The ayes have it and the motion carries. Councilwoman Brown -- I'm sorry. We will now consider Resolution 110254.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
A resolution recognizing and congratulating the City of Philadelphia on its recognition by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as one of the top 20 cities in the country with Energy Star certified buildings.
Councilwoman Brown. 4/7/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion passes. The Chief Clerk will please read Resolution No. 110255.
A resolution urging the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enact an amnesty program for the Traffic Court of Philadelphia whereby drivers who have lost their driving privileges for failure to pay outstanding traffic violations can have those privileges restored upon payment in full 4/7/11 - STATED - 2ND READING of all outstanding traffic fines.
The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 110188.
A resolution confirming the appointment of Michael H. Reed as a member of the Board of Ethics, to serve in the term ending November 16, 4/7/11 - STATED - 2ND READING 2015.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 110189.
A resolution confirming the appointment of Judge Phyllis W. Beck as a member of the Board of Ethics, to serve in the term ending 4/7/11 - STATED - 2ND READING November 16, 2012.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Resolution 110189 be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 100314.
A resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for a mandatory Budget Stabilization Reserve, and providing for the submission 4/7/11 - STATED - 2ND READING of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Madam President. It's my intention to amend the resolution this morning. The amendments have been circulated to the members of Council. They are technical in nature, and I move their adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment proposed by Councilman Kenney regarding Resolution 100314 be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 110002. 4/7/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
An ordinance amending Chapter 15-100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Parks," by prohibiting the transfer or conversion of outdoor public park and recreation land in the City to other uses or to third parties unless certain procedures and requirements are met.
Thank you, Madam President. I make a motion to amend Bill No. 110002. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that the amendment proposed by Councilwoman Brown be adopted. All in favor will say aye. 4/7/11 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. We will now consider Bill No. 110145.
An ordinance authorizing 217 West George Street Limited Liability Company to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 217 West George Street.
The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I move -- it's a roll call.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill of business is the consideration of the Suspension Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Bill No. 100715 be removed from the Suspension Calendar and placed on the Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance authorizing Mike Scotese, owner of Grey Lodge Pub, to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 6235 Frankford Avenue.
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 100715 be removed and placed on the Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion is adopted. Bill No. 100715 will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. That completes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I passed a flyer out -- my office passed a flyer out just a few minutes ago, and I just want Councilmembers and the public to know that the Penn Program on Documentaries and Law presents 2011 Rough Cut Video Festival, and this is Tuesday, April 12th, 2011. The films start at 6:35 and then they'll have another series of films that start at 8:35, and it's two screens, at 34th and Chestnut Street. It's free and it's free food. And one of the subjects of -- one of the films that's actually going to be shown --
Councilwoman, just a minute. The noise level is much too high. Please continue.
Okay. Thank you. I just wanted everyone to know that one of the films that's going to be 6:35 is ban-the-box legislation in Philadelphia, and then it will also be shown at 7:30. It's a 30-minute film, and people are just welcomed to go and encouraged to go to see this film, this video clip. This is all a production that comes out of the Penn Law School. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. In the words of one of our students, cutting education funds ignorance. Today, Madam President, I come to you as a former public school teacher of third graders, as a product of the public education in the Commonwealth and as a product of one of our state's public institutions, Penn State University. The great Marion Wright Edelman once stated, If we don't stand children, then we don't stand for much. I join the many who stand for children in response to Governor Corbett's budget proposal that slashes education in an unprecedented manner, a budget that cuts both basic education and higher education throughout the Commonwealth. Depending upon who you talk to, the facts are somewhere between 1.1 and 1.6 billion will be cut. That equals 25 percent of the Philadelphia Public School District to the tune of 293 million, yet Philadelphia represents only ten percent of our state's population. And further it slashes the universities that comprise our state system of higher education by 50 percent. Why would we be concerned about this? President Barack Obama in December 2010 stated and we learned alarming new information about American students and how they measure up against the rest of the world. We're No. 14 in reading, No. 17 in science, No. 25 in math. President Barack Obama said that these stats should serve as a wake-up call for America. And our United States Education Secretary Arne Duncan stated, quote, "We live in a globally competitive, knowledge-based economy and our children today are at a competitive disadvantage with children from other countries." With our children already falling behind, the elimination of $1.1 billion in resources will put us on a fast track to further decline and some might argue a faster track when it comes to building prisons. Thankfully the outrage is not falling on deaf ears. In March 2011, Franklin & Marshall College polled Pennsylvania residents, and here were the findings: 81 percent oppose balancing the budget on the back of state and local school districts; 72 percent oppose cutting funding for our public universities. Further, Pennsylvanians polled, and what were the responses? Sixty-two percent of Pennsylvania residents favor taxing companies that extract and sell natural gas, a proposal that would generate over $4 million by 2016. According to the state Budget and Policy Center, Pennsylvania is only one of the top 15 natural gas-producing states that do not have a drilling tax. Repeat. Pennsylvania is only one of the top 15 natural gas-producing states that do not have a drilling tax. Our current Governor is allowing natural gas extractions to come into our state, make a huge profit from their companies, many of their companies outside of Pennsylvania, compromise our environment and drinking water, all for free. I stand with those who challenge both Governor Corbett and the leaders in Harrisburg to consider what the priorities are, reduce our children's companies from outside Pennsylvania to get richer on the backs of our kids. The good news, however, Madam President, is that lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have told university officials and students that they will fight for more funding in the final spending plan. So in closing, again, I join the many parents of thousands of students that were at the School District building, teachers, educators and then citizens who just care who are waking up and acknowledging this unprecedented, ugly scenario that we currently look at when it comes to the Commonwealth public education system. I thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Madam President. I can give my speech of the majority in one sentence today. I want to commend Mayor Nutter for helping us retain Commissioner Ramsey in the City of Philadelphia. I think he's done a great job for the last three years and three months, and I'm proud that we're keeping him. Thank you.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 14th, 10:00 a.m., 2011. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 14th. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.) 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 on April 7, 2011, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-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.)