COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT Remote location using Microsoft® Teams Tuesday, November 14, 2023 1:00 p.m. PRESENT: COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON, CHAIR COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR., VICE-CHAIR COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS
230546, 230740 RESOLUTIONS: 230553, 230750 - - -
Good afternoon. Before we begin the public hearing, I will make the following announcement: City Council Committees are currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make these remote hearings possible. Instructions for how the public may view and offer public testimony at public hearings of Council Committees are included in the public hearing notices that are published in the Daily News, Inquirer and Legal Intelligencer prior to the hearings and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. Ms. Alford, will you please call the roll to take attendance. Members that are in attendance will please indicate that you are present when your name is called. Also, please say a few brief words when responding so that your image will be displayed on screen when you speak.
Good afternoon, viewing public and colleagues and Chairwoman Gilmore Richardson. I'm present.
I am present. Thank you. A quorum of the Committee is present and this hearing is now called to order. This is the public hearing on the Committee of Law and Government regarding Bill No. 230740 and Resolution No. 230750. For the record, Bill No. 230546 and Resolution No. 230553 will not be heard in this hearing at the request of the bill and resolution sponsor. Ms. Alford, will you please read the title of the bill and resolution.
Bill No. 230740, an ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a resolution 20 approved by Council proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for indemnification and defense by the City in connection with claims made against any registered community organization arising directly out of the lawful participation by such an organization in zoning matters and related use land use process; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election. And Resolution 230750, a resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for indemnification and defense by the City in connection with claims made against any registered community organization arising directly out of the lawful participation by such an organization in zoning matters and related land use process; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Thank you. Before we begin to hear testimony from the witnesses we have for today, everyone who has been invited to the meeting to testify should be aware that this public hearing is being recorded. Because the hearing is public, participants and viewers have no 6 reasonable expectation of privacy. By continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. Additionally, prior to recognizing Members for the questions or comments they have for witnesses, I will note for the record at this time that we will use the chat feature available in Microsoft Teams to allow Councilmembers to signify that they wish to be recognized. In order to comply with the Sunshine Act, the chat feature must only be used for this purpose. Prior to hearing testimony on this bill and resolution, I'd like to recognize our Council President Clarke, the sponsor of this legislation for comments. CP.
Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, thank you very much. I'd like to say that the co-sponsors Councilman Jones and Councilman Squilla sat down and had a conversation about this. Actually Councilman Jones and Councilman Squilla had introduced prior legislation to give support to the RCOs, which were required to be established by an action by the City Council of Philadelphia. One of the issues had to do with the fact that it was to some degree an unfunded and unsupported mandate, what we traditionally accuse the state of Pennsylvania doing to the City of Philadelphia. Meaning, that while we require that the RCOs participate in any zoning variance request by virtue of hosting a meeting and all the other aspects of that, notifying residents of the meeting, we don't give them any support. We don't give them money for flyers. We don't give them money for the use of the space. And most importantly, we don't provide any protections in the event that -- and it rarely happens, that a particular applicant comes after that particular RCO with some sort of litigation. So as a result of that, the earlier versions by Squilla and Jones and prior to that, actually then Councilman Bobby Henon attempted to put some money aside for insurance were actually passed by this City Council but unfortunately was never enacted by the Administration, which I guess from whatever perspective was their right to do. So the conversation that we had, been talking to the Law Department and our staff, Mr. Christmas, we thought it was a more appropriate way to proceed tying in the Law Department that represents the City of Philadelphia equally as it relates to Council and the Mayor and all the other departments be a real participant in this. So this legislation that was crafted if voted on by the Mayor and obviously passed by Council would authorize the Law Department to establish regulations next year that would allow levels of support and indemnification for that. There were RCOs that followed the appropriate regulations that are in compliance with the RCO established regs and that are hit with some litigation by a developer or an applicant, and particularly as it relates to their nonsupport of a project, which is their right. So we hope in talking to members of the RCO community and talking to -- and I think we will have testimony, a representative from the BIA, because we believe that we should get a consensus around this. We had come up with a reasonable approach for having the appropriate support and indemnification on this particular matter. I believe that next year there will be additional conversations that you all will be having because I will not be here in this particular capacity about the broader implications as it relates to our ability to move projects along, but provide the appropriate resources and also have a transparent process both from the development community and from the RCO community, and more importantly for the residents of the City of Philadelphia. So with that, we request the support by the members of this Committee as it relates to our ability to put this on the ballot and next year's primary election. So thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. Thank you, Council President. Thank you for your great work on continuing this issue for our RCOs. I know that it's been an important issue, really a lightening-rod issue for many of them over the past several years. But I would just respectfully request that you please stop reminding us about this clock winding down and you not being with us next year. We will certainly miss your institutional knowledge and all the great work that you bring to this body.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I will not change my phone number, so I'm a phone call away.
Thank you, CP. You know we will use it. All right. I also want to acknowledge any other members from the Committee for remarks prior to recognizing the first panel. (No response.)
Okay. Seeing none, for the record I do want to notate that we do have comments that have been provided in writing from the Administration. That information has been circulated to all members of this Committee. Ms. Alford, will you please call the first panel we have to testify this afternoon on Bill No. 10 230740 and Resolution 230750.
Good afternoon. Are you all connected and ready to proceed?
Okay. Excellent, Gary. And do we have Catherine Blunt?
I'm not seeing her in the chat, Councilwoman. Let me look into that and maybe we can start with Mr. Schiavo.
Sure. So we'll start with Mr. Schiavo and then Mr. Jonas while we attempt to connect Catherine Blunt. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony, Mr. Schiavo.
My name is Joe Schiavo. I reside at 155 North 3rd Street in Philadelphia. Good afternoon, Committee members and Councilmembers. I thank you for the opportunity to comment on the bill. And first, I wish to thank Council President Clarke for his leadership in bringing the bill forward for your consideration and further, I wish to commend Councilmember Clarke and those among you who support this action for taking the step to bring this issue to the public as a ballot question, trusting the citizens of Philadelphia to decide the matter. I know it's a difficult matter, but certainly it's a bill I support. And I believe that should this move forward and be decided affirmatively by the electors, it will level the playing field for all Philadelphia's communities, wealthy and those less well off relative to defending the good work done by those community volunteers participating in the City's RCO process, in the public (inaudible) zoning variance and special exception process. One of the things that as I read the bill and it's simple, it's straightforward but in my view, this bill, this action will result in a general deterrent, deterrent against those who might otherwise bring frivolous lawsuits or SLAPP suits against RCOs that participate in the process. Those SLAPP suits of course are weaponizing a legal system and it's perpetrated by those who intend to do harm maliciously to the volunteer community members that participate in this process, and they're doing that work simply to help the community be represented in the process to participate in the democratic process that a hearing should represent. But SLAPP suits, they're a malicious device. But the harm done is shouldered only by the defendant in the matter. No harm is done to the party that brings the SLAPP suit. No matter how quickly they drop it or the case is dismissed, the harm is already done because the RCO is forced to defend themselves. Whether they have insurance or not, there will be out-of-pocket expenses and then further they may lose their liability insurance going forward. And further, if they do stay in business and they are able to get liability insurance, it will be at a much higher expense than it would be if they weren't subject to such suits. So it seems to me extremely important that if the Philadelphia Law Department is going to defend the citizens of Philadelphia who do this work under the RCO regulations, that's a natural deterrent. Everyone who might bring a lawsuit suddenly realizes that the party they're bringing the suit against is going to be represented. They are going to be able to defend themselves. They're going to have a chance and it will deter the suits because that's the core solution. The core solution is deterring the suit because once the suit's initiated, the harm is done. So I think that this goes a long way toward that and that's one of the reasons -- well, it's key reason that I support this action.
Well, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Schiavo, for your testimony. Prior to recognizing our second witness, I wanted to pause to recognize our Vice-Chair Councilmember Jones for comments.
Madam Chair, I'd like to withhold my comments until after the members of the panel testify.
Oh, okay. Thank you so much, Vice-Chair Jones. Mr. Jonas, are you connected and ready to proceed with your testimony? You can state your name for the record and proceed.
Awesome. Thank you. I serve as President of the Building Industry Association of Philadelphia. The BIA is a trade association of mostly residential developers working throughout Philadelphia. And I want to thank Chair Gilmore Richardson and the rest of the Committee for allowing us to provide testimony. The Council President introduced Bill No. 230740 and Resolution No. 230540 to amend the Home Rule Charter to create a city-run program where registered community organizations would be identified against lawsuits from developers as a result of the RCO fulfilling its requirements under the current zoning code. This is a response to several recent incidents of SLAPPs, Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, where a developer creates legal action with the intent purpose of punishing the RCO beyond its financial capabilities. The BIA believes that the development process should be a democratic one involving developers acting in good faith with the community and its elected officials, and we condemn any developer who seeks to silence or punish RCOs merely for engaging in the City's zoning process. Creating a city process for indemnifying RCOs for such actions is a commonsense response to these SLAPP lawsuits and is a reasonable next step from City Council, you know, from when City Council created the RCO engagement process in 2012. The BIA did ask that the Charter change in its subsequent enabling regulations be more specific to ensure that it only apply to defending those RCOs who are following all the required rules for the process. Indemnifying RCOs against third party lawsuits makes sense as long as it doesn't encourage RCOs to use the process to appeal every project or prevent reasonable developments. The proposed amendment is only triggered by a third party lawsuit, developer or anyone else resulting from the legal participation in the zoning variance process. While it's fair and balanced, we ask that the Law Department draft regulations to address any potential malicious intent as well. Finally, the BIA hopes that this Charter change is merely the first step in the conversation regarding broader reforms for streamlining and standardizing the RCO process. As the City Council President was recently quoted, "the rules governing RCOs should be revised to ensure more accountability and transparency." The BIA hopes to work with the new Administration and new Council to implement more commonsense reforms to ensure the zoning process works for all stakeholders. In conclusion, we at the BIA endorse this Charter change proposal from the City Council President, and we thank him for working to engage all stakeholders in conversation, and we're really thankful that we are able to be part of the conversation. And in the end, we really hope that this hopes to address exactly what it's intended to do. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Jonas, for your testimony and for the work of BIA working with the bill's sponsor and also the Law Department. I now recognize Vice-Chair Jones for comments.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to commend the author of this bill, President Clarke, and all the people and stakeholders that participated in its molding amendments and crafting, so that was a win-win scenario for Philadelphia. I had an opportunity to sit at the table, watch some of the concerns be raised and addressed and people come to consensus on this legislation. And this is a prototypical way that public policy should happen. And I want to thank all those who are a part of making that happen. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you, Vice-Chair Jones. Ms. Alford, is Ms. Blunt connected and ready to proceed --
We're working on getting her brought in via phone. She was having some issue with Teams. City Council Support Team, are we able to connect with Ms. Blunt? COUNCIL TECH SUPPORT: I'm bringing her in now.
Okay. Excellent. We will hear from Ms. Blunt. And then after that, I will recognize any members of the Committee for any questions or comments for this entire panel. (No response.)
Okay. So we will continue to try to connect Ms. Blunt to this hearing. While doing that we will now proceed with any questions or comments from members of this Committee for this panel -- there's Ms. Blunt. Excellent. So, Ms. Blunt, I see that you are now connected. I hope that you are ready to proceed with your testimony. Please state your name for the record and then proceed with your testimony. (No response.)
Ms. Blunt? COUNCIL TECH SUPPORT: She had left and back again. I got her again.
You got her again? She's not on the screen -- okay, there she is. Ms. Blunt, you have to come off mute. We cannot hear you.
-- you. This has been an interesting acquaintance with Microsoft Teams.
My name is Catherine Blunt and good afternoon, Chairman -- Chairwoman Gilmore Richardson and Vice-Chair Councilman Jones and members of the Law and Government Committee. My name is Catherine Blunt and I am the Co-Chair of the 46th Ward Democratic Executive Committee RCO. I am here representing myself and other concerned members of RCOs to speak in favor of bill -- of Resolution 10 230750, legislation providing for the indemnification of RCOs as they execute their role as community representatives as defined by RCO, ZBA regulations. We are largely community members, workers and retired workers volunteering our time and effort to provide representation for our communities, especially since 2012 when it became evident that large-scale development was proposed or slated for our neighborhoods. It is now clear as developers have sued or attempted to sue RCOs fulfilling their responsibilities, we are perhaps continually but unintentionally placing ourselves and our families in jeopardy. To be more specific regarding this concern, that was expressed in a September 29, 2017 blog by Philadelphia 3.0, a Philadelphia political organization stated mission -- whose stated mission is to reform and modernize City Hall through the candidates it supports. And even though I do not necessarily endorse that mission as it is envisioned, I do agree with their well-written and truthful statement regarding the indemnification of RCOs. There's some frustration out there that the City essentially deputizes the citizen volunteer groups as quasi government entities to conduct an activity that puts them at risk of getting sued. But then does not -- does nothing to protect them from their personal liability. After all, if people do this work without D&O insurance and get sued, their personal property could be on the line. Resolution 230750 corrects that oversight that the City and ZBA RCO process has not addressed regarding the extension of their services, City services, to neighborhoods through RCO volunteers. This time has come for you to protect me and all the other volunteers who work on behalf of our City and our neighbors to provide Philly residents the opportunity to have a voice in matters pertaining to zoning regulations governing the development or overdevelopment of their City and their neighborhoods. I ask that you assist us in this volunteer work by endorsing and are favorably voting out of Committee Resolution 230750, which provides indemnification for RCOs and its members. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much, Ms. Blunt, for your testimony and for joining us today in your experience with Teams. We are certainly appreciative of you. Okay.
Yes, ma'am. Thank you. For the members of this Committee, are there any questions or comments for Panel 1? (No response.)
Seeing none, Mr. Schiavo, your hand is raised. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your comments.
Joe Schiavo and I apologize for neglecting to include this in my first comment. But I do believe that the bill may be improved. If included special exceptions as a process in addition to the zoning variance process that's currently itemized in the bill, and the reason I say this is of course special exceptions also go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and they are just as likely to be the target that is participating in that process. You're just as likely to be a target of the lawsuit as the zoning variance process, so I do think that would be a good inclusion. Thank you for allowing that additional comment.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony and thank you for joining us today. Ms. Alford, will you please call the first public commenter we have to testify this afternoon on Bill No. 230740 and Resolution No. 21 230750.
Okay. Ms. Robinson, are you connected and ready to proceed with your testimony? COUNCIL TECH SUPPORT: We are connecting her now.
Good afternoon, Queen Judith Robinson. Thank you for joining us. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Judith Robinson, homeowner, Committee member, 32nd Ward representative and emeritus, facilitator for over a decade of the 32nd Ward RCO process. What a mess. Please release us from the politricks of the planning of our City. Citizens have lost their rights. Someone told me years ago when this process started, oh, they're just trying to wrap you all up in a bunch of nonsense. And after 40 years as a real estate professional, I have to say, yeah, they're trying very hard. I don't want to waste your time to tell you the shenanigans, the vicious, crazy, political behavior that I have encountered as a facilitator and you hear me say emeritus of the 32nd RCO. I would never allow ignorance to outpace my ability to read. So I want to say this, this is a day late and a dollar short. The Civic Design Review part of the RCO process is a forest. We have no rights. They have no 15 obligation to accept the ever great recommendations of so-called professionals. This Civic Planning Institute is an insult. It's charging people for information. Public participation is very much a part of the planning process, you all. I've been watching the Planning Commission and attending meetings for over 20 years. I have participated with the 2035 plan as a member of the Committee. I've been on Boards. I've been on Commissions. I've been part of our community. And like I said, 40 years behind me. I'm an homeowner in North Philadelphia, a grandmother. I'm battling right now the devil, satanic forces. We didn't learn anything about the Bureau of Licenses and Inspections review. See, if we were really getting real quality planning, we would have that information from the Citizens Planning Institute. But here we got to battle an outgoing retiring President of City Council to try to save our historic corridor. Nobody could train us with this. And this is what we're supposed to learn, part of this so-called RCO process, so here we are. Let's get to it. Indemnification, so I want Council's prerogative to be chin-checked and I'm coming at you all, every last one of you all young people because you all are going to be there after the old reign is gone. Thank God. So you all are going to have to get your minds right and represent us. Okay. So I'm going to request that the zoning code of 2012 be revisited because we keep doing overlays. Let me say something to you all so you can be clear. The Diamond Street historic corridor district was Philadelphia's first overlay. It's a historic overlay, and the benefits is that it brings us back residential housing on our historic corridor, it gives us a chance to have a historic corridor. Let me not digress too far. But I just want you all to be clear on what (inaudible) --
I'm sorry. We are unable to hear you. Hello?
Yeah, I'm glad you do. Because we're doing overlays. We're undoing overlays. I'm going to say regarding the zoning code, the 38 feet over my tenure of a decade of facilitating RCO meetings, the community didn't know. They didn't know we could go up to 38 feet. They didn't know the Civic Design Review is a paper tiger and a forest. They didn't know the Citizen Planning Institute is not really training us. We need to have a traffic study as we increase density, and we need a parking study up in North Philly. That's what I'm calling for, so this indemnification. So after the folks from Northeast, which is this retroactive -- let me ask that question. Is this retroactive, because after those folks were sued, the biggest lawsuit, they not only sued the RCO, but they sued every individual Board member. Now, here we come Johnny Come Lately, and you're going do to what? Are you going to indemnify those people now? Are you going to help them now? God forbid we're battling in the heart of North Philly, okay, heart of North Philly battling the Council President outgoing over the Bureau of Licenses and Inspections review. There's nothing in the RCO process that would tell us how to protect ourselves as homeowners as we battle this. So I'm going to leave you all today with asking for a traffic study, a parking study, PHA to be monitored, Citizen Institute to stop charging people for public participation information. I'm asking for notification for every citizen who requests information and notification for anything coming out of that office of the Planning and RCO and zoning. You -- no way I'm going to allow somebody to manipulate my process where I can't get information because you all are wrapping people up in the RCO. It's a paper tiger. I did it for a decade. To be continued. I'll tell you all more. It's the most insulting process based on politricks to ever grace Philadelphia. Please stop. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony and for joining us for today's hearing. Ms. Alford, will you please call the next public commenter we have to testify this afternoon.
Yes. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your public comment.
Hello. My name is Eloise Young and I am the RCO facilitator for the HMC Squared Community Association. We are grateful for Bill No. 230740 and Resolution No. 230750. As a small volunteer organization, we believe the City should support and defend groups like ours to promote fairness. Our data refutes developer Mo Rushdy's claims that this bill would result in never-ending appeals. Since 2016, HMC Squared has hosted RCO meetings for 75 planned development projects. The community voted to support most of them, but no 19 benefit agreement, proviso or design change could bridge the gap between the community or the property owner for 21 percent of them, 21 percent. Now, that's a far cry from Mr. Rushdy's 100 percent. With attorneys representing property owners at most meetings, it is crucial that we can stand up for our neighbors' valid concerns without fear of legal action. We thank Council President Clarke and Councilmembers Jones and Squilla for sponsoring this important legislation and look forward to seeing the request on the ballot for the voters to decide. Thank you.
Thank you for your public comment and for joining us this afternoon. Ms. Alford, will you please call the next public commenter.
Okay. I wanted to pause at this moment to see if there are any questions or comments from members of the Committee? (No response.)
There being no further questions from members of the Committee and no other witnesses to testify on Bill No. 4 230740 and Resolution No. 230750, I will ask if there is anyone else present in this hearing whose name we have failed to call and that wishes to offer testimony on the bill or resolution being considered today? (No response.)
Hearing none, I want to thank the panel and witnesses for their participation today. We do value your opinions. I now invite all panels and witnesses to please disconnect from the hearing before we go into our public meeting on the bill and resolution we have today. We will now pause the proceedings briefly as multiple participants leave the hearing. This concludes the public hearing of the Committee. We will now go into the public meeting to consider the action to be taken on the bill and resolution before this Committee today. We will now convene the public meeting. Ms. Alford, will you please call the roll to take attendance. Members that are in attendance will please indicate that you are present when your name is called. Also, please say a few brief words when responding so that your image will be displayed on screen when you speak.
Madam Chair, I'm present. But I think you have established a quorum without me being a voting member. So I'm going to step off on this particular one, but I'm present.
Thank you. Okay. Thank you so much, Council President Clarke. And also, thank you to Councilmember O'Neill who has also joined us for this hearing. Ms. Alford, are you complete with the roll call?
Thank you very, very much. I am present. The Chair now recognizes our Vice-Chair Councilmember Jones for a motion on the amendment to Bill No. 3 230740.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer an amendment to Bill 7 No. 230740 and a copy of that amendment has been circulated to all members of the Committee and I, therefore, move for the approval of the amendment to Bill No. 230740.
Okay. The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember O'Neill seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 230740 be approved. All those in favor of the motion will signify by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the amendment to Bill No. 230740 has been approved. The Chair recognizes Vice- Chair Jones for a motion on Bill No. 10 230740 as amended.
Thank you again, Madam President. I move that Bill No. 230740 as amended be moved from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading at our next session of Council.
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember O'Neill seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill 2 No. 230740 as amended be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of this bill at the next session of Council. All those in favor of the motion will signify by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chair now recognizes Vice- Chair Jones for a motion on the amendment to Bill No. 230 -- pardon me -- to Resolution No. 230750.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Resolution No. 24 230750 as amended be moved from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of Bill No. 4 230750 be approved.
Okay. So pardon me. So the motion to consider the amended version of Bill No. 230750 has been placed before the Committee. As the Chair of the Committee, I want to move back and ask that we reconsider this motion. Vice-Chair Jones, if you can restate this motion so that we can address the amendment to Resolution No. 230750 first.
Yeah, you just got upgraded. Thank you, Madam Chair. I offer -- I move that Resolution No. 230750 as amended be reported from this Committee with a favorable --
I offer an amendment to Bill -- Resolution No. 16 230750. A copy of that amendment has been circulated to all members of the Committee and I move that Resolution 19 No. --
That the amendment to Resolution No. 230750 be approved.
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember O'Neill seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Resolution No. 230750 be approved. All those in favor of the motion will signify by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the amendment to Resolution No. 230750 has been approved. The Chair now recognizes Councilmember Jones for a motion, Vice-Chair Jones for a motion on Resolution No. 230750 as amended.
So I don't recommend two consecutive long hearings in a row. This is what happens. Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Resolution No. 2 230750 as amended be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation.
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember O'Neill seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that Resolution No. 230750 as amended be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation. All those in favor will signify by stating aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. This concludes the business before the Committee on Law and Government. Thank you all so much for your attendance, particularly our colleagues who were in the Committee on Public Safety hearing this morning and the Chair of Public Safety, our Vice-Chair Councilmember Jones and all of you here today. We thank you for your participation and we look forward to working with you soon. Have a great day.
Have a great day. (Hearing concluded at 1:44 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. __________________________________ TANEHA CARROLL