Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 130908-A.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Spruce Street, Juniper Street, Cypress Street, Watts Street, Pine Street and Broad Street, by amending Chapter 14-500 of the Zoning Code entitled "Overlay Zoning", by amending Chapter 14-700 of the Zoning Code 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING entitled "Development Standards", and by amending Chapter 14-800 of the Zoning Code entitled "Parking and Loading".
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 15; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 140005.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by 18th Street, 19th Street, Arch Street and Cuthbert Street.
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 15; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 140009.
An ordinance amending Section 14-701 of the Zoning Code, entitled "Dimensional Standards," and to amend Section 14-702(4) of the Zoning Code, entitled "Maximum Floor Area and Height Bonus Amounts," and to amend Section 14-806 of the Zoning Code, entitled "Off-Street Loading," and to amend Section 14-502 of the Zoning Code, 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING entitled "CTR, Center City Overlay."
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 15; the nays are 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Bill No. 140004 and 140007 and 140008 have been held at the request of the sponsor. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 140001.
An ordinance amending Chapter 10-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Safety," by providing for ending the existing procedure of mandatory custodial arrests for the crime of Marijuana possession, and by requiring the reporting of the number of arrests and related information with respect to those arrested for Marijuana possession.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd offer an amendment to Bill No. 140001-A. A copy of this amendment has been circulated to all 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING members of Council and I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that an amendment to 140001 be adopted. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the amendment is approved. 140001, as amended, will be on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions.
A resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold public hearings to examine the possibility of the Pennsylvania General Assembly authorizing the addition of slot 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING machines and other gaming equipment at Philadelphia International Airport to enhance traveler experiences and provide an additional funding source for the School District of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Kenney.
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 that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution authorizing the Committee on Labor and 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Civil Service to hold hearings on the current discipline, grievance, and arbitration policies and procedures of the Philadelphia Fire Department and determine any steps that Council need take to ensure that Fire Department personnel are protected and that matters are adjudicated properly, introduced by Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted.
And a resolution recognizing and honoring Sheinelle Jones of Fox 29 News for her outstanding service, commitment, and contributions to the community during her time as a broadcast journalist in Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the Sheinelle Jones resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) educational opportunities for young men and women in the City of Philadelphia and the efforts the City can undertake to increase the opportunities available, 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.)
The 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution commending and honoring SEPTA Police Officer Ronald P. Jones for his heroic acts of duty and bravery in the apprehension of a violent assailant threatening to shoot innocent passengers on the train at the Fairmount Station, introduced Councilwoman Reynolds Brown on behalf of Councilman Jones.
I move for the adoption on behalf of my Majority Leader. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution proclaiming the week of April 4, 2014 to April 12, 2014 as the Fourth Annual Philly Tech Week presented by AT&T, and honoring the broad and vibrant Philadelphia technology community, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown on behalf of Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution commending and honoring Reverend Tameka Bates for her heroic acts of bravery and Good Samaritan efforts to prevent harm to a mother and child during a violent disruption on the SEPTA train incited by a man threatening to shoot passengers on the train at the Fairmount Station and attempted to kidnap the mother's baby, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown on behalf of Councilman Jones.
And 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. 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is also adopted.
And a resolution in recognition of Women's History Month, honoring the outstanding contributions of Ms. Audrey Johnson Thornton on behalf of the American Women's Heritage Society for her tireless efforts to restore the Historic Belmont Mansion and Underground Railroad Museum located in the Fourth Council District in Philadelphia and proclaiming the banquet facility as the Cornelia Wells Banquet Hall and Conference Center, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown on behalf of Councilman Jones.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Reynolds Brown.
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution authorizing City Council's Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy to hold public hearings on the state of the growing technology and innovation community in Philadelphia and the impact on the local economy, introduced by Councilman Oh.
The 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
And the ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy and Committee on Public Property and Public Works to hold joint hearings to investigate the feasibility of developing a diplomatic area in the City devoted to the promotion of foreign trade and investment, introduced by Councilman 3/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. And that concludes our Calendar. At this time, are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there any speeches on the part of the majority? I recognize Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I introduced a resolution co-sponsored by Councilwoman Brown and signed by every member of this body honoring Ronald P. Jones, the SEPTA officer for his service and bravery in apprehending a violent assailant in the Fairmount Train Station last week. I also introduced a similar resolution honoring a private citizen named Tameka Bates who defended a mother and child on that same subway by the same gentleman threatening to kill passengers for her brave and courageous stance to protect that other rider. I rise today to cite the fact that in 2012 the American public transportation association named SEPTA, the best large transit system in America, Denver, who has long been touted as such, beyond getting thousands of riders, commuters from Point A to Point B in the region, we depend on the drivers, the rail operators of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority for our wealth and our economy. Our transit system has increased ridership to record levels. Gas has gone up to $3.61, and transit offers a viable alternative to many people going to work. In FY12, ridership and revenues increased by 1.7 percent due to the increase of people taking advantage of our system. This is due to a healthy relationship between management and labor. We went through a bad winter that threatened retail's bottom line. A potential SEPTA strike would impact us to the tune, according to Econsult, of about $50 million. That's the impact in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. State Representative Harper 2109 which calls for mass transit workers to not be able to strike, to not be able to have a work stoppage. Now, whether you support that or not, if you're saying that you support that, we have to have ongoing dialogue, ongoing resolution, and even arbitration. And we've asked members in Council, and thus far we have a vast majority of them willing to sign on and call for SEPTA and TWU to enter into an arbitration to avoid a work stoppage. Now, according to the TWU membership, they'd be willing to do that. We're calling on SEPTA management to also do that. There are 5,348 members that are a part of that local, and many of them are our neighbors, friends, and even in the case of Councilwoman Bass, a sister, and they do the work that we cannot do. They face sometimes grateful ridership and sometimes not so grateful ridership. They face physical threats and abuse. They face people spitting on of the fact that they are not allowed to strike them, curse them back. The least we can do is get them, like we've done in these Chambers for other members of labor unions, fight for them to have a fair contract and a living wage. What we're doing here and what we've continued to do under your leadership, Mr. President, is fight for the maintenance of the middle class. Whether we are lowering taxes, whether we're raising the minimum wage, Councilman Goode, or whether we're trying to get sick leave passed, whether we're fighting for firemen to get their fair due or municipal workers like 47 and 33, this continues that tradition of maintaining Philadelphia's middle class. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. Leader. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to just briefly comment on the incident with the officer from SEPTA, and I want to be very -people not to misinterpret my comments or misunderstand what I'm going to say. I am glad that he is safe. He exercised -- you know, he fought valiantly and certainly did not use his gun, but what the other side of this is that the gentleman who attacked him has mental illness. He's mentally ill. He's bipolar. I'm not saying that's an excuse for him to attack anyone, but our system does not allow or provide for us to place those people in a safe place. They themselves have to admit themselves in a safe place. The laws were changed many years ago. You couldn't commit individuals that might have mental illness into a confinement. We have to look at that, because there are many, many people walking the streets today who have mental illness, and we've got to change the system so that they don't hurt themselves nor do they hurt other people. I have friends with bipolar children. I have a cousin that's bipolar. They may not be to the degree of this gentleman, but we have to deal with the whole issue of mental health and mental illness, and we will be looking at that. I'm glad the officer was not hurt. I thank those people who came to his aid, and certainly a person like the gentleman who made the attack, they're really very, very strong and hard to deal with at that point when they are in that state. So I want to -- I just want to offer that comment about what's happening with our folks who are suffering from mental illness, and many of them are on the street and are homeless. The last thing I'd like to say is that I will remind my colleagues we do have a Finance Committee meeting at 1
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to mention a couple things. Number one, I wanted to echo Councilwoman Tasco and Councilman Jones in that we do have a significant mental health issue here in the City of Philadelphia that at some point we have to figure out how to get ahead of it in a much more aggressive way than we have done, because obviously we don't want to see people get hurt and we need to do something about this sooner rather than later. But over to SEPTA and their contract negotiations, whether it was this particular incident or many of the other incidents. As the Councilman had noted, I have a sister who works for many, many years, and I have spoken about this before, because I don't think that people realize the level of assaults or attacks or threats that drivers and operators face on a regular basis. So I just really wanted to lend my voice to advocate that we not have a strike, that we work together. I'm sure that City Council and the Administration and whoever it takes will be willing to come to the table to make sure that we can avert a strike, because $50 million in an impact would be devastating to our city right now. We really just can't afford it. SEPTA does a great job. There are a lot of things that we do right, and SEPTA is one of them, and I think that we need to acknowledge that and make sure that we don't have a strike in the coming months. So I just wanted to join my colleague Councilman Jones and thank him of this very important issue. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman. If there are no other speeches on the part of the majority or minority, I would like to recognize Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 27th, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 27th, 2014, 10:00 a.m. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Council is adjourned. Thank you all very much. ) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A 57:24 58:20 52:8,11,21 Angeles 24:11,14 assist 13:7 abatement 53:3 59:18 60:20 airlines 4:19 animals 21:24 assistance 12:11 ability 6:7 27:7 61:20 62:17 airport 4:16 Annual 37:4 81:7 assisted 54:9 able 5:10 25:19 75:8 76:23 78:2 30:19 76:3 Applause 16:19 Associate 46:21 25:20 89:3,4 78:25 80:3 81:4 Airways 4:19 17:18 19:20 associated 23:23 absence 8:5,9,19 82:5 83:9 84:15 Airy 3:19 25:8 29:16 33:7 45:22 abuse 89:25 85:16 86:17 alleviates 11:22 apply 97:20 association 23:13 accessible 26:12 adopting 29:9 allow 48:20 91:16 appreciate 34:22 87:24 accompanying adoption 56:9 allowed 90:3 appreciation 11:4 asthma 50:22 9:16 20:10 57:11 58:9 59:8 alternative 88:12 apprehending Atkinson 20:9 accurately 97:5 60:8 61:9 62:4 alternatives 24:2 87:13 25:10,11 achievable 48:4 75:3 76:11 amazing 17:16 apprehension attached 43:10 acid 29:2 77:14 78:13 ambitious 48:4 36:19 80:8 attack 91:15 acknowledge 79:16 80:16 52:10 approached 92:15 20:15 94:21 81:18 82:22 Amen 6:19,20 18:25 46:14 attacked 91:12 act 12:10 84:4 85:4 86:6 amend 66:17 69:9 49:4,18 53:23 attacks 51:21 action 9:3 adults 22:15,25 71:20,22,25 appropriate 94:5 actions 4:11 advantage 88:16 amended 63:23 35:18 36:6,13 attempted 82:14 acts 36:18 37:13 90:2 75:16 38:24 39:20 attempting 37:19 80:7 82:8 advocate 94:9 amending 35:12 40:3 attention 20:18 add 48:7 51:19 AED 15:4 35:21 36:9 approval 7:1,4 AT&T 37:5 81:8 added 47:23,23 affirmative 66:13 39:13 42:16,23 approved 7:11,16 Audrey 38:3 adding 42:18 43:4 69:5 71:14 74:3 62:21 64:5 8:3 75:16 83:13 64:9 afflicted 5:21 66:22,24 67:3 approving 56:25 august 3:2 addition 30:17 12:12 71:18 74:11 59:21 60:23 Authority 32:17 75:25 afford 94:17 amendment 63:6 April 37:2,3 81:6 55:23 57:2 additional 30:20 afraid 5:13 63:9,14,17 81:7 59:22 60:24 35:25 44:20 African-Ameri... 74:23,25 75:3,7 arable 22:3 88:8 53:3,5 75:20 23:8 75:15 arbitration 31:6 authorized 12:9 76:5 AFSCME 36:2 amendments 77:4 89:8,12 authorizing 30:13 address 54:5 57:6 afternoon 49:5,7 64:12 Arch 69:13 30:16 31:3 60:3 61:5 age 5:8 America 87:25 area 41:10 57:5 32:14 34:25 addressed 3:23 agency 12:16 American 9:14 59:25 61:3 40:17 41:4 adherence 46:6 agenda 9:4 58:25 10:22 11:17,19 66:20 69:12 55:21 75:22,25 54:6 ages 23:3 12:14 13:5,11 71:21 85:23 76:25 79:3 adjourn 95:10 aggressive 93:16 13:16,25 14:8 areas 66:19 69:11 84:17 85:18 adjourned 95:13 Aging 18:22 14:15,25 15:8 Armed 14:19 available 35:7 95:18 96:3,5 ago 91:20 15:17 16:4,12 arrested 74:18 79:9 ADJOURNME...
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