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.)
Those 12/8/11 - STATED - 2ND READING opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 110889.
A resolution supporting the Mayor's Commission on Aging Strategic Plan for 2013 in order for Philadelphia to become a leading City in being age-friendly.
Thanks again, 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.)
Those 12/8/11 - STATED - 2ND READING opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. We will now consider Resolution 110890.
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 Fifth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It 12/8/11 - STATED - 2ND READING 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 Bill No. 110130.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Real Estate Taxes," to provide a credit against the tax for owners of condominiums and cooperatives and planned community units who do not receive regular City refuse, recycling and bulk item collection services.
This bill having been read on two different days -12/8/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
-the question now is shall the bill pass finally. I'm sorry. Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to be recognized to speak against this bill. This is a refund of tax dollars for a service that is not taken advantage of by citizens. The cost of a condo is discounted up front at the purchase based on the amount of the condo fee, which includes trash collection in many cases. No one person benefits enough on a yearly basis to make it worthwhile to set a precedent to reimburse them for an unused service or for the General Fund to be reduced by millions. What about citizens who don't use the school system or police or fire? I'm happy to look at an RFP to provide a citywide condo trash pickup, 12/8/11 - STATED - 2ND READING and I believe that that would be likely less expensive than this bill. This bill, however, is bad policy. It is also a choice Council would be making that the best place to spend these millions is not schools, not tax refunds that create jobs, not homeless, not lead remediation, not police or rec centers, but instead payment to condo owners. As we are asked to set millage in connection with the full value which we will be next year, we will wish we had these millions in the General Fund. It's a tax refund creating no jobs. This is a poor use of these millions, and I urge my colleagues to vote no.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Chief Clerk will now read 12/8/11 - STATED - 2ND READING the title of 110275 -- the Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill 100011.
An ordinance amending Chapter 6-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Lead Paint Disclosure," to require a certification that a property is lead free or lead safe before it may be rented to a tenant.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of an amendment, Madam President. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 12/8/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it and the amendment is adopted. We will now consider Bill No. 110712.
An ordinance amending Chapter 6-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Asbestos Projects," by providing that no person or affiliated persons, as defined, may be both a licensed asbestos contractor and a certified asbestos project inspector.
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.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Clerk will please read any other additional resolutions on today's Calendar.
A resolution 12/8/11 - STATED - 2ND READING authorizing the Philadelphia Police Department to donate all bicycles recovered by the Department from the streets of Philadelphia, and unclaimed by their owners after ninety days, to the Police Athletic League on an annual basis, so that this charitable organization may identify and distribute said bicycles to disadvantaged children throughout the City of Philadelphia during the annual holiday season.
I move 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. Are there any other resolutions to be considered?
Thank you. 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 Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. Every year around this time, Toys for Tots collects new unwrapped toys to distribute to needy families at Christmas. Last year, Philly.com, Toys for Tots distributed 113,000 toys, but this year they think they will fall short of that total. Marine Staff Sergeant Mark Palos, the Toys for Tots coordinator for Philadelphia and Bristol, Pennsylvania, told Philly.com, We are way undersupplied. We are running out of toys, and people keep requesting them. We just don't have enough to give them. So this is where you come in, or all of us come in. Toys for Tots is currently accepting gift drop-offs at every Philadelphia Fire Department station, station house, and will be set up outside the Pennsylvania Convention Center from December 14th to the 16th. A full list of additional drop-off locations are available on Philly.com. So I'd urge everyone to in this particularly difficult holiday season, let's see what they can do to get that number back up. you, Madam President.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning I once again point to Washington, DC to encourage those in Congress to pass the payroll tax cut now. This reduction in the payroll tax cut in 2010 reduced it from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent, giving roughly 160 million workers an increase in earnings immediately. According to the U.S. Today, on average the tax cut saves at least $1,000 per person and $2,100 per married couple. This tax cut benefits the famous 99 percent that we've grown to know and love around here. Furthermore, the payroll tax cut does not put in jeopardy Social Security. To quote President Obama, Social Security has been falsely about our nation's debt and deficit. According to the Washington Post, Social Security Trust Fund is running a $2.6 trillion surplus. I'm going to say it again, $2.6 trillion surplus. So this payroll cut benefits most Americans. It doesn't -- no party favorites or special interest. It benefits blue states, red states, R's and D's. So let's do our business. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I want to certainly commend Jim Kenney for his statement on Toys for Tots. Many of you know how I feel about homelessness, and we every year -- the good Lord uses us to give out 3,000 toys just on our level, helps us, too. So many people around the City, we thank them all. We already have in our possession over 500 toys. So we're well on our way for our fair on the 20th that many of you attend and support. So we certainly associate ourselves with his comments, and it's a wonderful time and we are always -- we're always gratified and overwhelmed and grateful for all the support that we find that happens. People are willing to give, as long as we find a way they can do so. I also wanted to mention that we put on everybody's desk our Echoes for Africa notebooks, and we have them available for anybody else who would like them. We started Echoes of Africa maybe a dozen years ago and even before we started the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs. That's about seven years old. This is about maybe 12 years old. And, as you know, the Mayor's Commission partners with at the Zoo yearly now. And so it is just that with this -our communication system in this world, the world is a small place, and America, thank God, is the greatest country in the world and we welcome and work with all people. And so we are happy today to just give you a little memento to remember some of our friends and neighbors, some born here and some born overseas. Thank you, Madam President.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I will be brief, but I'd like to just share with you some comments about my friend and State Representative Dwight Evans, who was selected to participate in a study tour, a U.S. South African tour, Transparency Program, sponsored by the National Conference of State Legislatures and the U.S. Department of State during the early part of November. The delegation of lawmakers from across the country had an exciting and busy agenda with visits to Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Wanfanten (ph), Cape Town, Free State and Pesho (ph). Representative Evans presented a workshop at the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, entitled "Oversight Over the Executive." He shared insights from his 20 years of experience as Democratic Appropriations Chair of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Representative Evans also provided an overview of the Pennsylvania and U.S. Constitutions. He also served as leader for the day for the three days during his study. He also had the opportunity to do many meetings and site visits with government, education, educational economic development leaders, including and Children's Hospital in South Africa. Dwight Evans also spent time trying to garner some international support for his signature public policy initiative, the Fresh Food Financing Initiative. He had an opportunity to speak with Bill Lindbergh, the U.S. Consultant General of Cape Town, South Africa about the fresh food impact and possible replication in South Africa. Evans saved the best for last, the chance to do some shopping at the local Shop Rite Market in Johannesburg. Representative Evans first met Nelson Mandela in 1993 in Philadelphia, Bright Hope Baptist Church, during a visit arranged by former Congressman Bill Gray, and he had an opportunity to go to South Africa in 1994 as a trustee of the Suspension Board. He enjoyed his trip, and he's trying to connect Children's Hospital with the Nelson Mandela Hospital in South Africa. work in the United States, in the City, as well as in South Africa.
So we applaud him for his efforts, and thank you very much.
You're welcome. 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 President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, December 15th, 2011, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council Thursday, December 15th 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 12:35 p.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 December 8, 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.)