COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, March 3, 2011 10:00 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN DARRELL CLARKE COUNCILMAN FRANK DiCICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JACK KELLY COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY COUNCILWOMAN JOAN L. KRAJEWSKI COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO, JR. COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO MICHAEL A. DECKER,
Good morning. I note that the hour has come and that a quorum of this Council is present. Council will come to order, please. Members will take their seats, and visitors will retire to the seats outside the rails. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes Reverend Dr. Clarence Hester, Pastor of Erie Avenue Baptist Church and Police Clergy. He is here today as the guest of Councilman Goode. I would ask all members and guests to please rise. (Members and guests rise.)
Giving honor to God, to you, Madam President, and members of the Council and to Mayor Nutter. We do thank God and Councilman Goode for this august privilege to stand before this prestigious body of servants and lift you up to an almighty God. and ever-gracious God, we come pausing in this moment to reverence your name and to lift you up in the spirit of prayer, that these deliberations may be consumed by you. We pray that your countenance may shine upon this Council and bless them with guidance. Though we are confronted with fiduciary turbulence, we ask that you bless Mayor Nutter and this Council with the wisdom and direction as they deliberate over the budget and the economic welfare of this city. May you grant unto us the provisions and resources to enhance the quality of life and afford us favor as they work to create a more viable city. We pray that you sanctify their thoughts and intentions, even their words and their actions, that all that they speak and do will abound to the honor of you and the well-being of our great city. Lord, look down on our Mayor, Council and help them to work together to face the serious facts of our times and to find the courage to meet them justly with wisdom, discipline and resourcefulness. Grant to us all an undiminishing faith in the absolute necessity of an inward life, in an efficacy of dedicated intelligence and the power of an active, even sacrificial goodwill. Even now, Lord, help them to seek guidance in all their worthy pursuits and ever-widening opportunities for continuing service to you and the people of Philadelphia. We ask that you achieve unity of purpose among this Council and grant unto us the victory of faith on the ideals of which we were committed as a city. Strengthen us with honor and grant our city peace and prosperity. Provide this body with strength and spiritual sustenance for performing with great might the task with which our common lives yet confront us the deeper currents of faith, service, courage and sacrifice be a power within us to do the things we ought and to extend the boundaries of a full and enlightened life for all. Even now, Lord, use this body as instruments of your glory to enhance the services and the quality of life for all the residents of this great city. This we pray as you bless this assembly in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Amen.)
The Chair thanks the Reverend for his invocation. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 17th, 2011. Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 17th, 2011 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, February 17th, 2011 stand approved. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the Journal is approved. The next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and, again, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Madam President. On behalf of the majority, there are no requests for leave of absence today.
The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Madam President, we all either knew or knew of Mr. Anthony Zecca. I know that you have. And I ask if this is the appropriate time for us to acknowledge his death with a moment of silence. And we all know, again, that he served for Mayor Dilworth, Rizzo and Tate, and he was a very valued employee of the City of Philadelphia. So if we could do that, it would be greatly appreciated.
The Councilman is requesting that we all have a moment of silence for Tony Zecca. Please stand for a moment of silence. (Moment of silence.)
Again, the Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo for -- are there any -
Madam President, I don't believe there's any requests for leave of absence from the republicans. Thank you.
Thank you. 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 your taking the time to join to the legislative affairs of our city. We certainly invite you to come again. We have many distinguished visitors with us today, including elected officials, heads of departments, boards and commissions, and many representatives from the Administration. Please know that we appreciate your being with us today. We want to extend a warm welcome and to offer our thanks for all of the good work that you do. We will all say thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-At-Arms deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk will please read the messages from the Mayor.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, pursuant to Sections 4-604 and 2-307 of the Home Rule Charter, I am Council the recommendation of the City Planning Commission regarding the following bills: Bill Nos. 100720, 100759, 100873, 110051, 110053, 110071, 110074, 110083, and I am also transmitting today a letter providing City Planning Commission approval of certain Master Plan amendments for Drexel University; and I am pleased to advise you that on February 25, 2011, I signed all of the bills that were passed by Council at its session on February 17, 2011; and I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the South Central Urban Renewal Area, designated as Parcel No. 311, also sometimes identified by house number and street address as 814 South Twelfth Street; and redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Cecil B. Moore Avenue Urban Renewal Area, designated as Parcel Nos. 96 and 97, also sometimes identified by respective house numbers and street addresses for Parcel No. 96 as 1704 Willington Street and for Parcel No. 97 as 1715 Willington Street; and A resolution providing for the approval by the Council of the City of Philadelphia of a Revised Five Year Financial Plan for the City of Philadelphia covering Fiscal Years 2012 through 2016, and incorporating proposed changes with respect to Fiscal Year 2011; and An ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2012 through 2017 inclusive; and An ordinance to adopt a Fiscal 2012 Capital Budget; and An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2012; and An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," by revising certain tax rates and making technical changes; and An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "School Tax Authorization," by amending Section 19-1806, entitled "Authorization of Realty Use and Occupancy Tax," to further authorize the Board of Education to impose a tax on the use or occupancy of real estate; and An ordinance amending Section 19-1801 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Authorization of Tax," to further authorize the Board of Education to impose a tax on real estate within the City of Philadelphia; and An ordinance authorizing the in Philadelphia, located at 600 South 43rd Street, to construct, own and maintain various encroachments in the form of auxiliary seating within the right-of-way adjacent to the building at 4140 Woodland Avenue; and An ordinance authorizing 217 West George Street Limited Liability Company to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 217 West George Street, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. The messages will be printed in the Journal. The Chief Clerk will please read any other communications in his possession.
Thank you. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Real Estate Taxes," to provide a credit against the tax for owners of condominiums and cooperatives and planned community units who do not receive regular City refuse, recycling and bulk item collection services.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. Today I introduce two bills and two resolutions, one resolution of which is co-sponsored by Councilman Jones, and I wish to be recognized after the title of the resolution urging the United States Senate not to pass H.R. 1, read for a motion on the resolution as well.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.
An ordinance amending Section 9-205 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Sales," by regulating vending along the south side of Market Street between 48th Street and 49th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Section 9-206 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Sidewalk Vendors in Neighborhood Business Districts," by creating the 52nd Street Business District for Sidewalk Vending.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution calling on the City Council Committee on Education to hold hearings on prayer in Philadelphia public schools.
This resolution will be referred to our Calendar for our next session.
And a resolution urging the United States Senate not to pass H.R. 1, the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, which would result in funding cuts of almost $150 million impacting Philadelphia, including a 66 percent cut in funds for the Community Development Block Grant program.
Thank you, Madam President, and we would like the Education one to be referred to committee. I hope that was in the title. Oh, she did say that? My error. All right. Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of the resolution on today's Final Passage Calendar. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration of this resolution at today's session of Council. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion passes. This resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer one resolution co-sponsored by Councilman Jones.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title.
A resolution designating March 10, 2011 as "Public Service Workers Day in Philadelphia."
This resolution will be placed on our Calendar for our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Krajewski.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Madam President, I offer six bills and one resolution on behalf of the Administration, two bills and one resolution on your behalf.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bills.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Warfield Street, the Schuylkill Expressway, Reed Street, a Railroad right-of-way, and Moore Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning," by adding a new Section prohibiting the issuance of any permit for the construction of buildings, additions or roof decks, exceeding a certain height.
This bill will also be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2012 through 2017 inclusive.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2012.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 12-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "School Tax Authorization," by amending Section 19-1806, entitled "Authorization of Realty Use and Occupancy Tax," to further authorize the Board of Education to impose a tax on the use or occupancy of real estate within the School District.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Section 19-1801 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Authorization of Tax," to further authorize the Board of Education to impose a tax on real estate within the City.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 19-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Wage and Net Profits Tax," by revising certain tax rates and making technical changes.
This bill will also be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution providing for the approval by the Council of the City of Philadelphia of a Revised Five Year Financial Plan for the City of Philadelphia covering Fiscal Years 2012 through 2016, and incorporating proposed changes with respect to Fiscal Year 2011.
The resolution be will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Thirty-Sixth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
The resolution will be placed on our Second Reading Calendar for our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. Today I offer two bills and one resolution, and the resolution needs to be referred to committee. Thank you.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.
An ordinance repealing Chapter 21-1200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Police Advisory Board," and replacing with a new Chapter 21-1200 that reconstitutes and renames the board as the "Police Advisory Commission," and, as authorized by the Charter, provides for the Commission's appointment and the manner in which the Commission and other officers, employees, and agencies shall fulfill their respective responsibilities.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment of The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the creation, appointment, powers and duties of a Police Advisory Commission.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the creation, appointment, powers and duties of a Police Advisory Commission.
The resolution will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Title 17 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Contracts and Procurement," by adding a new Chapter, entitled "Outsourcing," to require a cost-benefit analysis before any City contract may be awarded or renewed.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution recognizing and honoring Joseph Lozito, a resident of Philadelphia, for his courageous actions in helping to detain an alleged serial killer in New York City.
Yes. For the record, that is co-sponsored by Councilwoman Sanchez, and I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
This will be placed on our Second Reading Calendar for our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance amending Subsection 19-2604, Subparagraph 6 of The Philadelphia Code, under which businesses that enter into agreements to make contributions to community development corporations receive business privilege tax credits, by enacting a temporary moratorium on new contribution agreements under that subsection until Council enacts legislation modifying the terms and conditions of the tax credit.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Madam President. I offer no bills or resolutions this morning.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I have 12 bills and one resolution.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bills.
An ordinance authorizing 217 West George Street Limited Liability Company to construct, own and maintain an open-air sidewalk cafe at 217 West George Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Carpenter Street, both sides, 10th Street to 11th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Franklin Street, east side, Wolf Street to Ritner Street.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Morris Street, both sides, 12th Street to 13th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Clarion Street, west side, Ritner Street to Porter Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on 12th Street, both sides, Mifflin Street to Moore Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on McKean Street, both sides, 11th Street to 12th Street.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on McClellan Street, south side, Juniper Street to 13th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Iseminger Street, west side, Mifflin Street to McKean Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Juniper Street, west side, Porter Street to Shunk Street.
This bill will also be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Porter Street, north side, 13th Street to 12th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance establishing a parking regulation on Christian Street, both sides, 12th Street to 13th Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the South Central Urban Renewal Area, designated as Parcel No. 311 and also sometimes identified by house number and street address as 814 South Twelfth Street.
The resolution will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam President. I have no bills or resolutions.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. I have one bill, one resolution.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the bill.
An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 63 by relocating the northeasterly curbline of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, from Twentieth Street to Twenty-First Street.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Eighteenth and Forty-Seventh Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
The resolution will be placed on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The next order of business is reports from committees. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney for a report from the Committee on Rules.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Rules reports two bills out with favorable recommendations.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 110051, entitled "An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps to provide for changes to the zoning designations of located within an area bounded by Tacony Street, Dark Horse Street, the Delaware River, Frankford Creek, and Bridge Street"; and Bill No. 110053, entitled "An ordinance amending the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Milnor Street, Levick Street, the Delaware River, and Robbins Street," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Madam President, I move the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 110051 and 110053. (Duly seconded.)
It properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bills just reported from committee. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bills just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Greenlee for a report from the Committee on Law and Government.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Law and Government reports two bills and one resolution with a favorable recommendation.
The Committee on Law and Government, to which was referred Bill No. 110050, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 9-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Fair Practices,' by changing the title to 'Fair Practices Ordinance: Protections Against Unlawful Discrimination,' by replacing 'handicap' with disability as a protected status, by adding domestic or sexual violence victim status, familial status, and genetic information to the prohibited bases for discrimination; by amending the definition of discrimination, employer, life partnership, public accomodation and other terms, and by adding or deleting other definitions"; and Bill No. 110060, entitled "An ordinance providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the creation, appointment, powers and duties of an independent Jobs Commission; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election"; and Resolution No. 110063, entitled "A resolution proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the creation, appointment, powers and duties of a Jobs Commission; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills and resolution to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 110050 and 110060. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bills just reported from committee. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bills just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. Resolution No. 110063 will be placed on the Final next session of Council. The Chair now recognizes Councilman DiCicco for a report from the Committee on Streets and Services. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Streets and Services reports two bills out with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
The Committee on Streets and Services, to which was referred Bill No. 100677, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 2 of an Ordinance (Bill No. 060317), entitled 'An ordinance authorizing and directing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 275 by extending Parker Avenue from its current terminus on the northeasterly side of a 66 foot wide right-of-way for railroad purposes,' by compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein"; and Bill No. 110071, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 2 of an Ordinance, entitled 'An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 258 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Brill Street from Torresdale Avenue to Harbison Avenue,' by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman DiCicco. COUNCILMAN DiCICCO: Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit of the two bills that have just been read into the record. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bills just reported from committee. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bills just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez for a report from the Committee on Licenses and Inspections.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Licenses and Inspection reports one bill
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
The Committee on Licenses and Inspections, to which was referred Bill No. 110084, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 1, Subcode 'PM' of The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code by amending Section PM-102.0, entitled 'Licensing,' to provide for exemptions for certain vacant property uses; and by amending Section A-906 of Subcode 'A,' entitled 'Property Maintenance Code Fees,' to reduce the license fees charged to own a vacant lot, vacant building or vacant wharf; all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to allow first reading for Bill 110084. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of the bill just reported from committee. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and the bill just read will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes report from the Committee on Public Health and Human Services.
Madam President, the Committee on Public Health and Human Services reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
The Committee on Public Health and Human Services, to which was referred Bill No. 080474, entitled "An ordinance enacting a new Chapter 9-3300, entitled 'Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces,' to provide that certain employees are entitled to paid sick leave, all under certain terms and conditions," respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you. So Bill No. 080474 will be placed on our First Reading Calendar for our next session of Council. The next order of business is consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bills just reported from committee with a suspension of rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for our next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Tasco for the purpose of calling up bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar to be considered today. 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Madam President. Resolution Nos. 110121, 110122, 110123, 110124, 110125, 110126, 110127 and Bill Nos. 100860, 100871, 100872, 110004 and 110055 are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today. Bill No. 100782 is being amended. All other bills and resolutions are being held.
Thank you. Before considering these bills and resolutions, we will consider public comment as follows: Speakers will be called in the order in which their names appear on the sign-up sheet for today's session. If you did not sign up, you will have the opportunity to speak after those who did sign up have the opportunity to do so. Your public comment must concern matters on the Final Passage Calendar for possible action at today's Council session. Public comment is limited to Philadelphia residents and taxpayers. So please state your name and where you live, and if you are not a Philadelphia resident, that you are a Philadelphia taxpayer. You will have up to three minutes -- I reiterate, three minutes -to speak. I would ask the Chief Clerk to please read the name of our first speaker.
My name is Carla Fields and I'm a domestic violence victim, as well as a person of interest in the bill. It's a question that I'm getting to right now is 00 -- I mean, 110054, the acute bill that y'all have on paper. Okay. I have a concern about that bill, and my concern is, I just got out the hospital last week.
I'm sorry. I don't mean to interrupt you. What bill did you say you were commenting on?
Let me get my bearings right. 110054. That's the acute bill that y'all have on the table today.
Thank you, ma'am. Okay. I just got out the hospital like less than a week ago. I've been discriminated during this time. And this is not my first time approaching talking to Council about my situation. Okay. And I see that nothing hasn't changed in the past year, which I been watching closely, and me and (unintelligible) have been watching closely. I have been discriminated against by shelter, DV systems, everything. And my question to you and to Council, what is going to change about this bill? Okay. Because at the moment, I'm homeless. I have acute acquired centrum disease, okay, and I just feel as though that I don't see the City doing anything to change anything for people like me and myself and my sisters and brothers out here. I'd like to know, what is Council really going to do?
May I ask you to remain after the session and we will try to assist you.
There are no other names on the public comment list, Madam President.
Do we have anyone who wishes to provide public comment on today's agenda and have not signed up? We're going to have to wait a minute. There's someone, I believe, up in the balcony that would like to be recognized. Other than the gentleman that will be approaching the microphone, do we have anyone else that wants to be recognized? Excuse me. Miss, did you want to make any public comment?
Yes. My name is Doris Thomas. I am a Philadelphia resident located at 8127 Fayette Street, Philadelphia, PA.
You're going to comment on a bill that we may consider today on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar?
Yes. I am currently in a situation where I need housing. I worked for the Pennsylvania Army National Guard from 1992 through 1998. I'm a U.S. Army veteran. I've been coming across extreme difficulty with the City shelter system, in addition to the VA Medical Center with the HUD-VASH vouchers, and I would like to know, what are you doing to assist veterans who are returning from OEF, OIF operations, those of us who have -Vietnam War veterans who are experiencing homelessness? I personally served as an Operation Joint Guard/Joint Endeavor direct support personnel, and I am in a situation where I need permanent housing, and I would like to know, what is City Council doing to assist those of us who are veterans who served their country, they've come back and they found themselves in a situation where their home was in foreclosure?
I would suggest that you wait until after Council session is over and perhaps we can have someone try to assist you. Thank you.
Did the gentleman from the balcony ever come down?
Do you want to approach the microphone, please. Good morning.
Thank you. Thank you for this opportunity. It's a little difficult. I had to go to the 5th Floor and then I made my way down here.
Excuse me, sir. The noise level is much too high. Thank you.
Thank you. My name is Fred Fisher. I've been here before. I have two bills. I think they're the correct ones. One is 100200-A, satellite dishes. Is that for today? I looked at the agenda on the web.
All right. Well, I live in Washington Square West, down around 11th and Lombard, and the satellite dishes are just proliferating on the roofs there, and that's a historical area, and the drops, the wire drops, are being run down the fronts of the houses, which I'm sure is not legal. This is an underground utility area, and Comcast, when they wired the City back when -- and I was involved with that as a City employee -- it's all underground and -- that's what I want to say. Now, before I sit down -- I have three minutes. You know, I was reading the Supreme Court decision about this public comment, and it says in there, I'm quoting, matters of concern at any matter which is or may come before the Council. Now, I think that you're restricting your discussions a little bit too much, because "that may come before the Council," because I've been going to a lot of meetings in Center City and Philadelphia, South Philly, I should say, and there are things that are being talked about which are not being talked about here. For instance, the tax increase, the ten percent tax increase, or as some refer to it, the Wanamaker tax increase, only 9.9 percent, that is a big issue. The other big issue -- and I know Mr. DiCicco introduced a bill about his circumstances with DROP, and I'm wondering like when is that going to come up? This is something I've been coming to --
Mr. Fisher -- your name is Mr. Fisher, is it not? I don't know if you identified yourself.
It's Dr. Fisher. I'm a Ph.D., but I don't usually ask people to call me doctor, but I have a Ph.D. from Drexel.
Very well. I think every time you've come in here in the last several weeks, I have indicated to you that DROP is not on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. We will be having public hearings, at which time you're more than welcome to come in and testify. You're talking about the taxes. The Mayor will be introducing his budget message today. We will again be having public hearings on the tax bills. I suggest you come in at that time and certainly express your views.
I will be checking the web and looking at the agendas and looking for DROP and the tax. Thank you.
Thank you so much. Do we have anyone else who wishes to comment? (No response.)
Seeing no one -- you wish to comment? Well, you're going to have to come up to the microphone. Good morning. Please identify yourself for the record.
Good morning, Madam Chairman and all of you. My name is Alyce. I was born in 1940 here in Philly, and my father was born here in 1900, who digged the subway. It's a beautiful day in a very special, beautiful city. I ask -- I'm glad that we are recognizing the homeless who deserve homes in our city, the vacant ones, the ones for a dollar, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. With the help of good contractors, union people, those homeless can have homes that they helped build.
Excuse me, please. I'm terribly sorry. If you're going to comment on a bill that's before us today that's on our Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar, we will be happy to hear your comments. However, your comments are not relative to what we will be discussing 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING today.
Very well then. I just say rethink Philly and retool. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Is there anyone else who would like to offer public comment? (No response.)
Seeing no one, we will now consider the bills and resolutions on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Will the Chief Clerk please read Resolution No. 110121.
A resolution honoring West Philadelphia High School's Hybrid X Team for being among the top finalists in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize Contest and recognizing team member Brandon Ford for his special invitation to sit with First Lady Michelle Obama at President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address. 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 110122.
A resolution proclaiming February 2011 as "American Heart Month" and proclaiming February 4, 2011 as "Wear Red Day in the City of 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia."
Thank you, 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 it and the resolution is adopted. We will now consider Resolution No. 110123.
A resolution recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia Gay News and it's publisher Mark Segal on 35 years of ground breaking journalism 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING and civic commitment.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution No. 110124.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Seventh and Forty-Third Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING We will now consider Resolution No. 110125.
A resolution recognizing and congratulating Mrs. Hermione Clark Hill-Logan on the occasion of her 100th Birthday.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. We will now consider Resolution 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING 110126.
A resolution recognizing and congratulating the African American Museum in Philadelphia on its 35th Anniversary.
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Resolution 110127. 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Philadelphia, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Eighth, Thirty-Second and Thirty-Seventh Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 100782.
An ordinance amending Section 3 of an Ordinance (Bill No. 090840), entitled "An ordinance granting permission to ABEER, owner of the property Oak Lane Diner, 6528 North Broad Street, to legalize a one-story concrete masonry construction."
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
The amendment -- you're going to have to introduce the amendment.
The 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING amendment has been -
Yes. I move for the adoption of the amendment. (Duly seconded.)
The amendment -- anybody opposed? (No response.)
The amendment is adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 100860.
An ordinance amending Section 2 of an Ordinance (Bill No. 020252), entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING grades on a portion of City Plan No. 13-S by striking from the City Plan and vacating Lawrence Street from Wharton Street to Titan Street and Leithgow Street from Wharton Street to Titan Street," by revising the terms and conditions stated therein and extending the period for compliance therewith.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 100871.
An ordinance amending Section 2 of an Ordinance (Bill No. 040505), entitled "An ordinance authorizing the striking from City Plan Nos. 270 and 258 of Sanger Street from Tacony Street to the westerly Pierhead 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING Line of the Delaware River."
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 100872.
An ordinance amending Section 2 of an Ordinance (Bill No. 080641), entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 128 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Eighteenth Street from Cambria Street to Indiana Avenue," by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill No. 110004.
An ordinance authorizing John and Concetta Varallo, owners of Pesto Italian Restaurant, 1917 South Broad Street, to construct, own and maintain an encroachment within the right-of-way located on the east footway of Broad Street.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The final bill to be considered is Bill No. 110055. 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING
An ordinance authorizing Gerald Rothstein and Frederick Mumenthaler, owners of the property located at 1921 through 23 South Bancroft Street, to legalize an existing encroachment in the right-of-way located on the east public footway of Bancroft Street.
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The Chief Clerk will please read any additional resolutions on today's Calendar.
A resolution urging the United States Senate not to pass H.R. 1, the Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011, which would result in funding cuts of almost $150 3/3/11 - STATED - 2ND READING million impacting Philadelphia, including a 66 percent cut in funds for the Community Development Block Grant program, and to maintain funding for the impacted programs at the fiscal year 2010 funding levels, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit consideration -
Thank you, Madam President. I move for the adoption and note that Councilman Jones co-sponsored it. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Are there any other resolutions?
There are no other resolutions on the Calendar, Madam President.
Thank you. With that being said, that concludes our Calendar for today. The time has come for us to consider the Mayor's presentation of his annual budget message. The Philadelphia Home Rule the Mayor shall submit to Council, no later than 90 days before the end of the fiscal year, his Operating Budget message and Proposed Operating Budget ordinance for the ensuing fiscal year. At the same time, the Mayor shall submit to Council the Recommended Capital Program and Capital Budget as received from the City Planning Commission to the extent approved by the Mayor. I now appoint the following committee to escort the Mayor into the Council Chambers: Councilwoman Tasco, Councilman Clarke, Councilman Kelly and Councilman Rizzo. Please escort the Mayor. (Pause.)
Madam President, the Mayor has arrived. (Standing Ovation.)
Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to introduce the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, Mayor Michael A. Nutter. Mr. Mayor, welcome. (Applause.)
Madam President, thank you very, very much. It's a pleasure to be here this morning. Majority Leader Councilwoman Tasco, Majority Whip Councilman Clarke, Minority Leader O'Neill -- and I know that Councilman Kelly is standing in for him -- Minority Whip Councilman Rizzo, all members of City Council, I believe Mayor Street is over on the side. Please recognize him. (Applause.)
Distinguished guests, my fellow Philadelphians and certainly members of the City Administration. Let me begin by paying tribute to a great public servant who has served the people of the City of Philadelphia for more than half a century, our great Council President, Anna C. Verna. (Standing ovation.)
One of my proudest moments as a member of this great City Council, Madam President, was to be able to cast my vote for the first female president of City Council in the history of this great city. (Applause.)
Madam President, you have given a lifetime of service to the people of Philadelphia, the 2nd District, the entire City, and for that, we say thank you one more time. (Applause.)
I'd also like to recognize three other members of this body who will be retiring at the end of this term - Councilwoman Joan Krajewski, Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller and Councilman Jack Kelly. Let us thank these three dedicated public servants. (Standing ovation.)
We gather today at the time of great opportunity and great threat, a time of hope and a time of caution, a time when we've won hard-fought stability, but tremendous uncertainty still lies ahead. And though I am fully aware of the further challenges we face in the near future, we will not compromise our goals. We will not adjust our vision, and we will not relent for one second in our pursuit of the 21st century Philadelphia that we know we can be. On January 7th, 2008, when all of us took our oath of office, I promised the people of Philadelphia that -(Some audience members yelling.)
Just a moment. Excuse me. (Some audience members yelling.)
We will respect each other, please. We will (Some audience members yelling.)
Please have them removed. (Some audience members yelling.) (Pause.)
Thank you, Madam President. This is the City of Philadelphia, the City of freedom, liberty and democracy, and we respect everyone's right to express themselves and their issues. (Applause.)
On January 7th, 2008 when all of us took our oath of office, I promised the people of Philadelphia that we would be a safer city, a smarter city, a healthier, greener city, and that our Administration would crack down on corruption, reform truly serve the citizens of our city. I know what I was elected to do. And since day one, working in partnership with this City Council, we have remained focused on these shared goals, moving this city forward and beginning to realize our common vision for a Philadelphia to regain its prominence as not only one of the true great American cities, but as a great global city. We're a safer city today than we were three years ago, with a 22 percent drop in homicides and a 13 percent reduction in violent crime. We're a smarter city than we were three years ago, with more students graduating from high school, going on to college and realizing their full potentials. We're a greener city than we were three years ago, with now more than 200 new acres of green space, 40,000 new trees and a growing national and international reputation as the green city to watch in America. And over the last three years, we have worked hard every day to root out corruption, reform our government and give Philadelphians a City Hall of which they can all be proud. Have we been perfect? No. Have we made mistakes? Of course. Is there much more work to do? Absolutely, yes. But I am proud of the progress that we have made, and I want to thank this City Council for your continued advice and guidance throughout my time as Mayor of this great city. (Applause.)
The last three years have been some of the most turbulent times in our city's long and proud history. But despite the biggest Great Depression, a time when our city faced financial challenges unparalleled in modern times, we fought through this crisis in a way that preserved services, protected our most vulnerable citizens and invested in the future. We closed a $2.4 billion hole in our Five Year Plan. We're spending over $130 million less on operations each year. And we've reduced the size of the workforce by 1,600 positions. And yet, we didn't lay off one police officer, one firefighter, sanitation or health center worker. Not one. (Applause.)
We kept all of our recreation centers open, and last summer, with the help of generous citizens and businesses, all of our swimming pools were open, and they'll all be open in the summer of 2011 as well. (Applause.)
Now, it hasn't been easy, and many people were upset by many of the actions that we took. Well, I was one of them. There is no easy or popular way to tackle a recession. Leadership requires us, both elected and appointed officials, to do what needs to be done to fight for our city and protect our people. We did what we had to do. We did what we said we'd do. And what we did is working. City government today is smaller, spends less on daily operations and is more efficient. Our tax revenues have stabilized. They are no longer dropping like a rock. And because of the cuts that we've already made, and will continue to make, we are able to make investments in essential services without asking for any further tax increase from the businesses of this city. (Applause.)
There are no tax increases in the budget that I propose today. The temporary one percent sales tax increase will expire in FY15, as promised, and the wage and business tax cuts that we suspended will be reinstated in FY14. (Applause.)
The people of Philadelphia have given enough. And so to balance our budget, we will not ask for more revenue from our citizens or businesses. We'll continue to cut spending, an additional $14 million over the next five years on top of the more than $1 billion in cuts in the last two years. We'll find new savings by creating a task force to examine all City facilities and assets, determining where we can consolidate and which ones we no announce a comprehensive plan soon in the coming weeks for putting to productive use the vacant land and buildings owned by the City of Philadelphia. And we'll remain relentless in our pursuit of those who think that they can have a free ride on the backs of law-abiding, tax-paying Philadelphians. Cracking down on tax delinquents and chasing every dollar owed to us has generated more than $85 million in revenue over the last two years, and next year we'll increase delinquent tax collections by more than ten percent. If you owe us money, we're coming to get it. Throughout this crisis, we maintained our focus on the long-term and balanced, targeted spending cuts with temporary tax increases. We protected, not decimated, the services that so many Philadelphians rely upon. And because of took, businesses are investing again. They're beginning to create jobs, and our economy is starting to turn the corner. Starting to turn the corner. We must capitalize on the beginnings of the recovery. We must continue to invest, where we can, in our core priorities if we are to remain an attractive choice for citizens, businesses and jobs. Now, don't get me wrong, our finances still remain very tight. But our responsible and disciplined stewardship of the economy and the cuts that we made in the last two budgets mean that this year we are finally able to make essential investments. To fight crime, we are investing in a new class of 120 police officers this year to hit the streets right at the beginning of next year, and we are taking steps to put in a new class of firefighters as soon as we can. all Philadelphians have the skills and education they need to succeed in today's economy, we are investing an additional $1 million a year in the Free Library, specifically to support and promote adult literacy, a serious issue for our city that we will no longer ignore. To fix, once and for all, our broken property assessment system, we're investing $4.4 million annually. The assessment notices that will go out in the fall of 2012 will be based on the actual values of properties. We're going to fix this system. Citizens have waited long enough. It's time to finish the job. (Applause.)
To update our infrastructure, we will spend $100 million making capital improvements to police and fire stations, rec centers, IT and repaving our streets. To attract more global to Philadelphia, we will begin this year the $5 billion expansion of the Philadelphia International Airport, a project that is expected to create 45,000 jobs over the next 12 years. And to transform the Delaware River waterfront into one of the most dynamic, accessible, exciting urban waterfronts anywhere in the United States of America, we will unveil in June a new master plan that will guide development on the waterfront for the next 25 years. My fellow Philadelphians, because we preserved essential services and with these new investments, our continuing, our relentless march forward to a safer, smarter, greener Philadelphia, businesses are once again investing and creating jobs in our city. And I'm not just talking about major corporations like Teva Pharmaceuticals or GlaxoSmithKline and Urban Outfitters. Small businesses, residents, are opening and expanding in neighborhoods all across Philadelphia. Last year, we doubled the amount of money that we loaned to small businesses, and in the coming year, we will continue to streamline and expand services for local entrepreneurs, who are the lifeblood and backbone of communities across our city. Now, I'm under no illusions. I know that things are still incredibly tough for many of our citizens. Every day as I'm out across our city, I hear heart-breaking stories from Philadelphians who have lost their jobs and are struggling to take care of their families. Well, your struggle is my struggle. And so we will continue to do more to attract and grow businesses that will create jobs for all Philadelphians. And, as I said, I am committed to cutting workers and businesses in Philadelphia that's already in the plan. And working with City Council, it is my expectation that by the end of this year's budget process, we will have a revamped business privilege tax, maybe hopefully with a new name, that will help small businesses remove any disincentives to new companies coming to Philadelphia. The time for change has come. Philadelphia is open for business. We've streamlined the development process. Working with L&I is faster and easier than ever before. And this year, we will complete the rewrite of the Zoning Code, simplifying a convoluted, complex code that has not been fundamentally updated in over 50 years. And working with communities throughout the City, we have created Philadelphia 2035, our first comprehensive plan since 1960, a blueprint for the future development of We are making it faster, easier and cheaper to do business and create jobs in Philadelphia for all Philadelphians. And let me repeat something that I say whenever and wherever I speak about our economy, whether it's at the Chamber of Commerce or in the church pulpit. There can be no real recovery in this city unless minority, female and disabled businessowners and workers also have access to economic opportunity and share in the prosperity. (Applause.)
In the first quarter of FY11, we increased the percentage of City contracts going to minority-owned firms by almost 22 percent, and over the last two years, we have increased the number of firms registered with the City by 25 percent. And let me just give a quick shout-out to the newly expanded It would be the one that's on time and on budget. It opens tomorrow, a project with 30 percent minority participation that led the way on providing economic opportunity to so many throughout our city, the largest economic development project in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Continuing this kind of progress will remain a top priority of our Administration. Businesses are investing because we invested in the things that make Philadelphia a great city in which to live, work and raise a family. And there is no better investment that we can make than in our neighborhoods and in our people. We said right from the start that no matter what the recession threw at us, we would preserve core services. We would protect our most vulnerable Philadelphians. And so even though we virtually every department in our city government, we made sure that we kept those rec centers open, that we opened every library, that every young person in neighborhoods throughout our city had a pool to cool off in on those long, hot summers of Philadelphia. These are the places where community comes together, where the community lives. Believe me, I get it. I learned to swim, played basketball and baseball at Sherwood Recreation Center. And as a kid, you really couldn't drag me away from the Cobbs Creek Branch library. These places have a very special meaning to me. But as special as these buildings and facilities are to all of us, they're not what makes a community. The community is made by the people in that community. And helping people, our friends, neighbors and fellow Philadelphians lead a better life is why each and every one of us in this room service. That's certainly why I did. I care very deeply about helping our fellow Philadelphians, some who need a second chance, some who have fallen on hard times, some who need our help the most. That's why we made reentry for ex-offenders such a priority, serving over 500 men and women in the last seven months through RISE, our Office of Reintegration Services for Ex-Offenders, connecting them to jobs and training programs. That's why we have remained dedicated to becoming the first major city in America to end homelessness, helping 2,000 men, women and children move into permanent, affordable housing. That's why we're overhauling our workforce development and job training programs in our city and connecting Philadelphians to job opportunities, last summer placing 13,000 people in work through the Way to Work Philadelphia program. And that's why we started programs to improve the health of people in our neighborhoods, helping 5,000 people take the steps necessary to quit smoking and recruiting 500 stores to our Healthy Corner Store Initiative, giving out grants to help them and providing fresh fruit and vegetables to their customers. We're investing in our communities, and they're stepping up, joining us in a new partnership to move this city forward. Let me tell you about one of those communities, the Hartranft community in North Philadelphia. Over the last year, in Hartranft, we have piloted a new approach to providing neighborhood services, reducing crime and improving the quality of life in our city. Working with the community, we in their neighborhood, and together we implemented solutions.
We demolished 14 dangerous buildings, cleaned and abated 85 vacant lots, removed graffiti from 330 properties and organized four community clean-ups. We opened an indoor pool at the Hartranft Community Center, brought in the Police Athletic League and opened a new community computer lab at the Hartranft Elementary School. It was the folks in the neighborhood, working in partnership with the City and others, who made all of this happen. We trained community leaders through our new Citizen Engagement Academy to help them access existing City services. We brought in volunteers through SERVE Philadelphia to provide support for after-school programs and coordinated partners such as Temple University, the School District of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society who wanted to help and get involved. Well, what was the result of all of that work and collaboration? Well, thanks to this partnership, from February to December of 2010, crime in Hartranft dropped by 16 percent as compared to the previous year. And as community leader Diane Bridges put it, We're turning the hood back into the neighborhood. We're calling it Philly Rising, and we've expanded to three new areas to test this approach in neighborhoods with very different needs - Haddington in West Philadelphia, Frankford in Northeast Philadelphia and the Market East section of Center City to start. Work is already underway in these communities. In fact, this attending a Career Boot Camp in West Philly as a part of the Haddington collaborative, where volunteers will be providing job training, resume writing workshops and interview practice sessions for folks looking for jobs. Philly Rising is going to become the new model of neighborhood service delivery in our city, and in this budget, we'll invest over half a million dollars to take it citywide over the next year or so. Now, despite all of this work, the tough decisions that we made early on and continue to make, the sacrifice already made by our citizens, we know that there are further challenges that we will have to confront. The biggest challenge in our city's future and the biggest threat to our financial stability comes from run-away pension and healthcare costs. In just over ten years, pension from about $200 million to over $550 million a year. Our pension fund is less than 50 percent funded. And pension and healthcare costs combined account for 30 percent of the dollars in our budget. Now, I know that in the current political climate, it's tempting to chase headlines and ramp up the rhetoric. Well, quite honestly, I prefer results over rhetoric. And so let me tell you about the real historic changes that we have achieved in the last year. As a result of the latest police and fire arbitration awards, we are the only major city in the United States of America to offer new, uniformed employees a hybrid pension plan, including a defined contribution element that shares the risk between the City and our employees. If a new police officer or firefighter opts to stay in the existing plan, they will be required to pay 20 month. On healthcare costs, the FOP health plan has moved to self-insurance, adopting the model that we implemented for non-union City employees last year, and we are seeking similar reforms for our firefighters. Now, that's a good start, but it's not enough. The first thing we need to do is also end the DROP program completely. It was conceived out of good intentions, but it has not worked. We were told that it would be revenue neutral, but it has cost us at least $100 million or more. We have the numbers. We've studied, and we've studied the study. It's time for this program to go. )
Next, we need to reform the pension and healthcare costs for our non-uniformed employees. We simply cannot afford the status quo. Though over the last three avoided millions of dollars in terms of increased wages and healthcare costs, I want permanent pension and healthcare cost reforms and work rule changes. And I will work with the leaders of District Councils 33 and 47 through collective bargaining to sign new contracts as soon as possible. I have the greatest respect for our public employees. They work tremendously hard, and often under very difficult circumstances, and over the last two years especially, they've had to do more with less, as we cut spending all across our city government. But we cannot ask the citizens of this city, many of whom have lost their jobs and their pensions over the last few years, to continue to pay for outdated, unsustainable benefit packages for our public employees. We simply just can't afford it anymore. As we continue to work to reform these contracts, we must also face challenges that threaten the stability that we have achieved. The School District of Philadelphia faces a budget deficit next year of upwards of $400 million. We have remained in very close contact with the School District as they have grappled with this deficit. And I look forward to receiving their plan for balancing their budget, a plan that has the least possible impact on students and which preserves, as far as possible, the tremendous gains made over the last few years under the leadership of our Superintendent, Dr. Arlene Ackerman. Please recognize her. (Applause.)
7 trillion deficit. In Harrisburg, Governor Corbett is facing a budget deficit of at least $4 billion. And while we don't know the exact details yet, we do know that cuts will need to be made. And whether it's President Obama's budget, the proposals made by republicans in Congress or the budget that Governor Corbett will introduce to the General Assembly next week, we know that these cuts, if not made carefully and strategically, will have a devastating impact on the City of Philadelphia. At the federal level, programs that we rely upon, such as Community Development Block Grants, funding to help low-income residents pay for heating costs and money to provide internship and job-training opportunities for our young people, are all facing major reductions and threats. At the state level, two of the biggest areas of discretionary spending are education and social services. Now, we in this Chamber have had to make some very difficult decisions balanced the City budget over the last three years. We get it. And I have pledged directly to President Obama and Governor Corbett that I will work with them as they make spending reductions and reform programs so that we are not balancing the budgets on the backs of those who are least able to carry the weight. But just as we fought to preserve core services and continue to move our city forward, we now need to be ready to fight drastic, across-the-board cuts that would reverse the gains made in education, hurt the most vulnerable people in our city and negatively impact our ability to attract businesses and create jobs. And so whether it's in Washington or in Harrisburg, I'm calling on parents and students, businesses and non-profits, advocacy groups and community leaders to join me in making the case for Philadelphia, making the and reasonable funding for education and social services, making the case for not destroying and reversing the progress that we've made in recent years. I don't know exactly what President Obama and the Congress are going to do. I don't know exactly what Governor Corbett and the General Assembly are going to do. But I know what we're going to do. We're going to stand up and fight for the budget that I introduce today. This is a budget that will make us a safer city by putting more cops on the street. It's a budget that will make us a smarter city by tackling the quiet shame of 550,000 Philadelphians who don't have adequate literacy skills. It's a budget that will continue to attract investment and jobs to Philadelphia, to make it easier to build our city and to do business in our government. And it's a budget that will greener and healthier by maintaining investments in our parks, improving our rec centers and pools, and supporting essential public health programs for citizens. We're going to continue to reform this government. We're going to continue to tackle corruption, and we're going to continue to move this city forward. I won't accept anything less for Philadelphia. And I know that this Council and our citizens that we all represent won't accept anything less from me. We've been through an incredibly tough couple of years, and there are further challenges coming our way. We must confront them, and they will test us once again. But I believe that we're a stronger city than we were three years ago, and I believe that this is a time not for dejection and despondency, but for determination, strength, resilience and hope. Hope is what I talked about on that sunny Saturday afternoon in July of 2006 when I stood on a Parkside Avenue porch and announced that I was running for Mayor of Philadelphia. And on that day, did I know that during my first term as Mayor we would be confronted with a massive economic crisis? Of course not.
But what I did know was that even before the recession, our city was in trouble, and I believed that we could be a better place. I believed that we could do something about the madness of violence on our streets and become a safer city. I believed that more of our young people could stay in school and go on to college. I believed that we could transform the image of our city, bringing businesses that would create jobs for Philadelphians and attract more people to live here. And I believed that we no longer needed to tolerate the corruption that stained the reputation of our city long. I believed it because I knew we could do it, and we've made progress in all of these goals. Now, I've had to do some things that I never thought I would do if elected Mayor of Philadelphia - raise taxes, cut back on services, ask people in our neighborhoods to sacrifice. But as I look around the country at other cities that are laying off police officers and firefighters, closing facilities, implementing drastic cuts, I know now that we did what we had to do when we had to do it and we did it. I know that people are struggling, and I know it's still hard out there for far too many Philadelphians. It's my responsibility to fix that, and I take that very seriously and personally. You know, two days ago, Tuesday, we kicked off our fundraising campaign for keeping all of our pools summer, and there were about 30 kids there, kindergartners, from the Myers Recreation Center, and they were sitting at the front rows of the Mayor's Reception Room. Many of you have, of course, been there. And I was talking about how much our rec centers mean to young people. I smiled and looked at the kids. They all had matching red T-shirts on. They just looked so cute. And I started thinking about what the Sherwood Recreation Center meant to me as a kid. And there came a moment where I really had to just kind of pause. I started to become somewhat emotional, and some of you have seen that before. And later on, I was asked, Was that real? It's very real. It's very real. Our children deserve better. These are my kids. These are my rec centers. This is my city. I care very passionately about our city, and so do a lot of other people. Firefighter Michael McGuire as he laid in the hospital. He's in intensive care at HUP, seriously injured as he searched a burning building to help make sure that everyone got out. I ask you to please pray for him and his family. This was one of our public servants. This is our guy. He's our public service hero. He risked his life to save other people. Yeah, this is very real. It's real every day. And it's serving all of you, people of my hometown. It's a tremendous motivator to try to do more every day, to work harder every day, to make this city live up to its incredible potential. We can do better. Now, we still have some hard times ahead. We're going to get through it. The reason we're going to get through it is because we have that Philadelphia spirit. And I know that how we stick together in times of crisis. I know how we fight for what we believe in. But I also know that sometimes we have a tendency to look down on ourselves. We need to get used to the fact that Philadelphia is a city on the rise. The national spotlight that used to only pay attention to Philadelphia's shortcomings is now very focused on a city where more and more people want to live and work and visit. There's a reason why President Obama and Vice-President Biden and some other member of the Cabinet seems to be in Philadelphia almost every other week. There's a reason why last year we had a record 4 million hotel rooms sold. Because people want to visit our city.
And there's a reason why Cliff Lee left $28 million on the table and chose the Philadelphia Phillies over the New York Yankees. )
We're not a secret anymore. Word's getting out. Word's getting out that we're becoming a safer city, a smarter city and one of the greenest cities in America, all run by a government that you can trust. (Applause.)
Do we have much more work to do? Absolutely. But I'm as energized and focused today as I was on the day that I took the oath of office to be your Mayor. We took our hits. We did what we had to do. We're fighting our way back. We're getting things done. Philly, we're on the rise. Let's get to work. Thank you. God bless you, and God bless Philadelphia. (Standing ovation.) (Pause.)
We haven't adjourned yet. Please, we're still in session. the part of the minority? I don't think so. Are there speeches on the part of the majority? Please, as you're leaving, please do so quietly. We're still in session. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Madam President. I think we can all agree that if the Mayor does not succeed, we won't succeed. Working together to help him succeed is what we must do. We can proudly acknowledge our accomplishments, many of which are a result of choices this body made, whether keeping libraries open or proposing the least regressive revenue measures possible, acknowledging improvements in transparency. We must acknowledge improvements in reduction of crime. We should proudly acknowledge gains in school test scores and the creation of which have been announced recently. But we must acknowledge that the pace of change, the pace of improvement is so marginal and incremental; for example, we won't be at grade level until the 2150s, and we lose jobs decade after decade, 47,000 in the last decade. We are standing on a burning platform and no one is sounding the alarm. The train that is Philadelphia is going to hit the wall. Not this decade or next, but three or four or five from now. Slowing it down is not sufficient. We must reverse course or get on a different track. That means moving quickly and accelerating the pace of change. It means measuring our outputs and outcomes rather than inputs and spending. It means going paperless. It means blowing up our tax structure. It means getting students to grade level in ten years. It means rapid and rapid shutdown of what does not. We must be a nimble city. We must move aggressively this year for these things to happen by the end of the next mayoral term. These are the things that will make the Mayor successful. I want to make this city and Mayor successful. Our fates are one. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you. Are there any other speeches on the part of the majority? (No response.)
Seeing no one, the Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March 10th, 10:00 a.m., 2011. (Duly seconded.)
It seconded that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, March the 10th at 10:00 a.m. All in favor will say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. (Stated Meeting adjourned at 11:50 a.m.) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on March 3, 2011, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. MURPHY RPR-Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.)