COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Thursday, October 15, 1998 10:35 a.m. Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHN F. STREET COUNCILWOMAN AUGUSTA A. CLARK COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILWOMAN ANNA CIBOTTA VERNA COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK DICICCO COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILMAN W. THACHER LONGSTRETH COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO MARIE B. HAUSER, Chief Clerk VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Greeting, Invocation P R O C E E D I N G S
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The Chair notes that the hour has come and that a quorum is present. Council will come to order. Members will take their seats, visitors will retire to their seats outside the rail. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair welcomes Reverend J. Thomas Heron, who is pastor of the Good Shepherd Church. He here is today as a guest of Councilwoman Verna. Members and guests will please rise. (All rise.)
Heavenly father, assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude the City Council of Philadelphia, that their efforts may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to the people whom they serve. May they encourage due respect for virtue and truth. May they execute their rulings with justice and mercy. May they seek to preserve peace and promote unity. May they continue to bring the blessings of liberty and equality to all the citizens of the City of Brother Love. 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Approval of 10/8/98 Journal We pray to you, our heavenly Lord and God, forever and ever. Amen. ALL: Amen.
The Chair thanks Reverend Heron for his inspiring invocation. (Council stands at ease.)
The next order of business is the approval of the journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 8, 1998. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the journal of October 8, 1998 stand approved. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. The journal of the meeting of Thursday, October, 8, 1998 stands approved. 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Leaves of Absence
The next order of business is leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna.
Mr. President, on behalf of the majority, leave of absence is requested for Councilwoman Clark.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. Leave will be granted. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Mr. President, on behalf of the Republicans, leave of absence is requested for Councilman Thacher Longstreth.
The Chair thanks the Councilman. Leave will be granted.
At this time, we will dispense with our regular order of business to recognize visitors. Is there any Member of Council at this time who would like to recognize a special guest among us? (No response.) 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Communications
Seeing no one, thank you very much. Today we have no presentations.
The next order of business, then, is communications. The Chair recognizes the Sergeant-at-Arms for the purposes of delivering the messages from the mayor to the chief clerk. The chief clerk will read the messages from the mayor.
Thank you. To the President and Members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am transmitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body the following: An ordinance creating the Brewery Park Tax Increment Financing District and approving the project plan of the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development ("PAID") for the redevelopment of the Brewery Park Tax Increment Financing District, being the area generally bounded by 32nd Street on the west, Master Street on the north, 13th Street on the east, and Thompson Street on the south; and making certain 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Communications findings and declarations, all in accordance with the Tax Increment Financing District Act, being the act of July 11, 1990, P.L. 465, No. 113, as amended; and authorizing the director of finance and other officers of the city to execute documents and do all things necessary to carry out the intent of this ordinance.
This message will be printed in the journal. The chief clerk will read any other communications in her possession.
The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for a motion.
Mr. President, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit consideration of all resolutions immediately after introduction. (Duly seconded.) 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Intro. of Bills, Resolutions
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. The rules are suspended. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Mr. President, I have no bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
The Chair thanks Councilman Cohen. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one bill by request and two bills on your behalf.
An ordinance to 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Intro. of Bills, Resolutions amend the Philadelphia zoning maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located in the 26th Ward and within an area bounded by 20th Street, Pattison Avenue, Penrose Avenue, and the Walt Whitman Bridge approach and partly classed R-10 residential, partly classed C-7 commercial, partly classed L5 limited industrial, and partly classed R-9A. And an ordinance authorizing the paving of Park Avenue, under certain terms and conditions. And an ordinance creating the Brewery Park Tax Increment Financing District and approving the project plan of the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development ("PAID") for the redevelopment of the Brewery Park Tax Increment Financing District, being the area generally bounded by 32nd Street on the west, Master Street on the north, 30th Street on the east, and Thompson Street on the south; and making certain findings and declarations, all in accordance with the Tax Increment Financing Act, being the act of July 11, 1990, P.L. 465, No. 13, as amended; and authorizing the director of 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Intro. of Bills, Resolutions finance and other officers of the city to execute documents and do all things necessary to carry out the intent of this ordinance.
These bills will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions.
The Chair thanks the Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
The clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution authorizing the commissioner of public property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia deeds for properties situated in the 11th, 12th, 22nd, and 43 Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller. 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Intro. of Bills, Resolutions
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one bill and four resolutions to be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance approving the planned estimated cost of the proposed method of charges of the City Avenue Special Services District for and concerning business improvements and administrative services to portions of the City Avenue area of the City of Philadelphia and the Township of Lower Merion.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The clerk will please read the titles 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Intro. of Bills, Resolutions of the four resolutions.
A resolution appointing Charles M. Warfield, Jr. to the Board of Directors of the City Avenue Special Services District of Philadelphia and Lower Merion. A resolution appointing Michael McMahon to the Board of Directors of the City Avenue Special Services District of Philadelphia and Lower Merion. A resolution appointing Dean Adler to the Board of Directors of the City Avenue Special Services District of Philadelphia and Lower Merion. A resolution appointing Dr. Linda Dunn to the Board of Directors of the City Avenue Special Services District of Philadelphia and Lower Merion.
These bills will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
The Chair thanks the 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Intro. of Bills, Resolutions Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
The Chair thanks the Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
The Chair thanks Councilwoman Krajewski. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code relating to zoning and planning by amending Section 14-1612 entitled "South Street Head House Square Special District Controls," under certain terms and conditions. 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Intro. of Bills, Resolutions
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
The Chair thanks the Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
The Chair thanks Councilman Mariano. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
The clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution calling on the City Council of Philadelphia to conduct a public hearing to investigate and evaluate the impact to the city of Philadelphia brought on by computer operating systems being 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Intro. of Bills, Resolutions unable to function properly on or about January 1, 2001, and what precautions are being taken to avoid crisis.
Mr. President, I move for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted.
There are no reports from committees. There -- I don't believe there are any bills on the first-reading calendar.
The next order of business, then, is the consideration of the calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna. 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Final Passage - Bill No. 980528
Thank you, Mr. President. Bill No. 980528 is the only bill on the second-reading and final-passage being called for consideration.
The Chair thanks Councilwoman Verna. The first bill for consideration is Bill No. 980528. The clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of the Department of Public Property, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to purchase fee simple title to a parcel of real estate, with any improvements situated thereon, located at 3827 through 37 Whittaker Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and also known as 3901 Whittaker Ave., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill, having been read on two different days, the question now is, shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will call a roll.
Councilwoman 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Final Passage - Bill No. 980528 Blackwell?
Councilman O'Neill? 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Final Passage - Bill No. 980528
Aye. The ayes are 14, the nays are 0. The majority having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. This concludes our consideration of the calendar.
Are there any speeches on the part of members of the majority or minority? Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Mr. 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Speeches President. The administration, on a number of occasions, has pointed to the great job it has done financially. And I don't want to dispute that, but I think the City Council has been overlooked during the last five years, including the current year, as a result of this Council's action in rejecting the trash-to steam-plant. Not only was the health of all Philadelphians, and particularly South Philadelphians, improved by removing the potential harmful effects that would result from the incineration of the trash, but the city has actually saved during this five-year period $195,586,126.00, the exact figure. And I think that's very, very impressive. As a matter of fact, over the 20 years of the Ogden-Morton contract that was presented to this City Council, and which this City Council rejected, over the 20-year life, the savings to the city amounted to slightly more than -- will amount to slightly more than $1,500,000,000. And that was achieved without anybody being able to charge that we were making the 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Speeches savings on the backs of the working members of the City staff. It was achieved by improving the health and safety of all Philadelphians. And I think, at some point, the city administration ought to acknowledge it. One last item. For this fiscal year 1999, under the Ogden-Morton contract, the city would have paid -- and these were rates that were presented in the contract -- the city would be paying this year $112.09 for each ton that would go to the Ogden-Morton incinerator. The city is actually paying today $42 a ton, for a net savings this year alone of over $55 million. The exact figure is $55,371,100. In addition to the considerations I've mentioned, the city was spared the monstrosity of the huge plant that would very likely have interfered with the development of the Navy Yard because many businesses would not have chosen that spot to put their plants in there with all the trash trucks coming in to deliver material. Furthermore, the city has avoided the disaster that many New Jersey counties face today. On the New Jersey ballots throughout the 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Speeches state, this November the 3rd, there is this interesting proposal that has to be voted on yes or no. As a result of the drive to have these trash-to-steam plants, the state of New Jersey loaned various municipalities slightly over $100 million. It was a loan that was to be repaid from the revenues of these trash-to-steam plants. Five counties in New Jersey, including Camden County, right across the river, have already notified the state that they are unable to meet the bond payments because, as we often said, trash was golden, and they weren't able to get enough trash to fully utilize their incinerators. So there is a proposal on the ballot in New Jersey this November the 3rd to provide that the loan by the state, which was supposed to be repaid should in fact the loan be transferred to a grant because all throughout the country, in addition to pollution hazards, trash-to-steam plants are economically very unsound. And I think it's time that at some point, it would be very fitting that the city administration acknowledge the role of this City Council in effectuating these savings. 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Adjournment Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. Are there any other speeches? (No further speeches.)
I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October, 22, 1998m at 10 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. The ayes have it. This meeting -The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna.
We cannot finish the session without wishing you a very happy birthday. (Applause.)
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Council stands adjourned. 10/15/98 STATED MEETING - Adjournment (Adjourned at 10:56 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of Thursday, October 15, 1998, were reported and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: STATED MEETING __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, Registered Professional Reporter