COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING AND PUBLIC MEETING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT - - - Wednesday, 5/15/02 2 p.m. Room 696, City Hall Philadelphia, PA - - - BILL 020255 - Submission to the qualified electors of Philadelphia of an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the creation, appointment, powers, and duties of an independent Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission. RES. 020264 - Proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the creation, appointment, powers, and duties of a Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission. PRESENT: COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN, Chairman COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T INDEX WITNESS Denise Earley, Director of Public Policy...... Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Reverend Bruce M. Edwards, President.......... 12 5 Urban Leadership Council Ellen Kaplan, Managing Director............... 26 Greater Philadelphia First 3 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T INDEX
The Committee on Law and Government is now in session for the purpose of taking action on an ordinance and a resolution 6 regarding the creation of a Tax Reform Commission. I'm going to ask the clerk of the committee, Tim Kearney, to read the titles of the two matters before us; they are related.
Thank you, Chairman Cohen. Bill No. 020255, an ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the creation, appointment, powers, and duties of an independent Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission, as approved by resolution of the City Council; fixing the date of a special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot questions to be voted on; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election. Also Resolution No. 020264, a resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the 4 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 creation, appointment, powers, and duties of a Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission, and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Both the bill and the resolution are sponsored by Councilman Nutter and cosponsored by many members of City Council, clearly a vast majority of them. Councilman Nutter, is there any statement you'd like to maim at the outset of the hearing?
No, Councilman, thank you. We should just get started. Thank you.
There are primarily three witnesses. There's Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Urban Leadership Council, and GPF, which --
Well, there's written testimony from GPF that's going to be into the record. 5 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264
Good afternoon. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good afternoon, Chairman Cohen and other members of the Committee on Law and Government. For the record, I am Denise Earley, Director of Public Policy for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. I come before this committee today in support of Bill 020255 and Resolution 020264 placing a referendum on the November ballot, amending the Home Rule Charter to create a Tax Reform Commission and an Advisory Committee. As you know, the Chamber was very successful in putting together a tax reform coalition over the past few months that cut across all walks of life. The diversity of the coalition sent a strong message that the regressive tax structure of this city adversely affects everyone and is in dire need of repair. 6 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 I would like to commend the City Controller for the extensive work that he and his competent staff did on this issue and for the comprehensive report that City Controller Jonathan Saidel released in November 2001. This report, in conjunction with David Thornburg's fine work on behalf of the Pennsylvania Economy League, lays the foundation for major tax reform in this city. While the Chamber is pleased to see all of the attention surrounding the need for tax reform, we do have a few concerns. The Chamber supports the formation of a Tax Reform Commission, but only if we can be assured that it will in no 15 way act as an impediment to timely, meaningful tax reform. Reform measures should not have to wait until after an election for us to restore our competitiveness. In addition, a 15-member commission may prove to be a little unwieldy in forming consensus in a timely manner. The proposed 13-member advisory committee, which is entrusted with providing technical, economic, and public-policy advice to the Commission, brings this body to a bulging 28-member entity. Although I realize the 7 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 intent of this broad makeup is to make a place at the table for all interested parties, I do have some trepidation in the overall size and feel that you should look at downsizing the composition of this body. Another area of concern is that this commission is to be charged with evaluating Philadelphia's current tax structure and developing recommendations which should enhance and improve Philadelphia's ability to compete with other jurisdictions in the region and throughout the nation in attracting new residents, businesses, and jobs, and in retaining current residents, businesses, and jobs. Then we should also be charged with making recommendations and identifying ways to pay for those recommendations. Absent the ability to make recommendations, the Commission loses its credibility. Essentially, the Commission could recommend to eliminate all taxes, since in its current form, it is not empowered to make recommendations related to expenditure reductions, municipal government cost savings, or municipal government service reductions to offset any 8 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 potential revenue reduction which may result in the implementation of any recommendations set forth in the Commission's report. Finally, the appointment with fixed compensation of an executive director to the Commission is questionable. Bearing in mind that we should be about reducing expenses and headcount so that we can reduce taxes, I'm not sure that it is wise to add another tier of expense to the City's operating budget. In closing, I reiterate the Chamber's strong support for the Tax Reform Commission. The Chamber intends to keep our tax reform coalition together and strong and very involved in all matters concerning taxation and fiscal stability in the City. Thank you very much for this opportunity.
Thank you very much. Are there any questions of the witness by members of the committee?
Not so much a 9 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 question, Mr. Chairman. I did want to -- and I have had an opportunity to read the testimony and appreciate the support. I understand the serious issues that have been raised and, as you well know from our previous experiences, putting together these kinds of matters at times can be rather complicated with numerous interests and issues that need to be addressed and accommodated in the most delicate fashion. We're very sensitive to the concerns. I think ultimately -- I mean, I and many members of Council, still possibly in a naive fashion, but still have a general belief that if you ask responsible people to take on a serious and important job, that at the end of the day, you should be able to count on their responsible nature and the credibility of their position, their citizenry here in the City, hopefully the support, if not direction, by the voting public here that they want something to happen, and that all of our collective feet, if you will, will be kept to the fire to make sure that this is not an exercise for the purpose of exercising, that we do expect a 10 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 legitimate product to come out of this. There were concerns about the size. At one point in time, there were 31 people on the list; now the proposal is 15. And there have been other suggestions about size. I'm not exactly sure what the right size is but, you know, 15, you know, seems to be rather reasonable. It's a fair amount of work here, and at the same time, we're not expecting them to reinvent the wheel. There's a lot of resource out here that they can take advantage of and not start from infancy on tax reform. Let me also lastly say that we strongly felt that, again, given our last experience, that tax reduction is different from tax reform, that there are a number of proposals to reduce our taxes. We are trying to get to a larger issue of the nature of the structure of our taxes: Why do we have what we have; why are the rates what we are; but also, should we also have the vast array of confusing and almost dizzying schemes of taxes that we have, and we know that other jurisdiction nearby and far away have different structures than we do, many of whom benefit from their structure. 11 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 They have a tax environment that encourages people to come and live in those locales. They may also have weather considerations over us, but if you put it just on a tax-structure basis, we should certainly not be in a deficiency position or at a disadvantage, both for people to work here, to live here, or for companies to come here. And at the end of the day, I think all of us want to have more jobs for more people. To the extent that we may benefit from those taxes, the City overall is a better place to be. Lastly, in the resolution, which really is the heart and soul of this, there is a specific provision which I'd like to point out. " And the specific purpose for that is that if somehow, some way, there's an idea maybe whose time has come, whose time is even before or during the creation of this, hopefully the creation of this commission, that the business of the 12 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 government is ongoing -- it is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week -- and that none of our rights to do what we do for a living are impeded in any way, shape, or form, and should not be negated by the proposed creation of the Tax Reform Commission. People pay their taxes every day, and the to the extent that we can do something about it, if that opportunity arises and we can do it in a way that doesn't send the City into a fiscal turmoil, then we should go forward, and that's the reason for that particular provision. Thank you again for the testimony, and I think that we should be pushed to do our jobs.
Thank you very much. Next witness? Is the reverend from the Urban League here? (Witness comes forward.)
Please speak as closely to the microphone as you can and state your name and organizational affiliation.
Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman. I am Reverend Bruce M. Edwards, and 13 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 I am the President of the Urban Leadership Council.
Thank you, sir. It's a pleasure to be here. I did submit this testimony, so I'll try to paraphrase as I move forward. (Copy of Reverend Edwards' written testimony not provided to stenographer for attachment hereto.)
And in light of what Councilman Nutter just stated, we'll try to be supportive of what he said as we are trying to be supportive of this entire matter of establishing a Tax Reform Commission, doing that by a vote of the citizens of this city come November. One of the great things that occurred not that long ago in this room was something that Denise early just mentioned, and that was the formulation of a coalition of people that was brought together under the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce. But it was more than just a coalition of people that was brought together; it was the kind of people that was brought together, 14 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 and it was the intensity of the mission that those people found themselves to be involved in. And because we're back here again today still talking about taxes, I think that is indicative of the fact that this is a very serious issue, not only for the business community, but it's a serious issue for those who are in the political world and then for those who live in the neighborhoods of our city. The entire question of what we're going to do about taxes and the reformation of taxes is linked to everything else that we talk about currently in our city. It's linked to neighborhood blight, it's linked to economic development, it's linked to crime. So the whole idea of reforming the tax structure of the City is at the core of all of these other things that we hear talked about by you and others on a daily basis. Since the Mayor signed Bill 92 -- and we took that as a win for the coalition and a win for the people of the City more so than anything -- we've continued to stay engaged in this whole idea of reforming taxes. We've been working along with others, 15 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 with the City Controller's office and his good people there, on the whole question of land-value tax as opposed to the current property tax structure in the city. Why would community people be involved in an issue such as this. Well, it's very simple, and I'll reiterate what I just said. When we talk about reclaiming neighborhoods, when we talk about economic development, when we talk about crime, if we don't talk about what the root causes of our problems are, then we're not in real good position to have a positive impact on them. We support very strongly what is going on over in the City Controller's Office. He is moving forward in a positive manner, he has formed a committee, and we're working with that committee to begin to try to make plain and say in clear language what the benefits of having a land-value tax would be to the citizens of this city. And so we support all of those kinds of things and we support this commission, but we support it with some reluctance. We certainly support your bill, Mr. Chairman, when it comes to helping poor people. 16 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 But a commission, by its very nature and by its structure, becomes too political, so political that it has no real substance to it, that it becomes a vehicle for stalling real progress, if it becomes a vehicle for confusing the issue, if it becomes a vehicle for someone to make political hay on this side or cause confusion on that side. If that begins to show -- and we will follow this very, very carefully, we will study it as it begins to move towards the ballot box, if you pass it is. We're going to be watching this because this is exactly what we don't need. We don't need commissions; we need results, we need action. Studies are good, but studies must lead us to an end result, and I think we've studied some of the problems in this city until we all know what the problems are, but are we bold enough to take some action. The tax structure of the City, along with many other things, have put the City at a disadvantage.
Do we need to change the structure of our Home Rule Charter to do something about that, or can we just do something about that, if 17 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 you follow where I'm trying to go here. I do like when the Mayor decided and the Police Commissioner that they were going to tackle our obvious problems. I walk through my neighborhood every day and I know where the drug dealers were, I know where they are; they're standing right in front of me. And I used to watch the cops ride by and say, Well, don't they see 'em too? Well, how -- do we need to study that? We don't have to study that -- do something about it. It's obvious and it's obvious that we are at a disadvantage as a city. We are hemorrhaging population. I asked somebody the other day, could they get me a figure on how many people are leaving here every day? We just got a recent report that 25,000 people had left the City in 18 months, but do we have a count on how many are leaving every day? So do we have time to -- as I said to you once before time, do we have time to tinker and play, or are we forced now to move to some real action, politics be damned. To an extent -- and I know you're the politicians, but it's gone beyond 18 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 matters of mere politics, my friends. It is down to the wire, it's where the rubber meets the road. It cannot be talked about; it must be acted upon. It cannot be studied; it must be executed. You are brilliant people, you are smart people, you have the tools, you are in the powerful seats. You are the government, and it is time for the government to take some action. We understand the need for study. And, again, we're not here to say that we're not in support of this, but what we are here to say is that it is a support that is a qualified support, because at the end of the day, we need to see some real action on what's going to happen to the taxes that poor folk pay, as Councilman Cohen is trying to do something about. We need to see some real action on what's going to happen with business taxes so that businesses do come back to the City. We need to see some real action of what's going to go on with the real-estate taxes so that new homes can be built at an affordable price and people will buy them and stay here. We need action; we don't need a study. 19 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 You've studied these things, you've got your reports from the federal, state and local level, and I hear again that you're going to go to the taxpayers, at a cost to the taxpayers; now, this commission is going to cost something. So we're going to spend money to hire people to do a study. I have a problem with that. And I'm very fond of Councilman Nutter, but I have a problem with that. Is that really going to give us what we need? It looks nice, but does it give us what we need, which is, do something with the taxes that are killing the city. That's what we need to see happen, that's what we pray that will happen. I don't know any plainer way, and I've written my nice words and I never stick to 'em. I've been preaching a long time and never look at the scripts anymore; I just talk out of what I believe in. And I seriously and firmly believe that you mean good. I said this to Mr. Nevels and those good people over there reforming our schools, that I believe they mean good. But if you're not going to deal with the bottom line -- you can bring in all of your wonderful educational models and you can bring in 20 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 all of this stuff, but that's beyond the point at this point. Do you have a way of reclaiming the hearts and minds and soul of our children; that's what I want to know, not your grand scheme, 'cause that's not getting it.
And so I'm asking you, with the establishment of a commission or a committee, is that going to lead us to the place that we want to get, where you'll be able to stand up and say to the citizens of this city, We have done something about the regressive and oppressive tax structure that has killed our city. That is the question I will leave you with. I hate to get passionate -- no, I don't, 'cause I am passionate, but I just wanted to be calm today because, again, we support the effort. But I want you to understand that there are some questions in our mind as to whether or not we can do this without getting boggled down and are all mixed up in political ramifications that often come as a result of setting up, quote/unquote, a commission.
Well, we thank you for your statement, and I think Councilman Mariano 21 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 wishes to comment or ask you a question.
Thank you, Councilman. No, I just want to be marked as present, and I want to be marked as a speaking meeting. I know we get marked now if we speak or not. I'm as passionate as you are, my friend.
I don't say a lot of things, and I get in trouble when I go off the cuff like you do, just so you know. But I'm here and I'm speaking, so do note, those that watch us here, Mariano here, plus I spoke. Thank you.
And we hope he proves by his vote that he's also a man of action.
Councilman Rizzo. 22 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264
If Councilman Mariano's in a meeting, he's speaking. Thank you.
Thank you. Reverend, thank you very, very much, both for your past activity with regard to taxes, your present passion -- please maintain the passion. We will not have accomplished our goal by the creation -- if the voters approve it, the creation of a tax reform commission. And at least, again, speaking for myself, we will not have accomplished our goal by even receiving the results of what I would hope is a good, quality work product. I believe that the goal here is to change the tax structure and tax environment of the City of Philadelphia. We've asked maybe in a time timeframe that's a little longer than many of us would like, but there are, quite frankly, some practical realities to some of the things that we do, that we have a group of responsible people take some time to take a look at these issues, many of which have been studied before, many of which have 23 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 recommendations on the table. But I don't know that anyone has ever recommended how we change our tax structure, say we should lower our taxes. And, again, I would emphasize that I think that there is a significant difference between the two. Our job and responsibility is to take that information and, as you say, do something with it. Change the structure, change the rates, make something different happen. That is our role and our responsibility. We take an oath for these jobs, and I plan to uphold that oath, and I'm sure my colleagues do as well. We may disagree about what this rate should be or what that rate should be or should we keep that tax or should we not have that tax and the other tax. And we also, as a result of, again, of many of these discussions and negotiations, there is a provision in the legislation that talks about the need for a statewide tax reform, both related to the property tax, which, the moment you mention that, you know we're really talking about education funding. But also, many people do understand, 24 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 and some may not, that if we are going to change our tax structure, if we decide to eliminate "Tax X" and create "Tax Y," we presently don't have the authority to do that because ultimately, our taxing authority comes from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, of which we are an entity. So even if we had a great idea and wanted to get rid of one and change another or create something new that was more fair, we would also have to deal with the legislature and a governor in Harrisburg, but I think if we have a good work product that has wide views attached to it and the political and personal relationships that many other people bring to this process, at that point, at the action point, I think that we will have done something, and hopefully whatever we do, is received in a positive fashion and lowers the overall tax burden in Philadelphia. There are many things that we would want the City to be number one on. Having the highest tax burden of any major city in the United States of America is not one of them. We are desperately trying to go to the bottom of that list. There are some other lists we would like to 25 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 rise to the top on; on that one, we would like to be at the bottom. So we understand. We know that you will be staying on us and watching us, and you should, but my hope is that we put something together that a majority of people can agree to, and that understanding the concerns, there will be the same enthusiasm that we had just within the past month or so to encourage voters to support this in November. This is not the end of this process. Hopefully, we get it out of committee, then we have a vote, then hopefully we have the Mayor sign. We've got a whole thing to work on to get to November. It is not an automatic that just because even with a relatively good idea that it will be received.
So I can only call on you and the Chamber and many others and GPF and groups and organizations who will be represented on the advisory committee. They have to actually go out and encourage people to support this. It doesn't happen automatically and it's not by osmosis. So I appreciate your continued support 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 and your watchful eye. Thank you.
Thank you very much, Reverend Edwards. A representative of Greater Philadelphia First. (Witness comes forward.)
Thank you, Councilman Cohen, and thank you also for allowing GPF CEO Sam Katz to have a few moments this morning to talk about the Tax Reform Commission. And he did ask that I stay this afternoon and read GPF's statement that we've prepared. For the record, I'm Ellen Maddleman Kaplan, and I'm the Managing Director of Greater Philadelphia First. As everyone in this room knows, GPF is a business and civic leadership organization comprised of 53 of the region's major employers, including businesses and nonprofit organizations located within the City of Philadelphia and suburban businesses that employ Philadelphia residents. 27 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 Just five weeks ago in this room, and on a day that I think was a little bit hotter than now, GPF testified before City Council to urge its members to commit to ongoing wage tax reductions by supporting Bill 020092. Two weeks later, GPF was proud to stand with Councilman Nutter and Councilman DiCicco, the sponsors of that bill, Council President Verna and other Councilmembers as Mayor Street signed that bill into law. It was, in our view, an important moment for Philadelphia, one that marked a citizen-driven commitment to a better climate for jobs through lower taxes. What Philadelphians told Council was that wage-tax reductions, with accelerated cuts if the economy improves, were indispensable to Philadelphia's future growth and development. And Council listened to and acted on that message. Passing Bill 020092 is a significant step in the right direction, but it is only another step and certainly not the last one. Far more aggressive tax relief and reform measures -- in short, sharply lower taxes -- are necessary to position the City as a competitor in the changing economy. And that is why Greater Philadelphia 28 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 First supports the creation of a Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission. We further applaud Councilman Nutter and DiCicco and all members of City Council who cosponsored the legislative proposals before the committee today, for your resolve to explore every possible avenue to enhance and improve the City's ability to attract and retain residents, businesses, and jobs. GPF is optimistic that your perseverance and commitment will ultimately be rewarded. Let me caution, however, that this city can ill afford to wait for the Tax Reform Commission to provide answers, and the citizens who were emboldened by the passage of Bill 92 will not accept the prospect of Commission's future creation as a reason for not acting now. As the legislation is currently drafted, the Commission is not likely to convene until early 2003, assuming voter approval of the amendment to the Home Rule Charter. In the meantime, Councilmembers should continue on the tax reform path you have already wisely embarked on. 29 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 Given the breadth of its membership, GPF has a regional focus: We strongly believe in creating efficiencies in the service delivery and structures and all local governments in Southeastern Pennsylvania as a critical means to growing what, unfortunately, has been a relatively stagnant regional economy. At the same time, we fully recognize that the City of Philadelphia faces a uniquely disproportionate share of problems without the jobs or the tax base to alleviate them, and that its competition for those jobs and residents is often just across the county line. Through a careful and deliberative assessment of the City's tax structure, all taxes imposed in Philadelphia, the tax structure of the Commonwealth that affects Philadelphia, and state laws that authorize or limit Philadelphia's ability to impose taxes, the Tax Reform Commission will have an unprecedented opportunity to develop long-term solutions. GPF pledges its full support to the Commission in this endeavor and is pleased that the proposed legislation calls for a commission member to be appointed by GPF.
As an organization whose 30 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 members know full well the adverse impact that decades of excessive municipal taxation have had on their growth, employee recruitment, and retention, and also on the business climate in this city, GPF has a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon in making its selection, and we are very much looking forward to participating. It is GPF's great hope that the proposed legislation will be speedily enacted in order to permit voter consideration at the earliest opportunity. GPF commends this committee for hastening that process for convening this hearing. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Any questions from any members? (No questions.)
We thank you very much for your statement. Is there anyone else who wishes to be heard? (No response.)
Are there any witnesses, whether you've announced in advance or not, who wish to be heard? 31 5/15/02 LAW & GOV'T/BILL 020255, RES. 020264 (No more witnesses present.)
This concludes the -- I see no one responding to the invitation to testify. This, therefore, will conclude the public hearing. - - - 32 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING
And we will commence the public meeting of the Law and Government meeting with respect to considering the action to be taken on the bill and on the resolution. A quorum is present: Councilman Goode, Councilman Blackwell, Councilman Mariano, Councilman Nutter, Councilman Nutter, and the chairman, myself. Councilman Nutter, do you have any action to report?
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, there are a couple technical amendments that I wish to propose. The amendments are being circulated. The sum and substance of these amendments is to add some groups and organizations to the advisory committee. There are some language issues related to the charge of the Commission, and one of the provisions relates to access to certain documents that may not be in the purview of the Commission, what they have access to and what they don't have access to. What I'd like to do, without reading them, is to first walk through the documents, say 33 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING what they are, and then read the actual amendments into the record, if that's okay with the chairman.
On , as I mentioned before, the Advisory Committee membership is being increased, so naturally there's a striking of one number and then the new number. All of the proposed amendments are in bold and are double-underlined. There's a listing of additional groups on . There is a notice requirement and the ability and the opportunity to participate in Commission meetings specifically laid out for the advisory committee on . There is additional language with regard to the charge of the Tax Reform Commission on . The language I mentioned, or the issue I mentioned, with regard to disclosure, or the sharing, of certain documents and information is on . A requirement that the Commission consider recommendations of the Advisory Committee 34 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING is on . Further distribution of the report, the final report of the Commission to the Governor and other legislative leaders is on . And also a provision of the opportunity for a minority report, should there be one, and a requirement that the Commission publish, along with its overall document, any minority report adopted by three members of the Commission. There is also proposed additional language to the question, which is the Ordinance 13 020255. And why don't I just -- why don't I now just start reading into the record the proposed amendments.
" 35 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING And subsequent to that, in the next paragraph, the insertion of the actual resolution 4 number, which is 020264, in the two places on the front page. " On is a listing of additional groups. Those groups are the Director of Action Alliance of Senior Citizens of Greater Philadelphia, the Director of Asian-Americans United, the Director of Community Legal Services, the President of the Board of the Consumer Education and Protective Association, the Director of the Keystone Research Center, the President of the National Congress of Puerto Rican Rights, the director of the Parents Union, the Director of Philadelphia NOW, (National Organization for Women), the Director of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, the Director of the Tenant Action Group. Let me make two other corrections, which are technical in nature, which you do not 36 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING have in front of you. Back to , letter d. Technically, the North Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce has an executive director, not a president. " And the Greater Philadelphia First does not technically have a president; it has a chief executive officer. " I apologize that I just remembered those, and I apologize for not including them. " In letter b at the bottom of , strike the fraction 2/3 and insert the word two-thirds. " Mr. Chairman, those are the proposed amendments to Resolution No. 020264 and Bill No. 22 020255. First, Mr. Chairman, I would just ask if there are any questions on those proposed amendments? 39 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING
Are there any questions from members of the committee with respect to any of the amendments? (No questions.)
It's clear the amendments are technical in nature. Few are substantive and those that are substantive seem aimed at inclusion rather than exclusion and making as many significant groups as possible part of the process, and if they can't be all at the table, at least get them as close as possible to the table. And I commend Councilman Nutter for working on this bill, for his efforts. Any questions any comments? (No response.)
Yes, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would move the adoption of the amendments to Bill No. 020255.
Any discussion of the amendments? 40 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING (No response.)
If not, all those in favor, please say aye. Any opposed?
Okay, Councilmember Goode. The amendments are adopted. The next motion?
Okay, thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move the adoption of Bill No. 020255, as amended with -- right, I'm sorry, I've done this a couple of times. I move the adoption of Bill 020255, as amended, and a further recommendation to suspend the rules of Council so as to permit first reading at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
If not, all those in favor of the motion to amend, please say aye. Any opposed? 41 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING (None opposed.)
And the bill will be reported out, as amended, together with the request of the committee to have the bill read as a first reading at its next session on Thursday.
All right. Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of the amendments to Resolution No. 020264.
Is there a second? I second that amendment. Any discussion? (No discussion.)
One no. The record will reflect that Councilmember Goode voted no on the amendment. The amendment is adopted.
Mr. Chairman, I 42 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING move that Resolution No. 020264, as amended, be reported out of this committee with a favorable recommendation and a further recommendation that rules of Council be suspended so as to -- well --
It actually only -- it only gets one reading. I'm sorry. I'm on automatic pilot. Just to move it out of committee so that it can be heard at our next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It's seconded. Any discussion on the motion? (No discussion.)
If not mall those in favor, please say aye. Any nays? (None opposed.)
The ayes have it unanimously, and the resolution is adopted.
There being no 25 further business before the committee, the 43 5/15/02 LAW & GOVERNMENT - PUBLIC MEETING committee stands in recess -- is adjourned. (Committee proceedings end at 2:48 p.m.) - - - 44 CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia's meeting of the Committee on Law and Government of Wednesday, May 15, 2002, are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. RE: Bill 020255, Res. 020264 ______________________________, Josephine Cardillo Registered Professional Reporter and Notary Public (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.)