COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION, AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, May 11, 1998 10:12 a.m. - - - BILL NO. 980227 - An ordinance Renaming the Cobbs Creek Skate House in the Park to "The Laura Sims Ice Rink in Cobbs Creek Park." PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER, Chair COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN HAPPY FERNANDEZ COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 2 COMM. ON PARKS, REC., CULTURAL AFFAIRS - BILL 980227 P R O C E E D I N G S
Good morning. This is Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, the Chair of this committee. This is a public hearing of the City Council Special Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to consider Bill 8 No. 980227. In attendance this morning, for purpose of a quorum, are Councilman Longstreth, Councilman, Councilwoman Fernandez, and Councilwoman Blackwell. Will the clerk please read the title of the bill. Bill No. 980227, Renaming the Cobbs Creek Skate House in the Park to "The Laura Sims Ice Rink in Cobbs Creek Park."
Madame Chairwoman, may I be excused from this meeting and be counted as voting aye on the approval by the committee of -- I can't find the number -- Bill 23 980227.
Thank you. 3 COMM. ON PARKS, REC., CULTURAL AFFAIRS - BILL 980227
Okay, thank you. Is there anyone here to testify for or against this bill?
I would like to thank the Chairwoman for the opportunity to wear another hat and testify on behalf of Bill No. 16 980227. Many, many years ago, my predecessor, Councilman Lucien Blackwell, met a woman just after he became Councilman. He met her in 1976. And she told him that Charles Durham -- the late Charles Durham, a former Councilman, had promised her a rink. And thereafter, she started and she told him -- she used to call him when he was still a labor leader on the waterfront under the bridge 4 COMM. ON PARKS, REC., CULTURAL AFFAIRS - BILL 980227 at o'clock. And she all but berated him about this rink. So, naturally, he finally heard her. There were many, many struggles over the years. The other rinks were built, the Rizzo Rink was built, and others rinks were built, and Cobbs Creek still wasn't done. Needless to say, that is all history. The rink was finally built. The Flyers called it the best in the region, and everyone has been very, very pleased about it. Unfortunately, Miss Sims became ill recently and, unfortunately, passed away. And since this was really her dream, she and her husband, who's still alive, although very ill, ran the rink as if it were their own. They did everything from soup to nuts. They kept it clean, they had problems with schools in the area, they had outreach programs with the community, and they were just wonderful. And the community would be honored if this could be named -- if the name could be changed to be named for her because it was her dream, her baby. And whenever we think of skating in West Philadelphia, Miss Sims, who said children in West Philadelphia deserve to skate too, we'll 5 COMM. ON PARKS, REC., CULTURAL AFFAIRS - BILL 980227 also think of her. So I certainly ask if the Chair would consider this and the committee would consider a suspension of the rules, we would be most grateful.
Does any committee members have any questions of Councilwoman Blackwell? (No questions.)
Is there anyone else here to testify for or against this bill? (No response.)
I know we have some people that were expected, but we're just going to --
Yes, Madame Chair. I don't know what happened. We just called them -- Reverend Dr. Joseph Patterson from 6 COMM. ON PARKS, REC., CULTURAL AFFAIRS - BILL 980227 Hickman Temple. We had Betty Reavis, the President of Walnut Hill Community Association. We had Pat Evans, the President of SOCA, which means "Support Our Community Association." So I don't know what happened. I talked with Pat Evans as recently as yesterday, and then my staff person tells me there was some problem with the mail. But the committee can be assured that the entire community absolutely supports this bill.
Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman. Seeing that there's no one else left to testify for or against this bill, this concludes the public hearing on Bill No. 980227. - - -
We will now move into our public meeting. The Chair will recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a motion.
Madame Chair, I move that Bill No. 980227 be reported out of committee with a favorable recommendation, and 7 COMM. ON PARKS, REC., CULTURAL AFFAIRS - BILL 980227 that the rules be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
All in favor signify by, saying aye. Opposed? The motion is carried. This committee will report Bill No. 10 980227 out of committee with a favorable recommendation and request rules suspension so as to permit first reading at our next regularly scheduled Council session. This concludes the public public meeting. I thank everyone for coming. (Adjourned at 10:17 a.m.) - - - 8 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 Monday, May 11, 1998. Were reported and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: SPECIAL COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS BILL NO. 980227 __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, RPR