All in favor please signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution has been passed. The Chief Clerk will please read the letter from the Mayor.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am returning herewith, as requested by your resolution adopted April 16, 2009, Bill No. 090121, entitled "An ordinance establishing a no truck parking regulation on the 5200 block of Marshall Street, from Fisher Avenue to Duncannon Avenue, on the eastern side," for the purpose of reconsideration by the Council of the vote by which said bill passed Council.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for a motion that Council reconsider the vote which Bill No. 090121 was passed.
All in favor please signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the motion carries and the vote by which Bill No. 090121 was passed has been reconsidered. Bill No. 090121 will be placed on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. The next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. Councilwoman Miller, I'm sorry. I didn't see your light on. You want to be recognized? 4/16/09 - STATED - 2ND READING
Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. It's my pleasure to welcome and recognize the 6th, 7th and 8th grade members of the Student Council of Wagner Middle School. I believe they're seated to the rear, and they're escorted by their teacher, Efrain Marimon.
If they would stand, we'd like to recognize you. Welcome. (Applause.)
The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading and they will be placed on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. There are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar. Therefore, the Chair recognizes 4/16/09 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilwoman Tasco for the purpose of calling up bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar.
Thank you, Madam President. Bill No. 080645-A and 090211 are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today. All other bills are being held.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 080645-A.
An ordinance amending Chapter 12-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Miscellaneous Regulations and Penalties," by adding a new section prohibiting the use of a hand-held mobile telephone by a person operating a motor vehicle or other vehicle on a City street, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different 4/16/09 - STATED - 2ND READING days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Councilman Greenlee, you want to be recognized?
Yes. Very quickly, Madam President, on this bill. I don't believe I have to persuade members at this point that this is a bill worth supporting. As the main sponsors of the bill, Councilman Green and I, I think have heard more positives about this bill than anything we've been involved with. I do just want to put on record, though, that by doing what we're doing today, banning the hand-held cell phones and texting while driving, that we're taking a positive definitive step to greatly improve public safety in our city, which is certainly one of our most important duties. This is a realistic, enforceable bill that will save lives, and I respectfully ask all members to support it. 4/16/09 - STATED - 2ND READING Thank you, Madam President.
Oh, I'm sorry. I would ask the Chief Clerk to please read the bill. You did?
This bill having been read on two different days, the question again is shall this bill pass finally. All in favor will indicate -you want a roll call? (It's a bill.)
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. 4/16/09 - STATED - 2ND READING We will now consider Bill No. 090211.
An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009 within the General Fund from certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Aye. 4/16/09 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. This concludes our Calendar for today. Are there speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
Are there speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Yes, Madam President. I'd just like to invite the Councilmembers into the Caucus Room to meet with the Deltas, and they would like to have a question and answer session with them for a few moments. So I encourage them to come in so our sorors can have the opportunity to meet and chat with our Councilmembers.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam President. We are in the middle of one of the most difficult budget processes this city has ever seen, and at this point in time --
At this point in time, we must continue to do what is best for the citizens of Philadelphia. This means examining all options for generating additional revenue and cutting the cost of City government by decreasing our spending. The resolution that we passed today is not a call for a wage tax increase. I don't believe anyone on City Council is proposing at this point any particular tax. What we are looking at is the $631 million of new revenue that we need to operate the government for the next five years, and we respectfully say all options should be on the table, which includes the wage tax, which includes an idea that Councilman O'Neill and I have talked about, which potentially takes the sales tax and extends it for five years, which would allow us to avoid any property tax increase, or for each $25 government spending, we are saving citizens 2.31 mills of the proposed property tax increase. We will keep working for the citizens of Philadelphia. This is Philadelphia City Council, and we represent Philadelphians. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke for a motion to adjourn.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, April 23rd, 2009, 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that Thursday, April 23rd. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. Thank you very much. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m.) 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 on April 16, 2009, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. ______________________________ MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (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.)