A resolution urging Congress and the United States Department of Transportation to release specifications for tank car design and for Philadelphia rail companies to rapidly upgrade and replace crude oil tank cars.
Thank you, Council President, and I want to thank all the advocates who are here today expressing their support for this resolution. During last winter there was a derailment in my district along the Schuylkill River in the Southwest Center City part of my district, which alarmed a 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING number of my constituents and myself. I held hearings with the rail company, CSX, to discuss safety measures which were being taken to assure that rail safety is a top priority. About a month ago, a minor derailment occurred in South Philadelphia and a catastrophic derailment occurred in West Virginia. I introduced a resolution urging the U.S. Department of Transportation and members of Congress to release federal specifications for new tank cars designed to be safer for carrying crude oil. The resolution also urges the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management to coordinate with all governmental agencies and to provide the most possible information to residents about what materials are moving throughout their neighborhoods. In addition, I will be working in partnership with the Administration and the Office of Emergency Management to begin looking at doing neighborhood 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING forums on evacuation plans and how we could protect ourselves in the event that a catastrophe happens as a result of a train tanker derailment. The federal government is still in the process of forming the new tank car standards. There is a proceeding underway with the Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, but it has not yet issued binding regulations. We need the federal government to make this a priority and release new standards for tank cars that carry hazardous waste. In the meantime, trains are carrying hazardous materials through our cities in cars that do not protect against catastrophic explosions. With the increase in train traffic in Philadelphia, we are flirting with disaster, and the most frustrating part is that the local government does not have the authority to legislate train standards, so we are stuck waiting for 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING the federal government to react. Recently we reached out to the office of U.S. Senator Bob Casey, who sent a letter urging the Department of Transportation to issue these new regulations. So there is a reason to be cautiously optimistic. I would like to ask all of my colleagues for an affirmative vote on this resolution, but I would also like to highlight that this is only the beginning of the conversation. Our federal government must act to ensure that the train cars traveling through the City of Philadelphia are safe so we can prevent the next catastrophe. Thank you very much, and I ask for an affirmative vote on the resolution. (Applause.)
I move for the adoption of the resolution. 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and Resolution 150129-A is adopted. (Applause.)
Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 150173.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING situate in the Sixteenth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that Resolution 150173 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 150176.
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING Kensington-Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2218 through 2220R Emerald Street.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and 150176 is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 140895.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Tacony Street, Bridge Street, Frankford Creek, Delaware River, and Walbach Street.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Council President. I move that Bill No. 140895 be placed on the Suspension Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and duly seconded that Bill No. 140895 be placed on the Suspension Calendar. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, please read the title of 150006.
An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Fairmount Avenue and 18th Street; Melon Street and 15th Street; 4th Street and Thompson Street.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING Squilla is voting aye. Councilwoman Tasco.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 150055.
An ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Christian Street and 11th Street; Cross Street and 10th Street; Queen Street and Front Street; Moore Street and 12th Street; Water Street and Washington Avenue; Fitzgerald Street and 11th Street; Clarion Street and Porter Street.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 150074. 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING
An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Sales," to further regulate sidewalk sales and related conduct in the Sixth Councilmanic District.
This bill has been heard on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Councilman Squilla is voting aye. 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING Councilwoman Tasco.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 150089.
An ordinance authorizing Guy Gindhart for 1700 Chestnut Street LLC, to construct, own, and maintain an exterior stairs at 1700 through 14 Chestnut Street.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that Bill No. 150121 be removed from the Calendar and recommitted to the Committee on Streets and Services. (Duly seconded.) 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that Bill No. 150121 be removed from the Calendar and recommitted to the Committee of Streets and Services. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. Bill No. 150121 will be recommitted to the Committee on Streets and Services. All right. We're going to do this again. Housekeeping. We're going to do this again. 150089, Mr. Decker, please read that title.
An ordinance authorizing Guy Gindhart for 1700 Chestnut Street LLC, to construct, own, and maintain an exterior stairs at 1700 through 14 Chestnut Street.
This 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, 150123.
An ordinance amending Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Farmers' Markets," by adding Greener Pastures, located at 1290 Southampton Road, as a permissible location.
This bill has been read on two separate days. The question is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16; the nays are zero. A majority of members present voting in the affirmative, the bill passes. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions.
A resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Council Committee on Education to hold hearings regarding expanding the number of high-quality afterschool offerings in the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, 3/12/15 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. President. I introduced this legislation today just so we can examine the level of high-quality opportunities for our young people to get involved in something as positive, specifically after-school programming. Most people recognize through statistics that crime primarily takes place between o'clock and o'clock during those after-school hours for our young people. So we want to step up as a city to figure out how can we get more of our young people on the right path. I move for the adoption of the resolution, sir. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)