COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON THE DISABLED AND HANDICAPPED - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, November 26, 2007, 11:40 a.m. - - - Bill 070909 - An ordinance amending Chapter 12-300 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Special Restrictions Upon Use of Vehicles Around Wheelchair Lift-Equipped Vehicles," by adding a new subsection requiring that the vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts prominently display a notice on the rear and on the sides of said vehicle of such wheelchair lift, under certain terms and conditions. COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Ann Campbell, Chair Darrell Clarke William Greenlee Jack Kelly Donna Reed-Miller - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Specialists 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 WITNESS (There were no witnesses for this hearing.) 11/26/07 - DISABLED, HANDICAPPED - BILL 070909
The Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities is now --
I'm sorry. There are just so many committees. (Laughter.)
I'm sorry. The Committee on the Disabled and Handicapped is now in session. Let the record reflect that in attendance are: Councilman Jack Kelly; Councilwoman Carol Campbell, who is the chair of this committee; myself, Councilwoman Donna Reed-Miller; and to my right, Councilman Juan Ramos. Will the clerk please read the title of this bill.
This is Bill No. 23 070909, an ordinance amending Chapter 24 12-300 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Special Restrictions Upon Use 4 11/26/07 - DISABLED, HANDICAPPED - BILL 070909 of Vehicles Around Wheelchair Lift-Equipped Vehicles," by adding a new subsection requiring that the vehicles equipped with wheelchair lifts prominently display a notice on the rear and on the sides of said vehicle of such wheelchair lift, under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. Is there anyone who will be testifying on this bill? And if so, will you please come forward to the witness table and identify yourself for the record. (No response.)
We don't have any witnesses for the bill. Okay. Would any Councilmember like to make any statement? Councilman Ramos?
Thank you, Madam Chair. 5 11/26/07 - DISABLED, HANDICAPPED - BILL 070909 I want to publicly, and not just for the sake of the record, but from my very personal experience of having handicapped family members who we all and I love very dearly, and I want to commend Councilwoman Carol Campbell for taking on this issue, as she has experienced the trials and tribulations of people that go through this in their lives, and I think this is a very noble cause that she has undertaken on behalf of all of people in Philadelphia who have loved ones who are impaired and have difficulties with their walkers and so forth. So I want to commend the Councilwoman for her efforts in bringing all of these bills, which, now I think there are scores of them that she has introduced, and many of them have been made into law, and I'll be voting in support of this very important measure. Thank you for your 6 11/26/07 - DISABLED, HANDICAPPED - BILL 070909 consideration.
Thank you, Councilman Ramos. And I'd also just like to say, too, having personally experienced a daughter who had bone cancer and a leg amputated above the knee, I am certainly well aware of the needs and the issues that face people that are disabled. So I'd also like to thank Councilwoman Campbell for bringing this matter to City Council, and certainly these bills will certainly help citizens that are disabled and their family members, because when one person is disabled, everybody's disabled. It's all a family thing; it's not just an individual. And so I'd also like to thank you.
7 11/26/07 - DISABLED, HANDICAPPED - BILL 070909 Okay. Seeing that there are no other witnesses wishing to testify on this bill, this concludes the public hearing on the Committee on the Disabled and Handicapped, and we will now go into the public meeting. I know that there is an amendment and a copy of the amendment has been distributed to all Councilmembers. Would Councilman Jack Kelly please make a motion to amend Bill No. 070909.
I would like to make a motion to amend Bill No. 16 070909. The amendment would state on Chapter 12-301, in the second paragraph, it would be "the owner of a wheelchair lift-equipped vehicle shall prominently display on the rear and sides of said vehicle notice that is clear and conspicuous that said vehicle is equipped with and uses a wheelchair lift device. (Motion seconded.) 8 11/26/07 - DISABLED, HANDICAPPED - BILL 070909
Okay. All in favor? Those opposed? Okay, the ayes have it. Bill 6 No. 070909 has been amended. Okay. We're in the public meeting, and it's been properly moved and seconded that Bill No. 070909, as amended, be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session. All those in favor will signify by saying aye? Opposed? Councilman Ramos?
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill No. 21 070909, as amended, be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation and a further move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading of this bill at 9 11/26/07 - DISABLED, HANDICAPPED - BILL 070909 our next Council meeting.
All those in favor? Opposed? Okay, the ayes have it. Bill No. 070909, as amended, has been reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of Council be suspended, so this bill has been properly -- it's been properly moved and seconded; and furthermore, the rules of Council have been suspended as to permit first reading at our next session. Sorry for repeating this but I'm just a little bit disoriented right now. This concludes this hearing. Thank you. (Proceedings end at 11:50 a.m) * * * 10 C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings of the City of Philadelphia Council Committee on the Disabled and Handicapped are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me on Monday, November 26, 2007, and that this is a true and correct statement of same. __________________________________ JOSEPHINE CARDILLO Registered Professional Reporter (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)