Thank you. That shall be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. STATED MEETING 76 6/16/2022
You're welcome. I'll say it again. It's been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit the use of a Consent Agenda to consider the bills just read by Councilwoman Parker. Make a note 220523 has been requested and has been removed. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, the motion carries, and we will consider the Consent Agenda shortly. The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage STATED MEETING 77 6/16/2022 2ND READING Calendar.
Thank you, Mr. President. In addition to the resolutions and bills being considered on the Consent Agenda, the following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 220523, 220197, 220594, 220544, 220545, 200040, 200006-A, 200007, 210740, 220504, and 220517. All other bills and resolutions are being held, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Councilwoman. Thank you very much. That concludes the conversation with respect to what will be on our Calendar. So before we proceed with the consideration, we're going to take a five- to ten-minute break before we consider our public comment to give our technology professionals an opportunity to connect with our speakers for today. Modesto, we'll be back shortly. STATED MEETING 78 6/16/2022 Thank you. COUNCIL SUPPORT: Thank you, Council President. (Short recess.)
Thank you very much. We are back. Now that everyone is connected to the meeting and before considering the resolutions and bills we have before us today, we will consider our public comment session. It will go as follows: Public comment must concern matters on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for possible action at a session of Council. A speaker on any of those matters must sign up in order to testify. You must call 215-686-3406 by 3:00 p.m. the day before the session to sign up for public comment. When you call, we will take your name, phone number, the number of the legislative items you are commenting STATED MEETING 79 6/16/2022 on, and whether you are in support of or against the legislation, and add your name to the list. We will then telephone each person of the list during the Council session and invite them to our remote meeting. Today because of the volume of individuals wishing to testify on public comment, you will have two minutes for your comment. Please adjust your comments to reflect a two-minute timeframe. In order to be fair to all those wishing to speak, I intend to hold faithfully to the established time limit. So once invited to the meeting and asked to begin your testimony, a timer will be started. We will monitor your remaining time throughout your testimony, and when there are 30 seconds remaining to your time, you will be reminded of this. Once your allotted time has passed, you will be asked to conclude your remarks, and shortly thereafter you will be muted and STATED MEETING 80 6/16/2022 disconnected from the remote meeting. I also reserve the right to limit the number of speakers where repetitious comments are being made on the same subject matter, which could affect callbacks for public comment at the meeting. And also please be aware that the public meeting is being recorded. So because the meeting is public, participants and viewers have no reasonable expectation of privacy. So by continuing to be in the meeting, you are consenting to being recorded. I will now ask Mr. Decker to read the first name. And, again, I thank you so much for your willingness to participate in our public comment session. Mr. Decker, please read the first name on the list.
The first speaker today, Mr. President, is Ernest Garrett, commenting on 200006-A, 200007, and STATED MEETING 81 6/16/2022 200040.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. My name is Ernest Garrett, President of District Council 33. Good morning, President Clarke. His name is Staff Sergeant Alton Rowe. He served honorably in the U.S. Army, and he is my father. Although he was not my biological father, he raised me as if I was his own. He showed me the world, living in places like Fort Polk, Louisiana; Stetten Army Airfield in Mike's (ph) Germany; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas; and eventually ending his military career in Wiesbaden, Germany. Upon his return to the United States, he met with so many other vets' experience when they return home. There aren't many jobs for MIM-72 Chaparral tank operators. This hardship devastated STATED MEETING 82 6/16/2022 my father as well as my family. My father eventually got a job washing dishes at a sandwich shop across the street from City Hall, which is now a 7-Eleven. Throughout conversations he had along the way, he met a vet who was a judge and helped navigate him through employment with the City of Philadelphia, where he became a custodial worker inside the walls of City Hall. Had my dad not come along, I don't know how my life would have been. So I asked him what he thought of this legislation, and his response was, kids need guidance today more than ever. I'm Ernest Garrett and, as I said before, I'm the President of District Council 33, but I'm also a U.S. military veteran and I am calling to strongly support Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson's legislation to create a five point preference for qualified civil service applicants who STATED MEETING 83 6/16/2022 have completed a Philadelphia School District Career and Technical Education program within the last three years. I'm asking Councilmembers to vote in support of this legislation. As a veteran, I have honorably served my country and gained a significant field set that has entitled me to a point preference for civil service exam, but I also understand the importance of hard work and training, and I see a value in rewarding applicants for their unique experience. This legislation provides young people with a well-earned and reasonable preference based on their experience and their training, and the limited time period allowed ensures that it will be implemented as intended. To help young people right out of high school or vocational technical training is most important, and it also gives them options. Our City works because of STATED MEETING 84 6/16/2022 District Council 33 and its members, like me, and I would love to see more Philadelphia school graduates working with me every day. I strongly urge Councilmembers to support Bill No. 200006-A and 200007 and Resolution No. 200040 to help strengthen our City workforce and provide a pathway to stable employment for more Philadelphia families. What legislation is more important than saving the lives of young people? Thank you, Council President.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony. SHERIFF BILAL: Good morning, Council President. Can you hear me now?
Yes, STATED MEETING 85 6/16/2022 we can. Please proceed. SHERIFF BILAL: Good. Good morning, Council President Darrell Clarke and Councilmembers. I am Sheriff Rochelle Bilal for the City and County of Philadelphia. I am here speaking in support of Bill No. 273079 [sic]. This is in reference to those who are dumping in our neighborhoods. Being a child growing up in North Philadelphia, people used to needlessly come down in our neighborhoods and just dump trash. Well, as an adult, I'm riding through my neighborhood and continuously watching people dumping piles of trash in certain parts of my neighborhood, which is Northwest, and just leaving it there. It's a shame that they just keep dumping it when there are areas for them to take it to, but they don't want to pay for it. I think the fines and I'm in agreement with the fines that need to be -- they need to be increased because STATED MEETING 86 6/16/2022 of this. I videotape them. I consistently report them to Councilmember Parker that these people are continuously dumping in this one area, and every time that the department of trash come back and pick it up, they come right back and dump it again. So I think these fines need to be raised to have an impact on them for dumping consistently in our neighborhoods. It's a shame. We don't dump in theirs. They should not come and dump in ours. So I am in 100 support of this bill, and I just hope that City Council all vote on it, because it needs to be done. We need to stop them from dumping in our neighborhoods, and the fines should make a serious impact on them for doing so. Thank you very much.
Thank you for your testimony. We STATED MEETING 87 6/16/2022 appreciate it.
The next speaker is Queen Judith Robinson, commenting on 220590, 220243, 220582, and 220008.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony. QUEEN ROBINSON: Good afternoon. I am Queen Judith Robinson and I would like to have the rules of Council suspended to allow the public to call and pass the deadline and just spontaneously maneuver as you all change things around as you choose to and we don't have time to really even register as to what you're doing in that regard. So it's complicated enough for the public to try to understand all these numbers and bills, et cetera, but I'm right there with you all. So I just would like to make sure the public has an opportunity to advocate. So shout-out to Dr. Hite. Farewell is not good-bye. Thank you so STATED MEETING 88 6/16/2022 much for what you have done. Welcome to the new Councilmember. I want to say to Councilman O'Neill, please give the homeowners all the protections, increase the income and the criteria. Councilman Oh, we hear you. Arts, culture, and creative economy and tourism, a billion dollar business. So as it relates to this budget, 5.6 billion plus dollars and you all have the right to distribute it around. So tangled titles, make sure you are giving funds to where titles can really be untangled. No one does it better than the real estate broker who has that knowledge, and we do. So we're doing the work, so we want some of those funds. Rebuild, why can't we get things unstuck as it relates to Cecil B. Moore Rec Center? We need mental health services, STATED MEETING 89 6/16/2022 you all, anger management for everybody. I'm starting with my class soon, and I encourage everyone to get a little anger management. Our community is unsafe as it relates to people being kicked off and then having illegal guns or even legal guns in their possession. I want to make sure that we get all of our parks, our rec centers open and PAL centers open with programming. Okay? Court system, DAs, more undercover people, anger management, because I didn't get all of my time. So I want to make sure sanitation is enforced. Short dumping should be enforced with the fines. I'll be back next week. To be continued.
Thank you. Thank you very much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good STATED MEETING 90 6/16/2022 morning. State your name for the record and please proceed with your testimony.
Hi. My name is (connection issues). I am also asking Mayor Kenney to implement OTIS's mixed-lane configuration throughout the rest of Washington Avenue. I speak today as a resident, parent, and firefighter. It's difficult to hear road safety opponents use emergency response as an excuse not for making Washington Avenue safer. Speaking unofficially from my personal experience as a firefighter, three lanes is as wide as Lehigh Avenue or Allegheny Avenue in North Philly, as wide as 52nd Street in West Philly, and with a center turning lane would still function well as a route for emergency vehicles. It's simply untrue that fire trucks need a five-lane highway in every neighborhood to get around. The opposition to the plan is truly about driving convenience. There STATED MEETING 91 6/16/2022 is no mention of things that truly affect emergency response. Illegal parking in the medians, along corners blocking fire hydrants, most importantly, a withdraw from OTIS's original plan means the community-negotiated emergency signal preemption, a life-saving device that gives the green light for emergency vehicles, is in jeopardy. Speaking as a parent, my nine-year-old daughter's school is among the six schools and five RCOs asking Council for a reconfiguration of Washington Avenue to make the road safer for all users, especially for pedestrians. Since Washington Avenue has been under consideration, in 2010 two-year-old Derek Martinez died crossing with his mother at 6th and Washington. In 2012, 11-year-old Samantha Nguyen-Ortanez died on the sidewalk near 8th and Washington. In 2014, 29-year-old Sheena White died crossing 15th and STATED MEETING 92 6/16/2022 Washington. Her eight-year-old son was found by police trying to revive her. In 2017, 83-year-old Sarah Wood died crossing (connection issue) and Washington, and in 2020, a 31-year-old man died crossing Broad and Washington. But all these pedestrians were killed by drivers during the decade-long engagement, and that roadway safety is still not the highest priority shows either a lack of compassion or knowledge. I thank Councilmember Squilla's commitment to roadway safety with this legislation and ask Mayor Kenney to listen to the voters and implement the mixed-lane plan and end the tide of roadway deaths today. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good STATED MEETING 93 6/16/2022 morning. State your name for the record, please, and proceed. (No response.)
Good morning. Are you connected? (No response.)
The next speaker is Claudia Smith Sherrod, commenting on 220523.
Good morning. State your name for the record and please proceed.
Good morning. Claudia Smith Sherrod. I'm calling in opposition of Bill 220523. I've been fighting this fight since 2013. I'm an 80-year-old woman, and I've crossed that street many times. I've never felt danger, and it's not unsafe. To implement this plan would not only hurt me, it would hurt others as well, because you're trying to set aside a special interest group, not the people who live in that community. STATED MEETING 94 6/16/2022 It is an arterial road. It's an evacuation route, and there's no room to say that the Fire Department and the Police Department don't support it, because most of them do support it, because the way the street is, it's a lot of commercial, not low industrial like it used to be, but people need to load and unload. If you take these lanes away, it will cause more damage and it would also perhaps kill more bikers, because it is not for bikers. It's for motorists. It's not for pedestrians. It's for motorists. When you cross at the light, it's set so they have longer times for people to cross it. That's great. I went to school in South Philly. I'm a lifelong resident of South Philly, and I think it's wrong to just stuff things down our throat. I spoke to Councilman Squilla and I told him I think he made a bad decision, because a lot of his people are calling me now on the STATED MEETING 95 6/16/2022 phone asking me to help them, but they need to be up there telling you that they want Washington Avenue to remain the same. We thank you for the opportunity to talk, but you need to listen to the people who are really affected by it, not the people who don't live around the corner from it like I do. And before I leave, I would like to say I do support Bill No. 220008. It's about time someone thought about what the contractors are doing to properties.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good STATED MEETING 96 6/16/2022 morning. State your name for the record. Please proceed.
Good morning, Council President and members of City Council. My name is Drew Miller and I am a paralegal at Community Legal Services in the Homeownership and Consumer Rights Unit. I'm pleased to testify in support of Bill 220008 today to help protect Philadelphia's row home neighborhoods. As the Council knows, Community Legal Services is a non-profit legal aid office that provides free legal representation to low-income Philadelphians. We represent clients with a variety of civil legal matters, including homeownership issues. At the hearing before the Committee on Licenses and Inspections on June 2nd, 2022, a number of row homeowners, including one of our CLS clients, and other stakeholders testified about the need for this bill. They testified about the various damages STATED MEETING 97 6/16/2022 experienced as a result of neighbors largely being left out of the process during adjacent construction. This bill is an opportunity to enact established best practices that will promote an equitable impact for all Philadelphians adjacent to demolition and construction. On behalf of CLS and our clients, we want to thank Councilmember Squilla and Councilmember Domb for co-sponsoring this legislation, and we ask that City Council support Bill 220008 to help protect Philadelphia row home neighborhoods. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good morning -- I'm sorry. Good afternoon. State your name for the record and please STATED MEETING 98 6/16/2022 proceed with your testimony.
Good morning. My name is Yasha Zarrinkelk. I'm the Advocacy Director of Transit Forward Philadelphia and a resident of South Philadelphia in the Point Breeze neighborhood and I'm testifying in support of Bill No. 220523. According to engagement that has been done by the Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability, engagement speaking to neighbors, transit running times on Washington Avenue need improvement, and that's coming from the voices of riders and residents in that neighborhood. And we stand with the riders who believe that a mixed-lane configuration is necessary, because designated spaces for buses and bus boarding islands is necessary. The safety of passengers boarding the buses is of utmost importance, along with buses and passengers not blocking bike lanes or in the path of vehicle traffic. STATED MEETING 99 6/16/2022 We appreciate Councilmember Squilla for introducing the necessary legislation to make the mixed-lane configuration work in the First District. However, in order to have consistent safety measures, it is now pertinent that Mayor Kenney approve the mixed-lane configuration throughout the rest of the Avenue from 11th Street to Grays Ferry Avenue. We believe that this step is crucial for riders to travel safely from Washington Avenue. Thank you so much for your time.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. Please state your name for the record.
Yes. My name is Mark Zecca. I am a Philadelphian and a STATED MEETING 100 6/16/2022 lawyer. I am speaking in favor of Councilmember Bass's resolution to reconsider the illegal giveaway of the City's history collection. I hope this resolution leads to hearings on the deal and rejection by Council of this illegal giveaway of City assets that is being done without Council approval. This illegal deal attempts to give away priceless treasure of the people of the City. It is a permanent giveaway of property that you are supposed to control under the Charter. Don't let the Law Department fool you about what is going on here. There can be no legal deal without a Council vote under more than one Charter section, and there must be a Charter change for this deal to be legal because the Charter says a City agency runs it. The Council and citizens are being betrayed by the City's lawyer, who should be defending the rights of Council and the citizens. I was in the City Law STATED MEETING 101 6/16/2022 Department for over 20 years. If I were still there, I would refuse to approve this deal because it would violate my oath of office. The court case the City filed is totally meaningless and was based on deception by the Law Department. No court has ended the legal requirement for Council to approve the agreement or ended the need for a Charter change, and no court could do that, and court never even had any jurisdiction for reasons I can explain later. The City's court petition was totally void. The fact that the City may have done illegal things in the past without going to Council is only more reason to stop this. The City can have a great museum here, far better than Drexel. The City never tried. It could easily be funded and supported by the City's already funded agencies. It would be the people's museum, the story of every STATED MEETING 102 6/16/2022 Philadelphia neighborhood and all the City's peoples. Nothing like it. We'd have rotating exhibits on every neighborhood and each group of people. Why are we giving away Joe Frazier's boxing gloves, Philly's champ? Would any Councilmember vote to give them away? Let's pass the resolution and have hearings on the deal. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Hello. My name is Jerome Whack and I ask City Council to pass Bill 220008, which is an amendment to the 2018 Philadelphia Building Code. I have been a resident for more than 60 years here in the City of STATED MEETING 103 6/16/2022 Philadelphia. In 1986, I bought a building at 1947 Christian Street, which I still own and occupy. Fast forward to 2020, when St. Charles Roman Catholic Church Senior Citizen Center was sold to a white gentrifying developer for $3.5 million. During the demolition and construction of townhouses here on Christian Street, my building was seriously damaged. My shed was damaged by a steel beam 35 feet long, five tons. My patio was destroyed. My building was dug under during excavation. Concrete blocks were broken on my pavement. My gate and fence was badly destroyed. My central air conditioner was badly damaged and, lastly, my roof was patched without my consent, without compensation, and without the proper permits by this developer. I was arrested in February of 2021 for third-degree criminal trespass on my own roof, the building that I owned STATED MEETING 104 6/16/2022 since 1986. The detective did not question me, did not return to the alleged scene of the crime. I was just arrested. I had no prior criminal convictions before, during, and even today. I ask City Council to vote yes on this bill and please enact it and make sure it is effective this year. Please do not delay until 2023. Gentrification is the quiet violence which continues to plague longtime residents and neighborhoods in the City of Brotherly Love. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. Please state your name for the record.
Good afternoon. My STATED MEETING 105 6/16/2022 name is Mike Lee and I'm testifying humbly in support of Resolution 220594, a resolution honoring the life and legacy of trailblazing attorney and my father, Bernard Lee. On behalf of my mother, Kathy; my sister, Michelle, and her husband, Omar; my brother, Justin; his wife, Faye; and my beautiful wife, Madeline, and our wonderful son, Winston, I can't thank City Council enough for lifting up another great Philadelphian, and it's fitting to receive this recognition on the cusp of both Father's Day and Juneteenth, two things that symbolize what my father cared about most, his family and his people. He gave all of his energy to make sure that we, his family, have opportunities to reach our potential, but that potential includes being humble and being in service and making sure that we take care of our people, and our people is an inclusive term. Sometimes our STATED MEETING 106 6/16/2022 people are Sixer fans, sometimes they're attorneys, but more often than not, they're strangers that slowly become friends, that slowly become family. And my dad's legacy is much more than buildings in City Hall, much more than legal negotiations or mentorships that impact the City and the world. It's the fact that when people think of him, he builds a smile on their face. It's the fact that being a trailblazer means that people are following the path that you laid. And I am truly thankful for City Council to take time today while finalizing our fiscal plan and addressing the senseless gun violence, preventable overdose deaths, and the general systemic racism that plagues our society now to remind Philadelphians that greatness lives in Philadelphia, generation after generation. Thank you again for this honor, and thank you to Councilmember Gauthier STATED MEETING 107 6/16/2022 and her Chief of Staff, Max Weiss, for thinking of the Lee family. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Jumping backwards in the list, Mr. President, someone we just managed to connect, Jeff Posner, commenting on 220523.
Jeff Posner. Council President, Councilmembers, and fellow residents, my name is Jeff Posner. I live in the 1300 block of South 19th Street. Good afternoon. I speak today in support of Bill 220523 for the safest version of Washington Avenue currently possible. After 40 years, I'm proud to be STATED MEETING 108 6/16/2022 a resident again. I love living in a city where I can walk or bike to shops, doctors, the post office, and almost anywhere I need to go. However, crossing Washington Avenue is scary. Riding its often blocked or unmarked bike lanes is even worse. The Avenue is an unwelcome and artificial barrier between north and south. Washington Avenue needs to be a single resource for all City residents and should not be carved up and recreated as individual neighborhoods desire. This enormous avenue divides children from playgrounds, dominates the immediate area, and is recognized and documented as a significant source of traffic accidents, dangerous driving, chaotic parking, with vehicles and bikes weaving from block to block as they attempt to navigate the chaos. Additionally, Washington Avenue is the only marked bike lane between Pine Street and Snyder Avenue, a distance of STATED MEETING 109 6/16/2022 one and a half miles, with only one east/west bike lane. The City needs this lane to be restructured as OTIS has designed. A protective lane that only runs east of the 11th Street again disadvantages those of us in Point Breeze. I'm not sure how any single Councilmember is vested with the power over such a crucial project. However, there are times when the greater good for a city must take precedence over individual neighborhoods. That's why I want to see not only Councilmember Squilla's bill approved, but for the Mayor to configure the rest of Washington Avenue in OTIS's mixed-lane plan. I'd like to thank the Councilmember for hearing me today.
Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Still back on , Mr. President, to a speaker we STATED MEETING 110 6/16/2022 managed to connect, Linda Evans, commenting on 220523.
Thank you. Good morning. My name is Linda Evans. I oppose Bill 220523. I am a 25-year resident of Christian Street. Like Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson, I support the various safety improvements that Philly OTIS wants to install along the roadway this year, but I also want Washington Avenue to remain a five-lane road only throughout the Second District. Before I explain my rationale, I want to thank Councilman Kenyatta Johnson for being extraordinarily courageous for taking a tough position that has warranted a special interest group who has protested repeatedly STATED MEETING 111 6/16/2022 throughout his legislative district and then for the local newspaper put an editorial to say that Councilman Johnson is stopping Washington Avenue from becoming safe, and then the next day to have the 100-year-old African American newspaper say that this special interest group should lobby the Mayor to overreach his authority and to make a decision for the very diverse constituency which makes up his district, which consists of multiple generational families, long-term residents like myself, seniors, businesses, and residents, African Americans, Asians. Mr. Mayor, you have your priorities. It should be addressing the violence in this city. It also should be addressing the tax hike. I must recognize that Councilman Johnson has caught a lot of hell for not looking out for his interests, but in closing, I want you to stay committed to the position. We want safety. Yes, we do. Safety is possible STATED MEETING 112 6/16/2022 that's in the five-lane roads in the Second District. We believe in safety. We believe in walkability. We want it friendly for the pedestrians. And as someone who lives on Christian Street, we have an over-saturation of parking in this area. So I urge you to oppose this bill. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record, please.
Good morning. My name is Hannah Ege. I'm a North Philly resident and volunteer with Families for Safe Streets, and I'm here to testify in support of Councilmember Squilla's parking and loading Bill No. 220523. STATED MEETING 113 6/16/2022 My husband, Sheria Musyoka, was struck and killed by a driver going 75 miles per hour on February 4th, 2021. Although this happened in San Francisco, it was a preventable death if the city had taken action to fix the boulevard where Sheria was killed. The community had all voiced their concerns around the safety of this boulevard and high speeds on it, but the city had done nothing. Washington Ave has already seen one too many deaths and injuries on it. The current speed allowed is too high, and the lane configuration does not provide the adequate safety needed for pedestrians and bikers. I fully support the City's plans, as it is the safest plan that is backed by data and research. The last year and a half since losing Sheria has been unbearable, and my heart goes out to all of the families and survivors who have lost so much from crashes on Washington Ave. We can do STATED MEETING 114 6/16/2022 better, so let's start now by listening to the data and the community needs and let's make Washington Ave safe again. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is George Ginder, commenting on 200006-A and 200007.
Thank you. Good afternoon. State your name for the record. Please proceed.
Council President, Councilmembers, good afternoon. My name is George Ginder. I am the Chairman of the Philadelphia Veterans Advisory Commission, a veteran, and hold membership to several veteran organizations. After speaking with Philadelphia veterans, the Commission is opposed to the proposed preference point bill. We were opposed two years ago and STATED MEETING 115 6/16/2022 still are. But now Council should be in receipt of a letter the Commissioners forwarded yesterday. In it, we advise that veterans that we come in contact with are very displeased with the bill or any program that will take from veterans, whether it be points for hiring or attempts to diminish their stature, whether real, perceived, or implied. No matter what a veteran did while serving their country, the fact is when they enlisted, they wrote a check that, if called upon, was payable up to and including dying for their country. Many veterans returned home none the worse for their service time. Others were not as lucky. However, they all earned sacred benefits, one of which is preference points that are so rightly deserved for their contributions while serving our country in uniform. The bill in question calls for the award of preference points to people who never left their families, never wore STATED MEETING 116 6/16/2022 the uniforms of our country, don't know the hardships of serving in a combat zone. Can you see why veterans would be opposed to this dilution of their earned benefits? It's been said that this bill will not impact the veteran nor do veterans care for the preference points being diminished. I am here to tell you that they do care and are protective of the rights that they earn. For that reason, I would like to advise that this bill, at least for now, be tabled until a larger segment of the Philadelphia veterans can be polled by Council to learn if the Philadelphia veteran community is in favor or not in favor of this bill. The polling process can accomplished simply by conducting town hall meetings or by visiting organizations to solicit their opinions on whether or not they care if the bill is passed. STATED MEETING 117 6/16/2022 I'd like to thank Council for the opportunity to speak at this hearing today concerning this subject matter. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record, please.
Thank you, Council President Clarke and Michael Decker. I'm Michael Newmuis, Chief of Staff at Visit Philadelphia. Thank you, City Council, for your leadership on behalf of our city, and thank you, Councilmember Squilla, for introducing the resolution renaming a street corridor in Philadelphia's gayborhood as Jeff Guaracino Way. Jeff Guaracino is a Philadelphia hometown hero. His passion STATED MEETING 118 6/16/2022 for our city was rooted in his love for Philadelphia and for all Philadelphians. From Juneteenth and July 4th to the Visit Philadelphia holiday tree at Dilworth Plaza, Jeff believed that Philadelphians deserved to have epic celebrations, even bigger than New York City, and he didn't stop until he forged programs that not only drove critical economic activity but, importantly, boosted civic pride. Just as Councilwoman Parker is leading visionary efforts to host an HSBCU Classic, Jeff Guaracino dreamed big. Jeff's heart belongs to the people and memories he inspired and through the events and celebrations he courageously reimagined. As Chief of Staff for Visit Philadelphia and Jeff's close friend, I am so deeply moved and thrilled that his legacy will be honored through the street naming of Jeff Guaracino Way. On behalf of the Board and staff of Visit Philadelphia, we thank STATED MEETING 119 6/16/2022 City Council for your continued leadership and sacrifice on behalf of all Philadelphians, and Visit Philadelphia remains committed to working with you to support Philadelphia's economic recovery while boosting civic pride. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. Please state your name for the record.
It's Tami Sortman, and good afternoon, City Councilmembers and Philadelphia residents. I'm actually speaking on the exact same resolution that Michael just spoke on, an approval of the signage on 13th Street for Jeff Guaracino. I'm here today to make a statement about my friend, cohort, and STATED MEETING 120 6/16/2022 partner in crime, Jeff Guaracino, who was loved and admired by everyone in the tourism and hospitality industry. Jeff was the President of Visit Philadelphia when he passed away from cancer in December of last year. He was a passionate advocate for Philadelphia that went way beyond city and the countryside. His work as a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ+ community really defines his legacy when in 2003 Jeff helped create a marketing campaign encouraging LGBTQ+ plus tourists to come to Philadelphia with print ads and a groundbreaking TV commercial. The advertising was the first of its kind in the country, and the tag line was, "Come to Philadelphia, get your history straight and your nightlife gay." Philadelphia became known as a gay-friendly destination and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ travelers at a time when the rest of the country was still deciding if it was for or against the STATED MEETING 121 6/16/2022 basic rights for gay marriage. Jeff's strategies were some of the first ever seen in the country and will have a lasting impact on the hospitality industry and global scale for the years to come. With this campaign in full swing, the Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus worked together with Jeff and the City to erect 72 rainbow street signs that welcomed the LGBTQ+ travelers to the gayborhood. Jeff was so proud when the rainbow signs were finally installed. So with all that Jeff has done for his community and the City of Philadelphia, it would be so fitting to have Jeff's name put on the street signs that he helped create. Jeff will be remembered as the LGBTQ pioneer in the tourism and travel industry, as well as one of the proudest residents of Philadelphia. So I want to thank Councilman Squilla for this Resolution 220597. STATED MEETING 122 6/16/2022 Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
The next speaker is Nathaniel Smith, commenting on 200006-A and 200007.
Good afternoon. State your name for the record, please.
Nathaniel Smith. Good afternoon, Council President Clarke and Councilmembers. My name is Nathaniel Smith and I am the immediate past state Commander for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of Pennsylvania. I represent over 65,000 VFW members, and I have about a quarter of them from Philadelphia. I'm here to testify on the opposition of Bills 200006-A and 200007. I have nothing against young men and women that is basically trying to find a job. However, as a 24-year vet STATED MEETING 123 6/16/2022 myself, it's hard enough to get a job when you get out of the military. We have thousands of homeless vets, and this would just add to them. I believe that the Council should find another way to basically help these young men and women without impeaching on the backs of our veterans who basically fight for your freedom each and every day. I personally believe that they should -- if they didn't get this ten point system, our vets would be more or less more homeless than they are. I thank you for your consideration in opposition of this bill. Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Thank you. I'm STATED MEETING 124 6/16/2022 Kevin Broad and I'm in support of 220523. I've been in the Grad Hospital area for 26 years, the last 17 years living at 23rd and Carpenter. I'm familiar with and alarmed by the aggressive driving and haphazard parking on Washington Avenue. Too often I find myself crossing Washington Avenue in the blinding morning light with people racing each other to the next red light. Currently, the Avenue is wide and open and encourages this speeding. Drivers even use the turning lanes to dart ahead of the two turning lanes -- to dart ahead of the two adjacent through lanes. Should this kind of driving be encouraged? Meanwhile the City has spent years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on designs, education, and outreach, with no action. My neighbor, Sarah Woods, was hit, run over, and killed walking across Washington Avenue four years ago. She was at St. STATED MEETING 125 6/16/2022 Anthony's. Everyone loved Sarah. She was a musician. She sent cards and made gifts for her neighbors. More recently, another elderly woman from St. Anthony's was struck and seriously injured when an impatient driver turned and hit her in the crosswalk. How many more neighbors have to be killed or injured for our city to act and do what's necessary? How many times do I have to dodge the aggressive drivers? How many times do we take our chances with fast driving neighbors even who care more about getting to the next red light than the quality of life in our neighborhood? With housing density increasing in our neighborhood, there will only be greater pedestrian activity along the Avenue. I demand action now by completing the lane changes that experts have designed and recommended in which the majority of neighbors have repeatedly STATED MEETING 126 6/16/2022 supported. Thank you, Councilmember Squilla, for introducing your parking and loading legislation to complete the mixed-lane configuration in the First District. Now it's time for my Congressperson and for Mayor Kenney to step in and make sure that all of Washington Avenue is paved with OTIS's mixed-lane configuration. Thank you very much.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. Please state your name for the record and proceed.
Thank you, members of Council. My name is Michele Gaffney and I am a Philadelphia homeowner calling from Old Richmond in District 1. I'm a community advocate and consultant STATED MEETING 127 6/16/2022 for adjacent construction safety and residents' rights. I'm also a member of an adjacent construction safety coalition composed of members of the community from various organizations, advocacy groups, and individual advocates like myself. I'm asking today that the Council vote yes to pass Bill No. 220008. The impact of adjacent construction damage is financially devastating, life-altering, and leaves behind lasting emotional trauma. Residents whose property is damaged or destroyed by adjacent construction are often left with no recourse or protection. Given the City recently announced significant property tax increases, the homeowners paying those taxes deserve concrete support in preserving the generational wealth that they hold in their homes. This bill is an essential step toward proactively reducing the conditions that lead to adjacent construction damage in the first STATED MEETING 128 6/16/2022 place. I also urge the Council to take two additional actions in relation to this bill. First, change the effective date for this bill to September 2022 instead of January 2023. This bill is already too late for countless victims of adjacent construction harm, some of whom testified on the record to the Committee of Licenses and Inspection on June 2nd. Second, provide resources for Community Legal Services to fund a pilot program addressing the needs of adjacent construction damage cases. As it stands, residents do not have anywhere to go to address these issues, and we desperately need dedicated help in this area. Please help build CLS's capacity to be able to hold developers accountable to the legislation in this bill. Thank you for your time and your efforts to continue building institutional support for Philadelphia homeowners. STATED MEETING 129 6/16/2022
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Thank you. My name is Francis Hoeber. I am a historian and I live and work in South Philadelphia. Good afternoon, President Clarke and members of Council. I want to thank Member Cindy Bass for introducing Resolution 220599. This resolution calls for Council hearings to reconsider the Kenney Administration's proposal to give away City property worth many tens of millions of dollars to a private institution. I'm referring to the collection of the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent. STATED MEETING 130 6/16/2022 I first visited the Atwater Kent Museum on a trip with my elementary school in 1949. That childhood visit started me on an interest in Philadelphia history that lasts my whole life. I was a paying member of the Museum for 35 years until the Kenney Administration abruptly shut the doors in 2018 after 80 years of service to Philadelphia citizens. I am one of a vast number of Philadelphians who care passionately about the Philadelphia History Museum at the Atwater Kent and its fabulous collections. The truth is that the City underfunded the Atwater Kent Collection for much of its 80 years that the Museum operated, but after 12 mayors who kept Philadelphia's history museum going, it was only the Kenney Administration that slammed the doors on the public. Then inexplicably the Administration came up with its plan to give away the Museum's priceless collection to a private STATED MEETING 131 6/16/2022 institution. This plan would put Philadelphia's property and historic heritage into private control without getting anything in return other than vague promises. Most egregiously, the Administration completely bypassed City Council in this ill-considered act. City Council can save this situation by voting in favor of Resolution 220599. Thank you very much.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. Please state your name for the record.
Hi. This is Bob Eskind. I live in West Philadelphia. I appreciate this opportunity to testify. I worked at the Atwater Kent Museum when it was still called that STATED MEETING 132 6/16/2022 between 1988 and 1993 as a curator. I sometimes encountered potential donors who were somewhat wary about the security of the artifacts that they were giving to the Museum. They'd ask me, the Atwater Kent, what is that? And I explained that they were giving their things to the City of Philadelphia. The Atwater Kent Museum was the City's history museum. Their beloved family treasures would belong to the people of Philadelphia. I hope I wasn't mistaken. This Administration has chosen to (connection issues) rid of it, the museum, the collection, the spatial opportunity to shape public discourse through exhibitions and public programs. Why would the City give up a platform, give up a stage where the public can wrestle with it, celebrate it, question elements of our shared history, and indeed help create the multiple narrative that had informed our history? This is a kind of soft STATED MEETING 133 6/16/2022 privatization brought about by public failure, the failure of this and previous administrations to demand leadership and vision from the Museum's supposed stewards. The loss of the Atwater Kent Museum is not simply a loss of public ownership but a loss of the idea of public ownership that we as citizens have the capacity, that we owe it to ourselves to assemble materials that are important to us and take responsibility for them and use them to discover and tell our stories. We have a right to access and use those collections. I welcome Council's resolution to examine the questions that arise out of the proposed transfer of this public collection to private ownership and to private advantage. I support the resolution that the City should closely examine these questions when we abandon notions of stewardship and abdicate the responsibilities of the public trust. STATED MEETING 134 6/16/2022 Thank you.
Thank you for your testimony. We appreciate it.
Good afternoon. Please state your name for the record.
My name is Kate Goodman and I'm a City worker. I am a rank and file member of AFSCME District Council 47, Local 2187. I'm a member of Unity Caucus and the Philadelphia Revenue Project, and I'm commenting in opposition to the City budget, Bill 220286. I work in North Philadelphia, from Strawberry Mansion to Sharswood to Kensington, all the way up to McPherson Square in Fishtown. In other words, I work all over City Council President Darrell Clarke's District 5, and I'm tired of watching him ignore his constituents. We're some of the poorest STATED MEETING 135 6/16/2022 people in the entire country and who live in the neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence. And I'm tired of watching Council President Clarke talk about how important ending poverty and gun violence in Philadelphia are out of one side of his mouth and then work with the Chamber of Commerce to de-fund City services and cut union jobs in his district out of the other side of his mouth. With the passage of this budget behind closed doors at 11:30 p.m. through a secretive, undemocratic process that Clarke controls, it's clear that President Clarke and his inner circle of conservative democrats have not only locked out progressive City Councilmembers who disagree with him but have locked out working-class Philadelphians as a whole from the whole budget process. Last night City Council caved to big business, Comcast and Aramark, and gave away nearly $35 million in tax STATED MEETING 136 6/16/2022 breaks to the wealthy through the cuts to BIRT and the wage tax reduction. This is $35 million that won't go to City services. Mayor Kenney and City Council are gearing up to call the tiny library in Parks and Rec budget increases every year all over the media. I urge the public not to listen to them. The Library's funding increase is insufficient to meet the needs of the community, but it's a start. The Parks and Rec budget, however, is so low that it's really dangerous. It's guaranteed that young people in our neighborhoods will need a safe place to go this summer. It will also continue to watch people in power to make the conscious choice to (background noise) with no adults to support them. It's no wonder (background noise). Rec centers are open with one worker inside, and the fact that City Council and Mayor Kenney continue to push STATED MEETING 137 6/16/2022 workers to keep our buildings open on the weekends with no additional staff (background noise) to work overtime and not allow business to open. As long as we rely on big business democrats like Darrell Clarke who answer to Comcast and other corporations to run our city, we are just going to watch the wealthy horde money while the rest of us have no basic services. I urge a no vote on this budget. I urge City Council to fully fund Parks and Recs and other City departments. I urge City Council to stop the BIRT and wage tax cuts. And I urge working-class Philadelphians and our unions to stop donating to and voting for democratic politicians who sell us out every single year.
Thank you. Thank you. We really appreciate your testimony.
The next speaker STATED MEETING 138 6/16/2022 is Philip Price, Mr. President, commenting on 220599.
Good afternoon. Please state your name for the record. Please proceed.
Yes. Philip Price Jr. I've been a lifelong resident of Philadelphia and I've been very involved in historic preservation for much of that time. I support wholeheartedly Councilwoman Bass's Bill No. 220599, because for the first time in the history of this matter since the Atwater Kent Museum closed in June 30, 2018, there will be actually a public forum in which expressions of interest in creating and maintaining a museum of history of the Philadelphia community. Major cities in the country have historical museums that outline their history. If Philadelphia closes this forever and gives it away to a private institution, we'll lose that STATED MEETING 139 6/16/2022 capacity forever. So by having these hearings, I would hope that ideas about how to recreate the Museum in the name of Atwater Kent, who was an extraordinary man, will prevail for future generations. Let me say one word about Atwater Kent. Often the name is used, but nobody understands fully who he was. He made two fortunes in Philadelphia and employed in one of those ventures more than 12,000 people. That was when he was making radios on Wissahickon Avenue in a plant that he built. He sold two million radios around the world in each of two years. When the Depression came, he made it a point of making sure that his workers were not the ones that suffered. He paid for many of them to find other employment to pay for their heat and light bills since if that was necessary and he downsized the workforce in a gradual way, that did not impact the adversity as it might have otherwise if he just closed STATED MEETING 140 6/16/2022 his doors like other businesses have done. In 1938 -- '36 he stopped his business. In 1938, that's when his vision for the creation of a history museum came about, and he bought a building on South 7th Street from the Franklin Institute, allowing it to move to the Parkway, refurbished that building and gave it to the City of Philadelphia, with a stipulation that it should be used for history of the City going forward, accepting the artifacts and memorabilia that would tell that story. So we have a history of involvement with telling the story in the past, and to give it away now would be an absolute travesty, it seems to me, a lost opportunity forever. Finally --
I'm sorry. STATED MEETING 141 6/16/2022 Thank you for the opportunity to testify, and I appreciate your consideration of this matter.
Thank you so much for your testimony. We appreciate it. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just wanted to make mention that the resolution mentioned regarding the Atwater Kent Collection is being held because we were able to work with the folks who acquired it, Drexel University and others, to put together a roundtable, a conversation around what happens next. So I really want to encourage for those of you who are interested in what happens with that collection, there will be much more dialogue. We've heard from all sides to have a conversation. They're all interested in having a very robust conversation and figuring out what STATED MEETING 142 6/16/2022 the next steps are and to ensure that these valued treasures are not discarded without there being some sort of a public process, that there should be a process for anything that is removed from the collection. And so I look forward to having additional details about that. Folks can look to our social media pages or else call my office, and we will be having more information in the month of July about what the next steps will be. Thank you, Mr. President.
Okay. Thank you for allowing me an opportunity to speak. I am also calling about Councilmember Bass's Bill 220599 regarding the Atwater Kent and the Philadelphia History Museum, STATED MEETING 143 6/16/2022 and I just want to thank Councilmember Bass for putting forward this bill, opening up further public dialogue for the disposition and care and stewardship of this important collection and also its function as a museum which provides access to these materials. So a couple of other people have spoken quite eloquently about some of these matters. I'll just add a few statements, but I hope Council will support this bill and also why it is important. The collection itself is extraordinary. It represents the people of Philadelphia in a way and a broad swath of ethnicities, concerns, geographies, narratives, in a way that no other single collection in the City does. It also comprises documents but also objects that tell stories in a really different way, and I think the function of the Museum was to open objects to the public and open those STATED MEETING 144 6/16/2022 stories to the public in a way that strictly digitization of objects will not do. So I encourage in moving forward that consideration also be thought of the Museum function as well as the care and stewardship of the collection and also that there be assurance that collection material is accessible to scholars and researchers and students who can gain from the collection. I know the time is short. Thank you for letting me speak, and thank you for considering this.
Thank you for your testimony. Mr. President, there are no other speakers.
I'm sorry, Mr. Decker. I was on mute. I was having a conversation with myself. I didn't realize that I was not being heard. STATED MEETING 145 6/16/2022 you, and thank you for public comment. We are now going to proceed with today's Resolution Consent Agenda. (Background talking.)
I don't think that we're going to just -ready to end, so we're going to proceed. I'm going to ask the Clerk to please read the titles of all the resolutions on the Consent Agenda. After each title is read -- sorry. We got a little discombobulated. Okay. After each title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of the resolution on the Resolution Consent Agenda, and upon such an objection and without debate, the resolution will be immediately removed from the Resolution Consent Agenda and placed on today's regular Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please now read the titles of the resolutions on the STATED MEETING 146 6/16/2022 Agenda.
Resolution No. 220581, entitled "A resolution recognizing and congratulating Angela Val on being named the new President and CEO of Visit Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 220582, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to 2342 North Twenty-Seventh Street, 2344 North Twenty-Seventh Street, 2346 North Twenty-Seventh Street, and 2348 North Twenty-Seventh Street located in the Fifth Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 220583, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon STATED MEETING 147 6/16/2022 the Fifth Councilmanic District"; and Resolution No. 220584, entitled a "Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon situate in the Fifth Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 220585, entitled a "Resolution recognizing, honoring, and welcoming Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated on the occasion of its 2022 Grand Boule being held in the City of Philadelphia, July 18 through July 24, 2022"; and Resolution No. 220586, entitled a "Resolution honoring and recognizing Carol Tracy, Esquire for her profound achievements advancing the legal status STATED MEETING 148 6/16/2022 and families through pathbreaking litigation and advocacy, as well as her transformational leadership in the movement for women's rights in Philadelphia and across the nation"; and Resolution No. 220587, entitled a "Resolution honoring Dann Cuellar, on the occasion of his retirement, for 34 years of excellence in broadcast and digital journalism at 6abc Action News on Philadelphia's WPVI-TV"; and Resolution No. 220589, a "Resolution honoring the life and legacy of Philadelphia's first Black television reporter, Trudy Haynes, for her work breaking barriers for Black women in the field of journalism"; and Resolution No. 220590, entitled a "Resolution honoring Superintendent Dr. William Hite upon his departure from the Philadelphia School District and thanking him for his exemplary service to the students and citizens of Philadelphia over the past ten years"; and STATED MEETING 149 6/16/2022 220591, entitled a "Resolution recognizing June 15, 2022 as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and further recognizing June 16, 2022, as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in the City of Philadelphia"; and Resolution No. 220593, entitled a "Resolution honoring journalist, host, and co-executive producer Terry Gross and the Fresh Air team on their 2022 Peabody Institutional Award"; and Resolution No. 220596, entitled a "Resolution supporting the Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semi quincentennial (AMERICA250PA)"; and Resolution No. 220597, entitled a "Resolution also naming South 13th Street, between Spruce and Locust Streets, as 'Jeff Guaracino Way' for his lifelong commitment to Philadelphia and the surrounding communities"; Resolution No. 220598, entitled a "Resolution supporting the Coordinating Entity of the United States Semi STATED MEETING 150 6/16/2022 Philadelphia (PHILADELPHIA250); and Resolution No. 220599, entitled a "Resolution urging The City of Philadelphia to reconsider the terms of the Atwater Kent Collection transfer agreement between the City of Philadelphia and Drexel University" -Mr.
President, I have been told the sponsor of this legislation would like to return it to the Calendar and hold it.
Okay. The record shall reflect that that will be placed back on the Calendar for Final Passage at the next session of Council.
And Resolution No. 220600, entitled a "Resolution commemorating June 19, 2022 as Korean American Citizenship Day to Celebrate the First Naturalization of a Korean American in 1890."
Okay. Does that conclude it? STATED MEETING 151 6/16/2022 recognizes Councilwoman Parker for a motion to adopt each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda. (No response.)
Yes, Mr. President. I move the adoption of each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and seconded that each of the resolutions on the Resolution Consent Agenda be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and each of the resolutions STATED MEETING 152 6/16/2022 Resolution Consent Agenda has been adopted. We will now consider today's Bill Consent Agenda. And I would ask Mr. Decker to please read the titles of all the bills on the Consent Agenda. After each bill title is read, any member may object to the inclusion of a bill on the Consent Agenda. Upon such an objection and without debate, the bill will be immediately removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on our regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please now read all of the titles of the bills on the Consent Agenda.
Bill No. 6 of Subcode PM, entitled 'Schools', to add provisions related to drinking facilities in schools and requiring filtration systems"; and Bill No. 220444, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 20-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Councilmanic Districts,' by revising the approximate population in each of the Councilmanic Districts to include state and county prisoner data"; and Bill No. 220188, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the striking from City Plan No. 269 and abandonment of a portion of a certain right-of-way for drainage purposes and water main purposes in the vicinity of the northwesterly side of Civic Center Boulevard, northeast of Osler Circle"; and Bill No. 220189, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 11-505 of The STATED MEETING 154 6/16/2022 Code, entitled 'Sidewalk Paving and Other Improvements by Property Owners,' to authorize the Streets Department to collect fees for costs incurred in reviewing plans for and constructing ADA-compliant sidewalks"; and Bill No. 220243, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 10-700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Refuse and Littering,' by adding new definition for third party administrators, and revising Section 10-718 to sanction third party administrators as enforcers of illegal dumping violations"; and Bill No. 220245, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Parking Regulations and Penalties,' by regulating on-street parking of unpermitted semitrailers and truck tractors"; and Bill No. 220246, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-400 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Towing and STATED MEETING 155 6/16/2022 Parked or Abandoned Vehicles,' by adding new regulations for the towing and storage of illegally parked semitrailer and truck tractors"; and Bill No. 220247, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 12-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Administrative Adjudication of Parking Violations,' by establishing monetary penalties for on-street parking of semitrailers and truck tractors"; and Bill No. 220379, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 10-700 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Refuse and Littering,' to further define short dumping and related violations and to revise penalties and remedies related to such offenses"; and Bill No. 220380, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Bingham Street, and Comly Street"; and Bill No. 220381, entitled "An STATED MEETING 156 6/16/2022 parking regulations in the vicinity of: Clearview Street and North Broad Street"; and Bill No. 220382, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Lawrence Street and Somerville Avenue; Ashdale Street and North 2nd Street; Fairhill Street and Tabor Road; Chew Avenue and North 5th Street; Howard Street and Fisher Avenue; Tabor Road and North 5th Street; Elkins Street and North 7th Street; Somerville Avenue and North 4th Street"; and Bill No. 220420, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Designation of Bicycle Lanes,' to authorize bicycle lanes on Lindbergh Boulevard between 58th Street and 65th Street"; and Bill No. 220453, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Designation STATED MEETING 157 6/16/2022 Lanes,' to authorize a bicycle lane on West Market Street from 20th Street to 23rd Street"; and Bill No. 220488, entitled "An ordinance establishing no truck parking restrictions near various locations including: recreation centers, libraries, parks, and schools in the 9th Council District"; and Bill No. 220489, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No.
180560) approved July 10, 2018, entitled 'An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 250 by striking from the City Plan and vacating the legally open portion of Montour Street from Adams Avenue to Foulkrod Street,' by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein"; and Bill No. 220492, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City STATED MEETING 158 6/16/2022 375 by placing on the City Plan a certain portion of Sixty-Seventh Street, previously stricken from the City Plan, extending southeastwardly from the present terminus of Sixty-Seventh Street, southeast of Essington Avenue"; and Bill No. 220494, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the striking from City Plan No. 97 and abandoning of a right-of-way for drainage purposes and water main purposes, in the vicinity of east of Broad Street and extending from Washington Avenue to Carpenter Street"; and Bill No. 220495, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 12-701 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Designation of Bicycle Lanes,' to authorize a bicycle lane on Grays Ferry Avenue from 34th Street to Washington Avenue"; and Bill No. 220500, entitled "An ordinance authorizing an existing bulk front addition at 401 through 407 East Wyoming Avenue"; and STATED MEETING 159 6/16/2022 220501, entitled "An ordinance delegating to the Philadelphia Streets Department the authority to regulate the direction of movement of traffic and establish parking restrictions on certain streets within the bounded area of Wyoming Avenue to 9th Street to Pike Street to Rising Sun Avenue"; and Bill No. 220502, entitled "An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on Gillingham Street between Mulberry Street and Tackawanna Street"; and Bill 220503, entitled "An ordinance regulating the direction of movement of traffic on Meadow Street between Paul Street and Frankford Avenue"; and Bill No. 220505, entitled "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 STATED MEETING 160 6/16/2022 installation of red light enforcement systems at the intersection of Front Street and Hunting Park Avenue"; and Bill No. 220512, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 246 by striking from the City Plan Fifty-First Street from Woodland Avenue to its terminus southeastwardly therefrom and reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way"; and Bill No. 220513, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 269 by relocating the curblines, reducing the cartway width, modifying the curb grades, and lowering the curb elevations of Osler Street from Civic Center Boulevard to its terminus northwestwardly therefrom and from Curie Boulevard to a terminus southeastwardly therefrom"; and Bill No. 220514, entitled "An STATED MEETING 161 6/16/2022 no truck parking regulations on 53rd Street, both sides, between Whitby Avenue and Broomall Street; and on Whitby Avenue, both sides, between 53rd Street and 52nd Street"; and Bill No. 220515, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Farmers' Markets,' by adding a permissible location on Baltimore Avenue, between 58th Street and 59th Street"; and Bill No. 220516, entitled "An ordinance establishing parking regulations on Saybrook Avenue, from Melville Street to 46th Street"; and Bill No.
220518, entitled "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 58th Street and Baltimore Avenue"; and Bill No. 220519, entitled "An STATED MEETING 162 6/16/2022 the striking from City Plan No. 130 and vacating of an area for municipal purposes located at the intersection of the northeasterly side of Haverford Avenue and the westerly side of Wilton Street"; and Bill No. 220520, entitled "An ordinance amending Bill No. 1280, (adopted June 30, 1982) entitled 'An ordinance amending Chapter 12-900 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Parking Regulations and Penalties,' and Chapter 12-1000 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Parking Meter Regulations and Penalties,' by, respectively, authorizing the Streets Department to establish and revise limited time parking regulations in areas expressly provided for by special ordinances, to install parking meters in areas expressly provided for by special ordinances, by increasing charges for metered parking, and by increasing penalties for violation of Chapter 12-1000; and, further, specifically STATED MEETING 163 6/16/2022 Center City and University City areas for the purpose of authorizing the Streets Department to establish and revise limited time parking regulations, and to designate parking meter zones, and to specifically increase parking meter fees in these areas,' to revise the area constituting University City"; and Bill No. 220528, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the relocation of the curblines of Watts Street, from Pine Street to a point northwardly therefrom, on City Plan No. 308, and the plotting on said City Plan of an area for public pedestrian use extending along the westerly side of said Pine Street and authorizing acceptance of the grant to the City of the said area for public pedestrian use"; and Bill No. 220008, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'The Philadelphia Building Construction and STATED MEETING 164 6/16/2022 Code,' to revise and add provisions relating to investigations concerning property adjacent to or adjoining certain construction activities and the provision of notice to owners and residents of such properties"; and Bill No. 220384, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code,' to amend provisions relating to allowable time extensions on a construction permit"; and Bill No. " STATED MEETING 165 6/16/2022
Thank you, Mr. Decker. Appreciate that. These bills having been read on two different days, the question for each bill now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker shall call the roll, and upon being called, each Councilmember shall vote aye on each of the bills, nay on each of the bills, or indicate those bills in which the member is voting aye and those bills for which the member is voting nay. Mr. Decker -- please be careful of your mic. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Brooks is voting aye on all bills. Councilman Domb.
Aye on all bills. STATED MEETING 168 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye on all bills. The majority of all the members having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220197.
A resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Department of Aviation, to transfer the functions of certain City agencies with respect to the operations of the City's Airports to the newly-created Department and to provide for additional duties of the Department.
Thank you. STATED MEETING 169 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson for an amendment to Resolution No. 220197.
Thank you, Mr. President. On your behalf, I would like to offer an amendment to Resolution No. 220197. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council. I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Let STATED MEETING 170 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING the record reflect that Councilman Oh is a nay vote.
Absolutely. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
I just want to thank you for your flexibility in taking in the information that was given to you by individuals from the Philadelphia International Airport as well as Councilman O'Neill. So just thank you for your flexibility and working with us around this issue. Thank you very much, Council President.
Yeah. Thank you, Councilman, and thank you for your continued support for Philadelphia Airport. Very important, significant issue, and I'll just briefly (connection issues) in reference to the number of -- STATED MEETING 171 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING
Mr. President, I'd like to thank you also, having a smaller airport in my district.
Thank you. Thank you. Briefly, there was an issue with respect to the number of exempt employees. The request was for, I believe, 65 exempt employees. That was of significant concern, because the significant -- the majority of the workforce in the City of Philadelphia, that our departments have civil service employees that are authorized by the Administrative Board. In this particular case, we were asked not to do that and provide 65. I understand that some of the specialized types of employees that may be required for the airport, I think after talking to Councilman Johnson, have involved a significant number. We reached an understanding with the Administration as it relates to the STATED MEETING 172 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING number of exempt employees. So we are looking to do 40 to give the flexibility to whomever the new airport director will be. As you know, Chellie Cameron, who was an advocate for this, is no longer going to be with the Airport. So Councilmen Johnson, O'Neill, and actually Councilman Driscoll, I want to thank you and the Mayor for their inquiries about that. We reached what we think is a reasonable compromise. So thank you. Unless there was another inquiry, all in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? We already have Councilman Oh. Resolution 220197 has been amended. Resolution 220197, as amended, will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, please read the STATED MEETING 173 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING title of Resolution No. 220594.
A resolution honoring the life and legacy of trailblazing attorney Bernard Lee for his contributions to the practice of law, and his dedication to mentorship, family, and friends.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gauthier for a motion.
Thank you, Council President, and I'd like to make a few brief comments before calling for the adoption. Bernard Lee was a trailblazing real estate lawyer. He's known by many of my colleagues and many throughout the City for his body of work. Today we remember and honor Bernard for his success as a lawyer but, more importantly, for who he was as a person humble, kind, generous, and loving, with a wonderful sense of humor. STATED MEETING 174 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING Bernard dedicated his personal time to mentoring young lawyers, especially lawyers of color. His legacy will live on through his mentees, who will undoubtedly carry forth his generosity of spirit. Bernard's contributions left the legal profession better than he found it. However, he reserved his deepest attention for his family, whom he loved dearly, including his son, Mike Lee, a dedicated public servant working hard towards justice and public safety in our city and who spoke so beautifully on behalf of his family during public comment. And with that, Council President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor of the resolution STATED MEETING 175 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker -
Yeah. Just for all the members, you know, we're trying to get through these presentations and these bills. If you can make sure that your phone and your screen, whatever you're utilizing is on mute, please, because it's very interrupting. Thank you very much, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman Johnson. I STATED MEETING 176 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING appreciate that more than you know. I'm sorry. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220544.
I apologize, Mr. President. My screen keeps going off and on and I don't know what the heck is going on here by that. I will now be on mute.
Get the technology professionals to address that.
Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 220544.
A resolution confirming the appointment of Sarah-Ashley Andrews to the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia.
Thank you. STATED MEETING 177 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING The Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas. (No response.)
Thank you, Council President. I wanted to take a moment to address this vote before we took the actual vote. Earlier this week I sent around a memo to my colleagues communicating my position as it relates to the School Board members and my intent today to vote no on the School Board members. Having been a member of the Education Committee, being a current coach in the School District of Philadelphia, a parent of a student who attends the School District of Philadelphia, I wear a lot of hats as it relates to schools and our young people, and for me, the position that I sit in, I have a number of concerns. My first concern throughout the STATED MEETING 178 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING course of this initiative was the actual process in itself. We reached out to the Administration to ask them to extend the deadline for nomination for School Board members. That request was not met at all. We actually never got a response from the Administration as it relates to that. Once the nominees were selected, in the past there was a process predominantly led by our Education Chair, Councilmember Sanchez, to put us in a position to meet these folks and to have in-depth dialogue, and unfortunately throughout the course of this process, that didn't happen. Since I've been on this legislative body, I've already taken a vote as it relates to City Council members -- I mean, as it relates to School Board members, and the first time I took that vote, I was very reluctant, and I was reluctant because I do not believe in the system that we have as it STATED MEETING 179 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING relates to a mayoral-appointed School Board, but I was convinced to vote for them by my interactions with Lisa Salley and Reginald Streater, as well as Cecilia, and it's been a pleasure to work with them. They're all great folks, but at the same time, we don't always agree on the issues. I've reached out to the School Board as it relates to Black and Brown-led institutions, specifically the closing of Black charters. We were assured that an investigation would take place. And while that investigation is taking place, we were assured that recommendations around Black-led institutions would not move the way they've been moving as of last Thursday. The recommendation from the Charter Office is one that's extremely disappointing. It's a complete contradiction to the work that we've been doing, and it's disingenuous to make such a recommendation prior to the independent STATED MEETING 180 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING investigators letting us know if these past practices have been discriminatory. On top of that, I passed the Keep It Local bill, along with this legislative body, encouraging local government to help throughout the course of this recovery process by investing in local businesses. The School District of Philadelphia had a $66-plus million contract to do cleaning. I sat on a three-hour hearing and listened to the entire School Board meeting and testified and asked that the School Board revisit the contract and see what we can do to invest in local businesses. I know COVID has created some interesting conditions, but I don't know if those conditions have put us in a position where the people in Philadelphia have lost our ability to clean. So it's disappointing that that request was not met at all. It's disappointing that past requests have not STATED MEETING 181 6/16/2022 6/16/22 - STATED - 2ND READING been met. It's disappointing to learn that the School Board is not supporting our janitors and engineers and bus staffers and aides who are asking for a specific type of training and support so they can do their job. So at the end of the day, this is not personal. What I'm saying in my testimony is that I've never met these folks who we are voting on as it relates to the School Board decision today.