COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, December 12, 2024 9:36 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILWOMAN NINA AHMAD COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILMAN MICHAEL DRISCOLL COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN JIM HARRITY COUNCILMAN CURTIS J. JONES, JR. COUNCILWOMAN RUE LANDAU COUNCILWOMAN QUETCY M. LOZADA COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILMAN NICOLAS O'ROURKE COUNCILMAN ANTHONY PHILLIPS COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS COUNCILMAN JEFFREY YOUNG, JR. BILLS: 240966, 240967, 240968, 240969, 240970, 240971, 240972, 240973 - - -
This is the public Committee of the Whole regarding Bill Nos. 240966, 240967, 240968, 240969, 240970, 240971, 240972 and 240973. I want to thank everyone for being here today. Before calling the roll, I'd like to announce that we have translation services available for anyone present at today's meeting. If needed, please go to the table to my left. Services are being offered in Mandarin and Cantonese. Mr. Christmas, will you please call the roll.
Present. Thank you. A quorum of the Committee is present and this meeting is now called to order. Mr. Christmas, would you please read the titles of the bills.
P. (the "76ers"), or another entity affiliated with the 76ers, under which ArenaCo or other 76ers related entity would sublease the Arena Site and cause an arena to be constructed on it, including a multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility and ancillary, accessory, and related amenities, improvements, and infrastructure (the "Arena") and agree to other related conditions; (5) upon the expiration or termination of the Sublease or other circumstances set forth in the Sublease, convey fee simple title to the Arena Site to PAID for disposition to ArenaCo; (6) grant, accept, amend, relocate and extinguish easements, agreements, conditions, covenants and restrictions encumbering or benefiting the Arena Site and any City owned property adjacent to the Arena Site for the benefit of the Arena Site to facilitate construction and operation of the Arena; (7) enter into a direct operating covenants agreement among the 76ers, PAID and the City, under which the 76ers agree to play substantially all of their regular season and playoff home games in the Arena; and (8) take all actions necessary and appropriate to accomplish the intent and purpose of this Ordinance; all under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 240967, authorizing and approving the execution and delivery of a Service Agreement between the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development relating to the provision by the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development of certain project-related services to promote, among other things, the growth and expansion of business, commerce and tourism within the City of Philadelphia in connection with the development of a multi-purpose sports and entertainment facility, including an arena to accommodate National Basketball Association games, and family entertainment, community, retail and other uses; authorizing and approving the obligation of the City of Philadelphia to pay in full when due the Service Fee and other amounts payable under the Service Agreement and covenanting to make necessary appropriations for such purposes; and authorizing City officials to take necessary or appropriate actions to accomplish the intent and purpose of the ordinance, all under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 240968, authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 307 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Filbert Street from 10th Street to 11th Street, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 240969, authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 307 by striking from the City Plan and vacating certain aerial portions of 10th Street between Market Street and Filbert Street, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 240970, authorizing CBL Arena, LLC. and its successor(s) in interest to construct, own, and maintain various right of way encroachments in the vicinity of 1001-19 Market Street, 1025 Market Street and 1001-25 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 240971, amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled Zoning and Planning, by amending certain definitions relating to signs; creating an "Arena Area" within the "/CTR, Center City Overlay District" overlay; and making related changes, including a master plan requirement and changes to accessory sign controls; all in connection with zoning rules for a proposed arena in Center City; and approving a master plan for the Arena Area; all under certain terms and conditions. Bill No. 240972, amending Title 14 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by revising certain provisions of section 14-906, entitled "Market Street East Sign Regulations," all under certain terms and conditions. Bill No.
240973, approving the amendment of a neighborhood improvement district in the area generally bounded by, and including, 11th Street to the West, Filbert Street to the North, 8th Street to the East and Market Street to the South, with the exception of certain condominium units at 801 Market Street Condominium not included in the District, known as the Gallery Neighborhood Improvement District, to remove certain portions of such property generally bounded by Filbert Street on the north, 10th Street on the east, 11th Street on the west, and Market Street on the south from such District in accordance with the provisions of the Community and Economic Improvement Act, and under certain terms and conditions.
The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla for amendments to Bill No. 240966.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I offer amendments to Bill No. 240966. A copy of the amendments have been circulated to all members of the Committee. Before I move the additions, I will give a brief explanation of the amendments and a written copy which has been provided to all members of Council. The amendments included in '66 have affected the term sheet, the Arena Authority, Service Authority, the SEPTA transit passes. The CBA amendments have increased Community Benefits Agreement for the Arena District, the Business Disruption Fund, the Neighborhood Sub Security Station, adding funding for apprenticeship programs, adding funding for Parks & Rec facilities, adding funding for Philadelphia Children's and Youth, adding funding for Chinatown Land Trust, adding funding for Chinatown Legacy Business Grant program, removing tickets, removing expansion of Neighborhood Services, removing community use of arena, removing increased targets -- (Background interruption.)
Pause, Squilla. One second. Just with all due respect to everyone who's here, I didn't start off our presentation by, one, first and foremost welcoming you to our Council session today of the Committee of Whole but also working with us today to my left is the Office of Civil Affairs, our Sheriff's Department as well as the Philadelphia Police Department. (Background interruption.)
Listen up so we can get through this process. Listen up. Listen up. All we're asking is in the process irregardless if you are supportive or against the proposal that is before us today, just respect our process and let us get through the legislative -- (Background interruption.)
We will continue with the amendments of adding language to the EOP compliance monitoring, increasing the targets of EOP, control and design and construction amendments, Arena project costs and environmental sustainability. The amendments have been circulated to all members and we move -- I move for the adoption of those amendments.
The Chair notes for the record that Councilmember Jones seconds the motion. All those in favor will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
For a roll call vote for those opposed, raise your hand. Will all the nays raise your hand? (Background interruption.)
Will all the nays raise your hand? Will all the nays raise your hand? (Raised hands.)
The nays are four. The majority of the members have voted and the amendments to Bill No. 7 240966 are adopted. And for the record, that's Councilmember Young is a nay, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier is a nay, Councilmember O'Rourke is a nay and Councilmember Rue Landau is a nay. (Background interruption.)
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on Bill Nos. 240966 as amended, 240967, 240968, 240969, 240970, 240971, 240972 and 240973.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption to 240968 -- 967. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council. I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Background interruption.)
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on Bill No. 240967.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for an amendment on Bill No. 240967. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of Council. I move for that amendment.
Councilmember Jones seconds the motion. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Background interruption.) (Ayes raised hands.)
The ayes have it and the motion passes. For the record -- (Background interruption.)
For the record, the nays are Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke, Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier, Councilwoman Rue Landau and Councilman Jeffrey Jay Young.
The Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on Bill Nos. 240966 as amended, 240967 as amended, 240968, 240969, 240970, 240971, 240972 and 240973.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Bill Nos. 240966 as amended, 240967 as amended, 240968, 240969, 240970, 240971, 240972 and 240973 be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit the first reading of these bills at the next session of Council.
The Chair notes for the motion that Councilmember Jones seconds the motion. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill Nos. 240966 as amended, 240967 as amended, 240968, 240969, 240970, 240971, 240972 and 240973 be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a suspension of the rules to permit this first reading of these bills at our next session of Council. All those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Background interruption.) (Ayes raised hands.)
The Chair recognizes -- the ayes have it and the motion passes. For the record, those who oppose Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke, Councilmember Jeffrey Jay Young and Councilmember Rue Landau. The ayes have it. Bill 3 Nos. 240966 as amended, 240967 as amended, 240968, 240969, 240970, 240971, 240972 and 240973 will be reported from this Committee with a favorable recommendation and a suspension of the rules to permit first reading of these bills at our next session of Council. This concludes the business before the Committee today. Thank you very much. (Committee of the Whole concluded at 10:06 a.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. __________________________________ TANEHA CARROLL