Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall (Via Teleconference) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, April 2, 2020 10:20 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 April 2, 2020
Good morning. The hour has come and, Mr. Decker, I would ask that you please call the roll to take attendance. Members that are in attendance will please respond if you are present when your name is called. I want to thank you very much.
Present. We have established a quorum of Council and we will now come to order. Despite the need, there will be no invocation today. We will, however, observe a very brief moment of silent reflection or prayer for our city, its leaders, and its citizens during the current public health crisis. We will have a brief moment of silence. (Moment of silence.)
Thank you. Before we begin conducting the business we have for today, I would like to offer a brief statement regarding Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 of the Council sessions and public comment at our sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we all know, Philadelphia is currently operating under a Declaration of Emergency related to the Coronavirus issued by both Governor Wolf and Mayor Kenney. Social distancing rules implemented under the emergency declaration prevents City Council from conducting the meetings in person. As a result, it is impossible to comply fully with the state Sunshine Act, which includes requirements for public comment. Under normal circumstances, if Council could not comply with the Sunshine Act as it relates to the public comment, Council would not act on any legislation at all. These are not normal times, however. So in an emergency such as COVID-19, the law allows City Council to meet and take necessary actions to address the emergency and to support essential governmental functions without Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 to the Sunshine Act. This limited power to act lasts until the Governor and the Mayor declare that the emergency has ended. We are not eliminating public comment. Instead we are implementing a different approach, which I will describe later in the session. With that said, Council is taking action today solely in order to speed the process of appropriating money to agencies and people fighting to keep our city safe. We have made every effort under these difficult circumstances to ensure that this meeting is disseminated widely to the public and that your comments will be heard. I want to thank you. Our orders of business today, if there are no objections, I propose to dispense with the regular order of business, except approval of the Journal, request for leaves of absence, communications, consideration of the Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 Calendar, and adjournment. Are there any objections to this process? (No response.)
Hearing none, I want to thank you very much. And our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 26, 2020, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting on Thursday, March 26th, 2020 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 26, 2020 stand approved. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 & COMMUNICATIONS Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. 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.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. Our next order of business is communications. Will the Sergeant-of-Arms deliver any messages? There are no messages? Thank you. The message will be printed in the Journal. The Chief Clerk will please read any other additional communications.
I have none, Mr. President. Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 2ND READING
Thank you. Our next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. There being no bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following bill is being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: No. 200258. All other resolutions and bills are being held.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Before considering this bill today, we will consider public comment as follows: This is our first remote session of Council and our first test of a new approach to public comment. Today Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 is a streamlined version of our typical Council session, and we are only going to consider one item of business, Bill No. 200258, which will give the Administration additional funding authority to respond to the Coronavirus epidemic. Today your public comment must concern that bill and that bill alone. In future remote sessions and after the emergency declaration has ended, your public comment may concern any matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for possible action at those Council sessions. As we are now generally in the press release and social media and on our website, all speakers must sign up in order to testify. For the duration of this health crisis, you must call 215-686-3406 by 5:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. We will take your name, phone number, the number of the legislative Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 item you are commenting on and whether you are in support or against the legislation. We will telephone each person on the list during the Council session in order in which they were added to the list and will invite them to our remote meeting. They will have three minutes to speak. In addition, we could conceivably limit the number of speakers to a total of ten if it's on one particular bill. So we will deal with that as time comes on the particular legislative item. What we ask you to do is adhere to our guidelines, and once the three minutes have passed, you will be asked to conclude your remarks. Mr. Decker, can you please call the first name on the list.
My name is Melissa Robbins and I live in Fox Chase neighborhood of Philadelphia. I thank you all for using your resources to allow residents to be a part of today's meeting. Increasingly we, as your evidence and builders, feel a lack of trust with government. I'd like to know how can taxpayers be guaranteed, which we all rightfully deserve, transparency of how the $80 million will be allocated? We all know it's the front-line workers who are underpaid and overworked and who not only risk their lives every day, but they risk the lives of their loved ones when they return home. Small businesses are taking hits and owners don't know where to go. The digital divide is ever more clear and growing. I'd like to know what efforts are also being made to reach out to residents who do not have access to Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 4/2/20 - STATED - 2ND READING communicate their real needs to their Councilpeople. I'd just like to say I thank you all for your hard work and showing true leadership in such a dire time, and this will end my comment.
Does that conclude your public comment today? (No response.)
I want to thank you very much for your comment. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional names?
Thank you very much. That concludes our public comment for today. We will now consider Bill No. 200258. The Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 4/2/20 - STATED - 2ND READING authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020 from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance Provision for Other Grants, to the General Fund, the Managing Director and to the General Fund, to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
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 April 2, 2020 4/2/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Gauthier.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members present having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. That completes our Calendar for today. The Chair now, prior to that, recognizes any members of Council that would like to speak. Are there any members? (No response.)
Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 The Chair now recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourned until April 16th, 2020, Thursday, at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 16th, 2020, 10:00 a.m. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. I want to thank you all very much. And, again, everyone please be safe. Thank you. ) Stated Meeting April 2, 2020 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. m 1:8 17:8 attendance 14:15 2:18,22 3:2 contained 14:19,20,22 14:23,24 17:14 18:3 2:1,5,6 3:1 called 2:8 3:4,6,8,11 19:5 14:25 15:3 Duly 7:16 G absence 6:24 authority 9:14 3:13,15,18 control 19:23 15:4,6,9,10 17:9 Gauthier 8:8,13 10:7 calling 9:9 3:21,25 4:4 Coronavirus 15:23,25 duration 1:12 2:19 access 12:25 authorizing carries 17:21 4:7 8:22,24 5:7 10:7 16:2,4 10:20 2:20 15:2,3 accurately 14:2 certain 14:7 11:22 13:16 correct 19:8 COVID-19 General 14:6 aye 7:23,24 CERTIFIC... 13:23,25 Council 1:2 5:4,22 E 14:7 19:5 act 5:14,18 14:19,22,24 19:2 14:17,20,23 1:10 2:2 crisis 4:18 effort 6:14 generally 5:19 6:2,3 15:3,6,8,10 certification 14:25 15:4 4:7,9,12,22 10:21 efforts 12:24 10:17 action 6:11 15:12,15,17 19:20 15:7,9,11 5:2,11,17 current 4:18 eliminating Gilmore 1:13 10:15 15:19,22,25 CERTIFY 15:13,16,18 5:19,22 currently 5:6 6:6 2:23 15:5 actions 5:23 16:4,7,10 19:3 15:20,23 6:10 7:6,17 CURTIS emergency give 10:5 added 11:6 16:13 17:15 certifying 16:2,5,8,11 7:25 8:4,12 1:15 5:7,10,21 go 12:21 addition 17:16 19:24 come 2:3 8:14 9:2,18 5:24 6:5 going 10:3 ayes 8:5 Chair 7:11 4:12 9:24 10:3 D 10:12 Good 2:2 11:10 additional 16:14 17:21 8:9,15 9:7 comes 11:14 10:16 11:5 D 1:17 ended 6:5 11:23,25 8:23 10:6 16:20 17:3 comment 5:3 11:24,25 DARRELL 10:12 government 13:15 B Chase 12:4 5:15,19 6:7 13:8,11,18 1:10 ensure 6:16 12:11 address 5:24 Bass 1:11 CHERELLE 9:21,25 14:10 16:11 DAVID 1:16 epidemic governmen... adhere 11:16 2:11,12 1:17 10:1,9,13 16:13,21,25 day 10:22 10:8 5:25 adherence 14:18,19 Chief 1:20 10:24 11:1 17:6,10,12 12:18 essential 5:25 Governor 5:8 6:2 behalf 8:11 2:10,13,16 12:1 13:7,9 17:17,20 days 14:13 established 6:4 adjourn 17:4 bill 9:13,20 2:18,22 3:2 13:13,21 Councilman deal 11:13 4:11 Grants 14:3 adjourned 10:4,10,10 3:4,6,8,11 commenting 1:12,13,14 Decker 1:20 evidence 14:5 17:7,12 11:13 13:22 3:13,15,18 11:2 1:15,15,16 2:4 11:20 12:10 19:4 Green 1:13 18:2 13:24 14:12 3:21,25 4:4 comments 1:16,18,18 13:14 14:15 3:2,3 15:7,8 adjournment 14:14 16:16 4:7 8:22,24 6:18 2:16,17 3:2 declaration F growing 7:2 17:1 bills 9:1,6,10 11:22 13:16 commissions 3:3,6,7,8,10 5:6,11 favor 7:22 12:23 18:1 9:17 13:25 14:17 14:9 3:11,12,13 10:12 17:15 guaranteed Administra... boards 14:8 14:20,23,25 communicate 3:14,15,17 declare 6:4 feel 12:10 12:12 10:6 BOBBY 1:14 15:4,7,9,11 13:2 3:25 4:3,4,6 deliver 8:18 fighting 6:13 guidelines affirmative BRIAN 1:16 15:13,16,18 communica... 7:11,12 departments Final 9:10,15 11:17 16:16 brief 4:15,19 15:20,23 6:25 8:1,17 14:23,24 14:8 10:14 Gym 1:14 3:4 agencies 6:13 4:25 16:2,5,8,11 8:23 15:7,8,11 DEREK 1:13 finally 14:14 3:5 15:9,10 ALLAN 1:12 Brooks 1:11 CINDY 1:11 completes 15:12,13,15 describe 6:8 Finance 14:4 allocated 2:14,15 circumstan... 16:18 15:16,17,18 deserve first 9:7,23 H 12:14 14:21,22 5:16 6:15 comply 5:13 15:19,20,22 12:13 9:24 11:21 Hall 1:6 allow 12:6 builders citizens 4:17 5:17 16:5,7,8,10 Despite 4:13 Fiscal 14:3 hard 13:5 allows 5:22 12:10 city 1:2,6 conceivably 17:4,5 different 6:8 following health 4:18 and/or 19:23 business 4:24 4:16 5:11 11:11 Councilme... 14:13 9:13 10:21 apply 19:21 6:20,23 7:8 5:22 6:14 concern 11:24 difficult 6:15 follows 9:22 heard 6:18 approach 6:8 8:7,16 9:4 14:8 10:10,13 Councilpeo... digital 12:22 foregoing Hearing 7:7 9:25 10:4 Clarke 1:10 conclude 13:3 dire 13:6 19:7,20 held 9:17 appropriati... businesses 2:2 4:8,9,22 11:19 13:9 Councilwo... direct 19:23 Fox 12:4 HELEN 1:14 6:12 12:20 7:6,17,25 concludes 1:11,11,12 Director 14:4 front-line Henon 1:14 appropriati...
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