COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1997 11:08 a.m. Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHN F. STREET COUNCILWOMAN HAPPY FERNANDEZ COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILMAN W. THATCHER LONGSTRETH COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILMAN ANGEL L. ORTIZ COUNCILMAN FRANK DICICCO COUNCILWOMAN ANNA CIBOTTA VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL MARIE B. HAUSER, Chief Clerk VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 P R O C E E D I N G S
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. The Chair notes that the hour has come and that a quorum is present. Council will come to order. Members will take their seats. Visitors will retire to the seats outside of the rail. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair welcomes Father Peter Burkauskas, Pastor of the St. Andrew's Lithuanian Church, who is a guest of Councilman Cohen. Members and guests will please rise.
Almighty God, at the start of this day, we ask your blessings on each of us and on this City Council. Bring to us your gifts of wisdom. Open our ears and our hearts to your truth. Guide us in your ways, that we may always be sensitive to weep with the sorrowful, walk with the lonely and support the oppressed. Help us to feel your presence in our lives and to always bring your presence to this city, to our state and to the world. Amen. STATED MEETING - INVOCATION
Amen. Thanks, Father, for the inspiring invocation. (Pause.)
The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 9, 1997. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna.
Mr. President, I move that the Journal of October 9, 1997 stand approved. (Duly seconded.)
All in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The motion is carried. The Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 9, 1997 stands approved.
The next order of business is leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna.
Mr. President, on STATED MEETING - LEAVES OF ABSENCE behalf of the majority, a leave of absence is requested for Councilwoman Clark.
The Chair thanks Councilwoman Verna. The leave will be granted. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Mr. President, on behalf of the minority, there are no requests for leaves of absence.
At this time, the Chair will dispense with the regular order of business in order to recognize visitors and make presentations of resolutions. To all of our visitors and guests with us today, the Chair welcomes you here and applauds your interest in the civic affairs of our city. Today we are pleased to welcome the members of the Mummers Choir. The choir will be performing later on at the Convention Center, and we are happy they had time to stop by here first. To make the formal invitation and recommendation and introduction, the Chair STATED MEETING - RECOGNITION OF VISITORS recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. It's my pleasure this morning to bring to Council another musical selection, which has been our tradition in the last few years, from the Mummers Choir. This organization is a group of men primarily from South Philadelphia, but also from other areas of the City also, who are all involved in the various divisions of the New Year's Parade. These are regular working people who take time out of their evenings and weekends to practice and rehearse and also to perform at senior citizens' centers and at children's homes and at various charitable organizations and events around the City. So they have two selections for us today, and we would like to ask that they please come forward. (Members of Mummers Chorus rise and come forward.)
Additionally, Mr. President, while they're assembling, this organization has been in re-existence now. It was in existence in the fifties and sixties but has been STATED MEETING - RECOGNITION OF VISITORS reformed in 1993. And today they are releasing a CD which will be available for Christmas. I believe it is a Christmas album, and it will be available for sale. And Mr. Joe Shubert is the director and he will present the group. (Applause.)
Thank you very much, Councilman Kenney. The Mummers Chorus is extremely proud to be here, certainly to see how the government of Philadelphia works. And it's probably our first time here, and we appreciate your warm reception. We also are aware that we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial. And in conjunction with that, we are proud. And I hope you will join us as we sing our rendition of "God Bless America." (Mummers Chorus performs "God Bless America.") (Applause.)
Thank you very much. We hope that will bring some luck to the Philadelphia Flyers as well. Thank you. STATED MEETING - RECOGNITION OF VISITORS Now we are very proud to present our tribute to Philadelphia. I think this might be the only song, to my knowledge, that is sung or even played, that mentions the City of Philadelphia. And also it's a tribute to the Philadelphia Mummery. And we are very, very proud to present this for the very first time here at City Council. As Councilman Kenney mentioned, it will be out for distribution this weekend, our CD and cassette. We invite you to join us at the appropriate time if you would like. Some of you, I understand, already have umbrellas. And we invite you to participate at the appropriate time at which, of course, I will let you know. So please, we hope you'll enjoy our rendition of "We Are the Mummers." (Mummers perform "We Are the Mummers.") (Applause.)
Thank you very much for your participation. As someone mentioned, we didn't have to go around the Hall today, we went through it. Thank you so much. The chorus thanks you. Thank you very much, thank you. (Applause.) STATED MEETING - RECOGNITION OF VISITORS (Councilwoman Verna assumes the Chair.)
I tell you, it was a beautiful sight from up here. And Councilman Cohen, you really know how to do the Mummers strut. (Applause.)
Our next presentation recognizes the tenth anniversary of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial. To make this presentation, the Chair appoints Councilman Kenney. The Chair invites Mr. Harry Gaffney and those with him to come to receive this resolution. Mr. Gaffney.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would also like to ask Councilwoman Krajewski to accompany me here to help to present this resolution. (Councilwoman Krajewski comes forward.)
Thank you, Madam Chair. This is a resolution proclaiming the week of October 20 through October 26, 1997 as "Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Tenth STATED MEETING - PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS Anniversary Week." Whereas, the City Council and the City of Philadelphia passed Bill No. 202 in July 1984, this legislation provided for the construction, placement and dedication of a memorial at Penn's Landing, in remembrance of the 643 servicemen from Philadelphia who died serving their country, and to the 80,000 Philadelphia Vietnam-era veterans who returned home; and Whereas, the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund Incorporated, a nonprofit, grass-roots organization, was established with the passage of this ordinance. Due to the tireless and dedication of scores of volunteers, the Memorial Fund raised $1.5 million to finance, construct and dedicate an appropriate memorial to honor Philadelphia residents who fell in battle and gave the ultimate sacrifice. Whereas, no government funding was solicited or utilized in the erection of this memorial.
Whereas, located at Penn's Landing, the heart of one of the City's principal tourist attractions, the memorial STATED MEETING - PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS is a striking testimonial to the 170,000 Vietnam-era veterans and their families who live in the Delaware Valley, and to the massive numbers of tourists who visit Philadelphia; and Whereas, the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial recognizes and honors those who served in all branches of the armed forces during the Vietnam war, the longest conflict in our nation's history. In giving their lives, 643 Philadelphians carried on the great tradition upon which this nation was founded: a willingness to give one's life so that others may live in freedom; Whereas, in honoring the names of the deceased, the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial separates the warrior from the war, and focuses on the valor and sacrifices of these patriots.
Therefore, be it resolved by the Council of the City of Philadelphia that the City of Brotherly Love recall the fallen sons and honor their memory by proclaiming the week of October 20 through October 26, 1997 as "Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial Tenth Anniversary Week." STATED MEETING - PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS Further resolved that the gross copies of this resolution be presented to Harry J. Gaffney, President of the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Advisory Committee and the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service Center, Incorporated, official headquarters of the memorial fund-raising activities since 1984, evidencing the sincere sentiments of this legislative body. This is a very important thing that we do here today, to recognize the accomplishments of this organization in remembering many of the people who lived in the City, who came from working-class neighborhoods, who never came home. For the fourth time in this ten-year period, this memorial was desecrated this past weekend. I think many people in the City who are about this kind of activity ought to seriously consider and examine their consciences and figure out what it is that they are trying to do and say by bringing such heartache and such anger and bad feeling to many of these families who have given their sons in a war that maybe wasn't popular at the time. But when these people went, they were serving their country. They continue to serve their country STATED MEETING - PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS today, those who came home. And this desecration should never happen again, and we should all do our best to make sure that it doesn't. And I don't want to end it on a sad note, but I think it had to be said because enough is enough when it comes to this memorial. So I'd like to present this to Mr. Gaffney and ask him to say a few words. (Applause.)
Thank you. In my real daytime job, I'm the principal at Harding Middle School. I've served proudly for the past 25 years with the School District of Philadelphia. (Applause.)
That is a service job and this is a work of love, as I have learned since I first joined with Ed Lowry many years ago to form this all-volunteer group, with a mission and a purpose to commemorate our dead. All soldiers have that as a high calling: to make sure that we remember our fallen brothers and sisters. And I think we will all agree that we did that job well. STATED MEETING - PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS Let's pause now for a second and think. This is one of the largest cities in the finest nation on earth, and we still have problems. We have homeless veterans, we have their families, we have veterans that need jobs, medical attention. We cannot forget that. The gentleman standing behind me, Mr. Edward J. Lowry, the executive director of the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service and Education Center, has been in this line of work for over 15 years. I'm not up on all the data, but he's gotten thousands of people jobs. They've done thousands of interviews, they've sent people to the V.A. for detox programs, Alcoholics Anonymous programs. It's been an intense job, with a small group of individuals working on Second Street. We're looking for a new home. On the good side, we have a major federal grant. Those of you -- we had our meeting yesterday. If you could focus just for a moment, we'd like to locate it in Center City, between the two rivers, between Washington Avenue and Spring Garden Street. And we're looking for about 12 to 15,000 square foot, the building. STATED MEETING - PRESENTATION OF RESOLUTIONS We have almost $700,000 ready to go from the federal government. We need a building to operate from. This building will provide services to members of the veterans and the veterans' families throughout the Delaware Valley. It's a pleasure. This is my third time here with you, and I just want to say from the heart, it's special to come before you, members of City Council, with the way that we're treated and the way we are thought of. Thank you, and God bless all of you. (Applause.)
The next order of business is communications. The Chair recognizes the Sergeant-At-Arms for the purpose of delivering the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk will read the messages from the Mayor.
To the President and Members of Council of the City of Philadelphia: I STATED MEETING - COMMUNICATIONS am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body a draft of a resolution to amend an ordinance approved December 15, 1969, as amended, which approved the redevelopment proposal, the urban renewal plan and the relocation of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, by approving the 19th amendment of the regional proposal, the 11th amendment to the urban renewal plan and the 12th amendment to the relocation plan, which provides inter alia for certain additional land acquisitions and provision of certain relocation services, as required by law, for the individuals, families and business concerns which will be displaced. And an ordinance to amend an ordinance approved December 14, 1971, as amended, which approved the redevelopment proposal, the urban renewal plan and the relocation plan of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of South Central Urban Renewal Area, by approving the 9th amendment of the redevelopment proposal, the 9th amendment to the urban renewal plan, an amendment to the relocation STATED MEETING - COMMUNICATIONS plan, which provides inter alia for certain additional land acquisitions and provision of certain relocation services, as required by law, for the individuals, families and business concerns which will be displaced. And an ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into an amendment to the agreement authorized by an ordinance approved December 29, 1972, Bill No. 455, as amended, between the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation, relating to the operation and management of the Philadelphia Gas Works, under certain terms and conditions, by authorizing the Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation, on behalf of the City and the Philadelphia Gas Works, to enter into the electric supply business, under certain terms and conditions.
The messages will be printed in the Journal. The Chief Clerk will read any other communications in her possession.
The next order of STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen for the purpose of requesting a suspension of the rules regarding resolutions being introduced -
Madam Chair, I move that the rules of Council be suspended in consideration of the resolution at the time of introduction. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor of the resolution will signify by saying aye. Those opposed will say nay. The motion is so carried. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for bills and resolutions.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have no bills or resolutions today.
The Chair thanks Councilwoman Blackwell. STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS The Chair recognizes Councilman Cohen.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution to declare Philadelphia a nuclear-weapons-free zone.
All those in favor of the resolution will signify by saying aye; those opposed will say nay. The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
The Chair thanks the lady. The Chair recognizes Councilman Nutter.
Madam Chair, I have STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS one bill.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to accept from the School District of the City of Philadelphia fee simple title to a certain real property and any improvements thereon located at Lehigh and Chambers Avenue, a portion of which shall be leased to Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, for further sublease to Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, a nonprofit corporation, all for nominal consideration for use primarily as a health care service facility with ancillary- related uses and community uses under certain terms and conditions.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Fernandez.
Madam Chair, I have one resolution for introduction this morning.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the resolution. STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS
A resolution calling on the City Council Committee on Public Health and Human Services and the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings to examine the effects which qualified after-school programs have on protecting youth from crime and violence in our city.
All those in favor of the resolution signify by saying aye; those opposed say nay. The ayes have it. The resolution passes. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill. (The Chief Clerk read the title of the bill offered by Councilwoman Tasco.)
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. (President Street resumes the Chair.)
The Chair recognizes STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS Councilman Ortiz.
The Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution honoring the Sheppard Elementary School as it celebrates one hundred years of educational service to the children of Philadelphia.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Opposed say no. The resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, earlier I had indicated that I had six bills. I stand corrected; it's five STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS bills and one resolution.
All right. Then, on that basis, we stand adjourned. (Laughter.)
Just kidding. The Clerk will please read the titles of the bills.
An ordinance to amend an ordinance approved December 15, 1969, as amended, which approved the redevelopment proposal, the urban renewal plan and the relocation plan of the Redevelopment Authority for the City of Philadelphia, for the development of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, by approving the 19th amendment of the redevelopment proposal, the 11th amendment to the urban renewal plan and the 12th amendment to the relocation plan, which provides inter alia for certain additional land acquisitions and provision of certain relocation services as required by law for the individuals, families and business concerns which will be displaced. And an ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Real Estate Taxes," by amending the section providing for STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS the exemption from real estate taxes on improvements to residential properties to expand the scope of the exemption. And an ordinance amending Chapter 10-1200 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Posting of Temporary Signs," by prohibiting the posting of certain temporary signs and political campaign posters in certain sections of the First Council District, including Spruce Street, both sides, from the east side of Broad Street to Front Street, under certain terms and conditions. And an ordinance amending Chapter 10-1200 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Posting of Temporary Signs," by prohibiting the posting of certain temporary signs and political campaign posters in certain sections of the First Council District, including Lombard Street, both sides, from the east side of Broad Street to Front Street, under certain terms and conditions. And an ordinance amending Chapter 10-1200 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Posting of Temporary Signs," by prohibiting the posting of certain temporary signs and political campaign posters in certain sections of the First Council STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS District, including Pine Street, both sides, from the east side of Broad Street to Front Street, under certain terms and conditions.
The bills will be referred to the appropriate committee. Are there others?
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
I'm sorry. Oh, there it is. 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 of Philadelphia deeds for properties situated in the STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS 2nd and 31st Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
Will Councilman DiCicco please approach the Chair. (Councilman DiCicco approaches the Chair.)
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
All in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
The Chair thanks the councilman. STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS The Chair recognizes Councilman Longstreth.
The Chair thanks the councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Thank you very much, Councilman. At this time, I would like -
I'm sorry, Councilwoman Verna. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for the introduction of bills and resolutions.
On your behalf, I offer two resolutions. And on my behalf, I offer two bills and one resolution.
The Clerk will please read the titles of the bills. STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS
An ordinance authorizing the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, notwithstanding any contrary requirements of the Philadelphia Industrial and Commercial Development Agreement between the City and the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, to sell a certain tract of land, the buildings and improvements thereon situated on the northeast corner of Holstein Avenue and Bartram Avenue, Parcel F-10, in the Eastwick Urban Renewal Area's Stage A, to Ottens Flavors Company for consideration, not to exceed $116,000, upon written approval of the Director of Commerce. And an ordinance to amend an ordinance approved December 14, 1971, as amended, which approved the redevelopment proposal, the urban renewal plan and the relocation plan of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment of South Central Urban Renewal Area by approving the 9th amendment of the redevelopment proposal, the 9th amendment to the urban renewal plan and an amendment to the relocation plan which provides inter alia, and for STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS certain additional land acquisitions and provision of certain relocation services, as required by law, for the individuals, families and business concerns which will be displaced.
These bills will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Clerk will read the title of the first resolution introduced by Councilwoman Verna.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia deeds for properties situated in the 36th Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
All in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Opposed say nay. The resolution is adopted. The Clerk will please read the title of the next resolution introduced by Councilwoman STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS Verna.
A resolution agreeing to participate in the Franklin Plaza Tax Increment Financing District, if it should be created by the Council of the City of Philadelphia in accordance with the Tax Increment Financing Act of July 11, 1990, P.L. 465, No. 113, as amended in Center City, the redevelopment area in an area generally bounded by Vine Street on the north, 16th Street on the east, a recorded driveway easement extending westwardly from a point on the west side of North 16th Street, 119 feet, 11 inches south of Vine Street, to a point on the east side of North 17th Street, 132 feet, 8 inches south of Vine Street on the south, and 17th Street on the west, and designating the Mayor or his designee as the City's representative for purposes of meeting with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development, pursuant to Section 5a.(2) of the Tax Increment Financing Act.
This resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Clerk will please read the title of the next resolution introduced by Councilwoman STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS Verna.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia deeds for property situated in the 32nd Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
All in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. The resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Mr. President, we would like to welcome some visitors to City Council: Mr. Quinn and many students from the Abington Friends School.
Can we have the school please stand. (Members of Abington Friends School STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS rise to applause.)
Thank you very much for being with us. We certainly appreciate your presence here in the City of Philadelphia. And if, when you become of age, you'd like to consider moving into our great city, we welcome you. (Applause.)
But if any of you is thinking of running for public office, maybe Abington would be a good place to stay. (Laughter.)
Thank you very much for being with us. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
The Chair thanks Councilwoman Krajewski. Is there any member of Council who has not been recognized for the purpose of introducing bills and resolutions? (No response.)
I thank you. STATED MEETING - INTRO. OF BILLS/RESOLUTIONS
The next order of business is Reports from Committees. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney for the report on the Council Committee Rules.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Council Committee on Rules reports Bill No. 970607 out of committee with a favorable recommendation.
To the President and Members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia: The Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 970607, an ordinance declaring that it is desirable for the health, safety and welfare of the people in the area served by Jefferson Health System and its member hospitals for the Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority of Philadelphia to participate with the System and the hospitals in financing capital projects consisting generally of the purchase of real estate comprising the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and related facilities, the refinancing or restructuring of certain outstanding indebtedness of the hospitals STATED MEETING - REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES and the acquisition and construction of capital improvements to the facilities of the hospital, respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading of Bill No. 970607. (Duly seconded).
All in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed say nay. It's carried. And Bill No. 970607 will be added to our first reading calendar to date. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna for the report of the Council Committee on Finance.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Finance reports Bill No.'s 970564 and 970584 out of committee with favorable recommendation. Also request that the rules of Council STATED MEETING - REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES be suspended so as to permit first reading of Bill No. 970584.
To the President and Members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia: The Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 970584 entitled an ordinance authorizing the procurement of the Commissioner of the Director of Commerce on behalf of the City of Philadelphia to enter into a lease and service agreement with the Philadelphia Municipal Authority, pursuant to which the City will undertake certain obligations under a contract with the Authority and will enter into with Caravan Transportation, Inc. to undertake a project to lease, maintain and operate equipment for ground transportation bus service for the Department of Commerce Division of Aviation in conjunction with the operation of the Philadelphia International Airport, all under certain terms and conditions. And Bill No. 970564, entitled an ordinance amending Section 19201 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "City Depositories," by authorizing the City to deposit funds in Progress Bank, under STATED MEETING - REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES certain terms and conditions, respectfully reports and has considered the same, and returns the attached bills to Council, with a favorable recommendation.
Mr. President, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading of Bill No. 970584. (Duly seconded.)
All in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say nay. It's carried, and Bill No. 970584 will be added to our first reading calendar today. All other bills will be referred and placed on our first reading calendar for our next meeting. - -
The next order of business is a consideration of the calendar. The Chief Clerk will read the bills on our first reading calendar.
Bill No. 970607, an ordinance declaring that it is desirable for the STATED MEETING - CALENDAR CONSIDERATION health, safety and welfare of the people in the area served by Jefferson Health System and its member hospitals for the Hospitals and Higher Education Facilities Authority of Philadelphia to participate with the System and the hospitals in financing capital projects consisting generally of the purchase of real estate comprising the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and related facilities, the refinancing and restructuring of certain outstanding indebtedness of the hospital and the acquisition and construction of capital improvements to the facilities of the hospitals.
Bill No. 970584, an ordinance authorizing the Procurement Commissioner and the Director of Commerce on behalf of the City of Philadelphia to enter into a lease and service agreement with the Philadelphia Municipal Authority pursuant to which the City will undertake certain obligations under a contract the Authority will enter into with Caravan Transportation, Inc. to undertake a project to lease, maintain and operate equipment for ground transportation bus services for the Department of Commerce Division of Aviation in STATED MEETING - CALENDAR CONSIDERATION conjunction with the operation of the Philadelphia International Airport, all under certain terms and conditions.
The Chair agrees. The bills read by the Chief Clerk will be placed on our second and final reading passes calendar for our next meeting. Council will now consider bills on the second and final reading passes calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Verna.
Mr. President, Bill No.'s 970515 and 970517 are being called for consideration on the second reading and final passage calendar. All other bills are being held.
Thanks to Councilwoman Verna. The first bill for consideration will be Bill No. 970515. The Clerk will please read the title of the bill. (The Clerk reads the title of Bill No. 970515.)
That having been STATED MEETING - CALENDAR CONSIDERATION read on two prior different days, the question now is: Shall the bill pass finally? The Clerk will call the role. (The Chief Clerk called the roll.)
All right. The ayes are 16, the nays are 0. A majority of all members of Council have voted in the affirmative. The bill passes. The next bill for consideration is Bill No. 970517. The Clerk will please read the title of the bill. (The Chief Clerk read the title of Bill No. 970517.)
This bill, having been read on two different days, the question now is: Shall the bill pass? The Clerk will call the roll. (The Chief Clerk called the roll.)
All right. The ayes are 16, the nays are 0. The majority of all members of Council have voted in the affirmative; the bill passes. This concludes our consideration of the calendar. STATED MEETING - CALENDAR CONSIDERATION
Are there any speeches on the part of members of the Minority? (No speeches on the part of the members of the Minority.)
Are there any speeches on the part of members of the Majority? The Chair recognizes Councilmember Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to thank all of those individuals who came out in spite of all the other meetings that took place last night at our town meeting to deal with education. I will certainly make a packet available to all of my colleagues this afternoon. I would also like to thank all of the presenters. We talked about everything in education except the Fumo plan; that's on the table today. I want to thank the School Board. We talked about the SAT9, the PFT, Gerry Jordan. We talked about Keystone schools. We had Dr. Rider and John Speak to talk about charter schools and Representative Evans to deal with first-class STATED MEETING - SPEECHES schools, Bill No. 1343. I want to thank Dr. Ira Harkavy from Penn who talked about the role of private institutions; and certainly Gail Hawkins Bush to talk about our own educational summit. Thank you.
Thank you very much. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. One of the saddest experiences I've had as an elected official was about three years ago, when I attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Philadelphia Shipyard. The gentlemen that were here today, Mr. Lowry and his organization, were having a ribbon cutting and opening of the Veterans Multi-Service Center Job Training facility. Councilmember Longstreth, I think, was also there, along with Senator Tartaglione, and I got there late. And when I got to the door, there were at least a thousand men in that room with hard hats and lunch buckets and steel-toed work shoes, with a very desperate feeling in the air hanging over that room. STATED MEETING - SPEECHES The commander of the base at the time was a Vietnam veteran. And during the course of his speech on the ribbon-cutting, he asked those in the room to raise their hand who had served in Vietnam. And literally five, six in the room had raised their hand. And I thought to myself, Not only were they abused and taken advantage of when they were sent to Vietnam, but the government was abusing them and abandoning them again after working 10, 12, 15 years at the Naval Ship Yard, at jobs that gave them dignity and gave their families a good quality of life. Two weeks ago, the legislature moved very expeditiously to approve funds for the Kvaerner ship deal. Yesterday, the Delaware River Port Authority moved -- after two hours of debate and fight -- relatively quickly to approve the $50 million for this Kvaerner deal last spring. We approved the overall Naval Yard activity with an amendment requiring a resolution approving each individual project here in Council. I had expected today to come here to Council session to vote on that resolution approving STATED MEETING - SPEECHES the Kvaerner deal. All the briefings that we've received indicate that we are not paying any more money than we would have been paying and perhaps even less than we were going to be paying in the Meyer-Worth deal. I see no reason why we couldn't have voted on this today. I expect and ask the Administration to have that resolution ready next week so that we can send the message, with the other levels of government involved in this deal, that we are interested as soon as possible in putting at least a thousand of those people who were dislocated back to work, in dignified, decent-paying jobs, and giving another 2 to 3,000 people an opportunity as soon as possible to gain a decent livelihood. I think our hesitation -- I hope it doesn't last too long -- may be sending some mixed messages to the Kvaerner's people, and I would like to get this resolution, which is not a complicated issue, on the floor of this Council, and vote on it as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. President.
Any other speeches? (No further speeches.) STATED MEETING - SPEECHES
I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, October 23, 1997, at 10 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
All those in favor, let it be known by saying aye. Those opposed, say no. (Motion carried.)
Now, Mr. President, at this time, we would all like to wish you a very happy birthday. (Council members sing happy birthday to President Street.) (Applause.) (Adjourned at 12:01 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T E I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing proceedings of the Council of the City of Philadelphia of October 16, 1997 were reported and accurately by me, and that this is a correct transcript of same. RE: STATED MEETING __________________________________, JOSEPHINE CARDILLO, RPR