The Clerk will please read the title of the first bill. THE
An ordinance amending Chapter 10-800 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Safety," by adding a new section entitled "Acquisition or Transfer of Firearms" to regulate the acquiring or transferring of any firearm within the City of Philadelphia.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. THE
And an ordinance amending Chapter 10-800 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Safety," by adding a new section entitled "Reporting Requirements Upon the Application For a Renewal of a License to Carry a Firearm" to provide for certain reporting requirements for the issuance of renewal of licenses to carry firearms within the City of Philadelphia.
This bill will also be referred to the appropriate committee. The Clerk will please read the tile of the will of the resolution. THE
A resolution memorializing the City of Philadelphia through its Department of Commerce and Finance Department to enter into discussions and to comb resources within the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, the Center City District and other interested parties to develop a comprehensive program to ascertain the feasibility of enacting legislation to provide tax abatement incentives in order to attract new and to retain and grow existing businesses within the City of Philadelphia.
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 say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo..
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution. THE
A resolution authorizing City Council's Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold public hearings to investigate the proposed gas cost rate increase to be effective September 1, 2004, requested by the Philadelphia Gas Works with Public Utilities Commission and in furtherance of such investigation authorizing the issuance of subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and production of documents to the full extent authorized under section 2-401 of the Home Rule Charter.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes it, and the resolution will be referred to the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities. The next order of business is reports from committees. And the Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a report from the Committee on Streets and Services.
Thank you Madam President. The Committee on Streets and Services reports 11 bills out with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report. THE
To the President and Members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Streets and Services to which referred Bill No. 040006, entitled an ordinance amending Title 9 of the Philadelphia Code by amending Section 9-205 by prohibiting vending on certain portions of Chester Avenue and and Kingsessing Avenue; And Bill No. 040026, entitled an 1(a) and (c) of an ordinance, Bill No. 030344, approved July 31, 2003, entitled an ordinance granting permission to Ride the Ducks International to remove an existing wood and metal newsstand located on the west sidewalk of South Independence Mall West; And Bill No. 040027, entitled an ordinance granting permission to Robert Bitros, owner of the property 931-933 North Second Street to operate and maintain an open air sidewalk cafe; And bill 040033, entitled an ordinance authorizing 111 South 15th Street, its successors and assigns to construct and maintain a marquee, raised planters and rigid awnings on and over the public footways of Chestnut Street; And Bill No 040058, entitled an ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on the 2800 block of East Allegheny Avenue; And Bill No. 040061, entitled an ordinance amending an ordinance approved 3, 1992, Bill No. 1205-AA, by providing that all permitted vendor locations on both sides of 11th Street between Arch Street and Chestnut Street; And Bill No. 040062, entitled an ordinance amending an ordinance approved January 3, 1992, Bill No. 1205, which designates the location in Center City at which vending is permitted by providing the all permitted vending locations on both sides of Eighth Street and Ninth Street between Arch Street and Market Street shall be assigned only to vendors licensed to sell prepared food; And Bill No. 040063, entitled an ordinance amending an ordinance approved January 3, 1992, Bill No. 1205, by providing that all permitted vending locations on both sides of 12th Street between Arch and Chestnut Street shall be assigned only to vendors licensed to sell prepared food; And Bill No. 040065, entitled an ordinance authorizing and directing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of 58 of an area bounded by Ninth Street, Tenth Street, Callowhill Street, and Noble Street; And Bill No. 040067, entitled an ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code entitled "Sidewalk Sales," by prohibiting sidewalk sales on portions of Franklintown Boulevard; Respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Madam President. I would ask the Clerk, did the Clerk read Bill No. 040025? THE
No, I didn't. Sorry. Bill No. 040025, entitled an ordinance granting permission to Nahal Desai and Raju Desai, owners of the newsstand at the corner of 13th and Market Streets, for the purpose of supplying electrical service and newsstand.
Thank you. I would ask that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. 040006, 040025, 040026, 040027, 040058, 040065 and 040067. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading of Bill Nos. 040006, 040025, 040026, 040027, 040058, 040065 and 040067. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. And the bills just read will be placed on today's First Reading Calendar. Bill Nos. 040033, 040061, 040062, and 040063 will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for our next Session of Council. The next order of business is the The Chief Clerk will please read the bills on the First Reading Calendar.
Madam President, will it be in order to make the introduction?
I thought we could do it after the Session, but if you feel that it's something you want to do at this point in time so that the people would not have to be kept waiting. We have a very short Calendar. Councilman Cohen, Ms. Mason is saying that she can't hear you. Can you put your microphone on? It's on now. Please speak directly into the microphone.
Thank you, Madam President. I wanted to ask the people with the signs on the right side here to stand up for a minute. They come from the community Belfield community which is busy, as the papers suggest in fighting on behalf of community problems. They've come, I understood last week. They may be coming because I let them know that City Council is a 02/19/04 - STATED - 1ST READING place that's open to the public and where people bring their concerns. So I wanted them to know that they will always be welcome here. Thank you, Madam President.
Council President, I have another bill to introduce.
Okay. I would ask the Clerk to please read the title of the bill. THE
An ordinance approving the first amendment of the redevelopment proposal for the Wister III Urban Renewal Area.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. I would ask the Clerk to please read the bills on the First Reading Calendar. THE
Bill No. 040034, an ordinance requiring the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development to enter into a certain agreement with the City regarding authority transactions involving 02/19/04 - STATED - 1ST READING non-city government agencies as a condition of Council approval of future Authority transactions, under certain terms and conditions.
And bill No. 040006, an ordinance amending Title 9 of the Philadelphia Code by amending Section 9-205, "Sidewalk Sales," by prohibiting vending on certain portions of Chester Avenue and Kingsessing Avenue 53rd Street and 54th Street.
And Bill No. 040025, an ordinance granting permission to Nahal Desai and Raju Desai, owners of the newsstand at the corner of 13th and Market Streets, for the purpose of supplying electrical service and telephone service to the newsstand.
The Chair agrees. 02/19/04 - STATED - 1ST READING THE
And Bill No. 040026, an ordinance amending Section 1(a) and (c) of an ordinance, Bill No. 030344, approved July 31, 2003, entitled an ordinance granting permission to Ride the Ducks International to remove an existing wood and metal newsstand located on the west sidewalk of South Independence Mall West.
And Bill No. 040027, an ordinance granting permission to Robert Bitros, owner of the property 931-933 North Second Street to operate and maintain an open air sidewalk cafe.
Bill No. 040058, an ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on the 2800 block of East Allegheny Avenue.
Bill No. 040065, directing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 58 of an area bounded by Ninth Street, Tenth Street, Callowhill Street, and Noble Street.
And Bill No. 040067, an ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Sales," by prohibiting sidewalk sales on portions of Franklintown Boulevard.
The Chair agrees. That concludes the First Reading Calendar. There are no bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today. Are there any speeches on the part of the Minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman
Thank you, Madam President. I've been spending a lot of time since the beginning of this Session trying to find out what's happening in City Council, and it's certainly a strange story. For one thing, I've been researching throughout the country to see if I could find another City that had an overwhelmingly Democratic legislative body which named a Republican to decide the issue if two top Democratic leaders can't agree. Now, I find that personally very offensive as a Democrat because it's my understanding that the Democratic Rules prohibit that kind of action because we try in the Democratic Party to represent the Democratic point of view. The Republican point of view is entirely different. I don't want to get into the details now because of the time element but will want to at a future time. But I think it's an absolutely disagrees that a Democratic body with 14 Democratic members decides that if the No. 1 Democrats disagree, they're going to go to the Minority Leader who represents out of 17 members and turn that person into the Super President with the power to make the final decision. Now, in a presidentional election year, are we Democrats saying we're kind of a pathetic group, and I think that's what we look like because we don't have the wisdom to decide and if our two top leaders can't agree on something then we've got to turn to the great wisdom of the Bush Republicans to get an answer. And I find that personally offensive. I want everyone to know that I will not rest quietly as long as that treachery to the Democratic Party exist. I think it's wrong to have a Republican Super President to this body with the power to make final decisions. I thought when I went out campaigning in this last year's election I was campaigning on behalf of a Democratic program for City Council, and I can't understand for the life of me why the Democratic Majority Leader would ever propose turning control of the Republicans who have three measly seats, only 1 out of 10 District Councilmembers, and the other posts they have, they have by virtue of the fact that the Home Rule charter guarantees their election. I have nothing against any of the three Republicans individually, but it's a matter of conscience. And the matter of conscience is we as Democrats have a duty to have the Democrats Party control the policies of this City Council. Fourteen of the seventeen members are Democrats. And turn to turn ultimate leadership over and to have it done by Democratic leader like a Majority Leader I think is totally unthinkable and a violation of basic Democratic policy. Thank you, Madam President.
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 26, 2004. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, February 26, 2004. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the motion carries. (Council adjourned at 10:40 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of February 19, 2004, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: STATED MEETING _________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR