, his absence will be evident to all of us, but keep your eyes open for that bowtie. He's coming like a hurricane in his second act. In his recent message to viewers, he said, I'm interested in a lot of things, including continuing to write and to expand my other communications with the public on our shared destiny, the importance of climate emergency. Who better to help to lead this charge on the impacts of climate change than the very person who reported its effects on the world each and every day. Thank you, Glenn "Hurricane" Schwartz for your service to our city. I'd like to thank all my co-sponsors, including Councilmembers Squilla, Gilmore Richardson, Gauthier, Brooks, Parker, Oh, Green, Gym, Jones, and Thomas. Thank you, Council President. STATED MEETING 33 3/10/2022
Councilwoman Gauthier offers one bill and one resolution, entitled "An ordinance to approve amendments to the Drexel University Master Plan in the area bounded by 34th Street, Cherry Street, 33rd Street, and Powelton Avenue, related to the Kelly Hall building at 203 North 34th Street."
And a resolution authorizing the City of Philadelphia Council Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings to examine enforcement practices, preventative measures, and potential solutions necessary to address the widespread illegal dumping taking place in the City of Philadelphia, and to explore ways to collaborate with City agencies to address STATED MEETING 34 3/10/2022 this problem.
Councilman Thomas offers one resolution, entitled a "Resolution honoring and congratulating Women's History Month's Champion of the Week, Kate Scott, on becoming the second female full-time broadcaster in N.B.A. history and female play-by-play announcer in Philadelphia sports history.
Councilman O'Neill offers, on behalf of Council President Clarke, an ordinance authorizing the Chief Information Officer for the City of Philadelphia, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to purchase licenses for e-mail, cloud services, enterprise software, data services, security software, and other related computing products and services.
STATED MEETING 35 3/10/2022 Referred to committee.
Councilwoman Bass offers one resolution honoring and recognizing the 200th Anniversary of the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman.
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for this opportunity to talk about Harriet Tubman. Araminta Ross, later known as Harriet Tubman, was born into slavery 200 years ago in Dorchester County, Maryland. Tubman, the daughter of Harriet "Rit" Green and Ben Ross, had eight siblings, three of which were sold to out-of-state buyers, permanently fragmenting this family. In 1849, Tubman liberated herself when she crossed into Pennsylvania and into Philadelphia through a thriving free Black community of reformers, abolitionists, and suffragists. With the help of William STATED MEETING 36 3/10/2022 Still, Lucretia Mott, Steven Smith, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony and many others, Tubman soon became one of the most significant conductors of the Underground Railroad, guiding many African Americans to freedom. And after the Civil War, she was a vocal supporter of the equal rights for women and the rights of the elderly. Because Philadelphia's history and Tubman's legacy are intertwined, our arts and cultural community has been commemorating her life and legacy with a citywide celebration of Harriet Tubman, which started on January 11th of this year. And highlighting Harriet Tubman's legacy with this resolution, Councilmembers Oh, Squilla, Sanchez, Jones, Gilmore Richardson, Green, and Parker join me, and I want to conclude by thanking them for co-sponsorship of this resolution. And I want to particularly thank you, Mr. President, for your STATED MEETING 37 3/10/2022 leadership on this issue and on this resolution and helping us to bring this to bear. So we thank you so much and your office and staff for working with us on this particular matter. And that being said, I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of this resolution at today's Council session. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution will be on today's Council session Calendar. Thank you, Councilwoman.
There are no STATED MEETING 38 3/10/2022 bills or resolutions being offered today by the members, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. That concludes our introduction of bills and resolutions for today. And we have no reports from committee, so we will move to our next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. And there being no bills on the First Reading Calendar today, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning the resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar. They are Resolution Nos. 220191, 220192, 220193, 220194, 220195, 220196, 220198, 220199, 220200, 220201, 220202, 220203, 220204, 220205, STATED MEETING 39 3/10/2022 220206, 220207, 220209, and 220210.
Thank you. It's been moved and seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the resolutions just read by Councilwoman Parker. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Resolution Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. STATED MEETING 40 3/10/2022
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 210807, 210829, 210957, 220005, 220116, 210801, 210804, 210805, 210806, 210828, 210927, 210955, 221019, 220045, 220053, 220119, 220144, and 220145.
Thank you. It's been moved and seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the bills just read by Councilwoman Parker. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? STATED MEETING 41 3/10/2022 2ND READING (No response.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. In addition to the resolutions and bills being considered on the Consent Agendas, the following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 210778-AA, 220076, 210827, and 220114. All other bills and resolutions are being held, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Councilwoman. So before we proceed with the consideration of our Calendar, we will have our public comment session. So STATED MEETING 42 3/10/2022 we're going to take a brief five- to ten-minute break to allow our technology professionals to connect with our speakers for today's session. Take a brief break. (Short recess.)
Thank you. Thank you, and we are back. Thank you for your patience. Now that everyone is connected to the meeting and before considering the resolutions and bills we have before us today, we will consider public comment. It will go as follows: Public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars for possible action at a session of Council. A speaker on any of those matters must sign up in order to testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 3:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. STATED MEETING 43 3/10/2022 When you call, we will take your name, your phone number, the number of the legislative item that you are commenting on, and whether you are in support of or against the legislation and add your name to the list. We will then telephone each person on the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Under ideal circumstances, which we have today, you will have three minutes to speak, but from time to time, based on the volume of speakers, it may vary, but today you'll have three minutes. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to the established time limit. So once invited to the meeting and asked to begin your testimony, a timer will be started. We will monitor your remaining time throughout your testimony, and when there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, you will reminded of this. Once STATED MEETING 44 3/10/2022 your allotted time has passed, you will be asked to conclude your remarks, and shortly thereafter you will be muted and disconnected from the remote meeting. I also reserve the right to limit the number of speakers where repetitious comments are being made on the same subject matter, which could affect callbacks for public comment at a meeting. Please be aware that this public meeting is being recorded, so because the meeting is public, participants and viewers have no reasonable expectation of privacy. So by continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. I want to thank you very much for your willingness and your interest in participating in today's Council session. I will now ask Mr. Decker to please call the first name on the list.
The first speaker is Queen Judith Robinson, commenting on STATED MEETING 45 3/10/2022 210685 and 220676 [sic].
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony. QUEEN ROBINSON: Good morning. Good morning.
Good morning. Please proceed. QUEEN ROBINSON: Yes. Queen Judith Robinson here to speak on 220076, that PHA land deal. But first I want to say it's Women History Month, and it's easy to try to write Black women out of history. It's been done for many centuries. So in that regard, I want to speak on some activist advocates, real deal. PHA tenant council woman Virginia Wilkes, Richard Allen, Ida Mae Pittman, Raymond Rosen, Charlie Johnakin, Schuylkill Falls, and all of the Black women tenants of PHA. Say their names. They are truly advocates and activists. Regarding 200076 [sic], PHA has been allowed to do a lot of land swaps. STATED MEETING 46 3/10/2022 I have to recall Bill No. 150409 when they were allowed to use eminent domain to take African American lands and properties over there in Brewerytown-Sharswood area. We need to look at these land deals. They're doing everything but managing the 80,000 tenants that reside in their properties, mostly Black women with their children. Remember, Black women are 70 percent of Philadelphia yearly evictions. You know, we need to make certain charity starts at home. Don't write yourself out of history. Don't count yourself out. Make sure we're being respectful of the Black women in this town who are holding up fort for decades, decades. We can't obfuscate, make up stuff, and disrespect your momma. With that, I'm going to say it's Women History Month, y'all. Get your history straight. Queen Judith signing off. Have a great day. STATED MEETING 47 3/10/2022
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is William Tung, commenting on 210927 and 210145 [sic].
Good morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed.
William Tung. Good morning, Council President Clarke and City Council. My name is Will Tung. I live in the Third Councilmanic District and am speaking in support of Bills 210927 and 220145 on behalf of myself and Fifth Square. In February 2020, my six-year-old daughter, my wife, and I were all walking across the street in West Philly when we were struck by a reckless driver. Since then, Councilmember Gauthier worked hard to approve and prioritize the placement of speed cushions on several blocks of STATED MEETING 48 3/10/2022 Springfield Avenue where the incident happened. These treatments have worked so well that this section of Springfield Avenue is no longer on our High Injury Network, the City's list of most dangerous streets. I firmly believe that these changes to Chestnut and Market Streets will be an enormous benefit to all roadway users alike, whether motorist, cyclist, pedestrian, or transit rider. It will reduce the distance that people are exposed to cars when crossing the street and will calm traffic and reduce crashes that cause death and serious injury every day in our city. I applaud Councilmember Gauthier for her leadership in making sure that these absolutely vital interventions get through, benefiting the most vulnerable roadway users. Fatal or serious injury crashes are three times more likely to occur in areas of the City where most residents STATED MEETING 49 3/10/2022 are living on low incomes compared to wealthier areas, and it is these neighborhoods that see the most death and injury from crashes. We still have a long way to go for our city to reach its Vision Zero goal of eliminating roadway deaths by 2030. Our city sees higher per capita traffic deaths than Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and more than double the death rate of New York City. The City needs important leaders like Councilmember Gauthier to lead the charge against the tide of roadway death. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Daniel Trubman, commenting on 210927 and 220145.
Hello. Good morning, Council President. Hello. My name is Daniel Trubman, and as a member of Fifth Square, I would like to second the comments made by my colleague Will Tung and ask you to vote yes on Bills 210927 and 220145 to extend bike lanes on Chestnut Street and Market Street in West Philadelphia. While I'm excited these bills are advancing, these companion bills also prompt some reflection about the state of bike infrastructure in our city and what steps will be necessary to make more than marginal improvements. First, while I'm glad Councilmember Gauthier supports these bike lanes, it's absurd that we subject this type of safety infrastructure to councilmanic prerogative. Indeed, we would have had these bike lanes built years ago but for disapproval from one individual. Over and over again, this STATED MEETING 51 3/10/2022 Council has supported resolutions supportive of facilitating more bike ridership, achieving Vision Zero, and combatting climate change. And indeed, over and over again, the voters of Philadelphia have endorsed these policy choices. But the existing norm of councilmanic prerogative constantly stymies progress on these important issues. So if you are serious about these promises you made, we need to allow the Mayor's Office to implement these safety reforms administratively. The preferences of individual Councilmembers should be considered, but the current system of total deference is leading to unnecessary death and (unintelligible) of a policy status quo almost all of you claim to oppose. Secondly, it's time to admit that paint isn't real bike infrastructure. Anyone with eyes can see unprotected bike lanes are really just STATED MEETING 52 3/10/2022 auxiliary parking and loading zones. It's clear that some Councilmembers are indifferent about young children having to swerve into traffic because so-called bike lanes are frequently blocked, but for those of you who actually commit to eliminating all traffic fatalities, this extended parking-protected bike lane on Market Street should -- I'm sorry; on Chestnut Street should serve as an example of how to do it right. I would urge this Council to work with OTIS and PennDOT to allow more parking-protected bike lane pilots and to work with our legislative caucus in Harrisburg to permanently legalize parking-protected bike lanes in Philadelphia. We know how to build safe bike infrastructure. What's lacking is the political will to implement the structural reform necessary to get it done. Thank you. STATED MEETING 53 3/10/2022
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony. (No response.)
Thank you. Good morning. I'm testifying today in support of Ordinance 210927, which reallocates one travel lane of Chestnut Street for use as a protected bike lane. I would like to share a personal story from last September when I was riding my bike on Baltimore Avenue. STATED MEETING 54 3/10/2022 I was commuting to work in South Philly along my usual route. I knew where all the bumps and potholes were, which intersections to be especially cautious through, and my route was intentionally planned to minimize the amount of riding I would have to do in mixed traffic with cars. On that morning, I only got a few blocks from my home before a driver turned right, crossing my path and hitting me, sending me to the ground where I broke multiple bones in my left arm. The driver who hit me was coming from out of town and had been turning at the gas station at 46th and Baltimore. I was doing everything possible to reduce my risk on that commute, the same as I do every time I ride my bicycle. I was wearing my helmet. I had multiple flashing lights on my bike, and my front and rear brakes were both working well. I was riding at safe speeds and in the bike lane, obeying STATED MEETING 55 3/10/2022 traffic control devices. However, these measures did not protect me, because the bike lane on Baltimore Avenue is just a thin ribbon of asphalt between a row of parked cars and moving traffic. I had only a split second to react to the driver turning across my path and nowhere to go with parked cars blocking the exit to my right. Had I been riding in a protected bike lane that morning, like the one that this ordinance will allow, it's likely that the collision would have been prevented entirely and I would not have needed to spend months in a cast and going through recovery. I hope that this ordinance and more like it are passed soon. Retrofitting streets with protected bike lanes has been proven to improve safety, not just for people cycling but also for people walking and driving. Working to complete and extend the network of protected bike lanes will mean that STATED MEETING 56 3/10/2022 move closer to becoming a viable transportation option for residents of all ages and abilities. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. We will now consider today's Resolution Consent Agenda. I will ask the Clerk to please read the titles of all the resolutions on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the resolution on the Resolution Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, the resolution will immediately be removed from the Resolution Consent Agenda and placed on today's regular and Final Passage Calendar. STATED MEETING 57 3/10/2022 recognizes Councilwoman -- I'm sorry. Mr. Decker, please read those titles.
Yes, Mr. President. Resolution No. S. Senate to confirm her nomination"; and Resolution No. 220192, entitled a "Resolution commending the City of Philadelphia Board of Pensions and Retirement for their prudent actions over the years to increase the Pension Fund's actuarial funding ratio"; and Resolution No. 220193, entitled a "Resolution calling on Mayor James F. Kenney and his administration to conduct an annual review of how the City's elimination of the Rule of Two has impacted workforce diversity in both hiring and promotion"; and STATED MEETING 58 3/10/2022 220194, entitled a "Resolution celebrating Author Mollie Elkman and Her Children's Book, The House That She Built, on the Occasion of Women's History Month"; and Resolution No. 220195, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and supporting the accomplishments of women and girls throughout history on the occasion of Women's History Month"; and Resolution No. 220196, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and honoring Dr. Eydie Miller-Ellis for her unwavering commitment to the advancement of the careers and goals of women and minorities in the field of medicine"; and Resolution No. 220198, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to 2609 through 27 Sears Street, 3014 through 26 Wharton Street, and 1308 through 14 South 26th Street located in the Second STATED MEETING 59 3/10/2022 District"; and Resolution No. 220199, entitled a "Resolution honoring Reuben Jones, executive director of Frontline Dads, for his dedicated leadership in promoting public safety and justice reform in Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 220200, entitled a "Resolution calling upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor Tom Wolf to raise or remove the cap on the amount of tax credits available under the Film Production Tax Credit Program"; and Resolution No. 220201, entitled a "Resolution honoring and commemorating the life and memory of Jennifer Bennetch and the impact of her housing activism on the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 220202, entitled a "Resolution honoring and congratulating Drexel University President John Fry on his 2021 receipt of the William Penn Award from the Greater Philadelphia Area STATED MEETING 60 3/10/2022 Commerce, and for his many contributions to Drexel University, the local community, and the entire Philadelphia region"; and Resolution No. 220203, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to various properties located in the Third Councilmanic District, including on the following streets: Brandywine Street, Olive Street, Melon Street, North Shedwick Street, Wallace Street, North 33rd Street, and North 35th Street"; and Resolution No. 220204, entitled a "Resolution honoring and congratulating Champion of the Week NBC10's Miguel Martinez-Valle and Augustine Conte III for representing Philadelphia in Beijing as the only Philadelphian reporters and photojournalists to cover the 2022 Winter Olympics"; and Resolution No. 220205, entitled STATED MEETING 61 3/10/2022 "Resolution authorizing the conveyance of an interest in and the assignment of the redevelopment agreement for 2032 Lehigh Avenue located in the First Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 220206, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2919 North 23rd Street located in the 8th Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 220207, entitled a "Resolution recognizing Darrell K. Choates Sr.
for his ongoing success and contributions in the fields of business and community development as CEO of the Choates Family of Companies"; and Resolution No. 220209, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines with the theme 'Gifted to Give'"; and Resolution No. "
Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion to adopt each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
STATED MEETING 63 3/10/2022 opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it. Each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda has been adopted. We will now consider today's Bill Consent Agenda. I will ask the Clerk to please read the titles of all the bills on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the bill on the Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, that bill will immediately be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on our regular and Final Passage Calendar for today. Mr. Decker, please read the bills on the Bill Consent Agenda today.
Bill No. 210807, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by STATED MEETING 64 3/10/2022 Street, Morris Street, Coulter Street, and Priscilla Street"; and Bill No. 210829, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by amending certain provisions of Section 14-502, entitled '/CTR, Center City Overlay District,' to create a new subarea of the Old City Residential District"; and Bill No. 210957, entitled "An ordinance to approve amendments to the University of Pennsylvania Master Plan in the area bounded by Walnut Street, 34th Street, Spruce Street, and 40th Street, related to the Graduate School of Education building at 3700 Walnut Street"; and Bill No. 220005, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Girard Avenue, 54th Street, Westminster Avenue, STATED MEETING 65 3/10/2022 and 56th Street"; and Bill No. 220116, entitled "An ordinance approving the amendment of the Fiscal Year 2022 Capital Budget providing for expenditures for the capital purposes of the Philadelphia Gas Works (including the supplying of funds in connection therewith) subject to certain constraints and conditions, and acknowledging the receipt of the Revised Forecast of Capital Budgets for Fiscal Years 2023 through 2027, as amended"; and Bill No. 210801, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No. 170002) approved May 22, 2017, entitled 'An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 269 by relocating the easterly houseline of University Avenue, from a point approximately five-hundred forty-five feet north of Curie Boulevard to a point approximately two-hundred thirty-six feet further northwardly therefrom,' by STATED MEETING 66 3/10/2022 period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein"; and Bill No. 210804, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Mentor Street and Windrim Avenue; Pelham Road and Mower Street"; and Bill No. 210805, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Sulis Street and North 2nd Street; Ashdale Street and North 4th Street; Rittenhouse Street to Wissahickon Street"; and Bill No. 210806, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Tioga Street and North 15th Street"; and Bill No. 210828, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No. 170086) approved May 22, 2017, entitled 'An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 269 STATED MEETING 67 3/10/2022 portions of the houselines and curblines of Convention Avenue, from Thirty-Fourth Street to Health Sciences Drive, and placing on the City Plan two rights-of-way for drainage purposes within the vicinity of the intersection of Convention Avenue and Health Sciences Drive,' by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein"; and Bill No. 210927, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Designation of Bicycle Lanes,' to authorize a bicycle lane, in the eastbound direction, on Chestnut Street from South 63rd Street to South 45th Street; and to remove a travel lane on Chestnut Street within the same limits"; and Bill No. 210955, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of North Daggett Street from Callowhill Street to Vine Street"; and STATED MEETING 68 3/10/2022
211019, entitled "An ordinance establishing no truck or trailer parking regulations on North 60th Street between West Oxford Street and Clifford Terrace, both sides; North 61st Street between West Oxford Street and Clifford Terrace, both sides; and West Columbia Avenue between North 60th Street and North 61st Street, both sides"; and Bill No. 220045, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of Overbrook Avenue from 64th Street to 66th Street"; and Bill No. 220053, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on Horning Road from Roosevelt Boulevard to its terminus further northwestwardly therefrom"; and Bill No. 220119, entitled "An ordinance authorizing an existing bulk window at 2519 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania"; and Bill No. 220144, entitled "An STATED MEETING 69 3/10/2022 Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, by amending Section 9-203 relating to Street Vendors, by prohibiting street vending on certain portions of Market Street"; and Bill No. "
Thank you, Mr. Decker. These bills having been read on two different days, the question for each bill now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll, and upon being called, each Councilmember shall vote aye on each of the bills, nay on each of the bills, or indicate those bills for which the member is voting aye STATED MEETING 70 3/10/2022 bills for which the member is voting nay. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Councilwoman STATED MEETING 72 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Quinones-Sanchez.
Aye on all bills. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 210778-AA. STATED MEETING 73 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
An ordinance to amend Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code by adding Section 14-532, entitled the "/AHP, Affordable Housing Preservation Overlay District" and making other related changes; to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by 39th Street, Ludlow Street, 40th Street, and Market Street; and to establish a temporary demolition moratorium with respect to properties within the aforementioned area.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gauthier.
Thank you, Mr. President. And good morning, everyone. Today we are considering final passage of Bill 210778, which would create the Affordable Housing Preservation Overlay STATED MEETING 74 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING District in West Philadelphia. This overlay includes the University City Townhomes, a deeply affordable housing complex in the heart of one of the Third District's most amenity-rich neighborhoods, and it intends to encourage the production of affordable housing in areas of the City where low-income residents could be especially vulnerable to displacement. If passed, properties in this overlay would be subject to many of the same provisions as the Mixed-Income Neighborhoods Overlay, which requires 20 percent of units to be offered at affordable rents. The bill would go into effect immediately. Last year the owner of the townhomes declined to renew their affordable housing contract with HUD, instead opting to sell the property. And because of the market forces currently at play in University City, it's likely that without policy interventions, any further STATED MEETING 75 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING development would prioritize commercial development over residential. In my eyes, it's an injustice to simply stand by and watch while low-income people, working-class people, and people of color in amenity-rich neighborhoods across our city, neighborhoods that these Philadelphians and their families helped build over generations, are pushed out, and it's the result of multiple factors. It's the result of how poorly affordable housing policy has been handled over the years at all levels of government. It's the result of the general perception in this country that maximizing profits regardless of social cost is an acceptable way to do business. And it's the result of how the wealthy and powerful have placed economic growth and interest above the needs of existing Black communities. For context, in the late 1960's and early 1970's during what was known as STATED MEETING 76 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING "urban renewal," the City of Philadelphia raised the Black Bottom neighborhood to make way for a science and technology research campus, which today we know as the University City Science Center. Thousands of Philadelphians, roughly 80 percent of whom were Black, were displaced as a result, not just from their homes but from their community. This block was initially slated to be part of that research campus, but neighbors and University of Pennsylvania students banded together to demand that sites be set aside for affordable housing so that people displaced by urban renewal had options to return, so that they would have access to housing in the neighborhood for generations to come. Now, let's fast forward to today. Forty years after the University City Townhomes first opened, our city and the Third District has changed dramatically. In the last two decades alone, housing prices have tripled in STATED MEETING 77 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING this immediate area. The Black population east of 52nd Street has been cut in half, and the end is nowhere in sight. An estimated $5 billion has been spent on construction in University City in the last decade alone. So considering all of this, it's clear we need to do more to protect affordable housing and to ensure that our zoning reflects how important it is to reserve housing in neighborhoods of choice in this city. This is what the Affordable Housing Preservation Overlay is all about. I also want to highlight a companion piece of legislation, Bill 220007, that will expand the overlay to other locations along the Market-Frankford transit corridor. This ordinance will ensure further affordability by requiring a higher percentage of affordable units be included in projects where developers wish to access density bonuses.
This STATED MEETING 78 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING bill is currently awaiting a hearing, and I look forward to discussing it further with my colleagues. Finally, I want to take a moment to discuss the issue of opt-outs. Since the 1980's, programs, including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, have incentivized private developers to create and maintain affordable housing units. While these programs have allowed the production of many thousands of affordable homes in Philadelphia, property owners are only required to provide these units for a set number of years, putting residents at risk of displacement once the term of the subsidy ends. By the end of 2025, affordability and income restrictions on over 300,000 homes across the country are set to expire. Approximately 5,600 of those units are in Philadelphia, and 670 of them are in my district. And since not enough new affordable housing is STATED MEETING 79 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING being built to replace what's being lost and meet the demands, expiring subsidies have the potential to displace thousands of Philadelphians. No comprehensive plan has been created at any level of our government to address this growing problem. It's a crisis and it's imminent. And what gets lost too often in this conversation are the people that these decisions impact. I am offended by the notion that people should be displaced from their communities and moved all about with little to no regard for their safety, their social supports, the continuity of their kids' education, their faith communities, and the list goes on. Sometimes it feels like certain sets of people in our city are making out great, thriving and profiting more than ever, while others; namely, working-class people, are losing again and again and again. STATED MEETING 80 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING We as a city have an obligation to step up and to step in, to protect people, to protect housing, and to be actively engaged in creating intentionally equitable communities, and passing this overlay bill is an important step in that direction, both for West Philly and for our city as a whole. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman STATED MEETING 81 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Gauthier.
Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez. STATED MEETING 82 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are one. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill 220076.
An ordinance authorizing the Philadelphia Housing Authority to acquire fee simple title to certain properties located in the vicinity of 9th Street to the east, 11th Street to the west, Cumberland Street to the north, and Susquehanna Avenue to the south. STATED MEETING 83 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. STATED MEETING 84 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Council President Clarke. STATED MEETING 85 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 210827.
An ordinance authorizing an increase in the non-electoral indebtedness of the City within the Pennsylvania constitutional limit; authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds toward various capital municipal purposes; providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment of such bonds; and authorizing agreements to provide credit or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with issuance of bonds.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill STATED MEETING 86 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Jones. STATED MEETING 87 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present having voted in the affirmative, the bill STATED MEETING 88 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING passes. Mr. Decker, 220114.
An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022 from the General Fund and the Grants Revenue Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, to the General Fund, the Water Fund, and the Aviation Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. STATED MEETING 89 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. STATED MEETING 90 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions?
Yes, Mr. President. A resolution welcoming President Joseph R. Biden and the House Democratic Caucus to Philadelphia on March 9, 2022 to March 11, 2022 for the STATED MEETING 91 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING annual House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference, introduced today by Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution authorizing the City of Philadelphia Council Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings to examine STATED MEETING 92 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING enforcement practices, preventative measures, and potential solutions necessary to address the widespread illegal dumping taking place in the City of Philadelphia, and to explore ways to collaborate with City agencies to address this problem, introduced today by Councilwoman Gauthier.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is STATED MEETING 93 3/10/2022 3/10/22 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted.
And a resolution honoring and recognizing the 200th Anniversary of the life and legacy of Harriet Tubman, introduced today by Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of this very important resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that very important resolution has been adopted.
There are no STATED MEETING 94 3/10/2022 Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. Prior to recognizing members regarding speeches, I will note for the record at this time we will use the Chat feature available in Microsoft Teams to allow members to signify that they wish to be recognized. In order to comply with the Sunshine Act, the Chat feature must only be used for this particular purpose. And do we have any speeches on behalf of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brooks.
Thank you, Council President. I want to thank you specifically for your resolution in honor of the life and work and legacy of housing activist Jennifer Bennetch and for allowing me to introduce the STATED MEETING 95 3/10/2022 As you know firsthand, Jen was definitely a force to be reckoned with. She was fierce and driven and committed to fighting for equal distribution of wealth and resources in Philadelphia. Her work in founding Occupy PHA and leading the efforts to secure homes for unhoused people as part of the encampment protest did push the status quo and she changed our idea of what is possible when you fight for what you believe in. So I want to thank my Council colleagues for honoring Jen and especially Council President for his work on this resolution. May we fight for permanent housing for every person in the City in her memory. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman. And when you say I know about her firsthand, I know about her firsthand. You know what I mean. She was so passionate, I'll tell STATED MEETING 96 3/10/2022 you, I'll tell you. We'll miss her. Speeches on behalf of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Council President. I just wanted to acknowledge Archbishop Mary Floyd Palmer who was here today, and I didn't get a chance to just acknowledge that she's the first and only female Archbishop, not only in the City but also in the State of Pennsylvania as well. So she's carrying on the life and legacy of her dad, Melvin Floyd, within her own right. She is doing a lot of work as being a member of the clergy. So I want to acknowledge her hard work and dedication, even as we embark upon 100 homicides here in the City of Philadelphia. And so we must continue to keep our foot on the gas in figuring out ways on how we're going to reduce this level of gun violence that we STATED MEETING 97 3/10/2022 the City of Philadelphia. I think we surpassed Chicago right now. So I want to thank all my colleagues last week who took time out of their schedule and participated in the Special Committee on Gun Violence hearing on youth mental health trauma and gun violence, and also we came out with some additional follow-up items that we're going to be looking at in terms of addressing the issue of trauma and how hurt people hurt people, particularly when we're talking about children. And tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., we're having a Special Committee on Gun Violence hearing around domestic violence and gun violence. I'm quite sure everybody is paying attention to how during last year, especially during these last two years during the pandemic, we've seen an increase in women being shot or murdered. A significant amount of those shootings were based upon domestic STATED MEETING 98 3/10/2022 going to do a deeper dive working in partnership with Women Organized Against Rape, Women Against Abuse, Philadelphia Police Department, and other stakeholders on how we look at different strategies of how we're addressing this here in the City of Philadelphia. So I just wanted to thank everyone for participating. Those hearings are very, very meaningful when it comes to looking at strategies but, most importantly, the recommendations and the work that comes out of doing the deep dive in the hearing. So, again, thank you, Council President, for the time allotted, and everyone keep up the good work and God bless.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you for continuing to stay focused on this very, very important issue. The Chair recognizes STATED MEETING 99 3/10/2022
Thank you very much, Council President. I first want to thank my colleague Councilmember Jamie Gauthier for her important legislation and the City Council body for moving forward on the important legislation regarding the University City Townhomes. Displacement at this scale is not merely a matter of market forces but the failure to protect people when these things become -- especially when these things become exploitative and punitive, and more work clearly needs to be done in this area. I just want to thank Councilmember Gauthier for taking those important steps, for doing it, and for this Council body for looking out for our residents. But what I wanted to focus on today was that today are the closing arguments in the fair funding trial STATED MEETING 100 3/10/2022 in the Commonwealth Court, and over the last three months and 40-plus witnesses, including school superintendents and CFOs and academic experts, we have heard much testimony about the gross inequity and inadequacy that the State of Pennsylvania has when it comes to funding one of the most critical institutions, not only here in the City of Philadelphia but as a democracy, and that is the funding of our public schools. What became very apparent through the testimony of the fair funding trial is that the underfunding of our schools is deliberate, it's known, and it is still being defended by individuals like Jake Corman and members of the State Legislature. The students, parents, educators, and families who have endured overcrowded classrooms, closed libraries, a lack of counselors and supports, and dilapidated buildings never needed a STATED MEETING 101 3/10/2022 clear. But it's very apparent to have all these witnesses going on and saying and questioning whether diversity is necessary or is considered an asset, whether some students should have access to a basic course like algebra if they are, quote/unquote, on the McDonald's truck. These were shocking things said in a court of law, and it's a reminder that we don't actually have to wait for a ruling from the Commonwealth Court to push for better funding of our schools. It's frankly ridiculous that we have to legislate ending lead in our drinking water in a public school building. It shouldn't happen, because it should never have been an issue. It's ridiculous that our Council body has had to take numerous steps to improve school facilities, to improve basic access to resources for young people, but nonetheless here we are. STATED MEETING 102 3/10/2022 $8 billion in surplus at the state level that should go towards the modernization of our schools and towards funding school facilities. There's work that we have to do on our own City Council body. It's why we pushed so hard to reform the ten-year tax abatement to make sure that schools get properly funded and why we'll take the Parking Authority to task if they are diverting money that should be rightly due to our schools. But this is not obviously something that's going to be corrected in one budget session or through any individual piece of legislation. It's got to be a commitment by our body. I think we've done that. I think we put more money towards our schools. But the gap is significant and we've got to push for more, and that should not cause fear. It should cause us to think about the opportunities that can happen when we tell our young people, each and every STATED MEETING 103 3/10/2022 that step through those doors, that their lives matter and that we care about them. And the last thing I'll say is that in case we haven't -- that there's been some recent studies, not just about the departure of teachers from our public schools but the massive gap in staffing in our school buildings.
There are almost 1,000 calls for substitutes each and every day in the School District of Philadelphia. m. and do not have a regular teacher in front of them. That is a crisis of gargantuan proportions. It's not only for this year but it will be for next year, and it will certainly be a major issue for the next superintendent. But the reason why I bring that up is not to say that there are teachers who aren't just in classrooms, but we have to make and revitalize teaching as a profession. All of us on this Council STATED MEETING 104 3/10/2022 committed to jobs, jobs, jobs. Many of us on this Council body have been educators and teachers even in our public schools here in Philadelphia. To me, teaching is still the best job, the most important job that I've ever had, and I want us as a body to work together to elevate the practice of teaching, to call people to this work, and to revitalize our schools, classroom by classroom, school by school. Thank you very much, Council President.
Thank you so much, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Well, thank you, Mr. President. You know, this has been a tough week. It's been a tough week for our office. It's been a tough week for the folks of the City of Philadelphia when STATED MEETING 105 3/10/2022 and violence and the effects that it has had. Just last week, last Thursday evening, a gentleman in Germantown, what we would call one of our elders, was gunned down at an ATM machine in his own neighborhood. He felt safe. You know, many people said, oh, you know, that's not a good place to use an ATM. Any place should be a good place to use an ATM. We have to stop suggesting that it's okay for folks to take over our neighborhoods, that it's okay for them to approach us with guns drawn and demand what is someone else's, what they have worked for. And so we have this horrible situation with one of our elders gunned down in Germantown, and as I mentioned, within my office we had a young man who was a Council staffer for many years who we lost to gun violence this past week, Khamir Carlton, who was the son of former STATED MEETING 106 3/10/2022 Khamir came to work with us in City Council right after college, and he was a Dean's List student. He was on the honor roll in school. He was a good kid. He was a good kid. And he was a father of three, 28 years old, and, you know, I just really wanted to say his name this morning. I really wanted to say his name. And so as we talk about violence and the effect that it has and the lingering effects that this kind of violence has on all of us, we need to talk about the investments that we make and just securing these investments and ensuring that they're doing the job that we have required them or requested from them to do. One of the things that I wanted to just mention to my colleagues, particularly my district colleagues, is that we have a listing of all of the investments made recently in the last STATED MEETING 107 3/10/2022 Parks and Rec facilities. We're going to be distributing that information and meeting with members to talk about the amount of investment or really the lack thereof. We had expected with Rebuild that we would have a much more robust level of investment at many of our playgrounds, parks and recreation centers, and libraries, and it just really hasn't come to fruition. So we are going to be talking about that as a way to redirect some of our young people. You know, listen, maybe we can't save everybody, but we can save somebody. We can save some folks. There are some folks who want to be in a different situation, they want to have access to training and opportunities and jobs, and they don't want to be on the streets. So let's get those that we can off the streets and into the programs and services that we know will make a difference in their lives and cut into STATED MEETING 108 3/10/2022 we see happening and continuing to happen in Philadelphia. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Yeah, we have to figure out a way to fix this. This can't keep going on like it is. The Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas.
Thank you, Council President. I was actually going to just announce the hearing that we're having this afternoon. The Streets and Services Committee is having a hearing this afternoon at 1:00 p.m. to explore sustainable alternatives to what we do to prepare for storms in the City of Philadelphia. It's no secret that in Philadelphia we have huge issues with infrastructure, whether it's the impact it has on hit-and-runs or the average STATED MEETING 109 3/10/2022 we have. So today's hearing is going to be looking at exploring alternatives to how we deal with and prepare for some of the precipitation that happens as it relates to storms here in the City of Philadelphia. But I don't think anybody can listen to Councilmember Bass and what she just said and the passion she just said it with and follow up from her and not say anything. So, colleague, I appreciate your passion, and, you know, I also share your frustration. I heard Councilman Johnson say we're closing in on 100 homicides, which is another sad milestone for us as a city. I listened to Councilmember Bass's emotions talking about someone that she know that tragically and recently passed away from gun violence, and I agree like she said, it's not -- there are things that we can do, right? We can't fix everything, but STATED MEETING 110 3/10/2022 we can do. And when we're talking about rec centers and when we're talking about access to quality programming, when we're talking about simple things like how dirty our city is, I just think that we can do better and we will do better. I appreciate working with you guys on Council. I do. But as government, I think we have to push and do a little bit more. So I know for me, I'm inspired. I'm going to continue to fight the good fight and try to save as many lives as we can, but I will try to continue to push, because I think that far too often when we find solutions and we advocate for those solutions, they don't actualize themselves, and I think that is where the rubber hits the road. So I'll stop right there. I thank everybody for their leadership. I too am just a little emotional this morning. There's a lot going on with our STATED MEETING 111 3/10/2022 people, and I'm hoping people can join us this afternoon for our Streets hearing. Thank you, Council President. Thank you, colleagues.
Thank you, Councilman. Thank you so much. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Council President. And before I talk about what I wanted to talk about, I just wanted to also echo Councilmember Brooks' conversation around highlighting Jennifer and Jennifer's work. I know, Council President, she was a normal fixture on City Council. I'll never forget the Special Committee on Poverty, we had our hearings at Temple University, and Jennifer came in really strong and hard on PHA. I mean, she went in deep around vacancies, STATED MEETING 112 3/10/2022 challenges and even went after Kelvin and his salary and everything else. And I just wanted to highlight that, because over time, both Kelvin and Jennifer developed a great respect for each other. You know, she didn't need to make him an enemy to have her cause, and he respected her advocacy. And as someone who started in advocacy, you know, and became an advocate and now in government, too many times what we see in the national scene is it's sort of like that's the bad guy, that's the good guy, and there's no time for just taking a moment so people understand what they're fighting for. And so I just wanted to highlight that, because it's Women's Month, and Jennifer was very strong and very firm in her position, but talking a whole lot around that advocacy work with how she developed a relationship and worked with Kelvin to do the historic agreement that was later signed off on by STATED MEETING 113 3/10/2022 everyone, it really speaks to a model that we should all follow. Sometimes when we take a moment and pause and just listen to each other, we can accomplish so much more. So just wanted to highlight my Jennifer story, particularly as it relates to PHA and her work. I just wanted to also echo this morning, before jumping on Council, I was listening to the closing testimonies of the lawsuit and really wanted to thank the Public Interest Law Center and everybody who has been involved in this journey for many, many years, and really hoping that we really get to a dialogue around school funding, going through the formula and the games that the State Legislature has played by dividing school districts. I think this lawsuit for the first time really helps put urban districts along with rural districts and shows that they also have a common cause around equity and access. STATED MEETING 114 3/10/2022 mind, just remind folks that this afternoon the School District will be posting the information around the public testimony. Next week, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the three finalists will be in Philadelphia and there'll be an opportunity for different stakeholders to meet with the three finalists. Tomorrow the list will become public. And just encourage everyone to participate in any one of the forums, whether it's the union forum, the elected officials forum, or the community forum, to meet these three finalists. Yesterday we had a conversation with Board President Joyce Wilkerson in the Education Committee, and as she was talking to us around the process, she reminded us that the School District of Philadelphia and the search committee was competing with seven to ten other large cities who are also in search of a superintendent, right? Whether it's STATED MEETING 115 3/10/2022 Denver, Cincinnati, Boston, there are many, many people looking for superintendents. So Philadelphia is, to a certain degree, competing, right, for talent. And so when these three individuals, brave individuals who have made it to this last round, come to Philadelphia, let us be reminded of that, that we're, just like with teachers and just like with nurses, we're all competing for the best talent. And I want the next superintendent to come to Philadelphia clear around the challenges but also around the commitment by stakeholders to work alongside that person to make our School District the best that it can be.
So thank you very much, Council President and my colleagues.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you so much. The Chair recognizes Councilman STATED MEETING 116 3/10/2022
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to inform everybody that there will be an honoring for the St. Patrick's Day Parade today at 4 o'clock over at the Mayor's Reception Room, recognizing our 250th parade here in Philadelphia. Also honoring their Grand Marshal, Michael J. Bradley Jr., on Sunday for the parade, for the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and it will be starting at 11:15. They're kicking off around that time at 16th and JFK for any members who would like to participate in that parade. It will be televised also beginning at noon.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to draw the correlation STATED MEETING 117 3/10/2022 of the violence in our neighborhood, the acknowledgment that recreation centers or the lack thereof often play a part of that, and the importance of selecting the next superintendent of schools and telling Gym, member of Council's, plea about facilities and drinking water. They are all related, because the school-to-prison pipeline is a real thing. If you look at the zip codes that schools are failing in and then calculate where the inhabitants of State Road's prisons come from, synonymous, school-to-prison pipeline. If you look at the fact that if you reduced the dropout rate about 50 percent in the underperforming schools that are in those zip codes, you would cut the crime rate in Philadelphia, the murder rate in Philadelphia, because those things go together, contributing to the end product, which is murder and STATED MEETING 118 3/10/2022 So we might be thinking that they're not. I want to draw attention to the fact that there is a causal effect to both, and I'm thankful that my members feel the way they do, that they hurt deeply for the City, and so I'm thankful to that. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. Well said. And that concludes our speeches on behalf of the minority and the majority. With that said, the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 17th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned STATED MEETING 119 3/10/2022 Thursday, March 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The motion carries. Thank you all very much and, again, please be safe. Thank you. ) STATED MEETING 120 3/10/2022 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, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L.