COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC HEARING COMMITTEE ON LAW AND GOVERNMENT - - - Room 696, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, February 19, 2003 1:15 p.m. - - - BILL 020728 - An Ordinance amending Title of The 10 Philadelphia Code, entitled "Miscellaneous," by adding provisions... 11 BILL 020810 - An Ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of 12 Philadelphia of an amendment to Section 6-400(c) of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter... 13 RESOLUTION 020817 - Resolution proposing an amendment to Section 6-400 of the Philadelphia Home 14 Rule Charter... 15 - - - 16 17 PRESENT: COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN, Chairman 18 COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY 19 COUNCILMAN MICHAEL NUTTER COUNCILMAN ANGEL ORTIZ 20 COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO 21 - - - V A R A L L O, INCORPORATED Litigation Support Services Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 (215) 561-2220 I N D E X BILL 020728 PAGE JOYCE WILKERSON, Mayor's Chief of Staff ..... DAVID GLANCEY, Board of Revision of Taxes ... 14 CARLA PUPPIN, Queen Village Neighbors Association ............................ 32 RICHARD THOM, Old City Civic Association .... 36 LANCE HAVER, Equity Project .................. 40 HEIDI GOLD, League of Women Voters .......... 45 COLLEEN FARRELL, League of Women Voters ..... 46 JOB ITZKOWITZ, Young Involved Philadelphia .. 47 DAVID C. THOMPSON, Fairmount Civic Assoc. ... 52 MARY TRACY .................................. 55 3 2/19/03 - LAW AND GOVERNMENT - BILL 020728
The Committee of Law and Government notes the existence of the present of a quorum with Councilman Rizzo to my extreme right, that seems to be accurate; and Councilman Kenney to my ordinary right, and I'm not sure whether that's accurate, Councilman Kenney has been appointed by the President as a member of the Committee for the pure of this hearing; myself David Cohen. I'm usually not considered a centralist, but I sit here as Chairman in the center today; and Councilman Wilson Goode, Jr., to my left; and Councilman Ortiz to my extreme left, so I think that's pretty accurate. The Committee has before it the consideration of two bills, one of which consists of two parts since it relates to a proposed amendment to the Home Rule Charter, therefore, it requires an addition to an ordinance, it requires a resolution. The first matter to come before the committee will be 020728, which is a bill, and I will ask the Director of the Committee to read the title of the bill.
An Ordinance amending Title 21 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled 4 2/19/03 - LAW AND GOVERNMENT - BILL 020728 "Miscellaneous," by adding provisions requiring members of Boards and Commissions of the City of Philadelphia to conduct certain of their deliberations, including deliberations with respect to adjudications pending before the Board or Commission, only at meetings open to the public, with certain exceptions, and under certain terms and conditions.
I'm told that this is aimed at situations in which particularly members of the public come and testify at a proceeding before a board or a commission; it can be the Art Commission, it could be the Zoning Board, it could be the L&I Board of Inspections and Review, any board which listens to testimony then months later issues a decision which everyone is told is based upon deliberations that occurred to which the public was not party and knew nothing about. Over the years, there have been frequent criticism by many community groups and organizations and people who don't understand why those deliberations are not made public so that the public could participate, not only giving testimony, but in participating in making the final decision. 5 2/19/03 - LAW AND GOVERNMENT - BILL 020728 That, in summary, is the purpose of this particular bill. I'd like to ask Joyce Wilkerson who is the Chief of Staff of the City Administration to express whatever opinions she wishes to present on behalf of the City with respect to this issue. And thereafter, there will be a series of other witnesses from the community.
Joyce, I'll make the statement for you, but it applies to all witnesses. Please, when you begin to testify, pronounce your name and spell your last name. That's for the purpose of the