Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I have four bills and four resolutions.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.
An ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No. 080760) approved December 22, 2008, entitled "An ordinance authorizing and directing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 307 by relocating the westerly curb line and house line of Fifteenth Street between Arch Street and Cherry Street."
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property on behalf of the City to convey 816 North 16th Street, 826 North 12th Street, 918 North 19th Street, 1015 North Leithgow Street, 1116 North 4th Street for fair market value.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property, on behalf of the City, to enter into lease and sublease agreements with the Philadelphia Municipal Authority for certain land and improvements located on the northwest corner of North 15th Street and Arch Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance authorizing the Department of Public Property to enter into an easement agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of General Services allowing the Department of General Services to use portions of 1515 Arch Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Forty-Seventh Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Eighteenth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Ninth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution approving the amended and restated redevelopment contract of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Franklin Town Project, designated as Parcel No. 8s.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Madam President, I have one bill and three resolutions.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "City Funds Deposits, Investments, Disbursements," by amending Section 19-203, entitled "Payroll Deductions," to add the Police and Firemen's Insurance Association to the list of entities for which payroll deductions may be authorized by City employees.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution authorizing the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold a public hearing to examine the impact, circumstances, and possible solutions to problems regarding the Philadelphia Water Department's implementation of new stormwater run-off fees on independent business owners.
Madam President, I move for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted and will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution recognizing, honoring, celebrating, and thanking the Philadelphia Children's Alliance for its invaluable contributions to the City of Philadelphia.
Madam President, I move for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
And a resolution urging the Nutter Administration to reinstitute mechanical leaf collection service in the City of Philadelphia.
Madam President, I move for the adoption of (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly 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 next order of business is reports from committees. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney for a report from the Committee on Rules.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Rules reports five bills with favorable recommendations.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 100536, entitled "An ordinance amending provisions of The Philadelphia Code relating to towing; in particular, amending Section 9-605, entitled 'Towing,' by revising the provisions for the licensing of towing companies; by revising the rotation system for towing certain vehicles; by providing for fines, penalties and license suspensions, and for administrative adjudication of certain violations"; and Bill No. 100555, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Broad Street, Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Park Avenue, and Oxford Street"; and Bill No. 100556, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Institutional Development District Master Plan of Temple University, located on the block bounded by 13th Street, Diamond Street, 12th Street, and Norris Street, by allowing for the construction of a new building addition for use as the School of Architecture"; and Bill No. 100673, entitled "An ordinance approving the thirty-eighth amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Models Cities Urban Renewal Area, being the area beginning at the northwest corner of Front Street and Spring Garden Street"; and Bill No. 100710, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-650 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Towing,' by revising the requirements for signs that give notice that unauthorized parking is prohibited and unauthorized vehicles will be towed from a private lot or private property, under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 100536, 555, 556, 673 and 710. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bills just reported from committee. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bills just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a report from the Committee on Law and Government.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Law and Government reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
The Committee on Law and Government, to which was referred Bill No. 090588, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 14-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning Board of Adjustment,' by amending Section 14-1805, entitled 'Hearings,' by revising the number of members of the Zoning Board of Adjustment that shall constitute a quorum, under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 090588. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bill just reported from committee. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bill just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a report from the Committee on Public Health and Human Services.
The Committee on Public Health and Human Services reports two bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
The Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred Bill No. 100489, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the City of Philadelphia to organize an authority to be known as The Philadelphia Health Center Authority, pursuant to the provisions of the Municipality Act"; and Bill No. 100634, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-622 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Cigarettes and Tobacco Products,' by revising the acceptable forms of identification; and by increasing the penalties for violations; all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 100489 and 100634.
It properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bills just reported from committee. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bills just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with a suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. There are no other additional bills on the First Reading Calendar. 11/18/10 - STATED - 2ND READING Therefore, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for the purpose of calling up the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar to be considered today.
Thank you, Madam President. Bills 100654 and 100674 are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today. All other bills are being held.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 100654.
An ordinance authorizing the issuance of one or more series of general obligation bonds to provide funds to refund certain outstanding general obligation bonds of the City of Philadelphia.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. 11/18/10 - STATED - 2ND READING The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having 11/18/10 - STATED - 2ND READING voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. We will now consider Bill No. 100674.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a license agreement with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development pursuant to which PAID will operate certain programs at the Scanlon Ice Rink, the Laura Sims Skatehouse at Cobbs Creek, the rink at the Simons Recreation and Teen Access Center, the Rizzo Ice Rink and the Tarken Ice Rink, by entering into a long term sublicense agreement with the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll. 11/18/10 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. 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 Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I have two different comments to make. First, I'd like to announce that on November the 29th, there will be a benefit concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS at the Four Seasons, and it will feature the Jersey Boys singing American Bandstand hits. So we encourage people to go to the event. It starts at 6:30 and the concert is at 7:30 at the Four Seasons Hotel. We've had hearings in City Council on the impact of HIV/AIDS in Philadelphia and do work around that issue, but this is a benefit to raise money for HIV/AIDS for this program. The second comment I'd like to make, President, is about our friend and leader, Dwight Evans. For the past 20 years, Representative Evans has diligently served the constituents of the Greater Philadelphia region through his stewardship of the House Appropriations Committee and through his leadership and expertise in working with various governors and legislators in passing annual budgets for the Commonwealth. He did it quietly and without fanfare. He made sure funding came to Philadelphia and the region for things that most people will never realize. He developed the development of the Convention Center, which has created 50,000 hospitality jobs and generates an annual economic impact of $3 billion for Philadelphia and $8 billion for the region; the Convention Center's expansion, which created 2,000 more -which will create 2,000 more hospitality jobs, providing an additional 150 million in economic impact and more than 280,000 room nights, providing an additional $140 million in economic impact. And certainly you can't discount the expansion, which created a number of construction jobs throughout -- to this area in a very weak economic time. Dwight Evans led the Philadelphia School Reform effort, which developed better educational standards and higher standards of achievement in the Philadelphia School District. He championed a bipartisan legislation that enabled Philadelphia to become the first state to pass an educational improvement tax credit, which provided more than 52 million in scholarships. He brought supermarkets and fresh food to communities where none Financing Initiative, which is a statewide program available to all communities in this Commonwealth, that initiative provided $120 million for 88 fresh food retail projects in 34 Pennsylvania counties that has created or preserved more than 5,000 jobs. His initiative has become a national model recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama and was used by President Obama to support $400 million in investments for supermarkets, farmers' markets and other food stores in the federal budget. He has provided matching funding for recreations throughout this city for their expansion in every councilmanic district in the City. He has supported the arts, the museums that are in the City, contributing to their expansion and certainly to the Barnes. He has supported numerous organizations throughout this city when they needed funding for their local programs. He did no, no matter where they were. And though he may be criticized for looking out for his district, you're a fool if you don't look out for your district. But looking out for his district has improved the community that he took over in 1980 that was blighted, businesses closed, the shops falling down, is now a model for economic development in the City and throughout the country, and revitalized a neighborhood which, for people who live in that community who are residents of this city and who pay taxes, he brought some of their tax dollars back to improve their neighborhood. He has supported hospitals in their efforts to expand and our local universities. The list goes on and on, and you can -- many of us in this room can cite examples of his leadership in this city.
So I say if critical programs schools, if your recreation center is unable to match City funding for expansion, if you don't see new supermarkets opening in Philadelphia and across the state, and if all of the community organizations in all neighborhoods fail to get state support for their projects, just remember that it was Philadelphians who voted against Philadelphia in order to empower the western part of the state. On November the 2nd, Election Day, Philadelphians kept their promise and gave their votes to the democratic candidate for governor. We lost, but it did not -- but it is not the republicans who voted against Philadelphia, our leadership in Harrisburg, but it was Philadelphians who voted not to have Philadelphia in leadership in Harrisburg. We will suffer. But, Philadelphians, I don't want you to forget that it was Philadelphians, democrats, who voted of the worst economic downturns in recent history, it is truly a sad time for Philadelphia to lose its strongest voice and to lose it because those in Philadelphia chose to shut that voice down. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to echo and affirm the comments from our Majority Leader Councilwoman Tasco. I have something different to discuss with us today. Unfortunately, I am holding in my hand a Bloomberg report from yesterday reporting that Philadelphia's credit rating was reduced to A2 from A1 by Moody's Investors Service. The one-step downgrade, to the firm's six highest grade, affects 3.85 billion of general obligation bonds and similar debt. Our Budget Director seemed surprised by this. To Moody's she said, The timing is a bit odd with the downgrade, because we feel like we've turned a corner. The City had an operating surplus in the year ended June 30th, after two years of deficits. Our tax revenue is stabilizing. Sales tax collections are up the September 30th quarter, higher than they were a year ago. That's the first time that's happened in two years. Unfortunately, reading between the lines of what is in this downgrade, it's clear that the Administration has taken the easy way out by proposing over $850 million in new taxes and fees and fines in just three years. The Administration has failed to negotiate union contracts that will bring certainty to our fiscal future. The contracts we pension and healthcare costs, which take tremendous resources away from services to citizens. In short, Philadelphia is kicking the can down the road, and that is why it's being downgraded. It is kicking the can down the road to the next generation of Philadelphians. We have been ineffective in transforming our cost base. It is unfortunate third-party confirmation of what many of us have come to accept. We have been ineffective at making the changes that Philadelphians need for our future to grow and prosper. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. I wish to return to the issue raised by Majority Leader Tasco. For we need to be focused on the future, we must also be mindful of the past. I want to cite some additional examples of Representative Evans' work that mattered most to me. But for Representative Evans, we would not have the Multi-Cultural Affairs Congress of the Philadelphia Convention Center. He focused on hospitality and tourism. But for Representative Evans, we would not have had the Pennsylvania's charter school law. He was the first to take the leap and stand up in advocacy of charter schools and school choice. And for those who, like us, who care about public education as well, he stopped the threatened shutdown of the Philadelphia School District in 1998 with the passage of the Act 48 -- Act 46 focusing on education. He worked very, very, very closely with Councilwoman Tasco around predatory lending. who care about adult offenders, he was the prime sponsor of legislation which brought into existence Pennsylvania's first and only motivational boot camp for adult offenders. You can go to neighborhood improvements, you can go to fighting crime and you can go to the area I most love, the arts. But for Representative Evans, institutions like Philadanco, like Freedom Theatre, like the Philadelphia Art Museum and so many others would not have benefited from his leadership. And, yes, we need to celebrate our friends who remember their purpose when sitting in the Legislature. So we also need to be mindful of those who opted not to support not Representative Evans but, at the end of the day, opted not to support Philadelphia. Madam President, I close by saying that there is a silver lining. My former boss, the Honorable Vincent Hughes 7th Senatorial District, was elected to the highest ranking democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. So we want to congratulate him and wish him well in this tough, but never impossible, political climate. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. Just shortly, I'd really like to commend Councilwomen Tasco and Brown on their comments relative to Representative Evans. I certainly have been around this profession long enough to know the impact that he has had here in Philadelphia. Councilwoman Tasco, however, is more kind than I am, because at least two members of the State House Delegation voted against Representative Evans, and that was Representative O'Brien and Representative Cruz. Now, of course, I'm very disappointed with their decision, but at least they have the courage to put themselves out there and tell people what they did. My understanding was, there were other members of the Philadelphia Delegation who voted against Representative Evans, and I think they owe us, our city and their own constituents the same truthfulness to come forward and say, Yes, I voted against Philadelphia; yes, I voted against the resources that could come to Philadelphia coming here; and, yes, I voted to allow whatever scarce resources there are to go west on the Turnpike to Pittsburgh. Good luck for Pittsburgh, but bad luck for us. And I think those State Representatives who voted against Representative Evans should have the and admit what they've done. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thanks, Madam President. I couldn't have said it better. My colleagues Tasco and Brown and now Kenney have all said good works of our colleague in the House. In my district -- all politics is local, and in my district he's made his impact both at the Lowe's Center, but for his initiative at the state level, there would be no Shop Rite at 52nd and Jefferson. It transformed a community. I also agree with many of the comments about his contribution throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, but here's what I do disagree about: I come here to praise Caesar, not to bury him. He has knowledge. He has skills. He understands the budget process. I am absolutely sure we will hear from him again. His input will be valuable, his leadership irreplaceable. And as he goes forth with his career up there, he will continue to make a difference for everybody here in Philadelphia. And we encourage him not to lose faith, not to lose heart, but to keep up the good fight as we deal with his loss in leadership. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing no one, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Council stand 2nd, 2010, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, December 2nd at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:50 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 November 18, 2010, 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.)