COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 696, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, September 19, 2002 10:15 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK J. DI CICCO COUNCILMAN WILSON W. GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO PATRICIA RAFFERTY, CHIEF CLERK VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center 1835 Market Street, Suite 600 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103
I note that the hour has come and that quorum of this Council is present. The Council will please come to order. Members and guests will please take their seats. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair welcomes the Rev. Marshall Mitchell, Associate Minister of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. He is here today as the guest of Councilman Goode. All members and guests will please rise. REV. MITCHELL: Thank you very much, Council President. Let us look to the Lord in prayer. Almighty and eternal God, we give thanks for this day for the opportunity as representatives of church, of community, of states, of the various neighborhoods that comprise this City of brotherly love and sisterly affection. We ask now, oh, God, that you would bestow and anoint upon the heads of these, thy servants, the knowledge and wisdom of Solomon. We ask also, God, that they would be imbued with the kind of mercy and justice that you require of servants. Bless now this City, oh, God, we pray. Bless it from Overbrook to Tioga to Olney and to all the far-flung sections of this City. to the children of this City, the children who are at a perilous precipice. We ask, oh, God, that we would bring these deliberations into thy service. We also ask, oh, God, a blessing upon those senior citizens of this City, many of whom every day make the choice between whether to pay their rent or their mortgage or to buy the drugs that they need. We ask, oh, God, that you would remember this your Mayor, your Council President, all of the members of this City Council. Remind us, oh, God, that we do not seek to sit in the Council of the ungodly, but that we seek thy face in all of our ways and of our decisions. Grant now to this, thy City, energy, compassion, renewed hope, a sense of fairness and fair play where we do not divide ourselves along party lines or along the lines of neighborhoods, but we see the unity that is in thee. We ask all of these things in thy name, oh, God. Amen.
The Chair thanks the Rev. Mitchell for his very inspiring invocation. Thank you, Reverend. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of September 12, 2002. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 12, 2002, stand approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 12, 2002, stand approved. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The Journal of the meeting of Thursday, September 12, 2002, is approved. The next order of business is request for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning a leave of absence is requested for Councilman Cohen. 9/19/02 - STATED - LEAVES, WELCOME
Thank you. Leave will be granted. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Madam President, there's a leave of absence requested for Councilman Thacher Longstreth.
Thank you. Leave will be granted. The Chair will dispense with the regular order of business to recognize the guests and visitors joining us in Chambers this morning. On behalf of all members of City Council, I welcome you to our Council session. We appreciate you're taking the time to join us as we attend to the legislative affairs of our City. We certainly invite you to come again. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning we would like to introduce to all of you Mr. Ed Chambers. He's a heavy-weight, 20 years old, who has moved to Philadelphia. He will be fighting on Friday night at the Blue Horizon. He has a 10 and 0 record. He 9/19/02 - STATED - LEAVES, WELCOME wants to be a member of the community and not just a boxer. And we certainly are overjoyed to have him with us, and we thank Maurice Lloyd for bringing him in this morning.
If he would stand, we would like to recognize him. Welcome. (Applause.)
The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-at-Arms deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Clerk. The Clerk will please read messages from the Mayor.
Does the Clerk have any other communication in her possession?
Thank you. The next order of business is introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a motion.
Thank you, AND RES. Madam President. I move that the Rules of Council be suspended so as to permit immediate consideration of resolution at their time of introduction. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit immediate consideration at the time of introduction. All in fair will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer one non-privileged resolution which I would like to speak on.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution authorizing City Council to retain Counsel to file a lawsuit to compel the Administration to enforce Bill No. AND RES. 010659, an ordinance duly enacted by the City Council of Philadelphia which became law on September 12, 2002.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. Councilman, you want to speak on this issue?
Thank you, Madam President. I think that this resolution is critical to trying to continue to fight to maintain the independence of this Council. It is my belief, and I believe the belief of the majority of members of Council who voted for this bill originally, that the Mayor cannot withhold enforcement of a law simply because the Solicitor believes that it is illegal or because the Mayor concludes it is too costly to implement. In fact, Pennsylvania courts have consistently held that, A, Philadelphia has a separation-of-powers form of government; and, B, AND RES. under such form of government the executive branch must implement laws duly enacted by the legislature unless struck down by the courts or vetoed by the Mayor and having that veto sustained. In a separation-of-powers form of government, it is the legislature that makes the laws and policy which guide the executive branch and there is no provision in the Home Rule Charter that gives the City Solicitor the power to advise the Mayor that he need not enforce an ordinance duly enacted by the City Council nor any provision that allows the Mayor to follow such advice if given. In my opinion, to allow the Mayor to withhold enforcement of duly enacted City Council ordinances because of a Solicitor's opinion and/or because in the Mayor's sole opinion he believes the legislation to be too costly would effectively place complete governing power over the City of Philadelphia in the Office of the Mayor. This is a bill that we passed last spring dealing with a fair attempt to have condominium and co-op owners' municipal trash collected, which I believe is a basic City service for which these individual citizen pay real estate AND RES. taxes and are denied because of -- I don't know why they're denied it, but they are simply denied it. Original estimates of the cost of the program was anywhere from the Streets Department about $8 million. This is the Mayor's letter to us, that number dropped to 3.7 million for the first year and 1.75 million for the years thereafter. I also believe that is an inflated number. The Mayor in his letter indicates that there would be a need to buy new equipment, to hire more staff, to train those staff to pick up condominium trash. We believe or I believe and the people who have supported this bill believe it's probably a million dollars a year in cost to simply sit down with the condominium association and the co-op owners and work out a way to reimburse the cost of private trash pick-up, which is what they're receiving now. And we estimate that to be about a million dollars a year. That is not the issue of this resolution because we passed that ordinance and made it law. The issue of this resolution is giving the Council its continued independence to legislate without capricious and singular denial of the enforcement of the law by one individual and his lawyer. AND RES. So I would respectfully request that the Council support this resolution, allow us to obtain legal counsel and to, through the courts, insist and show that the Council is a duly elected independent legislative body. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you. A motion was made and seconded. All in favor?
Maybe Councilman Kenney can answer this. Councilman, do we have any idea how much this litigation would cost City Council?
Madam President, no. At this point, I have no idea how much it would cost. I think the issue of fairness and equity and independence of this Council probably doesn't have a price tag. And we could avoid the incurrence of any type of cost if the Mayor would simply instruct the Streets Commissioner, Clarena Tolson, to sit down with the condominium association and co-op owners and work this out. We don't have to go to court. AND RES. We shouldn't have to go to court. This bill passed, I believe, 16 to nothing or 17 nothing. It's a pretty clear mandate from this Council. So I would like to avoid all litigation. I would like to avoid all costs incurred as a result of litigation, and we simply could do that right now if the Mayor would just agree to sit down and try to work out an arrangement with these taxpaying and many times high-taxpaying individuals who are denied a basic City service. The answer to the question is I do not know what the cost of the litigation would be, but I do believe the principle to maintain Council's independence is critically important.
Thank you. Councilman, I'm not necessarily with the Mayor on this one, and I appreciate the answer, but I was wondering maybe an appropriation hearing would be in order to find out who we're going to hire to do this litigation because it looks like one of them two trains coming head-on on the track possibly, if I can use that vernacular. It's going to cost money and we're going to have to hire lawyers, and I wonder who will pick the lawyers and who will they AND RES. be. I know we're trying to scare him to do something; maybe that will work. Do we have any idea?
Madam President, I have no preference as to what legal counsel is selected. As a matter of fact, if we take the major law firms in this City, put their names in a hat and pick one out, it would be fine with me. I would not disagree with an appropriations hearing to figure out once we get a cost to make the appropriate transfers. Whatever technically needs to be done to get us where we are would be fine with me. I do believe that we can avoid all of this by simply agreeing to enforce the law that this Council unanimously passed. And, again, the Mayor had options on this last week. He could have vetoed the bill or he could have signed the bill. Not signing the bill but sending a letter refusing to enforce it, I think, has put us in a position that we need to maintain our independence and our part in this government. If the Mayor had vetoed the bill and Council sustained his veto, the issue would not be being discussed today; the bill would have been defeated. But this new answer of, "I'm not signing AND RES. it and I'm not enforcing it," forces us in a position to need clarification from the court on what, in fact, is legal.
So basically it's back to what I said, we'll probably do this because it's obvious by what you said he didn't sign it and it didn't become law and he tried another avenue to go, so we're going to try to force litigation so it looks like we're going to get litigation. So should we make a motion to call for an appropriation hearing or you think it's order -- that might be a question to the Chair. Is it in order to wait?
I don't know whether -- Madam President, certainly you can rule or parliamentary can rule. I don't know whether or not a motion was -- I think a resolution next week calling for a hearing in the Appropriations Committee might be appropriate, and I would certainly support that.
Excuse me. I believe that would come from Council's budget.
Again, whatever the Chair deems appropriate. I think the overall philosophical issue here is that we passed a piece AND RES. of legislation unanimously which the Mayor has said unilaterally we would not enforce and the City Solicitor has backed that opinion. And I believe we need clarification on whether or not that is legal.
Thank you. Madam President, can I ask if we do hire a lawyer that we could at least find out what cost and who it is when and if they're hired? Could the Chair do that for us?
I was wondering if we could -- since it comes out of Council's budget and we're not all able to tell what's in that budget, could you tell us when they hire a lawyer and how much estimately it would cost? I know you can't tell how much lawyers cost, but if they're put on retainer, how much that will be and who that will be when that's done? It's certainly up to the Chair to do that, but I just think that information should be available to all of us.
Madam President, I would allow the Chair to decide whatever you think is appropriate. I think the authorization - AND RES.
It may even come out of the Law Department's budget.
The authorization of the hiring of counsel is what's being asked for now, and I would abide by anything the Chair rules on the future expenditures or selection.
Thank you. Councilman Mariano, are you finished?
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Point of information, Madam Chair. Is there existing litigation around this matter outside of this body?
I believe there is. It is my understanding that a federal judge, and correct me if I'm wrong, did in fact say that the City is responsible for the collection of the condominium trash. Presently, the City is filing an appeal, if they haven't already done so.
The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill. AND RES.
Madam President, this is addressed to the sponsor. Councilman Kenney, it may be helpful to put -- in response to the questions of cost, it is impossible to know the true cost, but the Law Department has an hourly litigation rate which is much lower. It used to be 150 a year ago. I'm not sure if it's still 150 a hour. And firms line up, major firms line up for that work. Just as long as we're not paying -- I don't need it in the resolution, but if the Council President would insure that we don't pay any more -
Madam President, I thank the Councilman for his suggestion. I think that the record would be clear that we would not exceed what normally is paid for hourly rates by the Law Department. And I am sure that there would probably be many, many firms who would be interested in helping out the citizens and the condo associations at that rate of pay. Thank you.
And I do believe heretofore it has been approximately 150 an AND RES. hour. Thank you. Any other comments or questions? (No response.)
We can now consider the motion that was seconded. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes are 15. The nays are 0. The motion carries. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Madam President, today I have two resolutions and 11 bills.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution.
A resolution supporting the principles of the Earth Charter in recognizing the second Philadelphia Earth Charter Summit on September 28, 2002.
The Chair AND RES. recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Madam President, may I say that this was initially Councilman Cohen's bill, and I'm happy to cosponsor it with him. And I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. The Clerk will please read the title of the second resolution.
Madam President, I move for the adoption. AND RES. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. The Clerk will please read the first bill introduced by the Councilwoman.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 31st Street, west side, Baring Street to Hamilton Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance establishing parking regulation on Larchwood Street, north side, 45th Street to 46th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 48th Street, both side, Spruce AND RES. Street to Pine Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Preston Street, both sides, Filbert Street to Powelton Avenue.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Farragut Street, east side, Springfield Avenue to Chester Avenue.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 43rd Street, west side, Larchwood Avenue to Osage Avenue.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 48th Street, both sides, Chester Avenue to Springfield Avenue.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
An ordinance establishing a AND RES. parking regulation on 55th Street, west side, Ludlow Street to Chestnut Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Baltimore Avenue, both sides, 45th Street to 46th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 43rd Street, both sides, Spruce Street to Pine Street.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 47th Street, east side, Walnut Street to Locust Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
Thank you. AND RES. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
Madam President, I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution declaring October 3, 2002, International Family Planning Day.
Madam President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have AND RES. it. The motion carries. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution declaring September US Naval Sea Cadet Corps Month and commending Arlene Fields on being the first African-American woman to achieve the rank of commanding officer of a division within the 4-2 region.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer two bills that are also cosponsored by yourself, Madam President, Councilman Ortiz, Councilwoman Tasco, Councilman DiCicco, Kenney and Rizzo; and a resolution cosponsored by all members of Council.
A resolution authorizing the Committee on Finance to conduct hearings to investigate the property assessment practices of the Board of Revision of Taxes.
Madam President, I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
The resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.
An ordinance amending Section 19-1301 of the Philadelphia Code entitled, "Real Estate Taxes," by providing that the taxes levied on the property under that section shall not increase in any one year by more than a specific percentage as a result of an increase in the assessed value of the property as returned by the Board of Revision of Taxes, under certain terms and conditions. And an ordinance amending Chapter 19-1800 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "School Tax Authorization," by providing that real estate taxes imposed by the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia on a property shall not increase in any one year by more than a specific percentage as a result of an increase in the assessed value of the property as returned by the Board of Revision Taxes, under certain terms and AND RES. conditions.
Thank you. The resolution and the two bills will be referred to the Finance Committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer one resolution this morning.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution honoring and commending the Philadelphia Delaware Valley Chapter of the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America for their achievements in sickle cell awareness, education, and providing programs for those with sickle cell in Philadelphia on the occasion of their 20th anniversary.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be AND RES. adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz.
Thank you, Madam President. I have two resolutions and two ordinances that I'd like to be referred to committee.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of the first resolution.
A resolution proposing an amendment to Section 2-309 of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to approval of leases and contracts to which the City is a party and providing AND RES. for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Ortiz. We're referring this to committee so you're going to ask for approval of the motion.
I move the approval of the resolution. By the way, Madam Chair, those resolutions and ordinances are sponsored by Councilman Rizzo, Goode, Nutter -- and I don't have them in front of me, but a lot of other City Councilpeople.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Council President confers.)
We really don't have to do that. It gets referred to committee.
These are Charter change resolutions and bills, Councilman?
Okay. The vote is to refer the resolutions to committee, not to vote on the resolution; is that correct?
They all go to the Committee, I've been told by Counsel of City Council.
Correct. The Clerk will please read the title of the second resolution.
A resolution proposing an amendment to Section 8-200 of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to approval of contracts imposing debt payment obligations on the City in connection with the construction, rehabilitation, or sitting of any structure and the providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Thank you. Please read the title of the bills. AND RES.
An ordinance providing for the submission qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia for an amendment to Section 2-309 of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the approval of leases and contracts to which the City is a party is approved by resolution of the City Council.
Thank you. The resolutions and the ordinances will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance providing for the submission qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to Section 8-200 of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to approval of contracts with an authority imposing debt payment obligations on the City in connection with the construction, rehabilitation, or sitting of any structure as approved by the resolution of City Council.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. AND RES. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco.
The Clerk will please read the title of the bills.
An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Seventh Street, both sides, Catherine Street to Christian Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Dickinson Street, both sides, Juniper Street to Clarion Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Castle Street, both sides, Broad Street to 13th Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Darien Street, west side, Fitzwater Street to Catherine Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Watts Street, east side, Miflin Street to Moore Street. An ordinance revising parking regulations on Juniper Street, both sides, from Tasker Street to Morris Street. An ordinance establishing a parking AND RES. regulation on 13th Street east side, Shunk Street to Oregon Avenue. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Segal Street, north side, 13th Street to Juniper Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Fitzwater Street, both sides, 9th Street to 10th Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Juniper Street, west side, Moyamensing Avenue to Oregon Avenue. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on McKean Street, both sides, 12th Street to 13th Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 11th Street, east side, Catherine Street to Christian Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 9th Street, both sides, Fitzwater Street to Catherine Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Hutchinson Street, east side, Fitzwater Street to Catherine Street. An ordinance establishing a parking AND RES. regulation on Christian Street, south side, Second Street to Third Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Montrose Street, north side, Second Street to Third Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 13 Street, both sides, Snyder Avenue to McKean Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 13th Street, east side, Oregon Avenue to Johnson Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Camac Street, west side, Mifflin Street to McKean Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Wolf Street, north side, Broad to 13th Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on McKean Street, both sides, 13th Street to Juniper Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Carpenter Street, both sides, Fifth Street to Sixth Street. An ordinance revising parking AND RES. regulations on 10th Street, both sides, from Catherine Street to Christian Street. An ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Sixth Street, west side, Washington Avenue to Federal Street. And an ordinance approving the sale of a certain lot or place of City-owned ground with improvements and buildings thereon situated at 923 South Second Street, Numbers 1 and 2, in the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you. The bills will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
The Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of the Philadelphia Code entitled "Real Estate Taxes," by adding a new section 19-1306 providing for a cap on tax, under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. AND RES. The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. I have one bill and one resolution.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City deeds located in the 14th, 16th, 28th, 29th, 37th and 47th Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
Move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of the Philadelphia Code entitled sidewalk sales by prohibiting sidewalk sales on a portion of Vine Street, 18th Street, 19th Street, and 20th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
The Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Title 19 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Finance, Taxes, Collections," by amending Chapter 19-1300 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Real Estate Taxes," by providing for certain deferrals of payment of a certain portion of real estate taxes due to the City of Philadelphia or the Philadelphia School District, AND RES. all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The next order of business is reports from committees. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a report from the Finance Committee.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Finance reports out one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the report.
To the President and Members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Finance to which was referred Bill No. 020438 entitled, an ordinance enacting a new chapter 19-3400 of the Philadelphia Code authorizing the Board of Revision of Taxes to grant tax deferrals to long-time owner occupants of certain properties in the City of Philadelphia, respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Bill No. 020438 will be placed on the First Reading AND RES. Calendar for our next session of Council. That concludes the committee reports. The next item of business is consideration of the calendar. There are no bills on the First Reading Calendar. Therefore, I would recognize Councilwoman Blackwell for the purpose of calling up bills to be considered on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for consideration.
Thank you, Madam President. Today Bill Nos. 020183A, 020225A, 020283, and 020378 are being called up for second reading and final passage. All other bills are being held.
Thank you. The Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 020183A.
An ordinance amending a new plan, estimated costs and proposed method of charges of the Manyunk Special Services District for the concerning business improvements and administrative services to the Manyunk Business District of the City of Philadelphia.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question AND RES. now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll.
Is Councilman Clarke in the room? (No response.) (Councilman Clarke noted as reporting aye.)
Aye. The ayes are 14, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The next bill being called for consideration is Bill No. 020225A.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by amending Chapter 14-200, entitled "Residential Districts," all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question AND RES. now is shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman Clarke. (No response.) (Councilman Clarke noted as reporting aye.)
Aye. The ayes are 14, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The next bill being called for consideration is Bill No. 020283.
An ordinance amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by amending Chapter 14-200, entitled "Residential Districts," by amending Section 14-206, entitled "R-5 Residential Districts," all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
I move the adoption AND RES. of the amendment to Bill No. 020283. (Duly seconded.)
I believe everyone has a copy of the amendment. It has been moved and seconded that the amendment be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the amendment has been adopted. The Clerk will please read the final bill for consideration Bill No. 020378.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property on behalf of the City of Philadelphia to acquire by condemnation fee simple title to a parcel of real estate with any improvements situated thereon located at 8400 Executive Avenue and any other real estate interest in such parcel, all under certain terms and conditions.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally? AND RES. The Clerk will please call the roll.
Councilman Clarke. (No response.) (Councilman Clarke noted as reporting aye.)
Aye. The ayes are 14, the nays are 0. A majority of all Members of Council having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. That 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 Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. This morning we attended a press conference in my district in the East Parkside area of West Philadelphia. On 41st Street near Parkside AND RES. Avenue, we dedicated a new park that was donated by Kaboom which is an organization based in Washington, D.C., a non-profit organization that donates to communities in need. We picked two vacant lots and decided that we mark this as one of the areas, not only for NTI, but one of the areas that would mark the revitalization of this entire community. And so we wanted to say to Kaboom, to East Park, to Home Depot, to all the community members who were out with us this morning, to the Managing Director's Office, MOC Office specifically, to University City District, and all the members from senior citizens to youth who are out there now digging and trying to plant new playground equipment for youth in that neighborhood. Thank you all and God bless you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Madam President. On Monday, we take an important next step in neighborhood transformation with the implementation of the CDC tax credit program by the Revenue Department. This program was established through the CDC tax credit bill that I introduced last fall authored by Rich Auerbach of technical AND RES. staff and approved by all members of Council. This program is a 10-year, $10 million public/private partnership between 10 businesses and 10 community development corporations engaged in neighborhood economic development. The City will give a full business privilege tax credit for this reinvestment in the community-based economic development, a multi-year cash flow from big businesses directly to economically distressed communities. The goal was to create more businesses, more jobs, more goods and services in economically distressed neighborhoods by building financial capacity of community development corporations to undertake commercial real estate development, small business economic development, financing, and entrepreneurial and job training. On Monday at 4 p.m., applications are due to the Revenue Department with potential partnerships in north, south, west, northeast and northwest Philadelphia. Corporate sponsors include Coca-Cola, Hahnemann Hospital, Kaiserman Company, Citizens Bank, Duane Morris, Honor Foods, Shop-Rite, Blue Cross and Comcast. The CDCs are led by a AND RES. diverse group of community leaders, both male and female, African-American, Asian, Caucasian, Latino, all of whom have risen above the issues of race, class, and gender to better the quality of life in their communities through new partnerships. That's what's representing the entire City is all about, bridging the gaps, not dividing the City for political gain, as we've seen in recent days. But nonetheless, Monday is a good day for communities across this City and people who still choose to represent the entire City as we form 10-year public/private diverse community partnerships. Thank you.
Thank you. Does anyone else want to be recognized at this time? The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. I had to leave the room briefly. I just wanted to reported as voting aye on the amendment and the bill, the two bills that are passed.
The record will indicate that Councilman Clarke voted for approval of the amendments and also for the three bills that were considered. COUNCILMAN Clarke: Thank you.
Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing none, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Madam President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, September 26th at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, September 26th at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. Thank you. (Council adjourned at 11:00 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of the Stated Meeting, were reported fully and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. RE: STATED MEETING ___________________________ Lisa C. Bradley, RPR and Notary Public