Stated Meeting, March 24, 2011

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 24, 2011 10:05 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO, JR. COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO MICHAEL A. DECKER,

Good morning, everyone. I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of this Council is present. Council will please come to order. Members will take their seats, and visitors will retire to the seats outside the rails. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Pastor Robert Paul of Piney Grove Baptist Church. He is here today as the guest of Councilman Green. I would ask all members and guests to please rise. (Members and guests rise.)

Shall we pray. Eternal and Gracious Father, we come now in the most humble manner as we know how. Father, we thank you for the rising of a day that was not promised to us. We thank you, God, for the gathering of thine people. We bring, Lord, those that are gathered here today, Lord. We give us all oneness in you. We thank you, My Father, for our President Verna. We thank you, God, for all of our councilmanic men and women that are here. Lord, we thank you for our city that we all love so dearly. Father, we would be remiss if we do not add special blessings upon our leader, our Mayor, Mayor Nutter. We ask, God, that thou would give us all leadership and followship. Pray that thou would keep us humble, where we maybe use and hear your voice and not another. Lord, guide us and teach us as only thou can. Lord, we do give a special prayer for all of our children, father, those that are homeless and, Lord, those that are destitute. Keep us and make us, Lord, champions in your word. Father, when this life is over, we pray that you would allow us to come to live eternally in thine presence, will sit around and hear your voice continuously. Lord, we just want to hear you say, Well done, my good and faithful servant. Bless us as only thou can. It's in your name we do ask that all the saints of God say amen. (Amen.)

The Chair thanks Pastor Paul for his invocation. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)

The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 17th, 2011. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.

Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 17th, 2011 be approved. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, March 17th, 2011 stand approved. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.

Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of the majority, there are no requests for leave of absence today.

The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.

Madam President, I don't believe we have any requests, no, we don't, for leave of absence today.

Thank you. The Chair will dispense with the regular order of business to recognize the guests and visitors joining us in Chambers this morning. On behalf of all members of City Council, I welcome you to our Council session. We appreciate your taking the time to join us as we attend to the legislative affairs of our city. We certainly invite you to come again. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney, who will present a resolution on my behalf proclaiming March, 2011, as American Red Cross Month in Philadelphia. Would Mr. Bayard Gardineer and those accompanying him please join the Councilman at the podium. Kenney.

Thank you, Madam President, for allowing me to do this resolution. It's certainly appropriate considering how busy the Red Cross have been around the world most recently. This is a resolution proclaiming March, 2011, as American Red Cross Month in the City of Philadelphia. Whereas, the American Red Cross is the humanitarian organization led by dedicated volunteers that provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies; and Whereas, compassion, courage, character, civic duty are inherent in the Red Cross mission to prevent and relieve human suffering, and the City of Philadelphia shares these grand ideals; and Whereas, the Red Cross is Congress to act in times of need, providing compassionate assistance to people afflicted by personal, local or national disasters; and Whereas, the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter is the leading volunteer agency meeting the needs of thousands of individuals and families throughout the greater Philadelphia region affected by 685 disasters last year, 528 in Philadelphia alone; and Whereas, the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter provides a worldwide emergency communication link and other casework services to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families in the greater Philadelphia region, 24 hours a day, every day of the year, a total of 1,872 times last year; and Whereas, in the Southeastern Pennsylvania region, the American Red 98,000 people in vital, lifesaving skills including CPR, AED, first aid, water safety and HIV/AIDS prevention, as well as disaster preparedness skills; and Whereas, the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter fulfilled its commitment to spotlighting National Preparedness Month by providing emergency preparedness outreach and education programs free of charge to millions of Southeastern Pennsylvania residents and businesses; and Whereas, the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter operated 15 Red Cross Clubs in the region and trained 29,000 youth in Red Cross Trainings including HIV prevention, disaster preparedness, first aid and CPR, and International Humanitarian Law, and SEPA youth programs reached over 80,000 children last year to strengthen service learning, citizenship, and leadership skills. Therefore, in special recognition of the humanitarian efforts of the American Red Cross, its staff and volunteers, we, the members of the City Council of Philadelphia, do hereby proclaim March 2011 as Red Cross Month in Philadelphia. I encourage all citizens to recognize and support the invaluable contributions of the American Red Cross. Thank you and congratulations. (Applause.)

The Chair recognizes Mr. Gardineer for brief remarks.

Special thanks to Council President Verna as well as the City Councilmembers in recognizing the American Red Cross's commitment to help Philadelphians prevent, prepare for and respond to life's emergencies. Whether it be a Windemere or a Blumberg's apartment fire or the single-family fires that seem to happen just about every evening, the American to provide services that are needed. In addition, we want to recognize our special partnership with the City's Office of Emergency Management as well as its public agencies, and, finally, the City's Fire Department. We have a special relationship with this group. We do walk-throughs after fatal fires in which we knock on doors, we talk with people about fire safety, and the dozens of schools we reach in the Philadelphia area, talking about fire safety, all to try to help Philadelphia become a safer place to live. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)

The Chair now recognizes Councilman Clarke, who will present a resolution honoring The Philadelphia OIC. and those accompanying him please join the Councilman at the podium. I see that Councilman Clarke is being joined by Councilwoman Miller, Councilman Greenlee, Councilman Jones and Councilman Goode. Also now coming forward is Councilwoman Brown. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.

Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, the level of importance has just gone up tenfold with these illustrious individuals up on this stage today. I just want to say it's truly a pleasure and an honor to be here with them today. This is a resolution recognizing and honoring The Philadelphia OIC for its dedication to the elimination of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy to ensuring a meaningful and productive quality of life for youth, adults and community.

And whereas, OIC was founded in 1964 by the late Reverend Leon H. Sullivan as a response to the civil unrest in the "sixties" and the related lack of education and job opportunities, particularly for minorities; and Whereas, with local companies refusing to open their doors to job applicants, Reverend Sullivan instituted a "selected patronage" campaign and for one full year, 400 ministers instructed their congregations not to buy certain products. When these same companies realized the economic impact this was having, they reconsidered their positions; and

Whereas, OIC opened its first training facility at 19th and Oxford Streets in North Central Philadelphia. From the modest beginning in an abandoned jailhouse, Reverend Ritter with a cadre of volunteers and staff over time opened local training sites in West Philadelphia, Germantown and the Fairmount section of the City; and Whereas, this major initiative generated attention in Washington, and President Lyndon Johnson visited Philadelphia and his impressions led to the beginning of federal funding for job training. This "movement" gained national attention, giving rise to an increase to interest groups across the country in urban and rural areas, all seeking to replicate the OIC model; and

Whereas, at its apex, OIC had 100 affiliates, all operating under the philosophical banner of "Helping People Help Themselves." This expansion led to the formation of OICs of America, the parent organization. Since its inception in 1964, OIC has served more than 3 million people worldwide and over 80,000 in Philadelphia alone; and Whereas, Reverend Sullivan believed that the most important civil rights was, quote, "economic civil rights," end quote, and rather than focus exclusively on equal accommodations as in the right to sit at the same lunch counter in a restaurant, why not aspire to own the restaurant. This focus led to the "10/36" plan, asking individuals in the community to invest $10 per month for 36 months, and this capitalized the building of Progress Plaza, one of the first black-owned shopping centers in the country, in Councilman Clarke's district. Over time this led to ownership and management of Progress Plaza in West Philadelphia, senior citizen homes, "Our Markets," an auto repair shop and other business ventures. Job training and business ownership became the hallmark of OIC; and

Whereas, Reverend Sullivan over time positioned more effective by joining the Board of General Motors and directing opportunities for minorities in management and dealer ownerships. He also created national corporate advisory committees to support this ongoing focus on jobs and related corporate funding support. His development of corporate, community and political relationships, including Presidents of the United States, led to funding, but more importantly to him was opening the doors of opportunity for minorities across a broad spectrum of profit and non-profit arenas; and Whereas, Reverend Sullivan in his later years turned his attention to and energy to ending apartheid, the oppressive political system in South Africa. This led to the "Sullivan Corporate Principles," a commitment by U.S. corporations to stop doing business and that the financial impact would force the South American government to ultimately helped lead to the dismantling of apartheid and the release of Nelson Mandela from jail after 27 years; and

Whereas, the close relationship between Mandela and Sullivan led to the replication of OICs in South America and over time the replication of OICs in Poland, Great Britain and the Caribbean. Moreover, the work in Africa led to a biannual Sullivan Summit, a gathering of African Americans and African Heads of State to formulate mutually beneficial social, political and business relationships; and Whereas, Reverend Sullivan began his historic journey in North Central Philadelphia and created a national network of education and training affiliates, the creation of businesses, opened the doors of opportunity for many formerly denied access. His legacy is being preserved and advanced by OIC of America headed by son, Howard; the International Foundation of Education and Self Help, IFESH, in Phoenix, Arizona, led by Julie, his oldest daughter; and the Sullivan Foundation, led by Hope Sullivan Masters, Reverend Sullivan's youngest daughter. Grace Sullivan continues as the matriarch of the Sullivan family and remains the inspiration for the work of OIC following the passing of Reverend Sullivan in 2001; now therefore be it

Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that The Philadelphia OIC be recognized and honored for its dedication to the elimination of poverty, unemployment and illiteracy to ensuring a meaningful and productive quality of life for youth, adults and families within the Philadelphia community. Congratulations. (Applause.)

There's probably to say behind that, but I'm joined up here this morning -- first of all, my name is Bob Nelson, President of the Philadelphia OIC, and I'm joined -- more have joined since I got up here, but here I'm joined by Mr. Kevin Cafferky, who is my Controller, who is here to collect contributions if they should come forthcoming. Maybe not. Mr. Bernie -- Dr. Bernie Anderson, noted economist and who has lived half of his life working with OIC; Mr. Ralph Perkins, who is in fact a senior executive with the OIC Foundation, the Sullivan Foundation in Washington; Mr. Greg Losier, OICs of America; Mr. Wendell Whitlock is somewhere here, who is in fact the Chairperson of the Progress Investment Associates, that entity responsible for Progress Plaza, the newly renovated Progress Plaza. If you need to go shopping after this meeting, please go to Progress Plaza and Fresh Grocer. Mr. Robert Turner - (Applause.)

Oh, okay. Mr. Robert Turner, Interim Executive Director of the Sullivan Trust, the entity responsible for Haddington Plaza in West Philadelphia, plus the Sullivan Human Services Building; a stranger to no one, Mr. "Ducky" Birts; representing the OIC Board of Directors, Mr. Al Taubenberger, OIC Board of Directors; a longtime friend of OIC, Mr. Jim Reed from Verizon; and a note to a former alumnus of OIC, Councilperson Blondell Reynolds Brown. (Applause.)

Madam President and members, thank you very much for this honor and recognition of OIC. Darrell, thank you very much for your sponsorship, and certainly the co-signatories on this resolution. We just finished celebrating Black History Month, and to the best of my knowledge, Reverend Sullivan was not that celebration. And if in fact Reverend Sullivan, a great American, a great African American, a great citizen of the world -- in fact, Reverend Sullivan is probably more renowned and revered in Africa than he was here in the United States. And if OIC is not recognized beyond today, it's the fault of those of us from OIC for not ensuring that what he's done in his life is chronicled for people, but, more importantly, that the history of OIC and Reverend Sullivan should be in the history books in the public school system here in Philadelphia. (Applause.)

Because if the students are able to read about Reverend Sullivan and OIC and discuss that at home, I think they would find that many, many parents would be able to say, Oh, I went to OIC, I got a job at OIC. It personalizes the history and makes kids. Because they should know about Reverend Sullivan and OIC, which has already been talked about in this resolution. They should know about the fires in the '60s when Reverend Sullivan, with the blessings and support of Zion Baptist Church, doused those flames with the message of hope and opportunity and OIC was born as the first training center. It spread to the Fairmount sections of the City, to Germantown, to West Philadelphia, and then Reverend Sullivan, with the federal support of President Lyndon Johnson, said, Well, this thing works, why don't we just kind of do it around the country. One hundred and fifty OICs around this country serving rural communities, urban communities. Even OICs currently exist on American Indian reservations. And later on, Doc said, I've got to go home. Where is home? Got to go back to Africa, because I'm sick and tired of reading about the oppressive system of apartheid. Sullivan, with the "Corporate Sullivan Principles," which talked about not to make money in South Africa as long as that system existed, put an end to that, and he did. One man was instrumental in dismantling a political system in Africa and the release of Nelson Mandela after 27 years in jail, and that gave rise to OICs in Africa, Poland, Great Britain and the Caribbean. Dr. Sullivan was probably the greatest economic civil rights leader of our time, because as was mentioned, let's not just fight for equitable seating in a restaurant, let's own the restaurant, giving rise then, Wendell, to Progress Plaza, the only community-owned and managed shopping center in this country, the same Progress Plaza visited by Michelle Obama. And I'm just so sorry that Reverend Sullivan was not alive to see that, because Reverend Sullivan would have in fact introduced her and reading handily scribbled on napkins. Reverend Sullivan is the only person I know who writes an hour's speech on a napkin, which obviously is not what I'm doing at this point in time. But I can leave one thing, that after he introduced Michelle Obama and congratulated her on the historic election of the first African American President, Dr. Sullivan would have pulled her aside and said, Please tell the President, your husband, I will be calling him later on this afternoon or first thing in the morning, because I want jobs for my people. Doc has said that to every President for the last 40 years, I want jobs for my people. And what greater challenges do we have as a city and in this Council, this Mayor's Office and this Governor's chamber, that people need jobs. You may have noticed that I brought a few of my closest friends, much to the chagrin of the security force here said, Who are all these people? They're my friends. They're my students. They're your constituents. And while we appreciate this resolution on a practical level, it's a piece of paper. What we want to give is extrapolate from that piece of paper peace of mind for these people who are here and those to come; the peace of mind that knowing on a future Monday morning, the peace of mind in knowing they have a job to go to; the peace of mind knowing that they'll have a check every two weeks; the peace of mind knowing that they can stop living on welfare or the government's subsidies; and peace of mind knowing that they can take care of their families through these incredible economic times. Because, see, the best social services program is a job. And who taught us that? Reverend Sullivan taught us that.

And as we approach the 10th April the 16th of this year, Doc know -- and rest in peace -- that we will continue to bring philosophical and operational fidelity to your mission of helping people help themselves. Thank you, Council. )

Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.

Madam President, I ask for request for leave for Council business, and I'd like to be recorded voting aye on all bills and resolutions.

Leave will be granted. The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-At-Arms deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. please read the messages from the Mayor. Excuse me. Those of you who are leaving, please do so quietly. Thank you.

To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, pursuant to Sections 4-604 and 2-307 of the Home Rule Charter, I am today transmitting to the Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission regarding the following bills: Bill Nos. 110113, 110134, 110182 and 110183; and I am pleased to advise you that on March 23, 2011, I signed the remaining bills that were passed by Council at its session on March 10, 2011, and that on March 23, 2011, I signed all of the bills that were passed by Council at its session on March 17, 2011; and I am transmitting herewith for the consideration of your honorable body the following: An ordinance authorizing Property to enter into a 25-year Sublicense Agreement with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development for the use of a certain strip of land, owned by the PECO Energy Company and licensed to PAID, beginning near the intersection of Nixon Street and Shawmont Avenue; and Also an ordinance authorizing the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, located at 600 South 43rd Street, to construct, own and maintain various encroachments in the form of auxiliary seating within the right-of-way adjacent to the building at 4140 Woodland Avenue, all under certain terms and conditions.

Thank you. The messages will be printed in the Journal. The Chief Clerk will please read any other communications in his possession.

I have none, Madam President.

Thank you. We still are trying to conduct business. So those of you who are leaving, please do so quietly. Thank you. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.

Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions today.

The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I introduce one bill.

Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.

An ordinance authorizing the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, located at 600 South 43rd Street, to construct, own and maintain various encroachments in the form of auxiliary seating within the right-of-way adjacent to the building at 4140 Woodland Avenue.

The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.

Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions today.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.

Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I have one resolution.

The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.

A resolution proclaiming the week of April 10th, 2011 as "National Crime Victims' Rights Week."

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.

I move for the adoption. I have another resolution also, Council President.

I believe, Councilwoman Miller, the last resolution that you introduced and that was read will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. I believe you have another resolution?

I do. The Clerk has it.

The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.

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 Thirteenth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.

This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.

Thank you, Madam President. I have one bill.

Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.

An ordinance amending Chapter 10-700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Refuse and Littering," to exempt duplex dwellings from the annual fee of $300 per property for neighborhood sanitation and cleaning services.

The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.

Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions.

The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.

Thank you, Madam President. I have three bills, one resolution. One of the bills is on behalf of the Administration. The resolution is co-sponsored by Councilwoman Blackwell, Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, Councilman Green and Councilman Goode.

Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.

An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to enter into a 25-year Sublicense Agreement with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development for the use of a certain strip of land, owned by PECO Energy Company and licensed to PAID, approximately 16 feet wide, beginning near the intersection of Nixon Street and Shawmont Avenue.

The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.

And an ordinance amending Section 1108 of Chapter 21-1100 of The Philadelphia Code relating to financing mixed-use projects on or around commercial corridors.

This bill will also be referred to the appropriate committee.

And an ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions," by amending Section 9-305, entitled "Burglary, Theft and Robbery Alarm Systems," by exempting those residents age 65 and up from alarm fees.

The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.

And a resolution urging the Free Library of Philadelphia to reconsider its proposed policy on "floating collections," in order to ensure the preservation and continuing enhancement of the unique and historical collections of local neighborhood libraries.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones -- oh, I'm sorry. This resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.

Thank you, Madam President. I offer no bills or resolutions today.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.

Thank you, Madam President. No bills or resolutions.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I offer one bill and one resolution.

Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.

An ordinance authorizing the Liberty/Parkway 8th and Walnut Limited Partnership, or its designee, to construct, use and maintain a marquee attached to the proposed building to be located at the southwest corner of 8th and Walnut Streets.

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 Thirty-First Ward of the City of Philadelphia.

This resolution will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar for consideration at our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.

Madam President, I have no bills or resolutions.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.

Madam President, I have one resolution, and one resolution and one bill on your behalf.

Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.

An ordinance amending Chapter 12-3000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Use of an Automated Red Light Enforcement System to Prevent Red Light Violations," by authorizing the installation of red light enforcement systems at the intersection of Island Avenue at Lindbergh Boulevard.

The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.

And a resolution confirming the appointment of Emily Schiller as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term ending January 1, 2014.

This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. I'm sorry. Is that an appointment?

Yes, Madam President.

It will bill referred to the appropriate committee. Councilman Clarke, do you have any other resolutions that Councilwoman Tasco gave you for introduction?

No, I do not, Madam President.

Then we'll proceed. Councilman Kelly.

Madam President -

We have one more. I'm sorry.

And a resolution further amending Resolution No. 080001, as amended, which provides Rules for the Government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, by creating a suspension calendar for bills and resolutions for which no immediate action is sought, and

This resolution will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.

Madam President, I have no bills or resolutions.

Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.

Madam President, no bills or resolutions today.

Thank you. The next order of business is reports from committees. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a report from the Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, President, the Committee of the Whole reports two bills with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.

To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee of the Whole, to which was referred Bill No. 110072, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 20-606 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Board of Ethics,' by further providing for administrative adjudication"; and Bill No. 110073, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 20-1000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Political Contributions and Expenditures,' by clarifying that no person shall make excessive contributions to candidates through another political committee and by revising the form of notice that the Board of Ethics shall provide of the limits, all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.

Madam President, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 110072, 110073. (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 those in favor will say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and the bills just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Kenney for a report from the Committee on Rules.

Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Rules reports three bills with favorable recommendations.

Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.

The Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 100610, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 12-917 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Valet Parking Zones,' by revising the valet parking zone permit fees"; and Bill No. 100611, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-601 of The Code, entitled 'Garages, Parking Lots, Sales Lots and Sales Showrooms,' by requiring public parking lots and public garages to accept credit cards and debit cards in payment of parking rates"; and Bill No. 110083, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 14-1607 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Special District Controls for the Center City Commercial Area,' and Section 14-1605 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Regulated Uses,' and Section 14-305, entitled 'C-4 Commercial and C-5 Commercial Districts,' by adding to all Sections special provisions relating to the area bounded by Chestnut Street, 12th Street, 13th Street and Sansom Street," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. Kenney.

Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 100610, 100611 and 110083. (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.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it, and the bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair recognizes Councilman from the Committee on Streets and Services. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Streets and Services reports 29 bills out with a favorable recommendation.

Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.

The Committee on Streets and Services, to which was referred Bill No. 100844, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 11-505 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Sidewalk Paving and Other Improvements by Property Owners,' by providing further specifications for sidewalk paving, in particular, permitting the use of sustainable products and materials for the construction of sidewalks"; and Bill No. 110074, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 2 of an Ordinance (Bill No. 080637), entitled 'An the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan Nos. 34-S and 41-S by striking from the City Plan and vacating the legally open portions of Packer Avenue from Christopher Columbus Boulevard to the Pierhead Line of the Delaware River,' by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein"; and Bill No. 110075, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the construction of a sewer and appurtenant work required to alleviate unsanitary conditions in a portion of Asbury Terrace"; and Bill No. 110076, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 21st Street, east side, Chew Avenue to Conlyn Street"; and Bill No. 110077, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Smedley Street, both sides, Tioga Street to Ontario Street"; and Bill No. 110078, entitled "An regulation on Olney Avenue, north side, Broad Street to 15th Street"; and Bill No. 110079, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Sydenham Street, both sides, Venango Street to Erie Avenue"; and Bill No. 110080, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 17th Street, east side, Clearfield Street to Allegheny Avenue"; and Bill No. 110112, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Girard Avenue, both sides, Broad Street to 15th Street"; and Bill No. 110113, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Taylor Street, west side, Parrish Street to Brown Street"; and Bill No. 110114, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 21st Street, both sides, Vernon Street"; and Bill No. 110115, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Shirley Street, west side, 19th Street to Olive Street"; and Bill No. 110116, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Fontain Street, north side, 16th Street to 17th Street"; and Bill No. 110117, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Old York Road, both sides, Tioga Street to Rising Sun Avenue"; and Bill No. 110118, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Olive Street, south side, 5th Street to 4th Street"; and Bill No. 110119, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Brown Street, both sides, 19th Street to 20th Street"; and Bill No. 110120, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-3000 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Use of an System to Prevent Red Light Violations,' by authorizing the installation of red light enforcement systems at the intersection of Vine Street at Broad Street"; and Bill No. 110145, entitled "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"; and Bill No. 110146, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Carpenter Street, both sides, 10th Street to 11th Street"; and Bill No. 110147, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Franklin Street, east side, Wolf Street to Ritner Street"; and Bill No. 110148, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Morris Street, both sides, 12th Street to 13th Street"; and Bill No.

110149, entitled "An regulation on Clarion Street, west side, Ritner Street to Porter Street"; and Bill No. 110150, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 12th Street, both sides, Mifflin Street to Moore Street"; and Bill No. 110151, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on McKean Street, both sides, 11th Street to 12th Street"; and Bill No. 110152, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on McClellan Street, south side, Juniper Street to 13th Street"; and Bill No. 110153, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Iseminger Street, west side, Mifflin Street to McKean Street"; and Bill No. 110154, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Juniper Street, west side, Porter Street to Shunk Street"; and 110155, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Porter Street, north side, 13th Street to 12th Street"; and Bill No. 110156, entitled "An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Christian Street, both sides, 12th Street to 13th Street," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.

The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the 29 bills that have just been read into the record. (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 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING bills just reported from committee. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

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 suspension of 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. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for the purpose of calling up the bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Calendar to be considered today.

Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, the following resolutions and bills are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today: Bill Nos. 110192, 110211, 110212, 110213, 110214, 110215, 110217, 110218, 110219, 110220, 110221, 110222, 100873, 110005, 110006, 110111. All other bills and resolutions are being held, Madam President.

I'm sorry. What were the last two bills that you read?

I'm sorry, Madam President. Bill No. 110111 is being called for an amendment.

Thank you. Before considering these bills and resolutions, we will consider public comment as follows: Your public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for possible action at today's Council session. All speakers must sign up in order to testify. If you have not already signed up for today's session, please do so by giving your name to the Sergeant-At-Arms to my left by the door so your name will be added to the list and we will certainly be happy to hear from you. It must be noted, it must be noted, you will have three minutes, three minutes to speak. I would ask the Chief Clerk to please read the first person on the list.

Steve Jurash.

Mr. Jurash, please approach the microphone, identify yourself and proceed.

Good morning, Council President Verna and members of Philadelphia City Council. My name is Steve Jurash and I'm the President of the Urban Industry Initiative and Manufacturing Alliance of Philadelphia. I'm here to record our opposition to Bill No. 080474, "Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces," better known as the Mandatory Paid Sick Leave bill. I only supply its better-known name because who could possibly oppose a bill entitled "Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces." I certainly felt that way when I first heard about this legislation a couple years ago. What business would provide no sick leave for its employees. I felt that way until I started talking with our manufacturing companies. I could find no one who didn't provide employees with some form of paid time off, and I discovered that all would experience a serious financial burden and disruption to production if this legislation were passed in its existing form. Now, I'm not going to rehash all the objections to this bill that have already been put forth, but I'm compelled to register my dismay at how government continues to impose one-size-fits-all legislative solutions across all sectors of the economy. And what I mean by this is that one piece of legislation may little impact one economic sector while crippling another. These one-size-fits-all solutions are frequently unfair and occasionally dangerous. A case in point is our manufacturing sector. U.S. manufacturers are challenged as never before. They're on the front lines of the most intense global competition in history, where it's virtually impossible to raise prices. Yet costs do rise, often because of what government does or does not do. We talk about paid sick days when many of our companies are forced to compete against countries with manufacturers who pay their workers a dollar a day. In Philadelphia, the average manufacturing salary is $49,000 a year, plus benefits. Yet the increased costs incurred from legislative solutions and quasi-governmental remedies such as the storm water fee may very well render large numbers of our manufacturers unable to compete. We've all heard the usually baseless threat from unhappy businesses who say they'll leave the City, but now many will simply quietly close their doors, because moving is not an option and competing is no longer possible. They will lay off their 10 or 20 employees and just go away. To put this into perspective, one manufacturing company with 25 employees pays upwards towards $1 million annually in combined fees and revenue to the City. If they disappear, the City will lose that million dollars just from that one little company. And over 60 percent of our 1,300 virtually invisible manufacturers are 25 employees or less. Our beloved city cannot afford to break their backs. Other sectors of our economy such as education, services, retail can respond to cost increases much more easily than can our manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is hard work. It's dirty and raucous and necessary. What exists today in the City as elsewhere in America represents our freedom for independence on foreign products, and as true as this statement is, it is also true that manufacturing represents perhaps the last best chance for the survival of our urban neighborhoods. We oppose this bill, "Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces." This is a good name, but sometimes the good is the enemy of the best. Thank you.

Thank you very much. The Chief Clerk will please call the next person.

Harold Kupersmit.

Should I go over there?

Yes, please, by the microphone. Thank you. Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record.

Good morning, Madam President, City Council and members of the public. My name is Harold Kupersmit, with a K, 612-B Wren Song Road, Lower Makefield Township, 19067. Two things happened. First, I learned that the City of Philadelphia has this God-awful unfunded liability for many of their employees.

I'm sorry, sir. Would you please refer to the bill or resolution that you will be speaking on.

Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. I rise to support 110215, 110217 and to embellish it. Two things happened. One, I found out about the God-awful unfunded liability, and, number two, my daughter bought a couple properties in South Philadelphia for about 45,000. So when I found out that the City had roughly 10,000 properties that was costing the City roughly 20 million, if my information is correct, to maintain the properties, I linked the two. So what I propose City Council and Madam President and the residents of this city do is to develop those properties, part for rental, part for sale, beginning immediately. Savings to the City are immense. Twenty million dollars saved through maintenance eventually, and roughly at an eight percent return, if you value the properties at 50,000, comes out to 500 million. So if you put an eight percent return, you come out with a profit of somewheres around 40 million. Half would go to the City and half would go to the other stakeholders involved. I've always felt that this was a great country and this was a great city, and you're not utilizing your assets, and basically both government -I don't know that much about Philadelphia, but the federal government is completely broken. We have to fix it. The only way we can start is to utilize our assets. I make you one promise. This is, as I said, a great country and we're going to reorganize it and we're going to stop playing -- excuse me. One caveat I have is, no politics involved with this potential set-up, because then it won't work. I'll walk away from it if you start playing politics. The point that I started to make is, there's no conceivable way that I can see and this country is going to be allowed to fail. If I got to carry 308.7 million on my back, I'll do it. Thank you for listening.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Our next speaker?

Orita Benson. (No response.)

Is Ms. Benson here? (No response.)

Next speaker, please.

Miles Gordon. (No response.)

Is Mr. Gordon here? (No response.)

Dr. Walter Tsou.

I have copies for members of Council. President Verna, members of Council, my name is Dr. Walter Tsou and I'm on the Board of Philadelphia Physicians for Social Responsibility. I'm also a public health physician and the former Health Commissioner of the City. I speak today in favor of Bill No. 080474, "Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces." Philadelphia Physicians for Social Responsibility is a non-profit organization of concerned physicians and other health professionals, and our goal is to promote public health, assure a safe work environment and improve access to care for Philadelphians. As has been previously noted, around 44 percent of Philadelphia workers do not have paid sick days. This fact disproportionately affects low-income employees, and we can state with 100 percent accuracy that every day in this city people will get sick or injured. Those who work for employers with paid sick days can use this to seek medical attention, rest their injured body or avoid coughing on their fellow workers. But for those who do not have paid sick days, many will exacerbate their illness by bearing more weight on their injured leg or ignoring their chest pain at great personal peril or possibly worse, spreading their communicable disease to their fellow workers. In my career, I have witnessed food workers who have gone to work with viral hepatitis infecting salad bars, workers coughing with multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and people going to work with flu-like symptoms and fever. This legislation recognizes that sometimes it is in the best interest of society for workers to stay home, and it's also in the interest of society to have a healthy and productive workforce. While in the short run a sick worker may be home recuperating, in the long run they will be more productive if they can get their illness treated or controlled. Some in the business community have expressed their opposition to this bill. However, the bill enumerates several employer rights, including requiring a physician note after three days, requiring 30 days of continual employment before earning one sick day, requiring the employee to make a good-faith effort of notification to the employer, prohibiting the use of earned sick days until three months of employment, not allowing paid sick days to accumulate from year to year and not requiring a payout for unused sick days upon termination of employment. Other employers fear employees will abuse paid sick days. A small minority might, and there are remedies for those who falsely claim sickness. But here's the bottom line: Inevitably, your choice is whether you deny everyone paid sick days to avoid the small minority or do you set reasonable rules based on the fact that bad things happen on average to everyone. It is actually in society's interest to level the playing field so that all workers in Philadelphia have a minimum number of paid sick days, which is why we support this legislation. Thank you.

Thank you, Doctor. (Applause.)

Our next speaker?

Maitreyi Roy.

Good morning, Madam President and members of Council. I'm here to speak in support of Resolution 110192, Growing Greener, renewed Growing Greener. My name is Maitreyi Roy and I'm Vice-President for Programs at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and my thanks to Councilman Jones for his foresight in introducing this resolution. PHS, through Growing Greener funds, has been working in community partnerships with City Hall to address issues such as urban reforestation, park improvement, community garden creation, storm water management and vacant land stabilization. All of these efforts to improve, create and restore open spaces in the City are conducted through a broad range of partnerships, and we strive for these collaborations that produce meaningful, lasting relationships with stakeholders at all levels of community and to ensure that the resulting transformations are sustainable. Growing Greener has been a significant funding source for impactful green projects around the state and here in Philadelphia. More importantly, it has offered great value across the state and the Commonwealth. Growing Greener has invested in improving towns and cities and neighborhoods. From streambank restorations, to mine cleanups, to tree planting contracts, to design work from landscape architects, engineers and surveyors, Growing Greener has improved communities by investing in creating jobs. In 2011 alone in Philadelphia, Growing Greener is helping fund more than 3,000 tree plantings in places like Houston Meadow, which is often called Andorra Meadow, and Saint Georges Hill at West Fairmount Park. There trees will restore our urban canopy, reduce the heat island effect and improve the quality of our drinking water. All across the Commonwealth, important projects that have been identified as priorities at the local level are moving forward because of Growing Greener. It has proven through many economic impact studies that green spaces and corridor beautification are beneficial to the long-term health and economic vitality of communities as well as businesses on commercial corridors. Growing Greener is a critical resource for helping cities become green and sustainable. Elm Streets and Main Streets across the Commonwealth have benefited because of these funds. Growing Greener requires matching resources, bringing in funders and partners to work together, amplifying private investments and ensuring that the projects have high impact in the community. In this way, it is a critical funding catalyst. Growing Greener's ability to catalyze other funds have also brought significant value to the Commonwealth. Growing Greener has knit programs, projects, sponsors and implementers together, establishing a statewide network of organizations that collaborate and work together. We work better because of Growing Greener, and I would suggest that both DCNR and DEP at the state level have collaborated to work better through Growing Greener. Again, PHS is grateful for the long-term support provided to the City and the region through Growing Greener. This funding source established during Governor Ridge's Administration has since been the single force from the state to effectively address environmental restoration and land conservation. Growing Greener holds tremendous promise for our region's continuing revitalization and competitive advantage as a place to work, live and play. It is too important for us not to fight for this.

I'm sorry.

We appreciate your time today.

Thank you. Your time has been up. Thank you very much.

I have copies here of my testimony.

Fine. We'll have somebody get the copies. Our next speaker?

Patrick Starr, commenting on Resolution 110192.

That is correct. Good morning, Council President Verna, members of Council. My name is Patrick Starr. I'm Senior Vice-President of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. I'm here to speak on behalf of this resolution to support the renewing Growing Greener introduced by Councilman Jones, and thank you very much for that. I'm also a member of the Mayor's Sustainability Advisory Board. I'm here to tell you that these funds are important to our city, both as a source of strategic planning and for specific site improvements for parks, storm water, trails and riverfronts, and many of you know this. So I think many of you will remember occasions you stood at a ribbon cutting or an event with our former Secretary Mike DiBerardinis, who we all know, and you remember that this was -- that project happened because of Growing Greener. So, Councilman Clarke, Schuylkill River Development Council and the Lower Schuylkill, Councilwoman Verna funded the master plan for that work and much of the trail work. The Central Delaware, Councilman DiCicco, you know that DCNR and Growing Greener funded and supported the master planning effort as well as some of the parks development. Councilwoman Krajewski, you and I have been working together a very long time, and this funding supported a new trail in Pennypack Park that is already built. It has supported the development and the future construction of the Kensington and Tacony Rail Trail on the Delaware River. It supported the planting and will support the construction of the Lardner's Point Park on the Delaware River and as well as restoration and habitat for birds and bunnies and things of that nature. Some of you have also probably seen schoolyards and park facilities transformed into storm water management facilities in support of our own Water Department's initiatives to address our storm water problem in this city. Growing Greener supports that, and we need it in the future moving forward. So I will wrap up and simply say, these funds are critical to the future of our city. They are transformative and they are site specific, and they make our neighborhoods better. They've just about run out and we need your help with the State Representatives and Senators and others who need to support this refunding initiative. Thank you for your time and attention.

Thank you, Mr. Starr. Our next witness?

Barbara Lovelace, commenting on 080474.

Good morning, President Verna and members of City Council. Again, my name is Barbara Lovelace, and I would just like to give a personal story as far as my support for the bill. On November the 22nd of 2010, I was fortunate that my daughter had the day off, because I was having a flare-up of one of my medical conditions called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. I was on my way to the hospital. She actually had to help me across the street, because I almost collapsed in the street, caught fire rescue to come and get me, where it was discovered that I had had a serious of mini heart attacks. On Thanksgiving day, my daughter had to work at the place where she is employed, which is Dollar General. She had to work that day. She was not even allowed to take a couple of hours off to come see me while I was in the critical intensive care unit of the hospital. Subsequently, I've had to go back into the hospital for surgery to have a stent placed within my heart, and there's already an indication that after the 15th of next month when I go see the cardiologist again, I will have to go back in, because the right side of my heart has received even more damage. So this time, it might be a little bit more invasive. They might have to do open heart surgery. My daughter is more or less, she was my life support. If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't be here, and her job will not allow her to have days off. I also recently have been discovered that I might possibly have breast cancer, and that's another reason why my daughter needs to be here. So this bill will not only help people with their physical health, but it will also help family members with their mental health, because if my daughter had gotten to the hospital that day and I had taken my last breath, she wouldn't have been able to have the opportunity to say good-bye. So that's why even if I have to use my last breath to get this bill passed, I will do it. Thank you very much for your time. (Applause.)

Donna Pitz, commenting on 110192.

Thank you. Good morning, City Council. I am here in support of 110192 introduced by Councilman Jones. My name is Donna Pitz. I'm Executive Director of the Green Space Alliance. The Green Space Alliance is, as are Pennsylvania Horticulture, Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Penn Environment, among the 23 core organizations from across the Commonwealth that make up the Renewed Growing Greener Coalition. The Coalition also has over 250 supporting organizations and government entities. We are the Commonwealth's largest coalition of conservation, recreation and environmental organizations. Recently, the Green Space Alliance and Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission released a study of the economic value of protected open space in Southeast Pennsylvania, the five counties including Philadelphia. This study, completed by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia and Econsult, finds that the additional value of real estate in Philadelphia created by the proximity to parks and open space is $6.4 billion. This increase in property value, along with the revenues from real estate transfer tax, brought in an additional $69.6 million in revenues for the City. Many of the improvements that were made -- were made to these parks and open spaces were made available through the Growing Greener funds. Growing Greener is a smart investment in our communities and local economies. The Coalition is counting on your support of the resolution and continued leadership from our state legislators throughout Southeast Pennsylvania to renew Growing Greener funding and protect our environment for future generations. I would like to introduce this summary brochure into the record and ask that it be distributed to City Council members.

Thank you.

I also have more copies, if the public would like some. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Our next speaker?

Jerry Jacobs, commenting on 080474.

Good morning. Thank you for your time. I'll try to be brief and respecting your time and busy schedules. My name is Jerry Jacobs. I received my Ph.D. in sociology from Harvard University in 1983. I am a Professor of Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, where I have taught for the last 28 years. I specialize in an area called Work and Family Policy. I have been studying these issues for the last 15 years. I lead an international scholarly organization in this area with over 4,000 affiliates across the country and around the world. My book, The Time Divide, published in 2004 by Harvard University Press, examined workplace policies that enabled today's companies and today's families to work together effectively instead of being at odds with each other. I believe that the sick leave legislation before you is a modest but very valuable step in the right direction. First of all, sick leave policies are supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans. One national poll showed that 90 percent of voters favored paid sick leave as a basic employment standard. That's true for democrats as well as republicans. This is true because so many of us take sick leave for granted. Most professionals and managers have access to paid sick leave as a basic component of their benefits package. Indeed, most workers in countries around the world are eligible to take sick leave. As you've heard, nationally 40 percent of employees lack paid sick leave and many of Philadelphia's service economy jobs lack sick leave. For example, only 26 percent of food prep workers, waiters and waitresses are eligible for paid sick days, and some of them do not have true access because they have not been working in the restaurant for long enough. As you know, sick workers spread germs and get others sick. This is particularly a problem in restaurants and retail sales where contact with the public spreads disease rapidly. During the recent flu epidemic, the H1N1 epidemic, those who went to work sick infected an estimated 7 million co-workers nationally. We've heard from a previous speaker in favor of business that business can't afford this. Unfortunately, that's a standard argument that they use with respect to any policies. You recall that he had very few specifics related to the policies at hand here. Specific studies of similar legislation in other cities such as San Francisco show that the concerns of the critics are unfounded. First of all, the average worker used only three paid sick days during the previous year after a similar law was enacted. It turns out that employees tend to treat sick leave as insurance. They consider it a valuable benefit, but they save it up as needed in case they're really sick, and they use it only as necessary. Surely there will be cases of people who will abuse it, but the most common abuse turns out to be taking your kid -- staying home because your kid is sick. Studies have shown that black, Latino and low-wage workers benefit most from the law. It turns out that after the laws are passed, after sick leave legislation was passed in San Francisco, most employers, most employers supported the law and very few reported adverse effects. So, in summary, I think this legislation would be good for the people of Philadelphia and for the economy as well.

Thank you very much. (Applause.)

Janet Starwood, commenting on 110192.

Good morning, Honorable President and members of the Council. My name is Janet Starwood. I am Director of Urban Conservation for Audubon of Pennsylvania, an affiliate of the National Audubon Society. Since 1896, Audubon Pennsylvania has been working to protect birds, other wildlife and their habitats through science, education and public policy in the Commonwealth. Our mission is to conserve and restore natural systems in Pennsylvania for the benefit of humanity. And I am here to thank Councilman Jones and the Council for this resolution to support the renewal of Growing Greener initiatives in Pennsylvania. This is not only an investment in the Commonwealth's valuable property, water and air, this is an investment in the future of our children. It is a vital investment in our children's health and well-being here in Philadelphia and in Pennsylvania. Audubon has been providing environmental education and programs that connect children with nature for decades here. We are well aware of the extensive research that shows that young people, when they connect with the natural world through the green infrastructure supported by Growing Greener, are healthier, that these kinds of activities in the natural world reduce asthma, encourage activities outside that reduce obesity, and even beyond that, improve cognitive skills for young people, improve their creativity and ability to concentrate and improve their resilience to the challenges of life. Supporting Growing Greener will help young people in Philadelphia have a better sense of connection to their community, will give young people opportunities for leadership and team work, and will open up many opportunities for jobs and connections with a green economy. It's essential that these funds continue for the sake of the future of the children of Philadelphia, and I thank Councilman Jones and I thank the Council so much for your support of this resolution.

Thank you. (Applause.)

John Boughrom, commenting on 100759.

Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. I'm here on behalf of the Pennsylvania Free Masons regarding the proposed parking structure. We wanted to notify the Council that we have throughout this process had ongoing discussions to address some of the concerns we had with the developer. Those discussions have been very positive, and many of our original concerns have been satisfied. There are a few additional items we're still in the process of discussing. However, those conversations have been very positive, and we are optimistic that the remaining concerns we have about that potential structure can be resolved. If and when that happens, it will be the position of the Masons that we would support the development of that garage. Thank you.

Thank you. Our next speaker?

Henri Marcial, commenting on 080474.

Good morning, Council.

Good morning.

My name is Henri Marcial. I'm here to comment on Bill 080474, the paid sick leave bill. I'm here to testify in opposition to this bill on behalf of the Small Business Union. To summarize prior testimony of the Small Business Union, this bill is unconstitutional and contradicts existing state law, bad and harmful to the existing small businesses, unmanageable and prone to excessive abuse by employees, is an unreasonable obstacle to the formation of new small businesses, will increase costs for food and services to the poorest communities in our city, and will decrease the number of availability of jobs in these same communities. In short, as written, this bill has little practical application to the health and welfare of the community and should just be called the Paid Vacation Day Bill. Last week, the Small Business Union indicated that it was conducting research on a real and sustainable method of providing health insurance for real emergency health needs in the form of a short-term disability program. Well, such a program does exist, and we can make it affordable to our small businessowners, but not under this form of legislation. Without the bill, we could obtain short-term insurance to cover up to one week of a verifiable medical concern for as little as $60 a month for three minimum-wage employees. That is impossible under the structure of this bill. That we can do in the open market today. Only Councilman Green's office and Councilwoman Quinones's office have reached out to us on this insurance project. If Council was really serious, they would also share this burden by not taxing the employee benefits under these insurance programs. Contrary to supporters' comments on this topic, the realities that this bill is no more than an abuse of small businesses and is not fair just because numerically there are more workers than there are small businessowners, that is not democracy. That is the tyranny of the masses. These businessowners have just as many family medical needs and concerns as the rest of the community, and this bill does not help them in any way. As structured, this bill is nothing more than a mugging of the small mom and pop businesses of the City. Instead of using a gun or a knife, the muggers are using City Council. This bill does not fit the realities of these businesses. Unfortunately, many of the studies of these supporters ignore the realities of small business and the economics of the City. In short, the data is bias and flawed simply to support their own agenda, and they ignore who the real burden falls upon since it doesn't directly impact their own pockets. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Our next speaker?

Fred Fisher, commenting on 080474.

Good morning. Since you all know me from previous visits -- thanks a lot. I've always wanted to be a stand-up comic. Thank you for your amusement at my being here. First of all, so I can allay all your fears, I am not going to speak about the Deferred Retirement Option Plan, known as DROP today. (Applause.)

I'm not going to speak about it, but I came to speak about the health bill, the sick leave bill. But let me just say this: As a citizen and a taxpayer, I would like to know prior to the upcoming Primary Election everybody who is running, their position on that DROP. I would really like to know that. I'm concerned about the health bill. I want everybody to be healthy and have health insurance, but I think City Council is overstepping its constitutional boundaries and also the fiscal responsibility. That means that I assume that somebody in City Council or somebody in the City government is going to have to oversee this. We're going to have to hire people or put people on overtime. The City is facing bankruptcy right now. We've raised the property tax, and I read in the paper yesterday that two years from now, we're going to have the Actual Value Initiative, real nice words, which is going to reassess everybody's property and everybody's property tax in Philadelphia is going to go up. So we're talking about doing more with City government when I think we should be doing less. I have a radical idea: Stop passing laws that cost money, period. Period. I'm reading here -- I read in the Financial Times, an international newspaper, about the trouble in Wisconsin. Guess who else had a mention? Philadelphia. Here's what it said. This is between -- the bondholders aren't going to get paid or the pensioners aren't going to get paid -- I'm a pensioner. I want to receive my pension. It says here, with some -- the only city that's mentioned in this article -- it's about Wisconsin. "With some cities such as Philadelphia just years away from actually defaulting on promises to employees and retirees, ugly confrontations between investors and unions may loom." So before we keep making laws, I think we ought to think about economizing. That's all I have to say. Thank you. (Applause.)

Thank you, Mr. Fisher.

Robert Taylor, commenting on 080036.

Good morning, Mr. Taylor.

Good morning. My name is Bob Taylor. I'm a resident of South Philadelphia, and I wanted to -well, we need to have more guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens who obey -who's obeyed gun-free zones? Not criminals. Gun laws tend to disarm the law-abiding. These statistics are available from the book, More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws, a Study in Law and Economics, by John R. Lott, Jr. Wyoming has passed a constitutional carry legislation. This would allow -- this allows law-abiding citizens to carry concealed without a permit. We should do the same. People are innocent until proven guilty. Thus I do not support taking anyone's right until they are found guilty in the court of law. Studies on multiple-victim shootings from 1977 to 1999 shows that as criminals know that people are likely to be armed, it is a great deterrent to criminals committing violent crimes. People use guns four or five times more often in self-defense than guns are used to commit crimes. Sadly, the news media rarely reports upon these facts. In the other -- on the other hand, citizens who own guns are very law-abiding. Six point two million people in the U.S. have licenses. Point zero five percent were revoked for any reason at all. People who benefit the most from concealed carry are the poor and minorities who live in high-crime areas. Nevertheless, costly and difficult process of obtaining permits, the more of those people who would benefit the most are squeezed out of the market. Most multiple-victim shootings occur in gun-free zones. Finally, Israel permitted common citizens in 1972 to be armed. No matter how many police and military they had on the street, the terrorists just waited until the armed presence passed into another area. Some terrorists pulled out machine guns in a mall in 1970s. However, old ladies pulled out handguns and killed three of the terrorists, severely injured the fourth. The only surviving terrorist was put into an ambulance and cried to the EMTs that it was very unfair that these older women shot at him and his comrades. Give us the tools to protect ourselves and our God-given rights. Thank you, and God bless Philadelphia.

Thank you.

Alyce Bowling, commenting on 080036.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I like this. And I thank the Audubon Society, because I'm a jailbird and I need protecting. When my son died in '95 on Mother's Day and I saw him laying in the dung like a lotus and I saw the gun -actually, I didn't. The police reminded me, Alyce, you walked over it when you went to his body. Before he was laying in the dung, he was hanging from a ladder upside down. As I entered the barn, he was staring at me. But I knew he was dead before that because I smelled death as I rounded the barn. The police assured me that that gun would be like in something of a glass case, perhaps in Columbus. So much for Steven. I came back here to Philadelphia shortly after he died. I wanted to be home. I knew things would be better, but at first when I came, I couldn't see that. I could see homeless. I could see disarray. I could see North Philadelphia torn apart, its residents raped of their homes. And then I thought of Philadelphia's finest. I joked with people on the way down here today, I said, Geez, I always used to be early for everything, now I'm late for everything. But it just so happened that I caught Commissioner Ramsey talking or being quoted on the radio while I was jumping over boxes trying to answer the phone. Philadelphia is so wise. I just burst with pride, when I think how the forefathers and the current mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers are providing and protecting the health, welfare, education --

Excuse me. Can you conclude your remarks, please. Your time is up.

Yeah. The peace officers that are here in Philadelphia, remember, we don't always -- when we agree, don't think that's a license for wonder. Can be very deceptive. There are wolves in sheep's clothing, but there are peace officers throughout that are protecting us. And I think it should be thrown to a popular vote. You want guns? The Mayor has the right to make decisions about the City and what is best for it. Put it to a popular vote in the Primary.

Thank you very much. Our next speaker?

James Tyson, commenting on 110219.

Good morning, Madam President, City Council members. My name is James Tyson and I'm here representing Philadelphia Unemployment Project and the Foreclosure Crisis Committee of PUP. I'm a homeowner in West Philadelphia and have been so for the past 12 years, but today I'm here on behalf of thousands of Philadelphians who are on the sheriff sale list coming up this April. We're asking Council to support and pass the Resolution 110219. I'm also thankful for Councilwoman Blackwell and Councilman Jones in your support for the homeless population of this great city. We at the Philadelphia Unemployment Foreclosure Crisis Committee are asking you once again to save thousands of Philadelphians from becoming homeless next month. Large numbers of people have signed up for the HUD program, Emergency Homeowner Loan Program that was passed into law last July by President Obama. The program was designed to help unemployed, underemployed and persons who have had medical issues that have caused them to become delinquent in their mortgage obligations. The program is scheduled to start within the next few months. We are asking for your support and for your help in this matter. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Our next speaker?

Geoffrey Haye, commenting on 080474.

Good morning. My name is Geoffrey Haye and I'm a lawyer and a small businessowner here in the City of Philadelphia. I'm a City resident, a taxpayer and a voter. And although I don't think I can speak quite as eloquently on the subject as my partner, Mr. Marcial did, I would like to testify against the Bill 080474. What I would like to add to this discussion is the fact that according to a 2008 Mercer study, employee absences account for 36 percent of payroll, and unplanned absences account for up to 36 of payroll in terms of direct and indirect costs. This bill would essentially function as an unspoken payroll tax on small businesses in the City, where the businessowners already labor under some of the most onerous tax structures in the country. That's what I would like to add. Thank you. (Applause.)

Thank you.

Sandra Haughton, commenting on 110005.

Good morning.

Good morning.

My name is Sandra Norris Haughton. I'm the Executive Director of New Freedom Theatre, and I wanted to try to explain to you the urgency of releasing 1315 North 15th Street for sale. We own it. We took over it. It was a vacant property. It was trash-strewn. The area was blighted. We held it for 15 years. We want to sell it so that we can repair our historic building, but for the last three months, we have hit a stone wall trying to get this property approved so it could go for sale. We've gone to the Vacant Property Review Committee. We've gone to our Councilpeople. We've gone to the Councilpeople-at-large. We've gone to RDA. We've gone everywhere, and all we get is a brick wall. And I think if we're going to be passing laws that impact individuals and companies -- we have five small businesses. We have jobs that are being held up while we're waiting for these approvals. If laws are passed that decide how communities are developed, they should also have clear procedures for people that are being held up from selling their property, which, by the way, nobody wanted. Freedom Theatre has been in the same place for 45 years. We were the anchor on North Broad Street. There would be no Avenue of the Arts north were it not for Freedom Theatre, and we don't think our 200 students, our 52 groups that rent our facility or the small businesses that use us should be ignored to this extent. And I think when these bills are passed, the procedures 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING should be clear, transparent and readily available for people who own property to be able to legitimately sell the property or develop the property without being held hostage. Thank you.

Thank you. (Applause.)

Do we have any other speakers?

There are no other speakers, Madam President.

Thank you. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. I would ask the Chief Clerk to please read the title of Resolution No. 110192.

A resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to renew the Growing Greener initiative 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING and continue the policy of offering Pennsylvania and Philadelphia residents jobs, recreational activities, and revenue while preserving and investing in the Commonwealth's most valuable natural resources: property, water and air.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.

Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING We will now consider Resolution 110211.

A resolution recognizing and honoring Toppers Spa Salon as it celebrates 30 years of doing business in Philadelphia and the surrounding metropolitan region.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney, if he's in the room. (No response.)

Or the co-sponsor, Councilman Clarke.

I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution No. 110212.

A resolution honoring and recognizing the National Union of American Families for their dedicated mission in uplifting the American family and strengthening family and community ties.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.

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.)

Those 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. We will now consider Resolution No. 110213.

A resolution calling for the retention of Audenried School Teacher Hope Moffett.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.

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.)

Those opposed? (No response.) 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. We will now consider Resolution 110214.

A resolution calling on Spencer Gifts to stop selling merchandise offensive to St. Patrick's Day and the Irish people.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.

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.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 110215.

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 Thirty-Sixth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion.

I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. We will now consider Resolution No. 110217.

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 Seventh and Nineteenth Wards of the City of Philadelphia.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.

Thank 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING 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 indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will read the title of Resolution 110218.

A resolution proclaiming the week of April 25, 2011 to April 30, 2011 as "Philly Tech Week," and honoring the broad Philadelphia technology community.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Green. 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING

Thank you, Madam President. The Kauffman Foundation recently issued a report unfortunately informing us that Philadelphia is 15th out of the 15 major cities in the country in entrepreneurial activity. I move for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. We will now consider Resolution 110219.

A resolution calling on Acting Sheriff Barbara Deeley 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING to impose a stay on residential sheriff sales until homeowners have had the opportunity to apply for the federal Emergency Homeowner's Loan Program.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.

Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to speak to this resolution, please. Thank you.

Please do.

We talked about this last Council session. April 10th there will be 2,100 homes, our neighbors, taxpayers, voters, that will be displaced by the sheriff sale process. I support property rights in America for people to invest in properties and to get a rate of return on them, but it does not make sense to me -and I join the Unemployment Project and Save Our Homes Coalition to ask for the halt of this sheriff sale. It is the largest sheriff sale in the history of 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia. And in light of the fact that Congress has enacted an Emergency Homeowner's Loan Program, which has allocated $105 million for resolution of homes that are facing this foreclosure process, we could wait a week, a month, even three months to see this money come down from Washington to help our neighbors. It does not make sense to me that we cannot be patient enough. And I understand the federal government can be slow, but help us on the way. And once you take these homes from these people, you can't undo, you can't put the genie back in the bottle. And we deserve to wait a minute. People see the light at the end of the tunnel. I see economists talking about the turnaround of the economy. None of these prognosticators will help the fact after the fact that these people become homeless. I move for the adoption of this 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING resolution. (Duly seconded.)

Thank you. Councilwoman Blackwell, you wanted to be recognized?

Yes, Madam President. Certainly we are a co-sponsor on this bill. This is one of those issues I'm very close to, and we would hope that now that there's been an administrative change where the courts are involved and Judge Dembe, that she will hear this plea and let us not be refused this, because there's been an administrative change. Certainly all the victims and people who are having hard economic times need that consideration. Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you. I believe that Councilman Jones made a motion. Did I hear a second? (Duly seconded.) 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING

It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. We will now consider Resolution 110220.

A resolution commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, one of the worst workplace disasters in U.S. history, and a pivotal moment in U.S. labor history that helped shape awareness about the rights of working people.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.

Thank you 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING again, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 110221.

A resolution in solemn recognition during the week of May 1 through May 8, 2011 at the annual remembrance of the six million Jewish martyrs, who perished during the Holocaust.

The 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.

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.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 110222.

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 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Franklin Town Project, designated as Parcel No. 12 and also sometimes identified by house number and street address for Parcel No. 12 as 1601 Vine Street.

The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.

I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 100873.

An ordinance to 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Second Street, Rising Sun Avenue, Cayuga Street, Front Street and Hunting Park Avenue.

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.

Councilwoman Blackwell.

Aye.

Councilman Clarke.

Aye.

Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye.

Councilman Goode.

Aye.

Councilman Green. 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING

Aye.

Councilman Greenlee.

Aye.

Councilman Jones.

Aye.

Councilman Kelly.

Aye.

Councilman Kenney.

Aye.

Councilwoman Krajewski.

Aye.

Councilwoman Miller.

Aye.

Councilman O'Neill.

Aye.

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.

Aye.

Councilman Rizzo. 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING

Aye.

Councilwoman Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilwoman Tasco is voting aye. Council President Verna.

Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 110005.

An ordinance amending Bill No. 100656, passed by Council on December 16, 2010, to include the executed Neighborhood Development Agreement.

This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING call the roll.

Councilwoman Blackwell.

Aye.

Councilman Clarke.

Aye.

Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye.

Councilman Goode.

Aye.

Councilman Green.

Aye.

Councilman Greenlee.

Aye.

Councilman Jones.

Aye.

Councilman Kelly.

Aye.

Councilman Kenney.

Aye. 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING

Councilwoman Krajewski.

Aye.

Councilwoman Miller.

Aye.

Councilman O'Neill.

Aye.

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.

Aye.

Councilman Rizzo.

Aye.

Councilwoman Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilwoman Tasco is voting aye. Council President Verna.

Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING passes. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 110006.

An ordinance amending Section 14-305 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "'C-4' Commercial District," specifically Section 14-305(16)(c) regarding parking for the area bounded by Hamilton Street, 19th Street, Callowhill Street and 20th Street.

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.

Councilwoman Blackwell.

Aye.

Councilman Clarke.

Aye.

Councilman 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye.

Councilman Goode.

Aye.

Councilman Green.

Aye.

Councilman Greenlee.

Aye.

Councilman Jones.

Aye.

Councilman Kelly.

Aye.

Councilman Kenney.

Aye.

Councilwoman Krajewski.

Aye.

Councilwoman Miller.

Aye.

Councilman O'Neill. 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING

Aye.

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.

Aye.

Councilman Rizzo.

Aye.

Councilwoman Sanchez.

Aye.

Councilwoman Tasco is voting aye. Council President Verna.

Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 110111.

An ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions," by enacting a new Chapter 9-3000, entitled "Fair 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Criminal Record Screening Standards," to establish provisions and requirements for the screening of criminal records by certain employers within the City of Philadelphia.

The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.

Thank you, Madam President. Today I offer an amendment.

Has the amendment been circulated?

The amendment was circulated yesterday and also placed on Councilmembers' desks today.

Thank you. Are you making a motion?

I'm sorry. I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)

It has been moved and seconded that the 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING amendment be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)

Those opposed? (No response.)

The ayes have it. The motion carries. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Madam President, earlier I had asked that Bill No. 100759 be held, but I was able to work out a compromise with the interested parties and I will now ask for that bill to be heard.

Very well. Bill No. 100759 is on . I would ask the Chief Clerk to please read the title.

An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code by amending Section 14-305, entitled "'C-4' Commercial and 'C-5' Commercial 3/24/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Districts," by revising parking and area regulations and regulations relating to signs and off-street loading and trash storage in the area bounded by Arch Street, Juniper Street, Cuthbert Street and Broad Street.

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.

Councilwoman Blackwell.