Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, September 17, 2020 10:04 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting September 17, 2020
Thank you, and good morning. We're going to get started. I understand that the state law currently requires that the following announcement be made at the beginning of every remote Council session: Due to the current public health emergency, City Council is currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make this remote meeting possible. Instructions for how the public may view the meeting and offer public comment are included in the Stated Meeting notice that was published in the Daily News, Inquirer, and Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. The Clerk will please call the roll to take attendance, and members that are in attendance will please indicate that they are present, and when your name is called, please say a couple of words Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 that your image is displayed on the screen. Mr. Decker.
Good morning. I am present and looking forward to today's session. Thank you very much. Good morning, everyone.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. I'm here.
Councilman Henon. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 (No response.)
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, Council colleagues. Justice for Breonna Taylor. Peace, Not Guns.
Good morning, Mr. President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, viewing public.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020
Kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, buenos dias, a mis colegas.
Good Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 morning, Council President and colleagues. Present.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Happy Thursday, everybody, and good morning to the listening public.
And good morning. Thank you very much. We have established our quorum. Despite the great need, there will be no invocation today. We will, however, observe a very brief moment of silent prayer for our city, its leaders, and its citizens during the current public health crisis, not to mention Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 events that we have been experiencing, social unrest, the gun violence that continues to plague our city. So we pray for it all. We will now observe a brief moment of silence. (Moment of silence.)
Thank you. Thank you very much, and may God bless us all. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 10th, 2020, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
I move that the Journal from September 10th, 2020 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 10th, 2020 stand approved. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that Journal is approved. And our next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
Thank you very much. The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. And our next order of business is communications. Mr. Decker, will you please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications that you may have in your possession. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you that on September 14, 2020, I signed the following bill which was passed by Council at its session on September 10, 2020: Bill No. 200345.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. By way of reminder, we are asking that all resolutions, including privileged resolutions, be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council, unless they are being referred to committee. In our current remote environment, this procedure will provide an appropriate opportunity for public comment. I just want to thank you so much for your anticipated cooperation. Mr. Decker, will you please Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 read the titles of the legislation that is being offered today by the members.
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers, on behalf of Council President Clarke, a resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1906 North 24th Street located in the Fifth Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code. And on her own behalf, Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson offers one resolution urging Senator Pat Toomey and Senate Leadership to take up and act on the Heroes Act, the Helping Homes Act and the Moving Forward Act, sweeping and transformational resolutions to address the ongoing economic crisis co-sponsored by Congressman Dwight Evans and the Philadelphia congressional delegation.
Thank you. They will be on next week's Calendar.
Councilwoman Gym Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 offers a resolution commemorating the life of legal aid giant and former Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Thomas Gilhool, a founding figure for community legal services, educational equity, and the rights of the disabled and the poor, who led a rollicking life in pursuant of law and justice through eight decades of Philadelphia history.
Thank you. That will be on next week's Calendar.
Councilman Jones offers an ordinance amending Chapter 9-3500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards," by amending definitions, revising restrictions, and amending and clarifying remedies.
And an ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," to Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 revise certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled "Overlay Zoning Districts," by creating the /MMP, McMichael Park Overlay District.
Councilman Johnson offers a resolution authorizing the Committee on Legislative Oversight to conduct hearings to examine findings of racism, nepotism and mistrust within the First Judicial District, as set forth in a recently revealed report by The Center for Urban and Racial Equality.
And Councilman Johnson offers a resolution calling on the School District of Philadelphia to promptly negotiate a mutually agreeable new contract with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers that prioritizes the health and safety of school staff and students and acknowledges the Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 contributions of teachers and other staff, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councilman Thomas offers a resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings on the scourge of vehicular hit and run incidents in Philadelphia to give voice to victims and their families and seek solutions to reduce and then eliminate this problem of our City.
And a resolution authorizing the Committee on Streets and Services to conduct hearings to examine the current status of trash and recycling pickups and examine ways to improve how this vital service is performed and how to ensure the job is seen as the community-minded career path it should be. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020
And a resolution honoring and congratulating the West Catholic girls basketball team on their successful 2019-2020 season and overall 22 to 6 record in the Philadelphia Catholic League girls basketball championships.
Councilman Squilla offers an ordinance authorizing the Churchview Commons Condominium Association to own and maintain street lighting encroachments along the One Hundred Block of Church Street.
Councilwoman Bass Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 offers a resolution authorizing the Committee on Rules to hold hearings examining the City of Philadelphia's citywide historic preservation survey and the impacts of historic designation on the development of new buildings, repairing properties to meet Historical Commission guidelines, and all other development specifically in underserved and/or low-income neighborhoods.
Councilman Oh offers a resolution calling on the Kenney administration to develop a plan to be more inclusive of City Council when creating and implementing emergency public safety measures and restrictions.
Also a resolution Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 calling on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to resolve ongoing complications within the State's unemployment system to ensure all eligible Pennsylvanians receive their entitled compensation in a timely manner.
And a resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter by revising the powers and duties of the Art Commission to provide citizens the opportunity to vote on the removal or relocation of a City statue and monument through a public referendum process when there is public dispute, and to require the Commission to prepare an analysis evaluating the competing interpretations of the statue or monument before any removal or relocation.
There are no Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 bills or resolutions being offered by the members today, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. I believe Councilman Henon -Councilman Henon, are you on?
Council President, yes. Thank you. And welcome, colleagues.
Thank you. Please record the Councilman as being present. Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. We have no reports from committee, so our next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. There being no bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion concerning the resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the following resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar: Resolution Nos. 200428, 200429, 200434, 200435, 200437, 200438, 200439, 200440, 200441, 200443, 200444, 200445, 200447, 200448, 200449, 200450, 200451, 200454, 200455, 200456, 200457, 200458, 200459, and 200460. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the resolutions just read by Councilwoman Parker. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 2ND READING ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Resolution Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. In addition to the resolutions being considered on the Consent Agenda, the following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 200427, 200432, 200364-A, and 200368-A. All other bills and resolutions -Mr. President, did you all hear me reading those?
All other bills and resolutions are being Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 held.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Before considering these resolutions and bills we will consider public comment, and it will go as follows: Public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for the possible action at a session of Council. A speaker on any of those matters must sign up in order to testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 5:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. When you call, we will take your name, phone number, the number of the legislative item you are commenting on, and whether you are in support or against. And I emphasize that because in the event we have an overabundance of Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 testimony, public comment, we may have to pare that back, so we want to have a balanced witness testimony. So it helps us if you let us know whether or not you're in support or against a particular legislation. We will telephone each person on the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Under ideal circumstances, they will each have three minutes, which we will do today. However, the time limit may vary from time to time. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to the established time limit. So once invited to the meeting and asked to begin your testimony, a timer will be started. We will monitor your remaining time throughout your testimony, and when there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, you will be reminded of this. Once your allotted time has passed, you will be asked to conclude your remarks, and Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 shortly thereafter you will be muted and disconnected from the remote meeting. I also reserve the right to limit the number of speakers with repetitious comments, because we frequently get that for a particular bill or resolution. So please be aware that the public meeting is being recorded. Because the meeting is public, participants and viewers have no reasonable expectation of privacy. So by continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. I will now ask the Chief Clerk to please read the name of our first speaker. We may have a brief moment to tee up the list.
Good morning. Just please state your name for the record and proceed with your Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 testimony. QUEEN ROBINSON: Good morning. Queen Judith Robinson, testifying on Resolution 200443. Good morning, all. This is about American Jewish Committee and Black Jewish Unity. I was always trained that charity starts at home. I would like to know what is the relationship between Jewish community and their fellow black Jewish community. I want to focus right there. I would like to expand this discussion to talk about that, because all blacks are not the same, are not practicing the same religion. I myself, born and bred Hebrew Israelite, I am Jewish through and through, kosher. Okay? I want to ask about the relationship between my fellow Jewish brotheran and sisteran and me and people like me, black and Jewish. Don't black us all up together like people of color, because we're not the same. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 What I've seen as a black practicing Jewish person is a relationship with everybody but your fellow practicing Jews, and the relationship is not equal. It's not balanced in that regard. So I did a little research to make sure I had clarity, because the Urban League is our economic empowerment entity. I don't want to turn them into our kumbaya entity. Okay? The Urban League was started in the name of economic development. So I want to keep our Urban League focused on that regard. A gentleman, I'm sure he was a fine gentleman, Edwin R.A. Seligman, a Jewish gentleman, a son of a banker, was the National Urban League's first chairman. I can appreciate that, but I want to highlight the fact that he was an economist of the highest, Columbia University, had all kinds of letters behind his name. I want to focus on economic development. Okay? Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 So there is a Black Unity, Jewish Unity Week. I'm sorry I missed it, but it's not -- it should be ongoing, and I want to get in the mix. So that's why I'm calling today, to make sure that our relationship is an equitable relationship, that we talk about the economic situation, because since 1911 and here we are in 2020, the Urban League was about focusing on funding, which is major, and resources, and here we are in 2020 shouting all around, destroying the community all up and down, leaving a hell of a mess. I want to make sure when we come out of this, we have clarity. So let's get clarity about our relationship, Jewish and Jewish -- black Jews first, and then let's talk about the greater black community, because I don't think we've been having truthful dialogue. We've been kind of waylaying the process. So I'm going to digress slightly to get this in. A no-interest loan, okay, like what was given to the Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 organization that's promoting this tiny house agenda, okay, Imma bring it up again, 70 percent of Philadelphia yearly evictions are black women and children being evicted, and I'll be damned if we have to lay down in a tent city in the throes of a pandemic in order to talk about something basic as housing. Okay? So when we talk about economics, funding, and connecting our black and Jewish people with unity, charity starts at home, right here in Philadelphia where we're talking about lack of resources, lack of funding, redlining, all of those things. Let's not do a kumbaya until we get something accomplished. Then we can have something to truly celebrate. I'll be right there with you, black Jewish woman. Thank you very much, and have a good day.
Thank you for your testimony. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020
Good morning. Ms. Cohen, just please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Okay. Good morning, Philadelphia City Council. My name is Sherrie Cohen and I'm an activist in many movements suggestive in our city, a former City Council candidate, and I'm here to express support for Bill No. 200364. I want to thank Councilmember Gilmore Richardson for introducing this legislation and all the other Councilmembers who have co-sponsored it. Today we live amid an unprecedented convergence of crises, including a historic time of racial reckoning due to the profound abuse caused by police and vigilante killing of Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 unarmed black people and the demands of the Black Lives Matter movement to dismantle white supremacy, abolish and de-fund the prison industrial complex, reimagine public safety, and develop unity models of transformative, restorative, and healing justice. The police contract is unlike any other public sector contract. Not only does it provide for wages and benefits, but it decreases public safety and shielding the police from the consequences of its brutality, which has terrorized the black community of our city for generations. Not only do we need the one public (inaudible) legislation, but as other cities provide, we need community participation in these contract meetings, and City Council must be given the obligation to approve this contract. We must also remove the contract provisions which prevent or reduce accountability and demand new Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 provisions to promote accountability. It is past time to bring the police contract negotiations out of the secretiveness of closed-door negotiations and into the public light of transparency and accountability. As we know, this contract usually lasts three years. The time to transform the police contract is now. I want to highlight three provisions in the contract that endanger public safety. First, the contract requires a purging of disciplinary records. The contract provides that written reprimands in a personnel file shall be removed from the record after two years if the employee receives no further written reprimand or further disciplinary action within that period. Is the removal of disciplinary records allowed in any other workplace? Is this purging of prior records allowed for people who are convicted of crimes? Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 By removing disciplinary records, the FOP has made it more difficult to identify patterns of misconduct by individual officers and by police departments as a whole. Second, the FOP contract provides for vacation time in lieu of a disciplinary suspension. The contract provides that the Police Commissioner may, in his or her sole discretion, charge a bargaining unit member's accumulative vacation bank in lieu of time off for disciplinary suspension in all cases except those involving insubordination, charges of criminal misconduct, and refusal to submit to a drug or alcohol test. By allowing use of vacation time in lieu of a disciplinary suspension, the deterrent effect of disciplinary suspension was removed because it allows the officer to continue receiving normal pay during the suspension. Again, have you heard of Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 this allowed in any other workplace? Finally, as we all know, the FOP contract limits discipline and civilian oversight by providing that the decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the City, the FOP, and the employees covered by this contract. These provisions must be removed from the contract. The FOP contract must not require erasure of misconduct records, must not allow vacation time to be used by officers when under disciplinary suspension, and must not limit discipline and oversight by allowing the overturning of discipline of an officer within the Police Department by binding arbitration.
Last, I want to mention a 2017 Washington Post investigation that found that Philadelphia has the second highest percentage of fired officers reinstated in the nation. Sixty-two percent of bad cops, those who have been fired, were reinstated due to binding arbitration from 2006 to 2017. That is a shameful Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 lack of police accountability and oversight. It is time for our city's leadership to stand up to the FOP in the upcoming contract negotiations. Again, I thank City Council for starting on this path to police accountability. Thank you.
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. We will now consider today's Resolution Consent Agenda. I will ask the Clerk to read the titles of all of the resolutions on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the resolution on the Resolution Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, the Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 immediately removed from the Resolution Consent Agenda and placed on today's regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker will please now read the titles of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
You know what, I just got a text. Hold on one second, Mr. Decker. Councilman O'Neill.
I would like to be recognized as present. I had some technical difficulties staff helped with. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. Please let the record reflect that Councilman O'Neill was on, but just Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 and is present. Mr. Decker, please proceed.
Resolution No. 200428, entitled a "Resolution recognizing September as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia, and affirming the need for suicide prevention awareness and robust mental health services" and Resolution No. 200429, entitled a "Resolution permanently recognizing the third week in August as Solar Week in the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 200434, entitled a "Resolution honoring the award-winning Philadelphia Public School Notebook for its enduring legacy and commitment to education justice, to independent journalism, and to centering and uplifting citizen voices through more than a quarter century of public school advocacy, upon its transition to new management under Chalkbeat"; and Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 200435, entitled a "Resolution urging the United States House of Representatives to pass House Resolution 7947, also known as the 'Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act,' providing substantial and additional aid to older foster youth and kinship families and preventing mandatory 'aging out' during the COVID-19 pandemic"; and Resolution No. 200437, entitled a "Resolution recognizing the 12th Annual Block Captain Boot Camp, which will be held virtually for the first time ever on Saturday, October 24, 2020"; and Resolution No. 200438, entitled a "Resolution supporting the National Minority Business Development Agency and recognizing October 5 through October 9, 2020 as Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week, which provides critical information, resources, opportunities and inspiration to the minority business community"; and Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 200439, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and honoring Dana Jenkins, Principal of Roxborough High School, on the occasion of her retirement after twenty years of dedication and service to the School District of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 200440, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Point Breeze Urban Renewal Area, identified by house numbers and street addresses as 1308 through 1314, 1318, and 1336 through 1344 South Capitol Street, 2025 through 2029, 2031, 2033 through 2035, and 2038 Reed Street, 1400, 1402, 1410, 1413, 1415, 1419, 1421, 1426, 1428, 1430 and 1440 South Taylor Street and 2024 Wharton Street"; and Resolution No. 200441, entitled a "Resolution commemorating the 55th Anniversary of the signing of the Voting Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 Act"; and Resolution No. 200445, entitled a "Resolution recognizing the American Jewish Committee and the National Urban League's Black Jewish Unity Week and the ongoing efforts to partner and work together in creating a more equitable future"; and Resolution No. 200444, entitled a "Resolution honoring the life of Eleanor Sokoloff and her legacy of service and promotion of musical education in Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 200445, entitled a "Resolution honoring Richard M. Englert upon his retirement as Temple University's President and his contributions to Temple and Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 200447, entitled a "Resolution calling on Mayor James F. Kenney to declare gun violence a citywide emergency and develop an urgent, unrelenting response to the gun violence Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 and Brown neighborhoods in Philadelphia, and reaffirming the commitment of the City Council of Philadelphia to continue collaborating with, and supporting the work of, the Mayor, our City agencies, the criminal justice community, and non-governmental partners, to mitigate this deadly epidemic"; and Resolution No.
200448, entitled a "Resolution honoring and congratulating the Mastery Charter North girls basketball team on their successful 2019-2020 season and overall 20 to 9 record in the Philadelphia Public League girls basketball championships"; and Resolution No. 200449, entitled a "Resolution honoring and congratulating activist, advocate, founder and president emerita of the Children's Defense Fund, Marian Wright Edelman"; and Resolution No. 200450, entitled a "Resolution calling on the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 (PIAA) to create equitable forms of competition for schools and students unable to compete in their sports in the normal way because of public health guidance in their communities"; and Resolution No. 200451, entitled a "Resolution calling on the Pennsylvania Department of Education to cancel the PSSA and Keystone exams for the 2020-2021 academic year and redirect the resources to providing the best digital learning environment possible"; and Resolution No. 200454, 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 1824 East Huntingdon Street"; and Resolution No. 200455, entitled a "Resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2103 East Hagert Street"; and Resolution No. 200456, 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 2451 through 2453 Frankford Avenue"; and Resolution No. 200457, 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 2514 Coral Street"; and Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 200458, entitled a "Resolution recognizing September as National Recovery Month in Philadelphia and celebrating the 19th Annual PRO-ACT Recovery Walks! to promote recovery and walk to end the stigma surrounding drug and alcohol addiction"; and Resolution No. 200459, entitled a "Resolution recognizing September 2020 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Philadelphia in honor of childhood cancer patients, care givers, survivors, and those children who have succumbed to the disease"; and Resolution No. "
Thank you very much. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion to adopt each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and seconded that each of the resolutions on the Consent Agenda be adopted. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda have been adopted. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, will you please read the title of Resolution No. 200427.
A resolution proclaiming the week of September 14, 2020 as "Census Week" in Philadelphia.
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 say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200432. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
A resolution calling on the Philadelphia Postmaster to meet with Congressman Dwight Evans and the Philadelphia Congressional delegation to discuss the alleged removal of sorting machines at Philadelphia area post offices which would cause delays in the processing of Census forms and mail-in ballots.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson for a motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 200364-A.
An ordinance amending Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Contracts and Procurement," by adding a new Chapter 17-2300, entitled "Public Hearing Required Prior to Execution of a Labor Agreement with City Workers Represented by the Fraternal Order Of Police With Respect To The Workers' Terms And Conditions Of Employment," by establishing certain definitions; and requiring a public hearing within thirty days prior to the City entering into or amending a labor agreement with City workers represented by the Fraternal Order of Police.
Thank you. Before calling for a vote, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Richardson.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I recognize as an elected public servant it is critically important to proactively communicate with and listen to the people we serve. I also recognize how important it is to engage in long overdue reforms that will bring transparency and accountability to the police contract process. I want to thank the countless Philadelphians who have pushed for these reforms for a very long time. Thank you for your hard work. We would not be here today without you. I also want to thank you, Council President, and our leadership team for your foresight and insight around the New Normal Budget Act, and also Representative Jordan Harris for convening the Police Reform Working Group. Bill 200364-A will require, for Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING the first time ever in the City of Philadelphia, public input via a City Council hearing as a part of the police contract negotiation process. The most recent extension to the FOP contract was submitted without public comment or input from this body or the people we serve. At a time when revenues were expected to drop rapidly, we knew painful cuts to personnel and services would result. However, because there was no opportunity to express input, the Police Department budget still represents over $700 million, or nearly 15 percent, of our city's total operating budget annually. For too long, these contracts have been used as a sword and shield by the police union. Not only do they include millions of dollars of spending on salaries and benefits, but they have been used to establish internal disciplinary procedures that have led to millions of dollars of spending on Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING backpay and settlements as officers overturn misconduct allegations. And who knows what these appeals truly cost us. This legislation seeks to mandate public transparency and accountability in a process that has been shrouded in secrecy for far too long. We can no longer afford to let these important discussions happen behind closed doors, because we have seen the results, and they are devastating. With the voice of the people as a part of this conversation, we will be able to hold ourselves and our Police Department accountable. We will be more responsible in how we spend valuable and limited taxpayer dollars, and we will be able to better support the people who vow to serve and protect us. This system is not working, and the reforms we adopted last session and are considering now are recognition that for far too long our present has been dictated by our past. We will no longer Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING accept the same old same old. The time for change is now. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Thank you very much. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson. Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilman Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Squilla.
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are two. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker -- okay. Councilman Domb, did you wish to be recognized now?
I'm sorry. At the end for the speeches. Sorry about that.
All right. Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 200368-A.
An ordinance amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Individual Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Conduct and Activity," by adding a new Chapter 10-2500, entitled "Prohibited Physical Contact by Peace Officers," to prevent unnecessary death or injury via asphyxiation by prohibiting certain physical contact by peace officers.
Thank you. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Councilwoman Stated Meeting September 17, 2020 9/17/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Gilmore Richardson.