COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, September 23, 1999 10:10 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN AUGUSTA A. CLARK COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN FRANK DI CICCO COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN W. THACHER LONGSTRETH COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO MARIE B. HAUSER, CHIEF CLERK VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 INVOCATION
Good morning. I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of the Council is present. The Council will please come to order. Members will take their seats, and visitors will retire to seats outside the rails. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair welcomes Reverend Benjamin F. Powell, who is the pastor of the 59th Street Baptist Church. He is here today as the guest of Councilman Rizzo. Members and guests will please rise.
Thank you. We would particularly like to thank our friend and our Brother Frank Rizzo for extending to us and to my wife this gracious invitation. Let us all pray together. God of our widowed years, God of our silent tears, thou has brought us this far on the way. God, our father, we come this day to thank you for this, our nation. We thank you for our State and our City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia. Lord, we pray thy blessings upon the President of this great nation. We pray for the Governor of this Commonwealth of the State of INVOCATION Pennsylvania. And this morning we especially pray for that blessings upon the Mayor of our City and the President of this City Council, Sister Ann Verna. And Lord, we pray for every elected and appointed official who serves and labors with her in this Council. God, we ask that you would bless these, our leaders, sincere men and women who want to do the right thing, if only they can be sure of what is right. And so this morning we ask that you would make things plain to them. We pray, our Father, that you would give them the wisdom and courage to uphold our Constitution which established a republic based on your absolute laws, not a democracy based on the whims of men's reasoning. We pray, our Father, that these, our leaders, will understand and follow the principles of your word. May they realize that all authority comes from you and that one day they, too, will have to stand before you to give an account of the power that you have invested and given onto them. We also ask, our Father, that government can only come by your consent and that government INVOCATION can be governed. And, Lord, we pray that you would satisfy our love of country, that our boasting may be turned into humility, and our pride into a ministry to all men everywhere. And then we pray that you would make the Members of this City Council your humble servants, your chosen channel of blessings to all people of our City, least we all be cast out and our places be given to others. God, bless these our leaders to the point that when they are wrong and make mistakes, they will be willing to change. And when they are right, they will be easy to live with. God, please do these things for us, and we will be very careful to give thy name all praise, honor, and glory. And for these blessings we ask in the mighty and glorious name of thy son, Jesus, we do pray. Amen.
Amen. The Chair thanks Reverend Powell for his inspiring invocation. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.) APPROVAL OF JOURNAL
The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of September 16, 1999. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark.
Madam President, I move the approval of the Journal of September 16, 1999. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 16, 1999, stand approved. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion is carried. And the Journal of September 16, 1999 is approved.
The next order of business is the requests for leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark.
Madam President, I am aware of no requests for leaves of absence on the LEAVES OF ABSENCE part of the majority.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognize Councilman Longstreth.
Thank you. I have no bills are or resolution, but I'm here.
No requests for leaves of absence, Madam President.
The Chair will did he dispense with the regular order of business to recognize the guests and visitors joining us IN Chambers this morning. On behalf of all Members of City Council, I welcome to you our Council session this morning. We appreciate your taking the time to join us as we attend to the legislative affairs of our City. We invite you to come again. Councilwoman Clark, would you, again, like to recognize our distinguished visitors. WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS
Madam President, today we are favored by the presence of two distinguished Eisenhower Fellows who are visiting this country from China. Today we have Xie Feng who is Director of the US Affairs Office for Ministry of Foreign Affairs in China; and Wang Luning who is the vice president of the Shanghai Women's Federation. We were favored with their presence in the Caucus.
They are here, they're behind you. We certainly welcome you. Thank you for coming in. Thank you.
Thank you. This morning Council is honoring Health Initiatives for Males. I invite Councilwoman Tasco to come to make this presentation.
Good morning. It gives me great pleasure this morning to present this citation to one of the outstanding international organizations which started here in Philadelphia, the Concerned Black Men. And today we're here to recognize and salute the objectives and achievements WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS of the Health Initiatives for Males. We will refer to it as HIM. Whereas, the Health Initiative for Males, HIM, has evolved through a partnership between Concerned Black Men, Inc., and United States Department of Health Services to provide health, education, and services to boys and young men between 13 and 19 years of age. And, Whereas, for over a quarter of a century the Philadelphia based organization of Concerned Black Men, Inc., has confronted the social, educational, and health issues of young African-American males now envisioned and developed Project HIM to enlist young males through area public and private schools to participate in programs to reduce teen pregnancy. And, Whereas, the health component of HIM focuses on reproductive health, stress, depression and coping skills among their peers, the educational and social components, development of communication skills through bounding with positive role models and intellectual creativity and mental agility through chess, scientific experiments, and special projects. And, WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS Whereas, at the conclusion of the 15-week program, each participant demonstrates his increased sense of purpose for his future and a broader understanding of reproductive health and teenage male sexual responsibility through their production of a puppet show, a stage presentation, or a video production. Now, therefore, resolved that the Council of the City of Philadelphia recognize and salute the objectives and achievements of the Health Initiative for Males, Project HIM. Further resolved that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Fredrick W. Caliman, President of Concerned Black Men, Inc., James Newton, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Concerned Black Men, Inc., and Louis Harris, Director of Project HIM for this pioneering effort and its noble success with commendation and congratulation for every young man who has completed Project HIM by extending to them the gratitude of this legislative body for their responsible decision-making relative to family planning and male health concerns. Certification that this is a true and WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS correct copy of the original resolution adopted by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, on the 3rd day of June 1999. It is signed by President Anna C. Verna, introduced by Angel Ortiz for Marian Tasco, and sponsored by all Members of City Council. Congratulations on a fine program. (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Mr. Frederick Caliman for remarks.
Thank you, Madam President. It is certainly an honor for us to be here to receive this resolution from City Council, but I think the real saluting has to go to the young men that are involved in this program. They have come through a rigorous program that's going to teach them what it means to be a father, what it means to be a husband, and what all that entails. And by the act of seeing that their progress that they have made over the period of time that they have been in the program and how they understand what all that entailed, it's remarkable to see that we have so many young men who are interested in family planning, and this is something that has been WELCOME AND PRESENTATIONS neglected in their lives in a lot of areas, so we're thrilled that Concerned Black Men could be part of a program that was initiated through the Office of Family Planning US Department Health and Human Services. I thank the City Council and Councilwoman Tasco for recognizing the efforts of Concerned Black Men and the work that we're doing with these young men in their efforts to become better citizens of this City and the areas that we're impacting in their lives. Thank you again. (Applause.)
The next order of business is Communications. The Chair requests that the messages be delivered from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk will please read the messages from the Mayor.
To the president and Members of the Council of Philadelphia I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable COMMUNICATIONS body.
Ms. Hauser, one moment, please. It's much too noisy. The voice level is much too high. Thank you. Please proceed.
To the President and Members of the Council of Philadelphia. I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body a draft of a resolution entitled resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment an urban renewal of a portion Model Cities Urban Renewal Area designated as parcels numbers 127, 128, and 129.
The messages will be printed in the Journal. Are there any other communications in the Chief Clerk's possession.
Being none, the next order of business is introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark COMMUNICATIONS for a motion to suspend rules, please.
Madam President, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit immediate consideration of resolutions at the time of their introduction. (Properly seconded.).
All in favor of the motion to suspend rules to permit immediate consideration of resolutions at the time of introduction will vote aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the motion is carried. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution recognizing the legacy of William Penn on the anniversary of his birth, October 24th.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark. INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the motion is carried. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Madam President, I have one bill and one resolution.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Schuykill Expressway, Arch Street, 30th Street, John F. Kennedy Boulevard, and INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS certain Amtrak and SEPTA property lines.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chief 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 without consideration deeds for properties situate in the 54th and 60th wards of the City of Philadelphia.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS The ayes have it, the motion is carried. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance authorizing transfer of appropriations for fiscal 2000 within the Health Choices Behavioral Health Revenue Fund from the Department of Public Health to the Department of Public Health.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
Madam President, I have one bill. INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
The Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance authorizing the installation of a stop sign on Large Street at intersection of Vista Street, both directions.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer two bills on your behalf and one resolution.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia zoning maps by changing the zoning designations on certain areas of land located within an area bounded by 58th Street, Kingsessing Avenue, 59th Street, Greenway Avenue, 60th Street and Woodland Avenue.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance amending Section 14-303 of the Philadelphia Code INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS relating to C2 commercial district to require a zoning board of adjustment certificate for institutions which, as their primary use, provide rehabilitation and/or treatment of criminal, probationers, and parolees, under certain terms and conditions.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. I believe there's a resolution.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion is carried. INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
A resolution recognizing the importance of layperson CPR training and honoring the American Heart Association for their efforts to enhance public awareness of the need of such training and on the occasion of the first National CPR Weekend which will be held September 25th through the 26th, 1999, in Philadelphia and other major cities.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion is INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS carried. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of Our Lady of Victory Church.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion is carried. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Madam President, I INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS have no bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
The Council of the City of Philadelphia is pleased join the Puerto Rican Week Festival Committee's annual gala celebration as they recognize the contributions of Dr. Diago Castolonas and Mr. Craig Welborn for their many years of leadership, commitment, and service to the Latino community and the City of Philadelphia.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor will signify by INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion is carried. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.
An ordinance amending Sub-code PM of Title 4 of the Philadelphia Code entitled a Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code by extending the emergency nuisance abatement program to include the first ward, the second ward, the 39A ward, and the 39B ward.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance granting permission to Level 3 Communications, LLC, a Delaware liability company registered to do business in Pennsylvania and its successors and assigned agents to construct, maintain, and operate, replace and remove a telecommunication system in and INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS under the public rights-of-way.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code relating to zoning and planning by amending Chapter 14-300 entitled Commercial Districts by amending section 14-309 entitled Area Shopping Center District by modifying permitted uses for certain uses and conditions.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer two resolutions today.
The Chief Clerk will please read the resolution.
A resolution INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia without consideration deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain city-own lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon situate in the 16th, 20th, 32nd, 37th wards of the City of Philadelphia.
Move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion is carried. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the second resolution.
A resolution authorizing the City Council's Committee on Public INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS Safety to hold a public hearing to investigate the possibility of changing the existing procurement process for salvers that pick up abandoned automobiles to a procurement process that creates a request for proposal system for each police district.
The resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Longstreth.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution honoring Marie Reinhart Jones on her retirement after 20 years as editor of the Chestnut Hill Local.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo. INTRO. OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the motion is carried. There are no bills on our First Reading Calendar. The next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark for the purpose of calling bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Madam President, the following bills are called up for second and final passage: 990453, 990454. And all others are being held.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The first bill to be called for 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE consideration is Bill No. 990453. The Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending a ordinance approved May 9, 1997, Bill No. 970168, which authorized the City to sell certain delinquent real estate tax claims identified on Exhibit A to the ordinance to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, PAID, by adding to the Exhibit A certain tax claims which were the subject of now defaulted payment plan agreements entered into by taxpayers in May and June 1997 for the sole purpose of allowing the additional claims to be available for substitution for sold claims pursuant to the terms of the June 30, 1997 tax claims purchase and sale agreement between the City and PAID.
This bill having read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will call the role.
Aye. The ayes are 16, the nays are 0. A majority of all members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The next bill to be called for consideration is Bill No. 990454. This bill having been read on two different days the question now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the role.
Aye. The ayes are 16, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. That completes our calendar.
Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? Are there any speeches on the part majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Madam President, we have two guests this morning that arrived after we had announced our guests, and I'd like to introduce them at this time.
I'd like to introduce Mr. Tonai Mikuni, Chief Director of the 2ND READING AND FINAL PASSAGE Federation for World Peace and citizen of Nagoya, the third largest city in Japan. He's with Mr. Shunju Ikeuchi, Chief Director of the Federation for World Peace and citizen of Ozaka City of Japan. These gentlemen are visiting us today to observe Philadelphia's local government at work. Presently, local governments in various cities and towns throughout Japan are fighting to obtain child protection laws in Japan. These two gentlemen are on the front lines battling against the legalities of child pornography and child prostitution. They have fought courageously and have begun to circulate petitions to call on the national government of Japan to adopt what they have deemed youth raising protection laws, and so far they have collected 20,000 signatures. We'd like to welcome them to City Council. (Applause.)
Thank you. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
Thank you, Madam President. The radical Philadelphia Inquirer yesterday in its business section had a headline saying, "Senate Committee Takes up Thorny Pension SPEECHES Issue," and I just wanted to call it to the attention of my colleagues and to the public generally. Pension plans are things most people don't know too much about. When we've had discussions in Council, they raise all kinds of issue. It's been very common these days to attack something known as big government because there's a famous TV ad with a very charming older woman saying she doesn't big government in her medicine cabinet. Well, I'm suggesting if you read this article about the Senate Committee takes up the thorny pension issue, you might decide you don't big business in your wallets. It tells the story of IBM, a huge giant, one of the top corporations in the world, which has devised a new pension plan called the cash balance plan. Not only IBM, but 200 of the 500 major corporations. And the results of the plan is that with respect to the change from this technical cash balance, whatever cash balance pension plan is, this is the result. " What has happened is that the companies in their effort to increase their already existing enormous profits have decided to take advantage of the weakness of the labor movement compared to the position of the labor movement some 10 or 20 years ago and have decided to raid, not only the pockets of consumers, but pockets of their own workers so that as older workers -- older workers always get most of their pension benefits from the fact that they are higher paid during the last few years of employment, just like our city pension plan. What the companies are doing is substituting a new technique called cash balance which enables them to reduce sharply the pensions of older workers while younger workers allegedly, and I don't know whether it's fact or not, are permitted to carry their pensions from job to job, because these days, instead of somebody working their whole lifetime for a corporation or for 20 or 30 years, it's become necessary for most workers to look for new jobs every two or three years, and they have these so-called portable pensions, carrying their pension SPEECHES from job to job. Well, this does not apply to older workers who have been with the company 20 or 30 years. IBM, a totally unorganized company decided, well, we got lots and lots employees. We've got lots of older employees. One other way we can increase our profits, and in the case of IBM, $200 million a year they're making by the change in this pension plan. And where is the money coming from? From the pockets of their workers. And it was a huge protest by IBM. In this case, modern technology was apparently very helpful and the matter was brought to the Congress, and the Congress is now considering, kind of late in the day because it's after 200 companies have already changed their pension plans, Congress is considering whether or not there ought to be legislation that prevent companies from stealing the pension money of older workers. I call that to everybody's attention. It's in yesterday's Inquirer, Wednesday, September 22nd. It's the main feature story. I suggest everybody read it. The reason I raise it here, Madam SPEECHES President, is that governmental pensions usually follow the method of private industry because it's very little difference the way in which government works today, since government has abandoned its responsibility to most people, government usually follows very bad policies once they're adopted by private business. So I commend everybody to read it. I think it's going to turn out to be a very thorny issue among City workers as well as among private workers. " Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Councilman. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? There being none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Clark for a motion to adjourn.
Madam President, I move that this Council be adjourned until Thursday, September 30, 1999. (Duly seconded.) ADJOURNMENT
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council will stand adjourned until Thursday, September 30, 1999. All in favor will say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it. The motion is carried. Council stands adjourned until Thursday, September 30, 1999. (Council adjourned at 10:45 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of September 23, 1999, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. RE: STATED MEETING _____________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public