Councilwoman Reynolds Brown. 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. (Applause.)
Mr. Decker, can you please read the title of 130699.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by revising parking requirement for driveways located in residential front yards. 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to offer and move for adoption of an amendment to Bill No. 130699. It's been circulated with all the members. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Bill No. 130699 has been amended and will be placed on the Second and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. Mr. Decker, will you please read the title of 120647 -- Mr. Decker, 130845.
An ordinance 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING amending Chapter 19-3900 of The Philadelphia Code to extend the deadline to apply for tax exemptions as longtime owner-occupants of certain properties in the City of Philadelphia.
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 15; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Now, Mr. Decker, can you please read 120647.
An ordinance amending Title 4 of Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," by repealing Subcode PM, entitled "The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code," and adopting and incorporating, with certain additions, deletions and amendments, the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code as the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code.
This 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING The ayes are 15; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 130721.
An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "The Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code," by amending Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code), by authorizing the code official to gain access to enclosed and secured vacant lots for the purpose of abating violations.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 15; 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 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING recognizing and honoring the 114th playing of the annual Army-Navy game on Saturday, December 14, 2013 in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field, introduced by Councilman Kenney.
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 that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution calling on the City of Philadelphia City Council Committee on Education to hold hearings concerning the social and 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING economic benefits of early childhood education in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, 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, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution confirming the reappointment of Emily Schapira, formerly Emily Schiller, as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING ending January 1, 2019, introduced by Councilwoman Reynolds Brown for Council President Clarke.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
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.
And a resolution recognizing National Small Business Weekend, introduced by Councilman Squilla.
The 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, 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, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution honoring Ralph's Italian Restaurant, the oldest Italian restaurant in the United States, introduced by Councilman Squilla.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING (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 respectfully requesting the President of the Republic of Italy, The Honorable Giorgio Napolitano, to maintain and support the Italian General Consulate diplomatic mission in the United States by retaining The Consul General of Italy in Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING 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, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution initiating action to continue the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District in the area that generally includes both sides of Germantown Avenue from 7640 to 8705, certain blocks of streets that intersect that portion of Germantown Avenue, and both sides of Bethlehem Pike from 10 to 105; to approve an extension to the boundaries of the District, and to continue the Chestnut 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Hill Business Improvement District, a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, as the neighborhood improvement district management association of the District, introduced by Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, 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, and that resolution is adopted.
There are no 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar for consideration, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. As I indicated earlier, 130686 and 130765 have been moved to the end of the Council session, but I'm going to ask now for a recess for a half an hour so we can conclude hopefully a resolution on those two particular pieces of legislation. So we're recessed for a half hour. Thank you. (Short recess.)
Thank you. Folks, we are going to reconvene the Stated Meeting. I want to thank you all very much, and we do have a quorum, so we're going to get right to it. I'm going to ask Mr. Decker to please read the title of 130686.
An ordinance 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING creating the Headquarter Hotel Tax Increment Financing District, being the area generally bounded by South Penn Square on the north, Broad Street on the east, 15th Street on the west, and Chestnut Street on the south and approving the project plan of the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development for the redevelopment of the Headquarter Hotel Tax Increment Financing District.
Thank you. This bill has been read and discussed on more than two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. The Chair would like to recognize Councilman Henon first.
Council President, I'll wait for the proper order to be recognized.
You were teed up number one. 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
All right. I wanted to go on the record in my brief absence as being recorded voting aye on all bills and resolutions.
Yes. I have to be excused, and I'd like to be voting aye on bills and resolutions.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode. 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. The end of this meeting is to consider two bills with regard to a project on Chestnut Street. Let me first take the time to congratulate Unite Here on securing a project labor agreement. I actually in honor of that agreement will be voting for the second bill, 765, because I am not against the project. I'm actually against the financing for this project. I had the opportunity to meet with the project developers last week, and there are a few things I took away from that meeting that reaffirmed my position on the first bill. The project meets public financing, but it doesn't necessarily meet tax increment financing. The developers acknowledge that. Two, there's another use for the site that would bring new revenue to both the City and the School District, and it definitely would not require a 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING 20-year tax abatement. The developers acknowledge that too. Three, lastly, in the broadest sense of comprehensive tax reform, the Commerce Department and PIDC should not make tax policy. The result this time is a 20-year $76 million tax abatement invested in only one Center City site. It's wrong because it's a special tax break carved out for a specific project, a 20-year $76 million tax abatement on multiple taxes, not just property taxes, invested in only one Center City site. In my view, this is obviously not tax reform policy. It's simply excusing one project from its tax burden for 20 years. And tax reform for one is not tax fairness. Again, I'm against the type of financing for this project, but I do want the project to move forward, so I will be voting for 765. And, again, I congratulate Unite Here on the labor agreement. 12/12/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
So Bill No. 130686 has been called up for a vote and it has been read on two separate occasions, and the question is now shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.