Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the seven bills that were just read into the record. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit of Bills No. 140744, 140745, 140782, 140798, 140799, 140802, and 140803. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a report from the Committee on Finance.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Finance reports two bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 140638, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-3900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Tax Exemptions for Longtime Owner-Occupants of Residential Properties,' by amending the eligibility requirements to make eligible properties owned by certain individuals who received assistance in the acquisition of the property as part of a government or non-profit housing program"; and Bill No. 140717, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-3900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Tax Exemptions for Longtime Owner-Occupants of Residential Properties,' by specifying certain circumstances sufficient to demonstrate equitable ownership of a property under the Longtime Owner Occupants Program," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 140638 and 140717. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 140638 and 140717. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and these bills will be on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Squilla for a report from the Services.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Streets and Services reports seven bills with a favorable recommendation.
The Committee on Streets and Services, to which was referred Bill No. 140513, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 11-612 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Sidewalk and Roadway Lane Closures,' by amending the penalty and enforcement provisions"; and Bill No. 140645, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the plotting upon a portion of City Plan No. 297 of a right-of-way for sewer and drainage purposes abutting the southeasterly side of Keely Court, southwest of Henry Avenue"; and Bill No. 140694, entitled "An truck parking regulation on the 4400 block of North 5th Street, between Cayuga Street and Blavis Street"; and Bill No. 140742, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Old Nelson PA Four, doing business as Old Nelson Food Company to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 3020 Market Street"; and Bill No. 140781, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the construction of a sewer and appurtenant work in a proposed right-of-way, required to alleviate unsanitary conditions in a portion of Adams Avenue"; and Bill No. 140826, entitled "An ordinance authorizing Joshua Shemesh to install, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 1301 Frankford Avenue"; and Bill No. 140855, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Parking Penalties,' by adding new rules and penalties for persons who offer for sale or sell, lease, reserve or facilitate the reserving of any parking space located on a street, roadway, cartway, or portion thereof, owned or controlled by the City of Philadelphia," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. And the Chair again recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the seven bills that were just read into the record. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of as to allow first reading this day of Bills No. 140513, 140645, 140694, 140742, 140781, 140826, 140855. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and these bills will be on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Goode for a report from the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Councilman. Mr. Decker, please read that report.
The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development, to which was referred Bill No. 140653, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Finance, Taxes and Collections,' by providing for an expanded tax credit for employment of veterans, all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 140653. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and rules of Council be suspended so as to allow first reading this day of Bill No. 140653. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that bill will be on our First Reading Calendar today. That concludes our reports from committee, and the next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee have been deemed to have had a first reading. They will be on our First Reading Calendar today and Second Reading and Final Passage at our next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair now recognizes Councilman O'Neill at this time for a motion regarding Bill 11/13/14 - STATED - 1ST READING No. 140802.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit an amendment to be offered to Bill No. 140802 at this time. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and again the Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to offer an amendment to Bill No. 140802. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council and I move for the adoption of the amendment. 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Bill No. 140802 has been amended, and Bill No. 140802 will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar at the next session of Council. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on the Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today: Nos. 140866, 140868, 140718-A, 140741, and 140743. All other resolutions and bills are being held.
Thank you. Before considering these bills and resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, we will have our public comment session. It will go as follows: If you are interested in testifying on a bill or resolution that is on the Final Passage Calendar today, if you haven't already done so, I'd ask that you please sign up at the table to my left. When your name is called, you will go the podium in the middle of the Council Chambers. There's a device on that. When the light turns green, it is your time to speak. When the light turns yellow, you will have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks, and when the light turns red, we'd ask that you adhere to the guidelines and conclude your remarks. You will be given three minutes to speak. Mr. Decker, please call the name of the first witness.
Tiffany Green, commenting on 140870. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning, everyone. I come down to speak on -- I haven't been down here in a while. I come down here to speak on Bill 140870, which is regarding City-owned properties being transferred for urban farms, to my knowledge. We're making the point that at this point we're asking City Council not to support this. These are three major properties on South 20th Street that can be used for housing. We have an increased homeless rate. We have people who are making 7.75 minimum wage who cannot find housing. We have a house right now at 1506 South 20th Street going for $2,000 rent, and yet you sit up here and you want to, "you" being our Councilperson, wants to give these properties, three major properties on 20th Street, for urban farming. Well, I'm saying this to you, Councilman Clarke, we were on WURD back in May and you stated that these City-owned properties were going to go for affordable housing on WURD. We have not gotten a plan. There's been no community meeting. When we try to inquire, we get the shutdown or a nasty attitude about it. I've sent you a letter. I have not received any response. There's not been any plan regarding the 300 affordable housing for Point Breeze. Each of the major papers have done articles on gentrification in Point Breeze last week, all these articles, but when you get down to -- the devil is in the details, and when you get down to the details, there's no response and no housing being built. Yet I have a developer come to me and state that he's been offered ten City-owned properties if he do five properties for -- five properties affordable, he can do five high end. So I said to him, What is affordable? He says, $170,000. I said, $170,000? That is not affordable at that point. And then on top of that, he says -- well, maybe you can build two-story houses and make it affordable, less affordable. He says to me, No, I'm going to use by-right, so I can build three-story mini mansions and I don't have to come in front of you guys. So this is the attitude that we're getting in Point Breeze, and we have a serious concern about that. Regarding these urban gardens, we need to be careful with this. We had urban gardens, and a lot of times the youth at night will go and urinate on top of the garden. They throw disinfectant in there. I personally had to run them off. And unless you're going to put up a gate or a cage, something to enclose this type of gardening, it is not going to be effective, and then you want to turn around and give it to the seniors to eat. This is not proper, and you're not sitting down with us and having real issues. We're talking about Electric Slide in the park and community day. We're not dealing with real issues down in the community. These people are being gentrified. The gentrification needs to be dealt with, not just written in the newspaper for show. It needs to be real. These housing agencies are dealing with foreclosure. You're not dealing with the techniques and the policies that you put in to force this gentrification. We're asking that these three properties be used for housing for three families that need housing and not an urban farm. That's insulting to our intelligence.
Sandra Fuller, commenting on 140866. (Witness approached podium.)
On behalf of East Parkside and Calvary Gospel Chapel and the Ginyard family, I would like to first thank Councilwoman Blackwell for introducing Resolution 140866 to name Leidy Avenue between Girard Avenue and 42nd Street Dr. Joseph Ginyard Way and for this legislative body for recognizing his life as a lasting legacy. There is so much I can say about Dr. Joseph Ginyard, as he was affectionately known, Brother Joe, not just in East Parkside but around the world. His numerous mission trips in East Africa, East Europe, the Congo and other parts of the world when he was over 70 years old, not to mention the nearly 40 years he took inner city children and adults alike up to Canada to participate in Olympic style sports that they had never seen or done before, and how he served as a grief counselor in the American Red Cross during this country's most crucial time during 9/11 and the aftermath of that at Ground Zero. But, most importantly, he loved East Parkside. There was no facet or person in East Parkside that was not important to him, from the youngest resident -- and children were special to him -- to the oldest. In the '80s he founded Wise Choice Transitional Home for Women overcoming substance abuse and their children. He adopted Leidy School, and on the first day of every school year, he had prayer vigils at all the schools in East Parkside. Calvary Gospel Chapel was a safe haven for the school children at risk. He provided GED programs. He was a partner under the United States Justice Department Weed and Seed programs, creating the environmental maintenance programs for over 13 years, training over 500 men and women who would not normally have received environmental maintenance training. He had annual Christmas parties, Thanksgiving and Christmas share baskets programs, back-to-school community day, giving out supplies and clothing, Super Bowl fellowships for families, community days at the zoo. I lived around there all my life. They never had days of that type at the zoo. In July and August he took to the street with the collaboration of other churches in East Parkside. He had the Young Reporters Club, the many notable people he brought into the schools in the East Parkside through the years, the first black Miss America, black astronauts, black Olympians, athletes, missionaries from around the world, scientists, just to name a few. He served on the Board of Parkside Historical Corporation, and in June 2012, Pastor Ginyard received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor for being one of the first black Marines to serve in this country. He was a humble man and committed pastor who tirelessly set out to see positive change made even in the most dismal of circumstances. Yes, he was the undisputed pride of East Parkside and a mighty man of God, and for 55 years, the lives of the residents in East Parkside were better because he stood watching the stuff. Thank you.
Maria Ortiz, commenting on 140870. (Witness approached podium.)
Yes. I'm a resident of South Philadelphia, Point Breeze area. I am related to Ralph Brooks. He was my cousin. He got shot in the area back in the day. I also was with Maimie Nichols. While I understand they want to build an urban garden, I am for urban gardens, but here's the thing. Why can't we build a recreation center for the children in the neighborhood, which children do go in that area to play, play in that playground. I know it's not fixed up. It could be fixed up. I'm tired of hearing the people in the legislation office that the people that live in the community don't want anything. That is not true. We have a lot of working-class people in this area that do want something in the area progressive for the people in the area as well as the new. And when I mean the "new," I'm talking about the developers that by-right that the community has no say. This should be taken off the agenda too. For me, I wish they'd build a recreation center for children to play in, a senior citizen facility for the seniors, an urban garden on the rooftop, and affordable housing. That's what I would like to see in our community. This bickering between Council, Legislature, and people in top official office need to think about the community. The community needs your help. The seniors need your help. Children need your help in this area all over the City. This is not one particular area. This is all over the City. We need help for the community. We have seniors that live in this community all over the City that needs help. The developer coming in, they do what they want to do. Senior has no advice. People that been there a long time, people that live in the community have no say. Where do we get help? Where do we find time and the places in the community for our seniors and children? Thank you and have a nice day. And I hope all y'all consider what I'm saying, that we need help and work together, not separate, stop bickering 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING and find solutions, not fighting. (Applause.)
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. That concludes our public comment. We will now consider bills and resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 140866.
A resolution also naming Leidy Avenue between Girard Avenue and 42nd Street "Dr. Joseph Ginyard Way" to honor the memory of Dr. Joseph Ginyard and to recognize his life and memorialize his lasting legacy.
Thank 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING you, Mr. President. Let me echo the sentiments that were just uttered by members of the community and all of those close to Pastor Ginyard on Leidy Avenue, and it is with great pride and respect that we move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution 140866 is approved. Mr. Decker, 140868.
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING and street address as 3146 Diamond Street.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution 140868 is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 140718.
Bill No. 140718-A, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 10-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Safety,' by prohibiting the 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING sale, possession, or use of toy or imitation firearms which substantially duplicate or can be reasonably perceived to be actual firearms."
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are one. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 140741.
An ordinance amending Title 22 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Public Employees Retirement Code," to expand the scope of "Plan '10" and "DC Plan" to cover additional employees, including employees represented by AFSCME, District Council 33, and certain employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement, to change contribution rates, and to make technical amendments.
This bill has been read on two separate days. 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Kenney is voting aye. Councilman Neilson. 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 140743.
An ordinance amending Title 22 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Public Employees Retirement Code," to expand the scope of "Plan '10" and "DC Plan" to cover additional employees, including elected officials, to change contribution rates, and to make technical amendments.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions?
A resolution honoring Chief Deputy Commissioner Dennis Lee on his departure from the Office of 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING the City Commissioner of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. It is with great honor that this was co-sponsored by all members of Council and we move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution expressing support of National Adoption Month and declaring November 2014 to be Adoption Month in Philadelphia, and 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING recognize the Philadelphia Department of Human Services for their work to assure stability in the lives of children who are waiting for families, introduced by Councilman Neilson.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
The Chair recognizes Councilman Neilson. I'm sorry. You made a motion?
It's been moved and properly seconded. I should turn that cell phone off. I'm sorry. It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
And a resolution recognizing November 2014 as Epilepsy Awareness Month in honor of individuals living with Epilepsy, their families and those working to improve their quality of life, introduced by Councilman O'Brien.
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution congratulating and honoring the members of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, Beta Delta Zeta Philadelphia Graduate Chapter for outstanding service during their Blue Revue Scholarship Gala and 70th Anniversary Celebration, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution Recognizing and Supporting the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Exhibit: Represent: 200 Years of African American Art, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 11/13/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution honoring and congratulating "The Hive" on becoming Philadelphia's first co-working space dedicated to ambitious women, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.