Councilwoman 5.20.10 STATED - CALENDAR CONSIDERATION Sanchez?
A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 100156.
An ordinance amending Section 14-304 of Philadelphia Code, entitled "C-3 Commercial District," amending Section 14-1402 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Parking in Residential Districts."
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is: Shall the 5.20.10 STATED - CALENDAR CONSIDERATION bill pass finally? The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Council President 5.20.10 STATED - CALENDAR CONSIDERATION Verna?
Aye. The ayes are 16, the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 100253.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code relating to zoning and planning by amending Chapter 14-1600, entitled "Miscellaneous," by amending Section 14-1611, entitled "Benjamin Franklin Parkway Controls," by exempting certain building features from being considered as part of the height of a building within a specified area subject to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway controls.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee Clarke.
Madam 5.20.10 STATED - CALENDAR CONSIDERATION President, I would like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 100253. It is essentially the equal opportunity plan for the new temple for the Latter-Day Saints at 18th and the Parkway.
Yeah. I would like to make a motion for the approval of the amendment to Bill No. 100253. (Motion duly seconded.)
All in favor will indicate by saying aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the amendment has been adopted, and the bill will be placed on our second-reading and final-passage calendar for our next session of Council. * * * 5.20.10 STATED - SPEECHES
Are there speeches on the part of the Minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, again, we have probably concluded a very difficult budget year. Over the last two fiscal years, we have had significant challenges, budget deficits projected over the five-year plans of upwards of $2 billion. The Administration has done a number of things as it relates to resolving those budget challenges and those proposed deficits by rebalancing, not filling positions, a number of makers internally. 10 STATED - SPEECHES This council was asked on several occasions to do a number of things to close those challenged deficits. We, to my knowledge, passed every fee increase, and there were a significant number that were proposed in a very meaningful way. We actually, with State authorization, increased the sales tax for the City of Philadelphia, some people would say, creating a significant disadvantage for a number of our retailers in the City of Philadelphia, but because we wanted to ensure that we maintain a reasonable level of services, we supported that. 10 STATED - SPEECHES $120 million as a result of the sales tax increase. So there have been a significant level of hurdles achieved and put in place by all members of the government, both the executive, the legislative; and most importantly, our municipal workers. Fiscal '11 rolls around. Again, through no fault of the City of Philadelphia and the Administration, we are faced with another extremely difficult challenge. And this one, I think, frankly speaking, has probably been the most difficult of all three. And we've been asked again to support revenue measures to raise a significant amount of money -- again, to support the services and, subsequently, our municipal workers. 10 STATED - SPEECHES the responsibility of this council to put revenue on the table to supplant those proposals. And I think that this council stepped to the plate. This council took a vote which was probably one of the most difficult votes -- if not the most difficult vote -- that an elected official can take is raising real-estate taxes in this particular environment, in this particular city, given all of the challenges -- not that the City has but those individuals who will receive those real-estate tax increase bills. And not to mention the political side -- that it is done a year before the election. That is, like, very difficult, and I'm sure that those of you who traveled throughout the City of Philadelphia on Tuesday, as I did, every polling place that I went to throughout my district, the question about Council's vote for a real-estate tax increase came up, all right? 10 STATED - SPEECHES So that was a very difficult vote. And it was something that we had to do because, at the end of the day, we had to maintain services in the City of Philadelphia and, therefore, make sure that our municipal workers continue to work. And as a result of that, we were able to turn, which was in fiscal '10, more than a $30 million deficit to a $42 million fund balance, all right? And in most of the time that I've been here a $42 million fund balance is a reasonable fund balance. But for whatever reason, we received word today that, in spite of the $42 million fund balance, that there needs to be layoffs or some disruptions in services at a time when the upwards of $2 billion deficits were in place that there were probably less than 50 people laid off, all right? So, Madam President, I just don't simply understand the math. 10 STATED - SPEECHES had to close a upwards of $2 million fund balance over a five-year plan, and you only had to affect 50 people -- and a lot of those people were actually able to come back to work in other departments in the City -- how, with a $42 million fund balance you are wrestled with the decision to have to lay off City employees?
So, Madam President, I just want to say given what this council had to do, which was an extremely heavy lift, from my perspective, providing upwards of $100 million in additional revenue, I just simply don't understand the math. If -- and let's get to the underlying problem, since we can be candid in a very public way. We understand that our municipal workers have not had the ability to get a contract. And it is very unfortunate, 'cause I think we all support them, including the Administration. 10 STATED - SPEECHES don't have a contract. And at some point -- and I hope that point at some point will actually happen, that they will receive a fair contact. )
It will have to be paid for. And understanding that, as in all of the years that I've been here, at the end of the day, when asked to support revenue measures to fund that contract, the Council -- this council and the councils prior to us have stepped to the plate and ensured that our municipal workers received a fair and equitable contract. So I think we're prepared to do what we need to do when the contract is put in place to support the municipal workers union. So, in finishing my comments, Madam President, I think that we have passed today a reasonable and a responsible budget that leaves a 5.20.10 STATED - SPEECHES $42 million fund balance that could conceivably go beyond the $42 million. And I think, frankly speaking, that we've done a responsible thing today. So I'd like to, you know, thank all of the members for the difficult challenges that they've had as it relates to this particular budget process. Thank you, Madam President. (Applause.)
Thank you, Madam President. I would like to echo Councilman Clarke's comments and just say I'm very proud to serve on a body that, for three years, has put together responsible budgets that have saved taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars during that time. Last year, we prevented a 19 percent property increase; we get no credit for that. This year, as 5.20.10 STATED - SPEECHES Councilman Clarke said, the choices were much tougher. And although I did not vote for this budget, we, as a body, did identify $46 million in potential reduced appropriations; these are appropriations above last year's level. We could only get the Administration to agree to $18 million of the potential identified reduced appropriations. The budget that this body passed provides funding for every position basically that the Administration requested and leaves a $42 million surplus. It is worth noting that this budget provides a hundred dollars million in new taxes. What the Administration requested was $146 million in new taxes this year and $186 million in new taxes next year. So, once again, this body has saved over $130 million in taxes being levied on the citizens of Philadelphia 5.20.10 STATED - SPEECHES through its hard work. And although I would have gone further, I just want to commend my colleagues and leadership for bringing us to this conclusion for the citizens. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. Our Partnership for Prescription Assistance table is outside for those who need help with prescription assistance or those who have constituents who need that support. Thank you.
Thank you. Does anyone else want to be recognized? (No response.)
5.20.10 STATED - SPEECHES Seeing no one, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, June 3, 2010, 10 a.m. (Motion duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, June 3rd. All in favor will say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it, and the motion carries. Thank you. (Proceedings end at 11:38 a.m.) * * * C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings of the Thursday, May 20, 2010, Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia City Council are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me on Thursday, May 20, 2010, and that this is a true and correct statement of same. __________________________________ JOSEPHINE CARDILLO Registered Professional Reporter (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's.)