Councilman Squilla is voting aye on all bills. Councilman Thomas.
Aye on all bills. The majority of all members having voted in the affirmative for each of the bills, the bills on the Consent Agenda are passed. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING We will now consider the bills and resolutions on the regular Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200491-AA.
A resolution calling on the Kenney administration to develop a plan to be more inclusive of City Council when creating and implementing emergency public safety measures and restrictions.
Thank you very much. I move for the adoption of the resolution.
The Chair recognizes -- was that Councilman Green?
The Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Point of information. Actually, it's a point of inquiry. Councilmember Oh, in your resolution you reference to a Western District case. I believe it's County of Butler versus Thomas Wolf, Governor, et al. Who were the other plaintiffs in that matter you reference in your resolution?
I don't know. I looked at it and I got the information that I need and I don't recall, but you could tell us. I think you know.
Well, I didn't -- I'm sorry. There was a cough. I didn't hear the rest of that.
I said I don't know. I got the information that I needed. I put it in the -- because I look at the decision, and it's on appeal and it's stayed. I don't know who the parties are, but certainly if you know, Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING please tell everybody.
Well, I just made reference to that because you pointed reference to that case as one of the whereas clauses for your resolution. I definitely understand the concern in reference to the balance of two branches of government, executive branch and legislative branch. I've been critical of the Kenney Administration in reference to their outreach to restaurants and small businesses as new measures have come on board to protect their health, but I just want to provide information to my colleagues that part of the support for your resolution, two of the plaintiffs in that Federal District case, one was Congressman Mike Kelly, the other was State Representative Daryl Metcalfe. I just want to let my colleagues know that they were two of the plaintiffs to that lawsuit. I think many of us are familiar with some of their recent litigation that Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING they've undertaken against the electoral process in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Thank you, Council President.
Thank you very much, Councilmember Derek Green. Please don't interpret anything I said as disrespectful. I respect and appreciate all your commentary, insights, and perspectives. Having said that, whoever -anyone who is not comfortable for whatever reason, please vote against it.
I think, Councilwoman Gym, you wanted to have some comments?
Yes. Thank you very much, Council President. I will be one of those, Councilmember Oh, who will be voting no on this resolution. This resolution has gone through multiple iterations, but the Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING main thrust of its arguments still remain the same. As was stated two weeks ago, it continues to root its logic in the now stayed ruling out of the Western District Court that lasted not even two weeks before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated Governor Wolf's COVID executive orders on October 1st. It continues to assert that when a pandemic is in play, when a 9/11's worth of citizenry of our people are dying each day in this country, that somehow the individual who is in charge here, whether it's the Governor or the Mayor, has no right to issue temporary and necessary orders to protect the public health. The Council sponsor has chosen not only just to leave this as a matter of words and language, but to double down on this overreach with a bill. So, again, all of us have shared frustrations about communications Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING and all of us have actually committed hours to finding ways of helping our constituents seek audience with the Mayor's team or ourselves as Councilmembers, and while I understand our colleague's frustrations, again, I cannot support a resolution that uses that frustration as a pretext to advance failed and flawed logic of irresponsible lawsuits and propose bills which would endanger our city and state, and they are perpetuated by GOP legislators who have routinely flaunted COVID rules themselves and have failed to do their duty in Harrisburg. Over a billion dollars in CARES Act money sits at the state while GOP legislators have refused to responsibly distribute that money to small businesses, which are now going under in our city, or give it out to landlords and tenants crying out for rent relief, assistance or cancellation. So at a time when irresponsible Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING political rhetoric has resulted in everything from open defiance of public safety orders to kidnapping plots, armed demonstrations outside of state capitals, and threats of physical violence and transphobic hate directed at our Pennsylvania Health Director, Dr. Rachel Levine, who was in your last resolution, for no possible reason at all, we cannot risk feeding into this. There is an alternative. This Council has requested dialogue between the Mayor's Administration and Councilmembers, and they should continue. The Administration can and must do better, and we will keep encouraging them to do so. If the Council sponsor wants to issue a statement to this effect, he should do so, but not invoking the lawsuits of extremists when there is no consensus on this body in support, and that is why I'll be voting no. Thank you, Council President. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Council President. I will respond to that statement. I don't mean to be particular about it, but I will say responsibility, three branches of government, an executive has to be checked and balanced by the legislative branch. Responsibility is to meet our duties. If any Councilmember, knowing the matrix, looking at the science and the data, looking at reports from this city as to the effectiveness of the restrictions agrees with them, supports them, then after 60 days when the Administration -- well, that is the bill -- comes to Council, Council can approve it. This is a resolution that says -- and I do so not in a private statement or a statement as a Councilmember but as a body -- that we as a body have a responsibility to provide Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING oversight regarding the restrictions, whether they're needed, whether they're necessary, and if any Councilmember agrees and even if that Councilmember believes that it is a fantastic job, they have a duty to put their signature and their vote behind it to say yes, keep doing what you're doing. It is irresponsible not to take up a position of participation, which is the basis of our democracy, checks and balances. Whether it is the President of the United States, the Governor of any state, the city of any municipality, there is a check and a balance. It doesn't mean it's adversarial or it doesn't mean it's aggressive, but it provides the public an opportunity to reach out to us, because we are much more accessible than any executive, and we can support or we can try to amend, we can criticize, we can complement, whatever it is that the executive orders are. So the reason that I cite the Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING case is regardless of party or who is involved. There was a decision. It has been stayed, and there are other decisions that go to this issue. But of course every Councilperson will look at this the way they do. I simply say that we owe it to the residents and the constituents of this city to make sure that we let the Mayor know as a body that when it comes to planning the reopening or when it comes to restrictions, to let us know ahead of time and to have us involved. And beyond that, yes, I do have a bill as well. Thank you.
Thank you. I believe there was a motion on the floor. Was that motion seconded? (Duly seconded.) Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
The motion was seconded. It's been moved and seconded the resolution be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Councilman Domb. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilwoman Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Parker.
Aye. The nays have it. The resolution is not adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200683.
A resolution calling on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to keep John W. Hallahan Catholic Girls High School and Bishop McDevitt High School open to engage with students, alumni, board, and other stakeholders in decision making around the schools' futures. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200698.
A resolution calling on the United States Congress to Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING extend payroll tax relief to small and midsize essential businesses providing paid sick leave to their employees, and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to enact legislation to expand paid sick leave eligibility for all essential workers.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brooks for a motion on the resolution.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, the Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 200588-A.
An ordinance amending Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Contracts and Procurement," by amending Chapter 17-100, entitled "Procurement Contracts," to add disclosure requirements related to prior contracting experience and the demographic characteristics of employees and board members of contractors and subcontractors for City contracts for competitively bid goods; and by adding reporting requirements.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Bass.
Aye. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 200589-A. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
An ordinance amending Chapter 17-100, entitled "Procurement Contracts," by adding requirements related to the provision of information regarding the demographic characteristics of employees of, and the labor force used by, City contractors and subcontractors in the performance of work under certain City contracts for competitively bid services.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Gauthier.
Aye. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Bill No. 200590-A.
An ordinance amending Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Contracts and Procurement," by amending Chapter 17-100, entitled "Procurement Contracts," and Chapter 17-1400, entitled "Non-Competitively Bid Contracts; Financial Assistance," to add disclosure Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING requirements related to prior contracting experience and the demographic characteristics of employees, other sources of labor, and board members of contractors and subcontractors for City contracts for public works, other competitively bid services, and professional services, and by adding reporting requirements.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilwoman Gauthier. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Councilwoman Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Quinones-Sanchez.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 200653.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Real Estate Taxes," by modifying the amount of certain tax abatements.
This bill having been read on two separate days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. Stated Meeting December 10, 2020 12/10/20 - STATED - 2ND READING