Good morning, everybody. My name is Joseph Groh and I am the owner of Joe's Steak and Soda Shop. I got a front row view of what goes on. It's a 24/7 operation. When they're done at night, they put a dump truck there, they put a car there they block. It's a two-hour parking zone. They block so that no 15 one can park there. When they come at night, what they do at 7 o'clock at night is -- two or three food trucks, I seen one go on the pavement which is awful. I also saw two wide coming right into the crosswalk. Besides the trash and the people that are in front of my store, you know, this is unacceptable. I mean, I'm not about people not making money, but with the -- and the rent I pay and the taxes I pay, I shouldn't have to deal with trucks across the street idling, with the trash. And I had a confrontation with a guy because he's sitting on my stoop. And, you know, I just don't think it's a good (inaudible) for Fishtown and that's my opinion on it. I know I'll try to make it brief, so thank you for your time.
Thank you for your testimony. It's very much appreciated. Madam Clerk.
Yeah. Hi. Yeah, my comment is just -- I just wanted to say that I've been standing over there, there's some trucks over there for like almost years, 11 6 years, you know. And this is the 7 issue for the -- the thing is, like, 8 the community that we have or the 9 food trucks that are there have been 10 for a long time. And then they're 11 like a lot of people there. They're 12 like so -- they come to Fishtown just for the food trucks, you know, like they enjoy the food trucks. And every week -- I assure you every week we pay the people, they come especially they clean the trash, you know. There is no trash. Like every night we make sure when we close, we clean up our area, you know. Nobody can leave the trash on the roads, you know. Like, you know, if you're making money somewhere, you know, you can't just leave the trash over there. We clean up our places, you know. And it's been seven years that I'm standing over there. That's the only income, the only money that I make for my family and all that I provide, you know. So we're all like -- all of us we're trying to work with the community, you know. We want to make it better. But the only thing is we want some place to, you know, like to have a designated area so we can park over there and have a safe environment, you know, and make some money for our families. And, you know, like we don't want to hurt nobody's business, you know. And when we are open, you know, nobody's -- none of the businesses are open, you know. The restaurants they are talking about, those restaurants they close up like 10 o'clock, 9 o'clock, you know. After that, you know, there's no 24 food, you know. And people when they come out from the bars and stuff, they want to eat something so they can sober up and go to their -- on their way to their houses safely, you know, because a lot of people are driving. A lot of people are so -- if there's no -- if the food trucks are not there, you know, there's going to be I think more issue because people will stop -- because when they drink, they have to eat something to sober up a little bit to calm down, you know, so they can go home safely. And like the police department, all the departments, they come to us, you know. They take our food and all. Everybody's upset about this bill, you know. Like all the customers that we interact with, they say this is not right, you know, because this thing is here for like 12, 15 years, you know. It's not a one-day thing, you know. So like --
Excuse me, Mr. Walley. We have a two-minute mark. Thank you so much though.
I just want to say one thing, that we should all work together and make like -- we all should work for the community, you know, for the good of the community, you know.
Thank you for your testimony, and we're more than willing to work with you and other vendors to figure out how we can come up with a happy compromise, so thank you. Madam Clerk, can you please call the next witness to testify.
Please state your name for the record and you may begin with your testimony. (No response.)
Mr. Carlos, please state your name for the record and begin with your testimony. (No response.)
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Members of the Committee -- members of the Committee we are going to look to move to the next phase of this --
The next bills with public comment is 230676, 230677, 230678, all Nicole Brunet.
Hello and good morning or good afternoon, Committee Chair Thomas and Committee members. Would you like me to read all my testimony back-to-back?
We will prefer if you can condense it. We're running behind for another hearing so the more efficient the better. Thank you.
Great. Thank you. My name is Nicole Brunet and I'm the Policy Director for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. I am testifying today in support of Bill 230676. I would like to thank Councilmember Curtis Jones for introducing this legislation. This is the use of an automated red light enforcement system to prevent red light violations. This technology is crucial when it comes to enforcing red light violations but also to change dangerous driving behavior. The intersection of Belmont Avenue, Ford Road and Overbrook Ave will greatly benefit from this technology. I would like also to testify in support of Bill 230677. Thank you, Councilmember Curtis Jones, for introducing this legislation, use of an automated red light enforcement system to prevent red light violations at the intersection of Kelly Drive and Falls Bridge. This technology is crucial when it comes to enforcing red light violations but to also change dangerous driving behavior. The Bicycle Coalition has been advocating for this red light camera for five years and many people who come in along Kelly Drive do not live in the 4th District but commute into Philadelphia from outside the City and regularly abuse both the red light and the speed limit along Kelly and MLK Drive. Additionally, Kelly Drive is part of the City's High Injury Network. And while we do not control the speed on Kelly, this would be a dent into motorist behavior on the Drive. And then I would like to thank Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson for introducing legislation Bill No. 13 230678. I'm testifying in support of use of an automated red light enforcement system to prevent red light violations at 17th Street and Washington Avenue. This is crucial technology to enforcing red light violations. Washington Avenue is part of the City's High Injury Network and adding this technology is imperative to save lives and hold bad actors accountable. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. Thank you for your patience and thank you for your flexibility. Madam Clerk, would you please call the next witness.
I just want to highlight Councilmember Bass has her hand raised.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, Jackie. Mr. Chairman, I just want to be registered voting aye on all of our business today. I actually have to leave the Committee hearing for other Council business, but I do want to be registered as voting aye.
The next bill for public comment is Bill No. 230486. Amanda Kaiserman, Thomas Friese and Stephanie Boggs Magagna.
Again, good afternoon. Please be flexible for us and try to condense your testimony to two minutes. Please state your name for the record and you may begin with your testimony.
Thank you. My name is Stephanie Boggs Magagna. I'm an attorney representing the owner of 424 Pine Street. The application for City Plan change was submitted on their behalf. The owner is present as well as Tom Friese, the applicant. Just wanted to note our support for the bill that's being proposed and are available for any questions, but I think we can limit it to that if there are none.
Oh, thank you. No questions from members of the Committee and thank you so much for being available for questions. Madam Clerk, can you call the next witness.
Yes. Would Thomas Friese and Amanda like to testify, Ms. Boggs?
No, I believe we just wanted to make ourselves available for questions.
Excellent. Thank you. The next bill for public comment is 230577 and it's Joe Landow and Harry Schley.
Good afternoon. My name is Harry Schley. I'm a lifelong Philadelphian and I am the President of the Wynnefield Overbrook Eruv Association. I would like to thank Councilmember Curtis Jones for introducing this legislation. The Hebrew word eruv means to mix or join together. Ansbach Jewish law prohibits transferring objects from one domain or property to another. An eruv is a symbolic physical boundary around the neighborhood that transforms the area into one domain and permits certain Jews to carry objects between households Ansbach. This could include pushing a stroller or carrying food to its neighbor or bringing prayer books to a synagogue. Eruv is a key tool that promotes community engagement, prayer and service. The eruv itself is made of thin wires, narrow posts and existing physical structures with cooperation, permission of local governments and private organizations. The physical modifications used to establish eruv are intended to be effectively invisible with no impact on the public way. In addition to Philadelphia City Governor, we are in contact with Amtrak, PECO, St. Joe's University and others to request permission to access their property. Philadelphia's host to separate eruvs in the Northeast, Center City, University City and Overbrook Park. The Jewish community in Wynnefield and Overbrook seeks the support to establish an eruv in our neighborhood. We are supported by the local synagogue Raim Ahuvim, which has been essential in Jewish life in Overbrook and Wynnefield since the 1950s, but has struggled over the past decade to hold regular services because it's difficult for members to access the synagogue on Shabbat without an eruv. Your support for the proposed ordinance is critical not only for the permission to make virtually unnoticeable to public property but for us to be able to truly call this area our home. On behalf of the Jewish community in Philadelphia, we humbly ask for your support in building and strengthening our community. Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I'm also available for any questions or clarifications. Thank you.
Thank you. There are no more public comments for this bill. The next bill we have is 230581. Steven Janusky. (No response.)
If he's not on, Councilmember Thomas, we are done with public comment.
Thank you, Madam Clerk. There being no further questions from members of the Committee and no other witnesses to testify, I will ask that if there is anyone else present in the hearing whose name we have failed to call that wishes to offer testimony on any of the bills being considered today? (No response.)
Hearing none, I want to thank all the panels of witnesses for your participation today. We value your opinions. I now invite all panels of witnesses to please disconnect from the meeting before we go into the public meeting. We will now pause the proceedings as multiple participants are leaving the hearing. This concludes the public hearing of the Committee, and we will now go into the public meeting to consider action taken on the bills for this Committee today. Ms. Golden, will you please take a minute to call roll. Members that are in attendance will indicate that they are present when your name is called. Also, please say a few brief remarks when responding so that your image is displayed on the screen. Madam Clerk.
Jackie, I don't know if we can hold for a couple of minutes. There's a press conference going on about the reward for the police shooter.
Thank you, Vice-Chair. Let's pause the proceedings and we'll proceed in the next couple of minutes.
Thank you. It will probably be another five minutes. (Brief recess.)
Thank you for your patience, everybody, and sorry for the delay. We have concluded the public hearing and we're looking to go into the public meeting to consider the action to be taken before this Council Committee here today. Again, we apologize for the delay. With that being said, Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll. Members that are in attendance, please take a moment to say a few brief words when responding so that your image will be displayed on screen when you speak. Madam Clerk.
Councilmember Johnson, I saw you came off mute. Can you say that again?
I'm present. And Councilmember Bass has been -- for the record wants to be recorded as voting aye on all bills and resolutions. A quorum of the Committee is present. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a single motion to approve amendments to the bills that are being considered today.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for your time today. I do want to say one thing before we move the motion and --
Any individuals or associate vendors or trucks that would love to meet with me to come up with alternative options for vending either in the location close by or after hours, I'm happy to work with the Food Truck Association and then to come up with a plan. We did introduce something in 2015 that we couldn't get enough support for, but maybe this time it will be worthwhile to revisit that, and I can share that legislation with them and see how we could all work together. So thank you for that. And, Mr. Chairman, I move that Bill Nos. 230584, 230655, 230489, 230570, 230676, 230677, 230678, 230445, -- 15
16 Councilman. Councilman, I'm sorry. 17 I think we have to do the amendments 18 first. 19
Okay. 20 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 21 I offer amendments to Bill 22 Nos. 230487, 230570, 230489, 230572, 23 230581, 230580 and 230445. A copy of the amendments have been circulated to all members of Council. The Committee and I move that the amendments be approved.
Thank you, Councilwoman. It's been moved and properly seconded that the amendments to the bills just read in by Councilmember Squilla be approved. All those in favor of a single motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries, and these amendments have been approved. Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a single motion on the bills that we are considering today.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that Bill Nos. 230584, 230655, 230489, 230570, 230676, 230677, 230678, 230445, 230486, 230487, 230488, 230572, 230573, 230575, 230577, 230580, 230581, 230582, 230621, 230622, 230623, 230624, 230625, 230652 and 230550, including any amendments that have just been approved be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit the first reading of these bills at the next session of Council.
It's been moved and properly seconded that the bills just read by Councilmember Squilla, including any amendments that have been approved today be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the first reading of these bills at the next session of Council. All in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Please be advised that Bill No. 15 230548 was held at the sponsor's request and was not heard or moved during this meeting. This concludes the business before the Committee on Streets and Services. I want to thank you all for your attendance and also be conscious of the fact that we voted out over 20 bills, which will be read on the Council floor this Thursday. Thank you colleagues and sorry for the choppiness. We appreciate your patience for those of you in the listening public. And to Councilmember Johnson specifically, thank you for your leadership. And, Councilmember Squilla, thank you for your willingness to work with our vendors. A number of them testified today, and I'm sure you're going to do your due diligence to make sure that they have every opportunity to provide a quality living for themselves and their families. Thank you colleagues. I appreciate you. Thank you for your patience and thank you to the Tech Team for making this hearing happen today. We do apologize for the choppiness, Tech Team, but we do appreciate you. Have a great rest of your day --
Have a great rest of your day everybody. Try to enjoy the weather.
Go Phillies. Thank you all. Have a great day. Thank you, Mr. Chair. (Hearing concluded at 12:45 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