Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless reports out one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless, to which was referred Bill No. 140274, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 21-1600 of The Philadelphia Code, 'Housing Trust Fund,' to provide annual operating support for affordable rental units that are developed using the 4% federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit; all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 140274. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 140274. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and this bill will also be placed on our First Reading Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown for a report from the Committee on the Environment.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on the Environment reports out one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on the Environment, to which was referred Bill No. 140510, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 3-207 of The Code, entitled 'Sale of Fuel Oil,' by adding requirements for commercial fuel oil content and emissions to take effect at a future date, and deleting superseded standards, all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable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 Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 140510. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended this day so as to permit first reading of Bill No. 140510. favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for 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 our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Before we proceed, the Chair would like to recognize Councilwoman Blackwell at this time for a motion regarding Bill No. 140437.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to Bill No. 140437 at this time. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. All those in favor of this motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and again the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor of this motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Bill No. 140437 has been amended. Bill No. 140437, as amended, will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar today, the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of calling up 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 Final Passage Calendar: Resolutions No. 140521, 140522, 140524, 140529, 140530, 140531, 140532, 140533, 140537, 140538, 140539, 140541, 140545, 140546, and 140548. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has 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 Councilman Jones. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the resolutions on the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion concerning the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Again, 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 Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar: Nos. 140341-A, 140144-A, 140145-A, 140383, 140148, 140489, 140311, 140315, 140338, 140407, 140410, 140413, 140416, 140436, 140439, 140447, 130486, 140278, 140345, 140346, 140411, 140310, 140348, 140380, 140384, 140385, 140409, 140440, 140481, 140484, 140485, and 140491. (Duly seconded.)
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 Councilman Jones. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of 2ND READING 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 Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Nos. 140146, 140408, 140438, 140442, and 140444. All other bills and resolutions are being held.
Thank you very much, Councilman. Before considering the bills and resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, we will have our public comment session. The public comment session will go as follows: You will be given three minutes to testify on a bill or resolution that is on the Final Passage Calendar. If you have not already signed up, you can sign up to the table to my left. When your name is called, you will go to the podium in the middle of the Council. There's a device on the table. When the light on the device turns green, it is time for you to speak. When it turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks, and when it turns red, we'd ask that you please adhere to the guidelines and conclude your remarks. Thank you very much. Mr. Decker, please call the name of the first individual who is interested in testifying today.
Rebecka Hess, commenting on 140521. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. Hello. Thank you for the opportunity to speak here today about Bill 140522 as it relates to Philadelphia school funding. I would like to address a comment made by a Philadelphia City official during a recent NPR interview. This Philadelphia City official stated, We are not here to budget a school district. We are here --
Ma'am, hold on one second. Whoever's phone or whatever electronic device is going off, can you please cut it off. Matter of fact, if anybody else has an electronic device, please turn it on silent. Thank you. Ma'am, conclude your remarks. Sorry about that.
This Philadelphia City official stated, We are not here to budget a school district. We are here to budget a city. I would like to propose that budgeting for and creating an excellent educational system would not burden the City's budget, but would actually boost it. Here is a small example: I live in West Philadelphia. When I bought my home, the neighborhood was different than what it is today. In the mornings at Clark Park, it was my son and I alone but for a couple of police cars. There was the turtle to climb on, but otherwise a rusty and littered playground was really too dangerous for play. Today the police cars are gone. They have moved to neighborhoods that do not have a good school. Two top-notch playgrounds and a bustling mass of kids are enveloped by parents who spend money in the City. These parents create City jobs and spend on piano lessons, karate, ballet, drama school, family, theatre memberships, rock climbing, cinemas, parking, parking tickets, gas, SEPTA, groceries, clothing, pet accessories, contractors, handymen and, of course, housing. Why have all of these people chosen to spend their money in West Philadelphia? Why have property values quadrupled there in the past 15 years? Why are homes selling within days of being placed on the market even through the recession? Why is the City now collecting higher property taxes from the neighborhood? It is because of the Penn Alexander School. This is such a good example of how a good school can help the City budget. So let's build on the success. The Penn Alexander School now truncates at 8th grade. It should go through 12th. There is plenty more land to build on at the school and it can be made larger. More families are sure to move in. More properties will be bought. The boarded-up houses will continue to disappear, and the City will prosper. There's no reason to stop there. The Temple School of Education could start its own university-assisted school modeled after Penn Alexander in North Philly. The Drexel University School of Education can do the same in South Philly. Let us not flee to Cherry Hill and the Main Line as scores before us have done in search of good schools. Let us stay, buy, develop, purchase, invest, create jobs, and help this City prosper. We can only do it if each and every City kid can attend an excellent school. Investing in the School District of Philadelphia is the best financial strategy this City can undertake to balance its budget. Thank you.
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. At this time, we will move forward with our Consent Agenda, and I ask Mr. Decker 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 any resolution on the Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection, the resolution will immediately be removed from the Consent Agenda, without debate, and placed on today's regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, would you now read the titles of the resolutions on the Consent Agenda.
Resolution No. 140521, entitled "A resolution urging the Pennsylvania Lottery to allow for the creation of a Philadelphia specific lottery game with all revenue generated from the game to be dedicated to the Philadelphia School District"; and Resolution No. 140522, entitled "A resolution urging the Philadelphia Civil Service Commission to adopt regulations to provide additional examination credits for Fire and Police Department related positions to the members of the Philadelphia Second Alarmers Association"; and Resolution No. 140524, entitled "A resolution authorizing the Director of the Office of Supportive Housing to file a proposal for the 2014 Emergency Solutions Grant Program funding with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development"; and Resolution No. 140529, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 1306 through 08 Crease Street"; and Resolution No. 140530, entitled "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 Fifteenth and the Eighteenth Wards of the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 140531, entitled "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 Forty-Seventh Ward of the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 140532, entitled "A resolution authorizing the 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 Forty-Seventh Ward of the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 140533, entitled "A resolution approving a further amendment to the amended and restated redevelopment contract between the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and the Corporation of the Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Redeveloper, for a portion of the Franklin Town Project, identified by house number and street address as 1601 Vine Street"; and Resolution No. 140537, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the urban renewal of a portion of the Eastwick Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 7936 through 40 Buist Avenue"; and Resolution No. 140538, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Kingsessing Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 6024 through 26 Greenway Avenue"; and Resolution No. 140539, entitled "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 Thirty-Sixth Ward of the Philadelphia"; and Resolution No.
140541, entitled "A resolution supporting the Environmental Protection Agencies' and the Army Corps of Engineers' proposed definition of 'Waters of the United States' under the Clean Water Act to help enhance the protection of our nation's public health and aquatic resources"; and Resolution No. 140545, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2068 Boston Street"; and Resolution No. 140546, entitled "A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Area, identified by house number and street address as 2414 East Gordon Street"; and Resolution No. "
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion to adopt each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda today.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda. That was a tongue twister. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that each of the resolutions on the Consent Agenda be adopted. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and each of the resolutions on the Consent Agenda have been adopted. We will now consider today's Bill Consent Agenda, and I would ask that Mr. Decker read the titles of all of 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, without debate, the bill will be pulled off of the Consent Agenda and placed on the regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, can you now please read the titles of the bills on the Consent Agenda.
Bill No. 140341-A, 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 Tacony Street, Comly Street extended, the Delaware River, Frankford Creek, and Bridge Street"; and Bill No. 140144-A, entitled "An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2015 through 2020 inclusive"; and Bill No. 140145-A, an ordinance to adopt a Fiscal 2015 Capital Budget"; and Bill No. 140383, entitled "An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014 from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance - Provision for Other Grants to the General Fund, the Mayor - Office of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Streets, the Department of Public Property and the Law Department"; No. 140148, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 19-1801 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Authorization of Tax,' to further authorize the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia to impose a tax on real estate"; and Bill No. 140489, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-2700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Sales and Use Tax and Hotel Occupancy Tax,' by providing for additional sales and use tax and for the manner in which the tax revenues shall be used"; and Bill No. 140311, 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 Lehigh Avenue, Fairhill Street, Huntingdon Street, and 5th Street"; and Bill No. 140315, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by 7th Street, Arch Street, 13th Street, and Callowhill Street"; and Bill No. 140338, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Institutional Development District Plan of the University of Pennsylvania, 3801 through 03 Locust Walk for the construction of the Perry World House Building"; and Bill No. 140407, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by providing that zoning permits, issued as of right, be posted on the Department of Licenses and Inspections official website"; and Bill No. 140410, 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 18th Street, Wood Street, 19th Street, and Street"; and Bill No. 140413, 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 the Roosevelt Boulevard, Oxford Avenue, Dyre Street, Frankford Avenue, and Bustleton Avenue"; and Bill No. 140416, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' by creating a new Center City East /NCA Overlay District in the area bounded by the Delaware River, Spring Garden Street, Broad Street and Spruce Street, and prohibiting Personal Credit Establishments within the District"; and Bill No. 140436, 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 50th Street, Spruce Street, 45th Street, and Street"; and Bill No. 140439, entitled "An ordinance to amend Section 14-502 of the Zoning Code, entitled 'CTR, Center City Overlay,' and to amend Section 14-602 of the Zoning Code, entitled 'Use Tables'; and Bill No.
140447, 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 the Frankford Creek, Kensington Avenue, Adams Avenue, Griscom Street, Wakeling Street, and the Northeast Corridor Railroad Right-of-Way"; and Bill No. 130486, entitled "An ordinance amending the Ordinance approved July 12, 1968, as last amended December 21, 2011 relating to pension benefits for employees working on behalf of the Philadelphia Gas Works by revising the Philadelphia Gas Works Pension Plan to incorporate amendments thereto"; and 140278, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Finance, Taxes and Collections,' by expanding access to property tax relief programs for owner-occupants"; and Bill No. 140345, entitled "An ordinance further amending Bill No. 130325, entitled 'An ordinance approving the Fiscal Year 2014 Capital Budget providing for expenditures for the capital purposes of the Philadelphia Gas Works,' as previously amended by Bill No. 130583, by approving a further amended Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2014"; and Bill No. 140346, entitled "An ordinance approving the Fiscal Year 2015 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 Bill No. 140411, entitled "An Chapter 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Business Income and Receipts Tax,' by clarifying the timing of payments relating to the Credit for Contributions to Community Development Corporations, Non-Profit Organizations Engaged in Developing and Implementing Healthy Food Initiatives and Non-Profit Intermediaries"; and Bill No. 140310, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to enter into a sublease agreement with the Philadelphia Municipal Authority, for use by the City of a portion of the premises located at 1617 John F. Kennedy Boulevard"; and Bill No. 140348, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioners of the Department of Public Property and the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into a license agreement between PECO Energy Company as Licensor and the City of Philadelphia as Licensee for a certain strip of land located along the of the Schuylkill River between Christian Street and a point approximately 612 feet northeast of Christian Street to be used for an extension of the Schuylkill River recreational trail"; and Bill No. 140380, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to convey to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development all or part of a parcel of land, with any improvements thereon, located at 1823 through 35 Callowhill Street"; and Bill No. 140384, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to enter into a lease agreement with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority as landlord and the City of Philadelphia as tenant for office space at 1234 Market Street"; and Bill No. 140385, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of to convey to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, all or part of a parcel of land and any improvements located at 611 North 2nd Street"; and Bill No. 140409, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to convey that certain parcel or parcels of City-owned land, together with the buildings and improvements located thereon, commonly known as the Family Court Building bounded by 18th Street, Vine Street, 19th Street and Wood Street and known as 1801 Vine Street"; and Bill No.
140440, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to acquire title from the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to a certain tract of land at the southeast corner of North 16th and Seybert Streets, known as 1312 North 16th Street and 1314 North 16th Street"; and Bill No. 140481, entitled "An the Commissioner of Public Property to convey, to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, a parcel of land generally situate at 669 Hutchinson Street"; and Bill No. 140484, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to acquire all or part of a parcel of land from the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, with any improvements thereon, located at 2100 through 06 Cecil B. Moore Avenue"; and Bill No. 140485, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to accept title to certain real property owned by the School District of Philadelphia and to convey the same to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, for further conveyance"; and Bill No. "
Thank you. 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 shall 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 and those bills for which the member is Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye on all bills. A majority of 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, can you please read the title of 140146. 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2015.
We have an offer of an amendment. Let's do Councilman Oh. Councilman Oh, you want to offer an amendment?
Yes. Thank you, Council President. I would like to offer an amendment to this bill, a copy of which has been circulated electronically and a hard copy has been distributed to each Councilmember. And I'd like to be heard on the amendment, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. This amendment offers a fallback position in case the cigarette tax does not pass in Harrisburg and the Philadelphia schools do not receive the estimated $75 million per year. The 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING choice at that time will be to either fund the schools with a tax increase or to not fund them. And I have been a strong advocate of improving the quality of education and the fiscal responsibility of the School District, but in that, we need to have a School District operating in order for it to be improved, and the condition of the schools are inseparable from the economic health and quality of life in our city. At the same time, we are unfortunately America's poorest large city, and we are also America's highest taxed large city. The people of Philadelphia have already been suffering under the weight of high taxes and a high cost of living, and we do need more jobs and opportunities that come with new and expanding employment and investment. This amendment offers a third option, which is also a very hard choice. It would offer the opportunity to cut into the budget by sending $74 million of 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING what appears to be funds in excess of need to the schools on two conditions. One, only if the cigarette tax does not pass in Harrisburg and, two, that the SRC waives maintenance of effort and is legally able to do so. Otherwise, the funds will remain in the budget. I believe that the fund balance will allow the Administration to draw on the money it needs to replenish the 74 million if it needs to do so, and I offer this as a way of funding our schools without raising taxes upon the citizens of Philadelphia. Thank you very much.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move to lay Councilman Oh's amendment to Bill No. 140146 on the table. (Duly seconded.) 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
There's been a motion to table Councilman Oh's amendment to Bill No. 140146. All in favor of that motion? (Aye.)
All right. The motion to table Bill No. 140146 has been approved. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Jones for an amendment to Bill No. 140146.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer an amendment to Bill No. 140146. A copy of that amendment has been circulated to all members of Council, and I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.) 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 140146 be adopted. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Bill No. 140146, as amended, has been adopted and, as amended, will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Technical correction. It will not only go on our next reading Final Passage Calendar, it will go on our Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. I think I may have said our next session, but it will be our Final Passage. Thank you. Mr. Decker, can you please read the title of 140408. 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
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, Taney Street, Poplar Street, and 27th street.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer an amendment to this bill. The amendment has been circulated, and I move for the adoption of that amendment. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to 140408 be approved. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Bill No. 140408 is amended 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING and it will placed on our Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 140438.
An ordinance to amend the Institutional (Special Purpose) District Master Plan of Drexel University, in the vicinity of 33rd Street and Chestnut Street, for the construction of a new hotel with retail space.
And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit an amendment to Bill No. -- no; an amendment to Bill No. 140438. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 140438 be adopted. All those in favor? 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Bill 140438, as amended, will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, 140442.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by John F. Kennedy Boulevard, 23rd Street, Cherry Street and the Schuylkill River.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer an amendment to this bill. The amendment has been circulated, and I move for the adoption of the amendment. 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 140442 be amended. All in favor of the amendment to that bill say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Bill 140442, as amended, will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 140444.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Spring Garden Street, 5th Street, Girard Avenue, 2nd Street, Brown Street, and 3rd Street. 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
The Chair again recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer an amendment to this bill. The amendment has been circulated, and I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
There's been a motion to amend Bill No. 140444. All those in favor of that motion? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Bill No. 140444 has been amended and it will be placed on our next session of Council for final passage. It appears that we are ready to move on to resolutions. Mr. Decker, do you have any 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING additional resolutions.
A resolution authorizing City Council's Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to hold hearings on increasing resources to expand the production and preservation of affordable housing in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a resolution honoring, recognizing and congratulating Project H.O.M.E. for achieving 25 years of providing exceptional services to the homeless population in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Greenlee for Council President Clarke.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING recognizing June 19th, 2014 as Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Day in Philadelphia, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption, co-sponsored by my colleague Councilwoman Tasco again. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that that resolution be approved. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING honoring the rich life and loving memory of Sergeant Daryl Giles Sr. who served the City with honor and distinction as a Philadelphia School Police Officer for 19 years, introduced by Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution honoring Maria Frizelle Roberts on the occasion of her being named Eastern Pennsylvania Small Business Person of the 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Year by the Philadelphia District of the Small Business Administration, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
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.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing and honoring the heroism of Michael Eugene, Isaiah Palmer, and Damien Fuller, introduced by Councilman Oh.
The 6/12/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy to hold hearings on the level of care and backlog of services for veterans in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. That concludes our calendar for today. And right now we will go to our speeches on the part of the minority. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Council President. I just want to make a comment about the lactation bill that made it out of committee. Years ago I met a young police officer, a woman who was a police officer at one of our universities. I was immediately impressed with her military bearing, her physical strength, and good attitude. What she came to me about was she was thinking about leaving her job because she had been a stellar police officer and then took a medical leave to deliver her child and when she came back, she wanted to express breast milk at work. That didn't appear to be a problem because they had two breaks, one in the morning, one in the afternoon. Anyone could take a break for any reason. But when she went to use her breast pump, she began to be harassed by her supervisors, including women, and was told that she could not pump milk at the workplace. It included when she tried to her locker room, a female locker room, the male supervisor would burst into the locker facility. She eventually did leave her job. And I was not handling the case at the time. A friend of mine did. And to my surprise, the case was dismissed because there was no federal right, there's no constitutional right. It is not gender discrimination to fire a woman for expressing milk at the workplace, even if it is on a break time. It was not until last year that a federal circuit court in Texas reversed a ruling that an employer could fire a woman for merely expressing the interest in using a pump at work. And so this bill provides that in Philadelphia women have the right to express milk in the workplace. There's a lot of confusion, and that's why I'm taking this time. There's a federal law. It is for only hourly wage earners who are women that they should be provided a milk. However, there is no teeth to that law because it's based on lost wages. If your employer does not allow you to express milk, does not provide you a reasonable and clean place, you have not lost any wages. Salary women are not protected under this law. Why it is a critical issue, Mr. President, and why I try to explain this is, it's a constitutional right as a human being to be afforded your constitutional right as an individual. If it is not hurting anybody, if it's not an undue hardship to the employer, you should be able to express milk at work. The idea that women have the same rights as men at work if they act like a man, conform themselves to the conduct of a man, I think that is the critical issue that we're facing both under the law and as a society, and especially if we want to be a competitive city. Other cities are really workplace and especially mothers in the workplace. The U.S. used to be number four in the world. We're now number 32. We have fallen behind because other countries are accommodating women for the recognition that 50 percent of their workforce, it is critical for them to be engaged, fully and fairly compensated, and happy in the workplace. And so I think this is a positive step for Philadelphia in righting a wrong that exists in our nation. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. On many occasions I've had the opportunity to watch you as you talked about your grandson, and every time inevitably a smile pops on your face, even with the weight of the City on your shoulders. On behalf of Father's Day and particularly to my colleague who is now going to be a new papa, we offer congratulations. In general, it's amazing to me that it takes 40 hours of instruction in the air to be a pilot. To drive a car you need a driver's license with some road experience. To make a burger in the City of Philadelphia, you need a food handler's preparation certificate. But to create a life, to father a child, often it comes with no instruction manual. As a Councilman and as my colleagues would also verify, we see firsthand the deep devastation that the absence of fathers brings to children's lives and ultimately to our community. I have had the privilege of meeting and knowing many good, even great fathers in different walks of life. Most of these fathers are committed to nurturing and their children, and many of them, and like yourself, are renewing their commitment to be good pop-pops. Last week I visited PICC, the Philadelphia Industrial Correction Center up on State Road, and that facility graduated over two dozen young men who for the first time, most of whom were under the age of 25, a fatherhood course, because many of them did not have fathers in their lives. These men completed that fatherhood enrichment program offered through RISE, the Mayor's Office of Reintegrated Services for Ex-Offenders, and they were proud to finally get it, to see what it takes, the commitment to sacrifice. And just last night I was at the Father's Day Rally Committee's award banquet, which I met close to, along with Councilwoman Blackwell, hundreds of dads that were doing the right thing and got it right the first time. The Fatherhood Day Rally my good friend and brother, Bilal Qayyum, and his organization celebrated 25 years in leading Philadelphia in anti-violence efforts and working to decrease mass incarceration among particularly African American males, many of whom didn't have fathers. Research shows that a child, their life outcomes are better when fathers are in their lives. Now, shout-out to the moms that have done it by themselves, but research shows that it is better outcomes for young men when fathers are in their lives. And I would say this Sunday that we must take advantage of the precious priceless time that we share with our children, because the years pass way too quick. We must take advantage of the brief window of opportunity to establish that vital connection. We can't always be their friends. We can't just be their homies sitting on the front porch. Sometimes we hard thing and say no. But more and more we find out it is not just about providing money. It's important to provide that guidance, that walking example of what they need to do when they're confronted with some of the challenges in their life. For me, I take my roles -- you know, I had a lot of titles too, CEO and all that stuff, but none of them do I take as much pride in as being a father. So I salute all of the good dads out there coming up this Sunday. I encourage all of the dads that need a little help and are a work in progress to do better so that next year they will be proud to take that mismatched tie, that cologne that you would never wear, that card that, you know, only the joke is on you, but to take it with pride and to say thank you and have that gratitude extended from your children. Thank you, Mr. President.
you, Councilman. Very good point. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to publicly take the opportunity to thank our Chief Clerk, Mr. Decker, and his staff, Donna Cisowski on your staff, and anyone else who touches the flow of work, the immense flow of work that goes through here on a weekly basis. I'm watching them today moving around, keeping things even-keeled, understandable, moving in a timely fashion. I know we don't take them for granted, but sometimes I think things happen so smoothly that we don't understand how much work it takes to do that. So I just wanted to publicly thank them for every year they've been doing it, but especially now. Thank you. (Applause.)
Councilman, they have a saying in the office, don't come to Council without them. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. We should give them all a theme song as they enter into this side of the gate. But anyway, I just wanted to make an announcement that as Father's Day approaches, this Sunday is the 12th Annual Gary Papa Run. It's the walk. They have a 5K walk, 5K run. They have a one-mile fun walk for kids to raise awareness for prostate cancer. So just as breast cancer is on Mother's Day, prostate cancer, the walk to raise awareness is on Father's Day. I will be there. I have two kids, a 10-year-old and 12-year-old, my 12-year-old Matthew and my 10-year-old Zachary. Hello, if they're watching. Hey, guys. Because they are taping it. 12-year-old says to me last year, I'm going to run. I said, Oh, okay. Well, maybe. He's 11. All right. You're going to run, son. No problem. Leading up to Saturday night. The night before he says, Oh, you know what, I'm going to walk for you because you had prostate cancer, dad, tomorrow. I was like, Oh, boy. I have to run my first 5K. So he ran it with me last year. He's going to run it again with me this year. I'm asking everybody to pass the word and to come on down to the Parkway. The weather is going to break. It's going to be a real nice day. Come on down, have fun. Spread the word to all our listening constituencies to come on out and have fun and raise awareness. We have bands passed out that say "hope, courage and faith," and if you can wear it on Father's Day just as a symbol of reminder for everybody to get wellness, I would appreciate it. So enjoy. Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there.
Thank you, Councilman. Very good cause. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to thank everyone for their support today. Certainly I agree and wish all fathers the best. Thank God I still have a brother, and all of you are blessed who do have a father. And on another -- and I certainly agree with all that was said about Michael Decker, and we thank everyone. We see Jerry there, from the people who write our citations, Khalia, to all who do everything to make this body be what it can. We appreciate them all. Thank you, Christmas. I know I were still working for me.
He said did he ever leave. Well, he let's us share him. Thank you, Mr. President, for that. And thank you all, all of you who are laughing. It's true, but thank you too as well. And just on another small note, we passed out some manila envelopes today proposing an early childhood initiative that we'll be working on over the summer, and we're trying to expand that conversation in the Education Committee, and certainly look forward to working with you. Again, thank you all.
Thank you so much, Councilwoman. And that concludes the speeches on the part of the minority and majority, and with that, the Chair recognizes a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, June 19th, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, June 19th, 2014, 10:00 a.m. All in favor say aye. (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, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A 96:4 104:14 advantage 33:11 110:19 107:19 108:3,9 AACC 30:20 127:2 140:18,21 agreements 59:6 109:2 ABEER 67:5 address 40:9,17 advise 38:23 70:21 76:12 amendment ability 3:2 5:18 40:25 44:4 advocate 118:5 air 138:9 58:20 85:2,17 34:24 47:25 52:16 advocates 32:13 Ajeenah 27:8,13 98:13 117:6,8 able 5:21 119:7 90:25 96:23 aesthetic 34:10 27:25 117:11,15,21 136:17 98:21 99:5,14 Aetna 35:17 Alanis 17:14,25 118:22 119:23 absence 7:14,19 100:18 101:3,12 Affairs 30:4 35:18 Alarmers 96:8 120:4,17,20,22 8:3 138:20 addresses 39:18 70:4,7,15 Alaysha 28:6 120:24 121:4 academy 33:7 44:16 affirmative Alexander 93:6 122:11,12,14,18 accept 15:7 adhere 90:10 116:18 93:10,21 123:19,20,24 112:16 adjacent 113:7 affordable 42:13 alike 12:25 124:22,23,25 access 32:13 adjourn 147:3 81:3 127:8 alleviate 11:17 125:6 126:6,7 108:6 adjourned 147:6 afforded 136:13 allow 95:20 amendments accessories 92:18 147:11,20,22 African 30:14 119:10 136:5 107:25 accommodate ADJOURNME...