Aye on all bills. A majority of members present having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are now passed. We now will consider the resolutions and bills on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage, and Mr. Decker, I would like to ask you to read Resolution 140870.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Thirty-Sixth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Mr. President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 140870 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 140910.
A resolution 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Eighth and Forty-Seventh Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING ayes have it, and Resolution 140910 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 140912.
A resolution also naming Earp Street between 18th Street and 19th Street "Reverend Dr. Daniel T. Black Square" to honor the memory of Reverend Dr. Daniel T. Black and to recognize his life and memorialize his lasting legacy.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution 140912 is 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING adopted. Mr. Decker, 140913.
A resolution supporting the clients and their lawyers, the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia and the Education Law Center - Pennsylvania, in their suit to enforce Pennsylvania's constitutional guarantee of a "thorough and efficient system of public education," and urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to provide a fair and predictable formula funded by adequate revenues that reflects the Commonwealth's values.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it. 140913 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 140914.
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the West Fairhill/East Tioga/Hunting Park Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 4251 North Reese Street.
The Chair again recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and 140914 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 140924.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Thirty-First Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution 140924 is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 140802-A. I'm sorry. That's on the Consent. 140717.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-3900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Tax Exemptions For Longtime Owner-Occupants of Residential Properties," by specifying certain circumstances sufficient to demonstrate equitable ownership of a property under the Longtime Owner Occupants Program.
This bill has been read on two separate days. 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, read the title of 140653.
An ordinance amending Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Finance, Taxes and Collections," by providing for an expanded tax credit for employment of veterans.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions.
A resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings regarding the Department of Human Services' Improving Outcomes for Children initiative and the Community 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING Umbrella Agency provider system, introduced by Councilwoman Tasco.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution emphatically urging the Philadelphia International Airport to pursue all available and lawful alternatives to facilitate a resolution to the labor dispute that is fair to all parties that 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING ensures uninterrupted service at the Airport and that sustains the breadth of the air carrier services upon which the City and its citizens depend, introduced by Councilman Johnson.
Council President, may I speak on the resolution first, please.
Thank you very much, Council President. First and foremost, I want to acknowledge the work of my colleague Councilman Wilson Goode, Jr. for addressing the issue of labor harmony and protecting the workers out at the Philadelphia International Airport, but also his efforts in leading the charge in making sure that all the workers out at the Philadelphia International Airport receive a fair living wage, 21st century living wage. 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING And so earlier this morning, actually 7 o'clock this morning, myself, Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, as well as Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez stood with workers at the Philadelphia International Airport who believed that their work environment under the subcontractor company known as PrimeFlight is an environment that is not conducive into their overall health and well-being, individuals who felt like they were intimidated by the management of the company based upon them expressing their freedom to organize and even seek interest in joining an organized union but, most importantly, making sure that their work environment is an environment that's supportive of them as they work at the Philadelphia International Airport. And so I want to thank them for stepping up to the plate for advocating for those who need a voice, advocating for those who cannot fight for themselves. And we all understand that 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING in order for you to have a world-class international airport, which I support wholeheartedly, you have to have a world-class workforce that's paid, because at the end of the day, the workers at the Philadelphia International Airport are the backbone of that organization's overall operation. So I just want to ask all members of Council who signed on to the resolution, I want to thank them for their support, because the resolution was signed -- it was supported by all members of Council. We want to continue advocating to make sure that there's some type of resolve from all the stakeholders out there to make sure that we don't have an interrupted international airport and make sure that we can do business on a day-to-day basis. So I just want to thank you, and I ask for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution honoring Master Gunnery Sergeant James J. Babst Jr.'s retirement from the United States Marine Corps and celebrating his 30 years of faithful and honorable service, introduced by Councilman Neilson.
I move for the adoption of the resolution, Mr. President. (Duly seconded.)
It's 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution honoring and recognizing the colleges, universities and academic institutions participating in higher education partnerships with the School District of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution honoring Betty Jean Nobles on the occasion of her retirement after thirty-four years of commitment and dedication to the students of the Philadelphia School District, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? 11/20/14 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution Recognizing and Honoring the Cunningham Piano Company on the occasion of their 123rd Birthday and for being featured on the Science Channel's program "How It's Made," introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
There are no other resolutions on the Calendar for consideration, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. Next on the agenda is the consideration of the Suspension Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon for a motion on Bill No. 130451.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Bill No. 130451 be removed from the Suspension Calendar and placed on the Final Passage Calendar for next week's Council session. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. Mr. Decker will read the title of the bill.
Bill No. 130451, "An ordinance amending Section 19-1806 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Authorization of Realty and Use and Occupancy Tax,' including by providing for special tax provisions for manufacturers."
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 130451 be removed from the Suspension Calendar and placed on the Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion is adopted, and Bill No. 130451 will be placed on our Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. The Chair again recognizes a motion on Bill No. 130656.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Bill No. 130656 be removed from the Suspension Calendar and placed on the Final Passage Calendar for next Council session. (Duly seconded.)
Bill No. 130656, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, by further providing for revised sign controls; and amending Chapter 9-600, by adjusting the licensing fees for commercial outdoor advertising signs and information required in the annual inventory of signs; and amending Chapter 19-3400, entitled 'Excise Tax on Outdoor Advertising Transactions,' by adjusting the excise tax on outdoor advertising signs.
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 130656 be removed from the Suspension Calendar and placed on the Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Bill No. 130656 will be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. That completes our Calendar for today. At this time, I'd like to ask if there are any speeches on the part of the minority? And the Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Council President. I just wanted events that I'm hosting. One is our 3rd Annual Youth Non-Profit Symposium, and that is going to be held at Pierce College on Wednesday, December the 2nd, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, and that is an opportunity for non-profit organizations that serve youth to hear how to get more funding from private foundations and corporations and to meet the corporations and foundations themselves. And this year some of them include Comcast, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Health Partners Foundation, The Allen Hilles Foundation, Rosenlund Family Foundation, Dowdy Foundation, Seybert Foundation, and Patricia Kind Family Foundation, and we certainly do thank them. I'm sorry. December 10th, not 2nd. Did I say the 2nd? December the 10th. And, finally, there is on Friday, December 5th the final award show for PHL Live Center Stage, and I did certainly want to invite all the Councilmembers and staff to please come to this event to support local artists and the music industry. And I appreciate the opportunity to let the public know. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Malcolm X said that education is our children's passport to the future and it carries our students over a bridge of a life of success. Yesterday Chairwoman of Education, Councilwoman Blackwell, along with Councilman Squilla had some hearings on standardized tests that I thought were very important, extremely crucial. And one of the things that I took out of them was that we get hung up in statistics of measurement of our students and sometimes is truly important, which are the outcomes and successes that the students have. One of the people that testified -- I can't remember exactly which one, Jannie -- said that a lot of our kids come out with the standardized test high scores wind up going to education institutions and wind up flunking out, wind up being returned home, wind up being found wanting, Councilman Squilla, on their level of achievement by way of actually performing in the respective classes that they had. That was striking to me. So when we did this resolution today acknowledging the colleges and universities that actually aren't just here as castles in the sky, but actually reach back into the communities and schools, whether you talk about Temple University that goes into schools in your district or St. Joseph's University, Jannie has obviously one of the goes into the schools, this is an important activity. God knows where our children would be if these schools -- and some of them are very small, Harcum College and others, that reach back, send student teachers into these schools, send special education teachers to do one-on-one practices with kids that have special needs. They are like supporting our budget cuts, our death of a thousand cuts that we've done to public education in this town. And what I wanted to do was really recognize and applaud them. I remember during the budget, another one of your schools, Mr. President, Community College, had some dozen programs that they had reaching back, helping people in different areas, whether it's CTE training or academic training, to really reach back and provide a first rung of formal education beyond high school. So we need to take a look at doing, ask them to do more, and encourage them and reinforce with positive accolades for the stuff that they're doing. I had an opportunity to go to the public schools in my district, and in just about every one, there was a college or university helping out. So I wanted to put that on the record, Mr. President, thank them for what they're doing, and challenge them to do even more. We're taking a ride up to Harrisburg University tomorrow. It's one of the high-tech STEAM program, paperless universities that they have. They want to co-locate in Overbrook and teach college-level courses to high school kids. We need to use that kind as a model to help reinforce what the work that the SRC and the School District and the teachers are doing in our schools, and I wanted to put that on the record. And thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. Councilman, did you say you're going to Harrisburg University?
I was going to ask you if you were going to stop over at the Capitol while you were up there.
If you need me to stop over and get some resources, I would be glad to take that up. You do it so much. Maybe I'll alleviate that burden from you for a minute.
That would help. There's some staffers up there that pretty much do most of the work, similar to what goes on around here. I'd ask you to kind of check in on the agenda is.
You let me know what the agenda is, I will perform it, sir.
Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to recognize two young people that have been in my office today from New Foundations Charter School, and it's their shadow day. So as you say, Council President, to see your government in action is what they got to see today and how we prepare for a Council session, and they're going to have the pleasure of joining some of my staff, along with myself, in some of our many meetings that will take us through the rest of the day. So with that, I'd like to recognize and ask them to stand up, Malorano, who are both sophomores at the New Foundations Charter School. I just want to recognize them and thank you for coming in here today as a part of your shadow day to see your government in action. Thank you. (Applause.)
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd just like to make a comment and give a shout-out and a thank-you to Robert Wonderling, President of the Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, as well as Lisa Crutchfield and Joe Grace for listening to my plea for the Chamber to engage more into our neighborhoods. So over two years ago, they had a bus tour of the 9th Councilmanic District and we showed them the various business and the work we have been doing, and it was quite productive and they were quite excited. And then as a result of that, they had established these listening tours, and this past couple of months they have had these listening tours throughout the councilmanic districts to engage the community, to have an idea of how people feel about their community, how they feel about Philadelphia, and also to give them an opportunity to feel included on what decisions will be made relative to their quality of life in the community. And the business community has, I think, an obligation to be supportive, not only of downtown Philadelphia but also the neighborhoods, and I want to thank them. We had a good session. I was not there. I was here in a hearing, but I want to thank State Representative Dwight Evans and, of course, Sharmain Matlock-Turner, who served as -- she's on the Board of the Chamber, but also from that community good understanding of the issues that we deal with there as well as other communities. So it was a good experience. I believe they're going to continue it. I think the velocity of the Chamber under Mr. Wonderling, not that other Chamber Presidents haven't been concerned about our city as well as all of our communities, are moving in a direction that will engage our neighborhoods. And neighborhoods are very important. So it's just not downtown Philadelphia. It's made up of neighborhoods, which includes downtown. So thank them very much for their listening and taking action to be inclusive.
Thank you, Councilwoman. And, again, I know I'm not supposed to do this, but I briefly want to concur with you that we really appreciate working with the Chamber on the initiative to get out in neighborhoods, but I do want to remind members in the audience, on December the 2nd at 6:00 to 8:00 at WHYY, City Council -- I know you all have that information -- City Council's Community Sustainability Initiative will start its process. We're actually going to be working with the Chamber on having joint meetings in neighborhoods. The whole issue about creating quality of life, that every neighborhood in the City of Philadelphia is a neighborhood of choice, and we had one meeting. The first meeting in the neighborhood was in Councilwoman Bass's district last week, and it was well received. So we look forward to working with the Chamber and getting out in the neighborhoods and making sure that we give people an opportunity to talk about the importance of rebuilding their communities in a very aggressive way. Thank you, Councilwoman, for bringing that to our attention. Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to make two brief statements. One, today I passed an extension to the Longtime Owner Occupants Program that will allow individuals who have tangled titles to participate in the LOOP program. I want to thank all my colleagues for voting an affirmative yes and passing that bill, primarily because as a result of AVI we have seen a significant increase in taxes throughout the 2nd Councilmanic District and we want to make sure that long-term residents who do not have a title in their name to still benefit from the LOOP program. And so I want to thank all of you for stepping up to the plate and allowing me to support those individuals who are most in need when it comes to getting a tax break and participating in the LOOP program and, most importantly, so they wouldn't have to lose their Also, tomorrow, Friday at Vare Recreation Center in South Philadelphia from 11:00 to 3:00, we will be hosting our annual job fair, and this is an event that I pride myself in, because nevertheless, we don't have job fairs for the sake of having job fairs. We partner with CareerLink to make sure people are getting interviewed. We partner with CareerLink to make sure people are getting hired. We have several different individuals who can testify and provide their testimony as to how they come out to participate in the job fairs and have the opportunity to find gainful employment. So I want to encourage everyone to come out. Again, that's at Vare Recreation Center, tomorrow at 11:00 a.m., and we encourage everyone who will be participating to come dressed for success. note, I just want to -- as we embark upon Thanksgiving, I just want to thank all my colleagues just for their support during this last month, obviously with the passing of my mom but also the birthing of my son. And although all of us may not all be on the same page politically, we treat each other civil and we support one another. So I want to thank all of you. And I want to also thank you for your words of encouragement over the last couple of days as I dealt with what I call a bias in a certain type of portrayal of me in certain media outlets regarding how I go about doing my business in City Council, how I go about the disposition of land and doing business as the 2nd District Councilperson. And I recognize as a young man, I'm a big boy, this is politics, and I understand that and all the nuances that go along with it, but nevertheless, I've always been a man of integrity and operate with a sense of class. My constituents know that. I just want to put that out there just for the public, because a lot of my constituents say what's this unfair portrayal that they're trying to paint you as a crony in the public, but nevertheless, I do the work for the people. I stand on that. I pride myself on that, and I just wanted to thank all of you for your support and your words of encouragement. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilman. And you keep up the good work. You may see some residents from North Philadelphia at your job fair, because I was at a recreation center at 26th and Master, Brewerytown, the other day and you had two flyers up on the bulletin board about the job fair. So a couple people asked me about a job. I pointed to the flyer. I said, Go see Johnson, he'll take care of you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. Along the theme that you started, this week I started in a poverty summit co-sponsored by my colleague Councilman Jones where the stark realities of the tale of two cities in the City of Philadelphia were highlighted. It was encouraging to see a room full of advocates who are recommitting and reaffirming their commitment to combat poverty in the City of Philadelphia. And then yesterday we had a room full of advocates who are extremely concerned about the state of education, and our Education Chair, Councilwoman Blackwell, said, Why do we keep finding not one way but two ways of telling our kids that they're failures? It's sad about the amount of money behind labeling our kids, given the struggles that we face in our school system. And then this morning, as was mentioned by Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, we stood out there with these workers on a very cold day, and to see these people, men and women, working really hard, struggling to survive, asking for some dignity. Sometimes I feel like we're supposed to be in a better position and I feel that people have voted for us and entrusted in us, and we have to do a better job of bringing this together. Next week under the leadership of Councilman Henon, we'll be talking about the Land Bank strategic plan, which synergetically works with, Council President, your goals around affordable housing and how do we create these sustainable choice neighborhoods in every And you read the paper and you look at the mayoral esperanzas 2015 and I say to them, if you're aspiring to be on the second floor, you'd better start listening about what we're talking about on the fourth floor, because essentially what we have done -(Applause.)
-- what we have done is established what I think is the primary agenda for 2015 - how do we deal with poverty, how do we make sure people have living-wage jobs, how do we give our young people an opportunity through our education system, and how do we protect people in their homes. That's what we've been doing in City Council. I hope the mayoral esperanzas get it and listen to the wonderful debate that happens here on the fourth floor, because Philadelphians deserve nothing less. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman. I'm sure that will be on overload before the day is out. Thank you, Councilwoman. Keep up the good work. And the Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Council President. I didn't say something that was to me personally and I think for a city a very big event. Sometimes we let the big ones go because I don't think sometimes you need to say anything, but unfortunately when you do that, you miss the opportunity to say thank you to the Councilmembers, all the Councilmembers here, and to really say to the citizens of Philadelphia that today this Council body has further distinguished itself in a very positive way with the passage of the veterans hiring tax credit, which is the most significant in this nation for any municipality. And I will say personally every time I've been to a veterans event, positively received, and it is in keeping with the Year of the Veteran and all the work that this body has done to make that issue a substantial issue for this city. And it doesn't mean that everything is perfect right now, but it means that this body has done, I think, a yeoman's job in picking up this issue, which is so encouraging and I truly think a good model for the rest of this country. So congratulations to our city and thank you, all our Councilmembers, and, Council President, for your leadership in really putting this issue forward. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Councilman. Keep up that good work. There being no other speeches, I'd like to call on Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, that City Council is adjourned until Thursday, December 4th, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has moved and properly seconded that City Council stand adjourned until Thursday, December 4th, 10:00 a.m. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Thank you all very much. ) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A 125:9,19 Agency 42:14 amen 5:2,3 47:21 48:21 able 17:6 25:16 ADJOURNME...