The ayes have it. These bills will be placed on the Second and Final Reading Passage. The Chair now -- I'm sorry; will be placed on the 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.
The Committee on Public Property and Public Works, to which was referred Bill No. 120784, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Procurement Commissioner and the Free Library of Philadelphia, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a sublease agreement for the leasing of personal computers and associated equipment, to include related maintenance and other services, from the Philadelphia Municipal Authority, for the use of the Free Library of Philadelphia," 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 Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of City Council be suspended as to permit first reading on this day of Bill No. 120784. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended this day as to permit first reading of Bill No. 120784. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. That bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Goode for a report from the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, to which was referred Bill No. 120855, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Business Income and Receipts Taxes,' by revising the total amount of all tax credits available in any year for new job creation, under certain terms and conditions," 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 the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 120855. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended this day as to permit first reading of Bill No. 120855. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. This bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on the Second and Final Reading Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. As there are no additional 2ND READING bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair now recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today: Nos. 120881, 120882, 120729, and 120781. All other resolutions and bills are being held.
Thank you. Before considering these bills and resolutions on the Final Passage, we will have public comment. If you are interested in testifying on bills and resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar today, I ask that you please sign up to the table to my left. The public comment will go as follows: In the middle of Council Chambers, you will see a podium. That podium has a device. You will be given three minutes when your name is called to give your remarks. When the light turns green, it is your time to speak. When it turns yellow, there's 30 seconds before your three minutes is up. When it turns red, we ask that you please conclude your comments. We want to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to speak at that time, and we'd ask that you please adhere to the guidelines that we have established to ensure that the public has full participation. Thank you. Mr. Decker, you want to read the names of the individuals who are listed to testify.
Henry Pyatt, commenting on 120656. (Witness approached podium.)
Hello, members of Council. Thank you for the opportunity to address you today. 120656 is a bill relating to parking standards and density requirements in zones RM-1 and CMX-2. I am here to speak as an employee of New Kensington Community Development Corporation, but I also speak on behalf of East Kensington Neighbors Association and the Fishtown Neighbors Association. One of the principal reasons our city chose to overhaul its Zoning Code was to reduce the number of variances needed by projects that wouldn't have a significant impact upon their communities, but weren't accounted for in the old cold, which was drafted and implemented in the 1960s when Philadelphia and America as a whole were very different. Bill 120656 would undue a significant portion of the progress of the new code by forcing projects that are consistent with the existing urban fabric of our neighborhoods to seek variances. Our neighborhoods are pre-automobile in their design and, as such, are very dense and pedestrian friendly, with vital commercial corridors facilitated by minimal interruptions to sidewalks in the form of curb cuts. Such corridors exist because of the rich mix of uses, including the prevalence of multi-family buildings providing them with a customer base and a steady stream of pedestrians, reinforcing safety and perceived safety. Requiring parking for small apartment buildings, mixed-use properties, and neighborhood-scale commercial properties would substantially erode that character and be entirely inconsistent with the established development patterns of our historic neighborhoods. Furthermore, these changes would diminish the same attributes that make our walkable neighborly communities attractive to residents and businesses. In conclusion, I would like to encourage you to oppose Bill 120656 for the following reasons: One, to encourage walkable neighborhoods with sidewalks uninterrupted by curb cuts and block faces uninterrupted by parking facilities; two, to allow the new Zoning Code to achieve its goal of reducing the number of required variances; three, to allow our neighborhoods to retain their dense, walkable character; and, four, to facilitate the continuing redevelopment of our traditional commercial corridors without significantly altering their architectural character and usability. Thank you for considering this input. And that's about it.
Thank you so much for your testimony, sir. (Applause.)
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Is there anyone else who wishes to testify on bills and resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar? (Witness approached podium.)
My name is Bill Gault. I represent the Philadelphia firefighters and medics, and I want to thank you, Council President Clarke, and I want to thank you, Council, for listening to me. Right now we're here again to speak to you to ask for your help, because once again, the Administration is throwing a terrible thing at the citizens and a terrible thing at the firefighters. What they want to do is mass transfer 300 of our most senior guys. This plan makes no sense whatsoever. This plan will justify (sic) your safety and it will jeopardize all these men and women's safety. There has been no study. You are taking the senior guys out of a firehouse. A firehouse is a cohesive unit. It's a team. It's three, four, five guys who have been working together 10, 15, 20, some of them 30 years. The City is doing this under the guise of training. Taking the senior guy out of a fire company will do nothing for training. You're going to have rookies training rookies, and that's a complete recipe for disaster. You're going to be moving people to other neighborhoods in other trucks in unfamiliar neighborhoods where they do not know the lay of the land. They don't know the daycare centers. They don't know the schools, the heavy hazard, the refineries, the high rises. It's a complete foreign concept to the art of firefighting, and it's being done for reasons we don't know. We ask -- we offered any help this Commissioner, this Mayor wants, but it falls on dead ears. So that's why we're here, Council. (Standing ovation.)
We're here to ask -- fellows, I only got three. Fellows, we only got three minutes. We're asking you to please hold hearings to get to the root of this and find out what's going on. Next week he plans to change our schedule which we've had for 40 years. It's just nonsense. We filled out our contract for four years. It's still in the judge's chambers. We're asking for your help, and we'd appreciate and we thank you for anything you do for us. Thank you. (Standing ovation.)
Thank you. We will have a vote on that resolution calling for hearings in short order, and I suspect it will pass. (Applause.) (Witness approached podium.)
At this time, we will now consider resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry, sir. I didn't have your name, our good friend.
Good morning, Mr. President, members of Council, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Robert Taylor, citizen of South Philadelphia, President of TWU Local 700, a member of the TWU PA State Conference. I'm commenting today on Bill 120340-AA, tax exemptions, and Bills No. 120525, 120526, 120528, parking regulations. First of all, I want to thank all of the Councilmembers that have signed on to the proposal or the bill to propose tax exemptions for long-term owners of property. I think that this is well thought out, well needed, and it will provide some relief to the residents of Philadelphia. Again, I oppose the entire excess of bills proposing new parking regulations. These policies seem to keep expanding. These regulations require citizens pay high fees in the form of parking tickets and to pay freedom-robbing parking permits. Quote, "To deprive a man of his natural liberty is to deny him of ordinary amenities of life. It is worse than starving the body. It is starvation of the soul, the dweller in the body," Mahatma Gandhi. Of course, many people need their automobiles for day-to-day responsibilities, yet it cannot -- yet cannot afford the difficulties that will be due to the expanded set of rules. Therefore, the regulations are costly, complex, and unnecessary. Members of the Committee of Streets and Services have said that the public wants these oppressive regulations. However, my experience reveals that the large portion of the process is removed from public view. I was told to go to the Philadelphia Parking Authority website to find information to remove these unnecessary policies. Sadly, there was no information available online. This has not changed to this day. There is no provision for the public to inspect petitions to an appeals process for those who don't like their neighborhoods being taken over by the endless rules. As representatives of all the people, it should be Council's top priority to make sure that the people are properly represented. I think that we have more -quote, "I think that we have more machinery government than is necessary, too many parasites living off the labor of the industrious," Thomas Jefferson. Thank you, and God bless Philadelphia.
11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Anyone else who is interested in testifying on bills and resolutions on Final Passage? (No response.)
Seeing none, thank you very much. That concludes our public comment. Mr. Decker, will you please read the title of Resolution No. 120881.
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 Twentieth and Thirty-Seventh Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 120881 is passed. Mr. Decker, Resolution 120882.
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 Fifty-Seventh Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
The 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. 120882 is adopted. Mr. Decker, can you please read the title of 120729.
An ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No. 090839) entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 242 by striking from the City Plan and vacating portions of the beds of Old York Road," by extending the period for 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein.
Thank you. This bill having been read on two separate days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes 17; the nays are zero. All members present having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120781.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by amending Section 14-603, entitled "Use-Specific Standards," by revising requirements relating to family day care.
Thank you. This bill having been read on two separate days, the question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING zero. All members present having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any other resolutions?
A privileged resolution calling for the induction of William "Speedy" Morris, a legendary local basketball coach, into the Naismith Memorial National Basketball Hall of Fame, introduced by Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it. The resolution is adopted.
And a privileged resolution honoring, recognizing and commending the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 for their never ending service to the families of Fallen Police Officers, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution recognizing the important 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING contribution of Internet Essentials in improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities in Philadelphia, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution recognizing and honoring Philadelphia's leader Spanish-language 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Newspaper, Al Dia, on the occasion of its 20th Anniversary Gala and the debut of its first published book "200 Years of Latino History in Philadelphia," introduced by Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution honoring Juanita Ramos for her tireless work registering voters and 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING empowering her community on the occasion of her being named one of the AARP's "Leaders of Hope," introduced by Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
It's been properly moved and seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution authorizing the Committee on Labor and Civil Service to hold public hearings to review the new policy put forth by the Philadelphia Fire Department 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING that will initiate a firefighter rotation process that will facilitate the reassignment of approximately 15 through 20 percent of firefighters annually, introduced by Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move with my bipartisan colleagues for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Before we call for a vote, I would like to recognize Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. First I want to thank all my friends and all our friends of Local 22 that are here today. A few days -(Applause.)
A few days ago, as you're aware, I sent a letter to the Mayor and Commissioner Ayers about 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING the proposed transfers of hundreds of firefighters. I asked them to reconsider the transfers, because the firehouse aren't just firehouses, and if everybody here today present doesn't know, they are families. They are men and women that work in those houses that are a part of each other's lives. The relationships that they form are -- they are formed as they protect each other and as they protect people like you and me. They are formed as they protect everybody in the City of Philadelphia. There's many questions that are unanswered regarding the methodology behind these transfers, many questions, all in the interest of public safety. I believe that seniority and experience is vitally important. I'm not sure what the intentions are in the transfers. They may be well, but it doesn't make it a good idea. I want to congratulate my colleague and dear friend Mark Squilla 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING who introduced this resolution calling for the hearings to explore the potential problems associated with these transfers, and I want to acknowledge the leadership on this issue and look forward to the discussions about the transfers. Thank you all.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. This is an unprecedented move by the Administration relative to our Fire Department. So with your cooperation and the cooperation of the Chief Clerk's Office, we have an unprecedented announcement prior to the passage of this resolution. The Labor and Civil Service Committee will hear it on November 27th at 10:00 a.m. in this Chamber. We are announcing that now in lieu of the or in expectation of the passage of the resolution. 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Additionally, I received a heartfelt e-mail from a firefighter in Engine 10 who lost two firefighters, Lieutenant Neary and Firefighters Sweeney, this year. One of the things he said to me, which was very poignant, was that a number of the people in that company were actually responsible for digging out or trying to dig out the two fallen firefighters and those that survived, and that they're still healing and they're trying to get their heads and their hearts back together after this tragic loss. And two of the longstanding firefighters in that company are being scheduled to be transferred away from their family, away from their grieving brothers and sisters, and to me, it's just coldhearted and unnecessary. In New York -- and the Fire Department in New York City obviously is a great Fire Department, as great as our Fire Department is. When you leave the Fire Academy, you are assigned a station 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING house. You stay there two years. You're transferred after that to another station house in another part of the city. You stay there two years, and then you're transferred again to another station house at a different part of the city, and then you come back to the station house that you were assigned to initially, and you can stay there the rest of your career. To me, that makes more sense than transferring a person who has got 27, 30 years on the job, who has spent 15, 20, 25 years at one house. And to make them learn what? Relearn what? Retrain what? The Fire Department in New York trains its rookie firefighters by moving them around over a six-year period. We're doing the opposite. I don't understand it. I hate to assign reasons for it that probably shouldn't be said, but I just think that it's wrong, and I do appreciate all of our colleagues sticking together and saying that it's 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING wrong, and we're going to hash this out on the 27th of November at 10:00 a.m. So thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President, and I thank Councilman Kenney for those comments about New York, because New York is probably the other major city whose representation in the firefighting world is equal to Philadelphia, and the whole world knows that that company -- that city runs its fire department very well. But there's another part to this that several firefighters in my district have mentioned to me, and they often go unnoticed, is that when the City was being built out in the Northeast, Far Northeast, in the '60s, '50s, there weren't very many cross streets. The Boulevard has two or three crosses. 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING There are so many different streets that dead end at cul de sacs, that only go here, that only go there. It is an enormous book of knowledge to be able to navigate out of a firehouse and get to an emergency scene or a fire scene very quickly, and there aren't that many people that have that knowledge embedded in their brain. And it is putting firefighters in jeopardy and citizens in jeopardy to just say, Well, the book says we're going to do this and we're finally going to follow the book. You have to use common sense. And whatever the reasons are -- and we don't have to say it; there's enough signs in the audience that reflect that -- we have to start building up morale in the Fire Department, not continuing to tear it down. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you, Councilman. 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Many of us have still not adjusted to brownouts, less said this new proposed change. (Standing ovation.)
So we're in total agreement with the firefighters on this. It just doesn't make sense, and we support them 1,000 percent. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Brien.
Thank you, Mr. President. I congratulate and am grateful for Councilman Kenney for holding these hearings and for the introduction of this resolution today. I would hope that these hearings focus on 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING issues involving these transfers, but also looking at reports from experiences in the Chicago fire and the fire outside Boston, the Bible of national standards, the lack of appropriate training for our firefighters. There are controlling issues in these conversations, and it's my hope that these hearings also will reveal an intent to move forward in a positive nature and reassessing the professional nature of how we're responding to our firefighters, who protect all of us in the City of Philadelphia. As everyone knows, Act 111 controls the binding arbitration. We have a PICA piece of legislation that was enacted in Harrisburg that says that the mediators have to give weight to the financial condition of the City. It doesn't mean that that weight controls whether that award is going to be appropriately enacted or implemented. I'm not going to pre-judge 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING these hearings, but it's difficult not to jump to a conclusion that there is something else going on here. These firefighters are subjected to disease maladies that don't exist anywhere in any professional life. They're subject to hepatitis C. And I'm not going to get into my life experience in fighting for the firefighters in Harrisburg around hep C, but that was a punitive issue that had to be litigated or legislated, unfortunately, in Harrisburg. They're exposed to heart disease, carcinogens. They have lifestyle issues that cause considerable stress. We're hearing stories that there are transfers as a result of people reporting injuries on the job. This City Council has a responsibility to identify what the national standards are, what the experience is from the Chicago fire and 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING the fire outside Boston, look at how we prioritize the necessary tools for our firefighters and the Fire Department over L&I and other departments. Those recommendations are out there. It's beyond my imagination why the Administration isn't looking forward to that. There is a looming -- and I'm not going to prejudice this either. There is a grand jury that's taking place in the District Attorney's Office, and I believe it's our responsibility to get ahead of the curve on that and make the necessary adjustments to the professionalized and protect our firefighters who protect us. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Just 11/15/12 - STATED - 2ND READING finally, Mr. President, I've been looking at this firefighter in the balcony all session long holding a sign that says that he would die for me, and I believe him. And I think -(Applause.)
And that's what makes this different. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. We have had a motion with a second. At this time, we would like to call for a vote on the resolution. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. It has passed. (Standing ovation.)
Thank you. Councilman, the hearing date again is?
It's November 27th at 10:00 a.m. in this Chamber. Thank you.
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. At this time, I would like to ask if there are any speeches on the part of the minority. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Just in keeping with who our audience here is today and the resolution that we just passed, I wanted to inform them that on Wednesday, December the 5th at 10:00 a.m. -- I'm sorry; December the 12th, 10:00 a.m., there will be a hearing by the Public Safety Committee on the issue of the firefighter contract and the City's ability or inability to pay that contract, as it's been through two arbitrations. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. President. We are looking forward to the hearing to look at these issues and delve into it. We get a lot of misinformation, and we want to get to the bottom line. But I just want to acknowledge, Mr. President, some students from Cheyney University's Graduate School on Public Administration, and they're here today observing us in process, and I wanted to accompanied by their Professor, Gideon Modunkuba (sic). Stand, please. And I want to recognize -(Applause.)
I want to recognize the two twins there. They are from our Graduate Assistance Program that we had, interns down here, learned a lot and are going to hopefully carry that on with them from Cheyney University. So they're watching, they're listening, and they're paying attention. And all of them are voters, right? All right. Okay. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. There are no other speeches on the part of the minority or the majority, and as I say that, I recognize Councilman Squilla.
Just a reminder, this afternoon at 2 o'clock is a Streets and Services Committee hearing for anybody who is on the Streets and Service Committee. And I do want to thank all the colleagues here in Council for their full support of the Fire Department and how important it is for us to move forward and show not only our support but our caring and love for what they do for our city. Thank you.
With that, the Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that City Council stand adjourned until Thursday, November 29th, 2012, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, November 29th, 2012, 10:00 a.m. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Council is adjourned. Thank you all very much. ) 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 November 15, 2012, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A adjourned 112:23 allowed 54:14 apartment 76:11 approval 4:1,16 AARP's 48:14 113:4,13,15 Almighty 3:7 appeals 83:8 approved 4:23 96:3 ADJOURNME...