COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON HOUSING, NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AND THE HOMELESS - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 9, 2006 9:10 a.m. - - - PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN JUAN RAMOS COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO BILL 060139 - An ordinance amending Chapter 21-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Community Development," by extending the applicability period. - - - V A R A L L O Incorporated Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 215.561.2220 215.567.2670 2
Good morning. Let me thank everyone for coming today. We have two hearings this morning. One is from the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless. We will hear that first, and that certainly will not take but five minutes. So let me formally call us into session. This is the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless. We have a quorum. To my left, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Councilman Frank DiCicco is here, President Verna is on her way in, and certainly she will allow us to have Councilman Michael Nutter certainly as part of this Committee. So we do have a quorum. We will have the Clerk read the title of Bill No. 060139, and as he does, we will ask, thank you, Deb McColloch, Director of the Office of Housing and 3 3/9/06 - HOUSING - BILL 060139 Community Development, to come forward. Is there anyone else here to testify on this bill? (No response.)
Bill No. 060139, an ordinance amending Chapter 21-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Community Development," by extending the applicability period.
I turned my head and that was finished. The Chair also notes that we have Councilwoman Marian Tasco here. So we certainly appreciate it and do have a quorum. Ms. McColloch, would you identify yourself for the record and begin your testimony. 4 3/9/06 - HOUSING - BILL 060139 MS. McCOLLOCH: Good morning, Councilwoman Blackwell and members of the Committee. I am Deborah McColloch, Director of Housing, and I am here to testify on behalf of the Administration on Bill No. 060139. This bill extends the applicability period for Chapter 21-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Community Development," for another ten years, from March 18, 2006 to March 18, 2016. Chapter 21-1100 was adopted by Council ordinance in 1982 to define the way in which the City uses Community Development Block Grant funds. It sets policies and procedures for the adoption of the Community Development Plan, now incorporated into the Consolidated Plan, provides for citizen participation, defines eligible activities and beneficiaries, sets requirements for the Plan's submission to and approval by City Council, provides for reporting to City Council and related matters. 5 3/9/06 - HOUSING - BILL 060139 The applicability period was last amended in 1995 and unless extended will expire on March 18, 2006. The Administration supports Bill No. 060139 to extend the applicability period to 2016. Chapter 21-1100 has provided a useful framework for the Community Development Block Grant program in the past and we look forward to continuing to do so in the future. I would ask that there would be a suspension of the rules to allow for the first reading of the bill today, and I'm happy to answer any questions that you may have on the bill. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to testify.
Thank you very much. The Chair also notes Councilman Juan Ramos is here. Thank you, Councilman. Are there any questions from members of the Committee? 6 3/9/06 - HOUSING - BILL 060139 (No response.)
We would also like to note that we have statements of support that will be added to the record as if they were read, one from Women's Community Revitalization Project, Nora Lichtash, Executive Director, and one from the Philadelphia Affordability Housing Coalition, Galen Tyler, Francis Carney, Co-Chairs. So, again, they will be added to the record.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Two quick comments. One, I want to say thank you to the Chair for the very quick and timely scheduling of this particular hearing, given the potential for expiration of this provision. 7 3/9/06 - HOUSING - BILL 060139 I also thank Ms. McColloch for her testimony and at least having noted for the record that I really appreciate the Administration's support on this legislation. This may be a landmark moment, and I want to enjoy it as much as possible. Thank you.
Thank you very much. This will end our hearing part of this gathering and we will enter into the stated meeting. The Chair will ask Councilman Ramos for a motion to report out Bill No. 17 060139 with a favorable recommendation, also request a suspension of the rules.
Madam Chair, I move that Bill No. 060139 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation. I further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of this bill at our next Council meeting. 8 3/9/06 - HOUSING - BILL 060139 (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Bill No. 5 060139 be reported out of Committee with a favorable recommendation and, furthermore, that the rules be suspended so as to permit first reading at our next session. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and so this bill is reported out. Let me thank the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless. That will end our Housing meeting. MS. McCOLLOCH: Thank you.
Thank you very much. (Committee on Housing, 9 3/9/06 - HOUSING - BILL 060139 Neighborhood Development and the Homeless adjourned at 9:15 a.m.) - - - 10 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on March 9, 2006, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)