Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I too am going to ask my colleague to withdraw the motion. The sponsor of the bill, the Majority Leader, is not here. I agree with so many things that so many of these Councilmembers have said today. And I think we're acting in haste. We have been in meetings over and over again really, really, really discussing this whole topic, and for this suddenly be asked to withdraw it today makes me very uncomfortable. And I just want to call on my colleague to withdraw his motion. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Yes, Madam President. Once again to the substance of the issue on the sugary tax, information continues to flow. The issue is not dead in terms of content, and I want to simply bring to the attention of my colleagues a most recent poll, which suggests that given Philadelphia's voters' high level of concern around childhood obesity, it should not be surprising that a majority, based on this particular poll -- and, of course, we always have to consider the source -favors a sugar-sweetened beverage tax to support programs that fight obesity. presented as a stand-alone approach to address the City's budget shortfall, the sugar-sweetened beverage tax is more popular than any other revenue-raising solutions. So the issue is not dead. There's still a segment of our populus that does believe this is an alternative that should be considered, and, yes, it should remain on the table, Madam President. Thank you very much.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just would like to say, if I understood Councilman Goode correctly, that I agree with him. We all know what the final vote is going to be on this tax, I believe. Why should we have the public and other people come testify a tax that has no legs? Let's talk about the real solutions to our problems and what revenue measures and what cuts we're going to make, and stop the lobbying effort, the public relations campaign and other things related to things that we basically know we're not going to do. Thank you, Madam Chair.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
I don't know what caucus that came from, but my vote has not been registered on anything.
And until we have a full set of information, it is irresponsible to take things off the table without considering their intended and unintended consequence. So my vote is not already in one column or the other, and will only be one column or the other when we have a full discussion from all perspectives on what those impacts will be. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Madam President. We talked a lot about this, but I just want to add one other thing to what Councilman Green said. I mean, it's not unusual to have bills on the Calendar that we know are not going to have the votes. Last year Councilwoman Tasco as majority leader similarly put in a bill to raise real estate taxes. It was quite clear after a period of time that there were not the votes for that. I didn't see -- I don't think anybody saw a need at that point to pull that bill. I think we've done that in previous years. I just don't see the necessity now, again, together with the fact that the main is not here why we have to move that, again, even though we could have debates on the merits of the bill. And, again, I'll go on record, I have serious concerns about that bill, but I just don't think this is the proper way to do it. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Councilman O'Neill, there are two other members that would like to be recognized.
If they haven't spoken yet, they should get their chance, otherwise I'd ask to speak.
All right. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Madam President, I have the highest respect for all the members, my colleagues, who have spoken, along with those that haven't, and there's a lot more interest in this in the mix and keeping this on the table obviously from the remarks that were made. I was led to believe from some private conversations that that was not the case. Maybe that will change by next week, but I certainly am willing to withdraw this today at their request, although I don't think that doing it would have been irresponsible, but I respect Councilman Jones' right to say that. I do have another motion. The Bill No. 100 -- could I be recognized to make another motion, Madam President? I'm sorry.
Bill No. 100131, the trash fee bill, was referred to the Committee of the Whole. I move that the Committee of the Whole be discharged from further consideration of Bill No. 100131.
Is there a second? Anybody want to be recognized? I see Councilman Goode and Councilwoman Brown have their lights on. Did you want to be recognized at this time?
Thank you, Madam President. I wanted to be recognized on the first motion. I had a conversation with the Majority Leader by phone. She does not wish for that motion to move forward, and so I have to withdraw my support for the motion, although I think Councilman O'Neill did the right thing. It is decision time. It's time for people to stop the confusion and make up their minds, do what they're going to do. If people want to wait, they can wait, but at the end of the day, I think people know what we're going to do anyway. Let's actually stop the confusion, stop sending mixed messages to the public and just do what we have to do. Thank you.
Yes, Madam President. I'd like to underscore the remarks shared by the Majority Whip, that for now all measures need to stay on the table and remain on the table until we collectively do what Councilman Goode has suggested, make a decision collectively. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Does anyone else want to be recognized? (No response.)
Seeing no one, Councilman O'Neill, would you make your -
Madam 4/29/10 - STATED - 1ST READING President, in light of what Councilman Goode just informed us and me personally about Councilwoman Tasco's position, out of respect for her, it would serve no purpose. I withdraw this motion. And, again, we have another week next week to talk about it. I do think this bill is deader than dead, but out of respect for the Councilwoman and Majority Leader, I will withdraw it.
Thank you. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committees with a suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. The bills will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. The Chief Clerk will please 4/29/10 - STATED - 1ST READING read any other bills on the First Reading Calendar.
Bill No. 100215, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 312 by striking from the City Plan Hegerman Street from Aubrey Avenue to a point approximately one-hundred eighty-seven feet southwestwardly therefrom and reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for gas main purposes within the northwesterly half of the portion of Hegerman Street being stricken."
Thank you. This bill will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for the purpose of calling up bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar to be considered today.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, Bill 4/29/10 - STATED - 2ND READING Nos. 100133-A, 080758, 100195, 090905, 090908, 090924, 100100, 100157, 100220 and No. 100185 are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today.
Thank you very much. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 100133-A.
An ordinance to amend the Institutional Development Master Plan of Temple University, by allowing for the construction of additions to Pearson and McGonigle Halls which are located at 1800 North Broad Street.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. 4/29/10 - STATED - 2ND READING The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill 4/29/10 - STATED - 2ND READING passes. We will now consider Bill No. 080758.
An ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions," by creating a new Chapter relating to energy conservation.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye. 4/29/10 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 090905.
An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 322 by relocating the southeasterly curbline of State Road, from Pennypack Street to Linden Avenue.
This bill having been read on two different 4/29/10 - STATED - 2ND READING days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are 4/29/10 - STATED - 2ND READING zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 090908.
An ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No. 070392), entitled "An ordinance authorizing and directing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 271 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Lewellen Street from Delaware Avenue to Canal Street."
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all Councilmembers having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 090924.
An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 55 by striking from the City Plan and 4/29/10 - STATED - 2ND READING vacating the legally open portions of Adams Avenue from Aramingo Avenue to the northwesterly right-of-way line of the Delaware Expressway.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.