Yeah. We have you now. Just state your Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
My name is Linda Bell and I'm a CPI alum and Board member of East Mount Airy Neighbors. What was -- I had three bills or four bills to speak on and they only mentioned one. Which one am I supposed to be speaking on now?
Well, you have two minutes to speak on whatever bill you may. If you can speak on all four in two minutes, please do so.
Okay. I want to speak on and support Bill No. 210434, Councilman Oh, for a resolution for minimum force training and Bill 2100 -211008, Councilmember Johnson's resolution for calling for the General Assembly to prohibit the use of deadly force in a citizen's arrest, and Bill 210296, Councilmember Parker's temporary stay on mortgage and tax foreclosures. I also want to support Bill Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 210692, 210669, which a colleague from Crosstown -- sorry; Citywide RCO Coalition will speak on later and read a letter talking about the ZBA reform. I also want to talk about Bill 210991. I'm opposed to the term "BIPOC" being used in that bill, because the term "POC," people of color, was a phrase chosen by Black Latinos and Native Americans and Asian and Pacific Islanders activists in the '90s to actively de-center whiteness. It came to replace the terms "non-white" and "minorities" that carried with them the idea that we were less than, but the substitution of BIPOC just doesn't accomplish the same goal. Beyond the confusion of what it stands for, when you insist on naming Black people separately from other people of color, BIPOC does -- as BIPOC does, you are, in effect, claiming that Black people aren't people of color, though Black people coined that phrase. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 So I just humbly request that you strike that term from your submission of that bill, 210991. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker we have on the line is Abraham Reyes Pardo, commenting on 210920.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.
Hi. Good morning. This is Abraham Reyes Pardo. I'm the Director of Housing at the Urban League of Philadelphia, a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. I'm part of a team of seven HUD-approved housing counselors dedicated to provide guidance for tenants participating in the eviction diversion program. Today I'm here to support Bill No. 210920. Back in September of 2020, the Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Urban League of Philadelphia was prompt to answer the call from the City of Philadelphia and join the then-emerging eviction diversion program. Here we are almost 15 months and thousands of cases later. To say that the coalition of agencies led by the City has made this a very successful program would be an understatement. Many of the cases entering the process have been resolved or at least continued before the scheduled hearing. Without it means less stress added on to an already overloaded court system. In addition to providing safe space to review these cases in detail, the existence of this program has allowed us to look closer at and address some of the current fair housing violations that otherwise will have gone unreported. Part of the cost being the dynamic between landlords and tenants, some tenants can choose to forego basic Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 living conditions in fear of retaliation in the form of excessive fees or an eviction filing. With a handful of appearance of law firms handling or filing the vast majority of these cases, the program helps us to identify areas for collaboration. We continue to learn from each other's perspective, having the concerns of tenants and landlords at stake. If the collective data has proven anything, it is that many of these cases do not belong in court, particularly referring to disputes involving significantly small balances that could be easily satisfied through a repayment plan. The Urban League of Philadelphia supports the continuation of the eviction diversion program and will continue to advocate for underresourced and struggling tenants. Thank you.
Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning and thank you for taking -- yes. Can you hear me?
Yes. Good morning and thank you for taking the time to consider this important issue our city is facing. My name is Jacob Speidel and I'm the Director of Tenant Rights at SeniorLAW Center. I'm here to support passage of Bill No. 210920. At SeniorLAW Center, we seek justice for older adults. We're the only non-profit organization in Pennsylvania whose mission is dedicated solely to providing legal services to seniors. While families and individuals across Philadelphia have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, older Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Philadelphians have been hardest hit. They've been the most at risk for the virus and the most likely to have severe health consequences and the most likely to die. Housing has never been more crucial. SeniorLAW Center represents people 60 years of age and older, including tenants facing evictions, lack of repairs or exhumation. We also represent landlords who are facing abuse or financial exploitation. We support today's legislation to continue Philadelphia's highly successful eviction diversion program. The Philadelphia Municipal Court's authority to continue to extend the requirement for landlord participation is ending at the end of this month. Today's legislation is needed to extend the successful eviction diversion program. Philadelphia's eviction diversion program is a pre-filing program that has been operational for over a year Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 now and has received local, state, and national attention. Governor Wolf has called Philadelphia's program a national model. Madeo Jay (ph) has held out Philadelphia's program as a national model. Philadelphia's eviction diversion program benefits both landlords and tenants. For landlords, the program connects them to mediators who can improve communication with tenants and resolve problems, while giving courts the capacity to schedule speedy hearings for landlords that need court hearings. Unlike most legal services organizations, SeniorLAW Center represents both low-income older landlords and tenants. We've seen firsthand how these programs benefit landlords and tenants. The Philadelphia diversion program has been enormously successful.
Thank you. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021
Thank you for this opportunity to testify, and we appreciate your taking the time to consider this issue.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Bonita Cummings, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Good morning. State your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Okay. Good morning, Council President and members of City Council. My name is Bonita Cummings and I'm the Director of Strawberry Mansion Community Concerns and a member of the Citywide RCO Coalition of Philadelphia. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 The need for Resolution No. 210692 and Bill No. 210669 appealing to the electors is due to the overzealous change of the Philadelphia Zoning Code of 2011 and becoming effective in 2012. The change to the Zoning Code (connection issues) assisted by our Zoning Code practices. Failure of developers to act in an empathetic human state for my neighborhood of Strawberry Mansion has led to lynching behind the walls of developers' buildings. 2848 West Diamond Street has trapped the mural art of African American musician John Coltrane, and at 3006-3008 Ridge Avenue on the corner of Ridge and Diamond, our revered civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., was desecrated and his body laid shattered on the sidewalk for days, with his arm being left behind the wall of a huge new development. All our holy books tell us that life is in the spirit, and then from the Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 spirit of these great leaders who sacrificed for the world were treated by developers with their conglomerate of investors, banks, and design companies like trash. We agree this action must be rectified. So this legislation is one aspect of correction to what is wrong with the development as well as the community. However, this regulation ballot question if passed in May 2022 won't go into effect until October 2022. In addition, Council must take an overhaul approach to our Zoning Code now. So we ask that our at-large members with their District Councilmembers pause this trauma on neighborhoods. Call for some town hall meetings and let the residents have a say. Most times when the neighborhoods are hearing about changes for their neighborhood, it is too late or they can't make Council hearings or meetings and sit all day due to need for work for Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 survival of their families. Last, our present zoning process has led to an increase in White wealth as compared to Black and Brown wealth. Ten percent of 100 apartment units is ten units. No matter how you cut it, mixed-income housing, et cetera, the 90 percent is wealth and the 10 percent is wealth to the same owner, because affordable is subsidized at market-rate rent. Thank you for allowing me to speak today.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Odessa Tate, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Good morning. State your name for the record and proceed.
Hello, everyone. My name is Odessa Tate of All in the Family Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 CDC in Strawberry Mansion, and I'm also a member of the Citywide RCO Coalition. I'm in support of Bill No. 210669, Resolution 210692 of the ZBA reform. Democracy is for the people, and the leaders of the City have a great responsibility to its residents to ensure security, protection, and fairness. The City's Zoning Code impacts all of Philadelphians through land use and is pivotal in the long-term impact of our microcosm socially and economically. The ZBA is critical in the City's survival with land use impacts. Having the power to grant variances does not only impact development changes, but can also contribute to mental, emotional, and environmental stressors for individuals. Having adequate representation to make informed and well-rounded decisions can help the City's credibility with people and development. Thank you for your Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 consideration -- thank you for considering making these appropriate changes to ensure support for the ZBA to help them best support the people and eradicate development challenges. The message from many people in communities throughout the metropolis are clear. There are more conducive ways to create opportunities for larger and mid-sized multi-unit development. It's been mentioned before about the use of old factories, warehouses, and even commercial buildings to accommodate such living. Some areas are more appropriate than others to create multi-family usage or larger-scale development. For the ZBA having someone represented will demonstrate the sensitivity to community concerns regarding development, and the protection of the character of Philadelphia's neighborhood balances expertise and objectives. In each community and economic development plan, it should Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 include decent housing opportunities for low income, accessibility, and availability for the community's economic health. We need teachers, firefighters, police officers, municipal employees, healthcare workers, and people of other professions to have access to safe, affordable housing. We also cannot disregard the elderly demographic on a fixed income and people starting out in careers with student loan debt. We need communities with age and income diversity, not ballooning incidences of individuals spending the majority of their earnings on higher rent, mortgages, and property taxes. We have issues within our communities, and displacement should not add to the new system.
We need to achieve a healthy balance to build sustainable Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 communities. Homeownership is a form of wealth that everyone is deserving of the opportunity to attain. There's no stability in communities -
Ms. Tate? Ms. Tate? I need you to -- can you wrap it up?
I'm sorry. Communities have the right to control their narrative, and displacement and discourse should not be an option. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to speak.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is the Reverend Chester Williams, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
This is Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Reverend Chester H. Williams. Glad to see you all. I want to say thank God for this opportunity. I am the President and founder of the Chew and Belfield Neighborhood Organization since 1981 and I'm also a supporter and a partner in the Citywide RCO Coalition. I'd like to say thank you, President of City Council, for writing up this resolution. I thank God for you getting the wisdom to restructure it and for City Council, your members, to support you. We support you wholeheartedly for this bill, which is 210692. We'd like to say also I pray that each and every one of you continue praying for God to give you wisdom that you can understand the significant importance of a community to have a voice. We were organizing RCOs to have a voice to represent the community. Please don't take that from us. We'd also like to say as we see Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 new developments are coming in and trying to build buildings three and four stories high in a commercial -- in a residential area where there's family-owned property, we pray that you do not overlook what we've come to in the past. We do not need projects anymore, and these buildings to me and others are looking like they're building them high enough to bring back those structures, just a different face, to say and to look as a project. People don't need to be cattled in no more. We don't need cattle up on top of each other. They need space to live and to breathe and to think. We're asking you, help us, not to let this go into a structured building that we look up and Philadelphia will be all over the City having building structured and stacking people on top of that looks like the old-fashioned project but back to the old way. We congratulate you on this, Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 and we pray the next steps go forth to help to reorganize the ZBA even more and more and more and also restructure the CDR also. Thank you, thank you, thank you. May God bless all of you, and we're praying faithfully and constantly for all the City Council. God bless.
Thank you, Reverend. We appreciate your testimony.
The next speaker is Michael Khoo, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Good morning, everyone. My name is Michael Khoo. Thank you for inviting me to speak. I'm also addressing the bills for reform of the ZBA. I'm a member of the 46th Ward Democratic RCO, so I'd like to express my support for the comments made by people Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 previously, the last two to three speakers, and I'd also like to express my support for a letter written by Lew Baum, 46th Ward Democratic RCO, which I think will be read into the record at some point. Both the speakers and the letter make excellent points regarding the desirability of ZBA reform, which I urge you to vote for. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Crystal Morris, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
My name is Crystal Morris, President of the Wynnefield Residents Association, and I'm reading a statement of the 46th Ward Democratic Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 RCO, along with other Citywide RCO Coalition members that I will identify later. We support Council President Clarke's ZBA reform referendum to change the composition of the ZBA and allow for City Council's advice and consent regarding the Mayor's appointments to the body. With the present ZBA, we have continually experienced one-sidedness both in decisions and also the way meetings are being run. In fact, an astounding 92 percent of recent ZBA decisions have gone in favor of the applicant despite sometimes explicit rules in The Philadelphia Code governing ZBA decisions. Community leaders and members have been subject to interruption and disrespect when testifying. Many Philadelphians, your constituents, are disappointed and frustrated with the present situation and need to be better Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 served. We feel that a more professional approach will benefit all involved. A more diverse and qualified Board will help to increase community trust of this important City institution. When outcomes are based on application of the law, costs may actually go down. We believe that City Council's advice and consent would be an important check and balance to help ensure that the best people are appointed and that appointees will be judicious and respectful of City code and City residents. We're asking you to please support ZBA reform and vote for the referendum. Sincerely, Catherine Blunt from the 46th Ward Democratic RCO, Mark Harris from Cathedral Park CDC, Crystal Morris from Wynnefield Residents, Reverend Chester Williams from Chew and Belfield Neighbors Club, and Eloise Young on behalf of HMC Squared Community Association. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Also, communities are being decimated by aggressive development. We desperately need Councilmembers to stand with us and, more importantly, for us. We understand this will not solve all problems, but passing this bill and resolution will be a great start. Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Mr. President, I'm going to return to the previous page on the list and call Vince Patel, who is now on the line, to speak on 210920.
Thank you. Good morning. Just state your name for the record and proceed.
Good morning. Thank you. My name is Vince Patel from Community Legal Services. I'm a Supervising Attorney of the Housing Unit Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 and I'm here to speak on behalf of Bill No. 210920. This bill will extend the requirements that landlords participate in the Philadelphia eviction diversion program, which has been an enormous success. Before the pandemic, Philadelphia had over 19,000 eviction filings per year. In 2021, thanks to the success of the diversion program, there have been just over 6,000 eviction filings. This is an incredible reduction in filings, which has enabled households most at risk to maintain some sense of stability in these very unstable times. Now, the diversion program has been very successful at mediating disputes between landlords and tenants. When landlords and tenants both engage in mediation, they've been able to reach a resolution 93 percent of the time. This is because the diversion program matches tenants with Philadelphia's well-trained Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 network of housing counselors, where we heard from one earlier today. And these housing counselors know the tenants, review their finances, connect them with rental assistance or other resources, and support them through the mediation process. Now, a year ago when a landlord would come to file in court, they had to wait four to five months before they could get a hearing. This is because of the huge backlog of cases as a result of the pandemic. Now because of the diversion program and the requirement that landlords participate in that program, the wait time has dropped to be about 30 days. Without the diversion requirement, Philadelphia risks overwhelming the court system with cases that could easily be resolved through mediation. Community Legal Services is a proud part of the coalition that has Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 helped to build the eviction diversion program and has instead continued to work to improving and growing it. We strongly support this program and ask that you support it by voting for this bill today. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Valerie Ross, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. I'm Val Ross, Co-Founder of Citywide RCO Coalition of Philadelphia and of RCO WP3P here to speak in strong support of the bill and resolution for ZBA reform and to thank you, President Clarke, and Councilmembers who put it forward. Our coalition resulted from RCOs across the City recognizing that the Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 ZBA badly needed reform. Unqualified, out of control, it's turned its back on participatory democracy, the heart of urban planning and City government. The trial of former ZBA Chair John Dougherty has fully displayed the dangers of allowing a Mayor to hand-pick members of this powerful Board, giving private interest control over public matters. The Mayor then replaced Mr. Dougherty with Frank DiCicco, a developer's consultant, contemptuous of any who interfered with developers' interests, jovially joining with developers' attorneys to silence, rebut, rebuke, and ridicule community members and RCOs protesting appeals. He allowed developers' attorneys to control Zoom screen speakers and speech, and he and his fellow Board members went along rubber-stamping 92 percent of all appeals, a rigged game, developer attorneys and lobbyist-larded hearings with sketches and talks of design Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 density, parking, and meanwhile residents and RCOs objecting to these same things were told their remarks were irrelevant. Our coalition was shocked at how unqualified and riddled with conflicts of interest our ZBA is and how unusual that such a powerful organization undergoes no oversight and has no qualifications required. To quote a California judge, the power to rezone is the power to create great wealth, and using that power wrongfully is just as bad as stealing public money. The ZBA's decisions have harmed our city's most vulnerable neighborhoods, wiping out affordable housing stock, jacking up prices, destroying coherent neighborhoods, and kicking out small businesses and long-term residents, including 30,000 Black residents in the last ten years. The ZBA ignores the only legal grounds for granting an appeal, Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 demonstrating unnecessary hardship, because frankly they don't have the credentials to do so even if they had the will. Our city needs and deserves a qualified, vetted, forward-thinking ZBA capable of applying the Zoning Code and grasping how thoughtless decisions promote environmental infrastructural economic damage, social and racial injustice, crime, despair, and homelessness. It may take a little work to find qualified members and vet them, but that's a shockingly bad reason to reject desperately needed reform. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Ross. We appreciate your testimony.
The next speaker is Eloise Young, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Good Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 morning. State your name for the record and please proceed. (No response.)
Hello. I'm sorry. My name is Eloise Young. I'm a facilitator for the HMC Squared RCO in West Philly and I'm also a member of the Citywide RCO Coalition. I'm also a longtime -- lifelong Philadelphia resident. HMC Squared supports Bill No. 210669 and Resolution No. 210692 for the reasons outlined in the letter to City Council from the Citywide RCO Coalition as well as the letter by the 46th Ward Democratic that was just read by Crystal Morris. We also support the statement of Val Ross, who spoke just before me, and we thank you for introducing the bill and for giving us the chance to express Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 our support. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Susan Nam, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Good morning. My name is Susan Nam. I'm commenting as a Mount Airy resident and activist, artist from District 8. I'm here today to continue vocalizing my support for Bill No. 210669 and Resolution 210692. There's a reminder that needs to be made about where the people have been and continue to stand in the City of Philadelphia. The movement of some but not all policymakers, developers, and active political action groups are the absolute smallest percentage that make up Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 for the overall population of this city versus the over 60 percent Black and Brown community that make up for the City. As a city ecosystem, the people entrust our policymakers to uphold the integrity of the principles, values, and culture that make our city unique. Campaigns may be funded by dollars, but our elected officials are powered by the people. Perhaps we've been somewhat absent from these kind of conversations on this level due to the fact that all of our time is consumed by attending balloon releases, candlelight vigils, planning and cooking for block parties and community cookouts, attending for block captain duties, creating programming from scratch for our children, serving our advisory councils in our over 157 rec centers, tending to our community gardens, applying for grants and so much more. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 This is Philadelphia. This public statement is a full circle of how our housing landscape is a direct reflection of our culture. Where we live and what those homes look like and to what density they exist matter. The 90-plus percent of the variances we have seen passed just in the past four years with now the former chairman is enough to show for. In three short minutes, we couldn't express our deep understanding for housing trends, the rising cost of construction costs in Philadelphia that is topping $300 per square gross feet, which is a direct result of the notable uptick in half million priced dollar homes in the midst of hundred thousand average comped priced neighborhoods. This updated legislation is necessary in order to protect the threats to cold leased in compromising basic principalities of sharing and quality of life for the name of pure profit. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Thank you, Council President, for this time.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Crystal Morris, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Mike, didn't Ms. Morris already testify or is this a different Ms. Morris?
You're right, Mr. President. My error. Good eyes. The next speaker is Mark Zachary, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Yes. Hello. Good morning. My name is Mark Zachary. I'm a resident of West Kensington in the Seventh Councilmanic. You know, this is -- I'm going Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 to have a different opinion. This is obviously a transparent power grab to arrest control of the ZBA from the Mayor's Office, and it's being done because certain members of the Council and some shortsighted individuals think that the ZBA approves buildings that are too tall and too dense and that that reduces affordability and increases overall prices in the neighborhoods, and you couldn't be farther from the truth. You couldn't be more wrong about that. The fact is is that members use down-zoning bills as a weapon to force developers to come to the community and beg Councilpersons to help slide their development through, and all this bill is going to do is exponentially increase the politicized nation of that process. And if areas were zoned properly in the first place, there would be less need for the ZBA. American Street, for example, Front Street under the El, Kensington Ave, West Girard Ave are a few that come to my Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 mind. Now, North American had two huge developments approved by the ZBA, thankfully. But why? Because North American is entirely zoned for industrial and commercial mixed use. It should have been zoned residential for years now. It's been vacant mostly for decades. The bottom line is is that especially along major transit corridors, like Girard, under the El, Second Street, American Street, buildings should be much taller by-right and need to be more dense. This is the way that you will increase affordability, along with the mixed-income housing overlay that has the affordability requirement built in. This is the way. The way that you want to do it and the way that everybody else is thinking it's going to get done, it's going to have the exact opposite effect. Now, you know, Councilmembers have also used these overlays to disallow bonuses for affordable units. We should Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 be looking forward, not backward to exclusionary suburban outlooks on zoning that went out of fashion in the '50s and '60s but for some reason are coming back. These exclusionary policies have roots in classism and racism. Buildings tall and dense with an affordability requirement is the best way to manage affordability and ensure that we can continue to grow. These bills are going to take us backward, and I hope that Philadelphia voters will see through this absolute farce. But I also know that it's probably going to get approved and you're not going to get what you want out of it. Thanks a lot. Have a great day.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Susanna Burger, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Good Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 morning. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Good morning. My name is Susanna Burger and I speak in opposition to Bill 210669 and Resolution 210692. The legislative process behind this bill and this resolution will have negative effects for Philadelphia, and it should be slowed down. With the new ZBA Chair, any justification for this legislation is no longer applicable and we need to wait and see how the ZBA operates under this new Chair until any restructuring decisions are made. I feel that if these changes are implemented, developers are not going to want to go before the ZBA, which would make bad by-right development more common. This is the complete opposite effect of the legislation's design. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021
The next speaker is Chris Hinkley, commenting on 210669 and 210692.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Hi. My name is Chris Hinkley and I'm speaking in opposition to Bill 210669 and Resolution 210692. I think the proposal will have negative impacts for Philadelphia and I think its passage should be delayed. With the new ZBA Chair, things have changed and the legislation needs to be slowed down. We need to see how the new ZBA Chair operates with the ZBA until any restructuring decisions are made. And I'm afraid if the changes are implemented, developers won't go before ZBA and we'll see an increase in bad by-right development, so the resolution and bill would backfire. I'm asking that you delay a Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 vote on the final passage of this legislation today. That's all. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Just for the record, this must be voted on by the citizens of the City of Philadelphia. So this cannot be enacted unless there is a positive vote in the May primary election, because this is a ballot referendum. So there will be time from the installation of the new Zoning Board Chair and the time that citizens actually get to vote, so people have an opportunity to review that work. But I just wanted to say that for the record. This does not automatically enact the reforms. It must be a vote by the citizens on the ballot referendum. Thank you. Mr. Decker, please proceed.
The next speaker is Christopher Mejah Smith, commenting on 210669 and 210692. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Good morning. Thank you for this opportunity. My name is Christopher Mejah Smith. I'm a longtime member of my local RCO zoning committee, but these comments are my own. I speak in opposition to Bill 210669 and Resolution 210692. The legislative process behind this bill and resolution is being rushed and should be slowed down until we fully understand its impact. City Council controls what's in the Zoning Code. City Council controls how properties are zoned in the Zoning Maps. City Council controls zoning overlays in various neighborhoods. City Council controls policies like the expiring tax abatement and the new construction tax. And now City Council wants to control the makeup of the ZBA itself. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 It seems that this is a situation where we keep trying to tighten and tighten our grip, but yet more and more sand keeps trickling through our fingers. My worry is that if implemented, developers are not going to want to go before the ZBA, and if that happens, developers are going to take bad Zoning Maps and create bad by-right development. That's what's happening on North 11th Street on the edge of Yorktown. Despite the Civic Design Review's request that they go back to the drawing board, this developer can legally build 320 studios, regardless of what is appropriate for the neighborhood. This legislation would not prevent that development from happening, and I fear that the legislation will actually make this type of bad development happen more regularly. As others have said, we have a new ZBA Chair, and so the bulk of the Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 justification for this legislation is now made moot. Let's wait and see how this new leadership of the ZBA conducts itself before we radically transform the ZBA structure, and there's no reason at this time that we should be rushing towards getting this out. Let's wait and see and let's talk about this for the November ballot. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The final speaker we have this afternoon, Mr. President, is Tiffany Green, commenting on 210669, 210633-A, and 211009.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Good morning. Made me last. Okay. How is everyone? I want to speak on -- since we had a lot of talk on 669, I'll skip that. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 210633, more of our city properties are being transferred from Public Property into RDA, and there has not been any community process. We should have a community process right now. Most of the properties that have been transferred are being sold at 185,000 and 195,000, and that's not fair to us. I spoke to an industry professional, and he laughed when he thought about $15 an hour is going to be able to sustain a $185,000 home. That is not right. We need to find community developers who can build at a much lower price, and why not have the people buy a home at 125,000 and invest the rest in college scholarships and generational wealth. Why try to push that 185? I'm asking that we have a community meeting regarding these properties to find out if we're going to have low-wage housing. Finally, I want to talk about Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 this bonus FAR bill. It is the most detrimental bill I've ever seen in my activism career. This bill is not right. You give the impression that you're giving affordable housing, but you're not. The thing about it is is that you're allowing developers to get seven feet in height and 11 mini bonus units more than we're getting for affordable, and then you make it a by-right. It is not right to sit here and tell the community that it's a by-right and there's nothing you can do about it. That is not true. And God knows the truth, and you know the truth. Why not -- why is it fair -and I'm saying to Council President. Why are you not making this prohibit -require a community process for all of the City? Okay. We have the right to address trash, materials, types of units, rental crisis, parking requirements, and everything at this point. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 This bill at this point is really detrimental to us. We have 99 units coming to our community and we have practically no say. If you say you care about your constituents and you respect us, then why not put a community process in here? Why allow a developer and a plan examiner at L&I to make all the decisions for a multi-family unit, like 90 units, 100 units? That's not fair to us. I just want people to know by-right means bypass the community. By-right means bypass the community. And know this, and I'm not being smart, the turkey that you give will have more community process and community input than you do. This is not right. Stop the by-right process and put a community process in this bonus FAR bill.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our public comment session. We will now consider today's Resolution Consent Agenda. I would ask Mr. Decker to please read the titles of all 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 resolution will be immediately removed from the Resolution Consent Agenda and placed on today's regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, will you please now read the titles on the Resolution Consent Agenda.
Resolution No. 210960, entitled a "Resolution Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 recognizing, honoring and congratulating Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated on its 102nd Founders' Day and the upcoming International Convention being held in the City of Philadelphia, July 18 through July 24, 2022"; and Resolution No. 210961, entitled a "Resolution recognizing, honoring and congratulating Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated on its 108th Founders' Day and the upcoming Eastern Region Conference being hold in the City of Philadelphia, March 31 through April 3, 2022"; and Resolution No. 210991, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and congratulating WHYY and the News and Information Community Exchange collaborative on their steadfast commitment to diversify local news sources, and empower local, BIPOC, and underserved communities through grassroots news"; and Resolution No. 210992, entitled Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2929 North 13th Street located in the 5th Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 210993, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to certain properties located in the Fifth Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 210994, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 1335 North 8th Street, 1401 North 8th Street, 1402 North 30th Street, 1410 North Myrtlewood Street, 1421 North Myrtlewood Street, 1424 North Myrtlewood Street, 1429 North Myrtlewood Street, 1437 North Myrtlewood Street, 1438 Franklin Street, 1440 North Myrtlewood Street, 1451 North Myrtlewood Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Street, 1452 North Myrtlewood Street, 1457 North Myrtlewood Street, 1459 North Myrtlewood Street, 1460 North Hollywood Street, 1463 North Myrtlewood Street, 1500 North Hollywood Street, 1511 North Myrtlewood Street, 2955 North 8th Street, 3003 Redner Street, 3601 Germantown Avenue, and 729 Master Street in the Fifth Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 210995, entitled a "Resolution honoring Philadelphia VIP on the Special Occasion of its Fortieth Anniversary"; and Resolution No. 210996, entitled a "Resolution honoring the Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity on the Occasion of its Tenth Anniversary"; and Resolution No. 210997, entitled a "Resolution commending Patricia Wilson Aden on her Appointment as President and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance"; and Resolution No. 210998, entitled a "Resolution honoring the Local Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Corporation on the Occasion of its Fortieth Anniversary"; and Resolution No. 210999, entitled a "Resolution commending The Black Promoters Collective on their official formation as a 100 percent Black-owned organization"; and Resolution No. 211000, entitled a "Resolution also naming the 1500 block of West Cabot Street from 15th Street to 16th Street, 'Vivian VanStory Way' to honor and commemorate the life of Vivian VanStory and her lasting impact on her North Philadelphia community"; and Resolution No. 211001, entitled a "Resolution also naming the 2500 block of West Stewart Street from 25th Street to 26th Street, 'Warren McMichael Way' to honor and commemorate the life of Warren McMichael and his lasting impact on the Brewerytown-Sharswood community"; and Resolution No.
211002, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and honoring Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 for fifteen years of committed service as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the City Avenue Special Services District in the 4th Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 211003, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and honoring legendary sports journalist Donald Hunt on the occasion of his retirement after over thirty years of writing for the Philadelphia Tribune"; and Resolution No. 211004, entitled a "Resolution recognizing and honoring Al Schmidt for his 10-year tenure as a Philadelphia City Commissioner, and wishing him well as he begins a new chapter in his career as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Committee of Seventy"; and Resolution No. 211008, entitled a "Resolution calling on the General Assembly to prohibit the use of deadly force to make a citizen's arrest"; and Resolution No. 211009, entitled Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 "Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 1306, 1308, 1310, 1312 and 1329 South 21st Street, 1303 South 23rd Street, 1306 South 28th Street, 1213 South Bonsall Street, 1148 South Cleveland Street, 2632 Ellsworth Street, 1410 South Hicks Street, 2054 Gerrit Street, 2612, 2741 and 2743 Latona Street, 2123 Montrose Street, 1701 and 1703 South Ringgold Street and 1714 South Taylor Street in the Second Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 211010, entitled a "Resolution recognizing the work and contributions of labor and grassroots community activist Ronald Whitehorn, whose leadership and mentorship has inspired generations of activists and leaders in the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 211011, entitled a "Resolution designating Tuesday Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 21, 2021 as National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day in the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 211012, entitled a "Resolution honoring, congratulating, and thanking Frank DiCicco on the occasion of his retirement from the Zoning Board of Adjustment and his many years of service to the citizens of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. "
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Decker. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion to adopt each of the resolutions on the Resolution Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the Consent Agenda has been adopted. We will now consider today's Bill Consent Agenda. I would ask Mr. Decker please read the titles of all the bills on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read, any member may object Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 inclusion of the bill on the Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, the bill will be immediately removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on our regular and Second Reading Final Passage Calendar today. Mr. Decker, now please read the titles of the bills on the Consent Agenda.
Bill No. 210689, entitled, "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Old York Road, Broad Street, and 65th Avenue"; and Bill No. 210899, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 14-1000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Historic Preservation,' to establish a temporary demolition moratorium with respect to properties in the area bounded by Henry Avenue, Roxborough Avenue, Silverwood Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Street, and Fountain Street"; and Bill No. 210926, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Crispin Street, Willits Road, Academy Road, and Frankford Avenue"; and Bill No. 210782, entitled "An ordinance amending Bill No. 210320 (approved June 28, 2021), entitled 'An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2022 through 2027 inclusive,' by adding, revising, and/or removing certain projects, amounts and sources, for the purpose of providing Safe Play Zone security cameras"; and Bill No. 210783, entitled "An ordinance amending Bill No. 210321 (approved June 28, 2021), entitled 'An ordinance to adopt a Fiscal 2022 Capital Budget,' by adding, revising, and/or removing certain projects, amounts and sources, for the purpose of providing Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Zone security cameras"; and Bill No. 210864, entitled "An ordinance amending Subsection 19-2604(6) of The Philadelphia Code ('Credit for Contributions to Community Development Corporations, Nonprofit Organizations Engaged in Developing and Implementing Healthy Food Initiatives and Nonprofit Intermediaries') to clarify the number of contribution agreements that may be entered into"; and Bill No. 210629, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 120 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Nicholas Street and Turner Street, each from Twentieth Street to Twenty-First Street, and reserving and placing on the City Plan rights-of-way for various utility purposes within the beds of Nicholas and Turner Streets being stricken"; and Bill No. 210867, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-2700 of The Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Code, entitled 'Permit Parking Districts,' by amending the boundaries for Permit Parking District 19"; and Bill No. 210918, entitled "An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on Camac Street between Wagner Avenue and Fisher Avenue"; and Bill No. 210919, entitled "An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on East Godfrey Avenue between Summerdale Avenue and Pratt Street"; and Bill No. 210921, entitled "An ordinance authorizing various encroachments at 3536 Calumet Street"; and Bill No. 210929, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Day Street and Wildey Street; Thompson Street and Columbia Avenue; Oxford Street and Belgrade Street; East Montgomery Street Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 Street; Columbia Avenue and Belgrade Street; Crease Street and Thompson Street; and Belgrade Street and Oxford Street"; and Bill No. 210930, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 5 of an ordinance (Bill No. 200423) approved November 10, 2020, entitled 'An ordinance authorizing Keystone Property Group to construct, own, and maintain a proposed exterior building ramp at 100 South Independence Mall West,' by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein"; and Bill No. 210931, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 5 of an ordinance (Bill No.
200092) approved March 11, 2020, entitled 'An ordinance authorizing Independence Park Hotel to construct, own, and maintain a proposed exterior building ramp at 235 Chestnut Street,' by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein"; and Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 210932, entitled "An ordinance authorizing various encroachments on North Broad Street in the vicinity of 1344 through 1348 Arch Street"; and Bill No. " Mr. President, I got a late request from a member that may have an issue with 210920 being put on the Consent Agenda.
Thank you. It shall be removed without debate, placed on the regular Second Reading. Is that a resolution?
That was a bill, Mr. President. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021
210920. We'll place that on the regular Second Reading Calendar.
Thank you. These bills having been read on two different days, the question for each bill now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll, and upon being called, each Councilmember shall vote aye on each of the bills, nay on each of the bills, or indicate those bills for which the member is voting aye and those bills for which the member is voting nay.
Aye on all Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021
Aye on all Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021
Councilwoman Sanchez? Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 12/16/21 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
Aye on all bills. And a majority of all members having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 210692. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 12/16/21 - STATED - 2ND READING
A resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to revise the composition of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, by increasing the number of appointees, providing for confirmation by Council of appointees, and specifying qualifications that appointees must possess; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. Because Resolution No. 210692 is an amendment to the Home Rule Charter, it requires two-thirds vote. Therefore, the question Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 12/16/21 - STATED - 2ND READING is shall the resolution be adopted. The Chief Clerk will call the roll.
Councilman Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 12/16/21 - STATED - 2ND READING Johnson.
Aye. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 12/16/21 - STATED - 2ND READING The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. The resolution -- two-thirds of all members of Council voting in the affirmative, Resolution No. 210692 has been adopted. Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 210 -- you know what, Mr. Decker, Bill No. 210633-A. I'm sorry.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code by amending certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled "Overlay Zoning Districts," by creating the "/MIH, Mixed Income Neighborhoods Overlay District"; by revising certain provisions of Chapter 14-702, entitled "Floor Area, Height, and Dwelling Unit Density Bonuses"; and by making related changes.
Thank you. This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 12/16/21 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. Dec 16, 2021 Stated Meeting December 16, 2021 12/16/21 - STATED - 2ND READING