And Bill No. 080008, an ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to allow the Administrative Board to increase the number of deputies exempt from civil service.
And Bill No. 080024, an ordinance amending Chapter 9-200 of the Philadelphia Code, 2/28/08 STATED - CALENDAR CONSIDERATION entitled "Commercial Activities on Streets," by adding a new section providing for the certification of tour guides in certain areas of the City, all under certain terms and conditions.
The Chair agrees. * * * 2/28/08 STATED - FINAL-READING CALENDAR
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for the purpose of calling up the bills on the second-reading and final-passage calendar to be considered today.
Thank you, Madam President. Today, Bill No. 080078 is being held up for a second reading and final-passage calendar for today.
Thank you. And it's my understanding that Bill No. 080084 is being held at the request of the sponsor? Councilman O'Neill?
Yes. This is the Fox Chase Cancer bill that's being held, and I just wanted everybody to know that unlike December, when there was a question about whether the bill should be held, why the bill was being held -- it's being held at the request of the Law Department for one 2/28/08 STATED - FINAL-READING CALENDAR week because of a technical aspect that the Planning Commission hasn't met on it, and you have to wait 30 days if they haven't met on the matter, and it will be next week.
Thank you for making that known for the record. I would ask the Chief Clerk to please read the title of Bill No. 080078.
Bill No. 080078, an ordinance authorizing the President of the Fairmount Park Commission, the Executive Director of Fairmount Park, and the Procurement Commissioner, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a concession agreement with Billy Casper Golf, LLC, all under certain terms and conditions.
This 2/28/08 STATED - FINAL-READING CALENDAR bill having been read on two different days, the question now is: Shall the bill pass finally? The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Council President 2/28/08 STATED - FINAL-READING CALENDAR Verna?
Aye. The ayes are 16, the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. That completes our calendar for today. * * * 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT
Are there speeches on the part of the Minority? (No speeches on the part of the Minority.)
Are there speeches on the part of Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. I will be very brief. Earlier in the week, I forwarded a copy of a recent release of a book to each of your office. The book is called "The Rains," and it is written by Dr. Sulaiman Clarke, who is a graduate of Overbrook High School, Cheyney University, and he has his Ph.D. from Harvard. He's also a professor at Fisk University, Morehouse and Hampton and other prestigious black colleges and universities throughout the country. And the reason I raise this 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT book and why I've forwarded it to each member of Council and am urging all members and all citizens of the City and all students in our school system to read it, it is a truly amazing book of fiction, which is extremely backed up and researched by historical fact. And the thing that really has -- that I've noticed about the book upon reading is it that it brings to life many of the historic figures that have lived and walk the streets of the City of Philadelphia pretty much in our day unknown and unrecounted in history in many ways. In this book are people like Absalom Jones, Richard Allen, James Forton, Robert Pervis, William Catto, Fredrick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, William Still, William and Ellen Craft, and Octavius Cato, who many of you know who have been working on an appropriate memorial to Octavius Catto. 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT And the reason I raise it is, I think it's very important for people to read this and to understand that that these people not only lived and died lived in the streets of Philadelphia but walked our streets, lived in our neighborhoods, and were an integral part of the history of Philadelphia and the history of this country. And it also brings to light and brings to a realistic understanding many of the institutional structure in our building -- Mother Bethel Church. Even here in City Hall work were important segments of our history from 1800 to 1900, which was a very violent and turbulent time in Philadelphia for African-Americans and ex-slaves. It was a major hub for the underground railroad. And I think this is one of the greatest reads. It should be a movie 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT and, hopefully, one day it will be movie and it will be hopefully filmed in Philadelphia. But I recommend it reading to all my colleagues and to all of Philadelphians. If you really want to get a good idea of what real Philadelphian history is like, it's in here. So I thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones much.
I want to thank you, Madam President, for bringing to my attention that it is "African-American History Month." I want to thank also my colleague Councilman Kenney for circulating that book. Sulaiman Clarke also happens to be a resident of the 4th Councilmatic District, and I'd like to put that on the record, and we are very proud of 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT him. But Black History Month was established in 1976 by AfricanAmericans for the study of African-American life and history in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and these United States of America. It was an expansion of Negro History Week, which was started by Carter Jewison out of the year 1926. I just wanted to take time in this Council to recognize two figures that made history in this City of Philadelphia. One was the first president of African-American heritage to ascend to the presidency of this Council, which was Dr. Joe Coleman, and he should be recognized in this great month. And also -- I think that was 1980 if history serves me correctly. The other is Wilson Goode, Sr., who also ascended to the Mayor's 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT position within the City of Philadelphia. And they are two great Philadelphians and two AfricanAmericans who should be recognized in this month of African-American history. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I would just like to add emphasis to the need for careful deliberations on the Dell renovations. Having been a veteran of improvements in my district and how long it takes, I think the administration should be very, very cautious in determining whether the Dell should close for this summer because as bids go out, it takes a long time, the whole process 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT takes a long time, and we could end up with having the Dell closed for two seasons. So I caution them, and hopefully, that they will make sure that the Department of -- the Capital Improvements Office has a plan that's detailed and has somewhat of a schedule and time frame for the beginning of the project and the end of the project, 'cause it can get really, really hairy. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the Majority? Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. I was -- Madam President, we were actually going to wait until next week, but I've been encouraged by my 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT good friend Councilwoman Miller to speak about this very briefly today, and we'll have some follow-up information next week. We would like all of the members of Council and members within the chambers to save the date of March 12th at 9:30 a.m. The City of Philadelphia prime sponsors, Councilwoman Miller and myself, will be taking on the challenge, the challenge that we've been speaking about sometime. We've finally gotten our hearing date on this very, very significant battle as it relates to Philadelphia's ability to regulate its own gun laws. We will be sending some information to all of the members. That particular hearing will be in the Commonwealth Court, 1300 block of Chestnut Street, and we'll give you more specifics. And, Madam President, we'll 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT probably be asking you to set up an executive session so that members of Council can be briefed prior to the hearing. But we just wanted to today want ask people to save that date. We think it could potentially be a significant date for the citizens of Philadelphia.
Thank you. That's good news. If there are no more speeches on the part of the Majority, I would recognize Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Madam President. Madam President I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 6, 2008, 10 a.m. (Motion seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded 2/28/08 STATED - SPEECHES/ADJOURNMENT that Council stand adjourned Thursday, March 6, 2008, at 10 a.m. All in favor will say aye. Those opposed? The ayes have it and the motion carries. (Proceedings end at 11 a.m.) * * * C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings of the February 28, 2008 Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia City Council are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me on Thursday, February, 28, 2008, and that this is a true and correct statement of same. __________________________________ JOSEPHINE CARDILLO Registered Professional Reporter (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter's.)