Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Via Microsoft Teams Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, October 8, 2020 10:10 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN KENDRA BROOKS COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB COUNCILWOMAN JAMIE GAUTHIER COUNCILWOMAN KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON COUNCILMAN DEREK S. GREEN COUNCILWOMAN HELEN GYM COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN CHERELLE L. PARKER COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILMAN ISAIAH THOMAS MICHAEL A. DECKER, CHIEF CLERK Stated Meeting October 8, 2020
Good morning. We're going to get started. I understand that the state law currently requires that the following announcement be made at the beginning of every remote Council session: Due to the current public health emergency, City Council is currently meeting remotely. We are using Microsoft Teams to make this remote meeting possible. Instructions for how the public may view the meeting and offer public comment are included in the Stated Meeting notice that was published in the Daily News, Inquirer, and Legal Intelligencer prior to the meeting, and can also be found on PHLCouncil.com. I now note that the hour has come. The Clerk will please call the roll to take attendance. And, members, just please remember to say a couple of words to make sure that your photo is displayed. Mr. Decker, please proceed. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020
Good morning. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you to everyone for being here and caring about the people's business. Thank you.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Council President and colleagues and the listening public.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, everyone. Happy to be here today.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, public. Good to be here for another session of City Council.
Good morning, Council President. Good Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 morning, colleagues.
Councilman Henon is having technical difficulties. It's noted in the Chat box. We can come back to him.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Still screaming justice for Breonna Taylor.
Good morning, Mr. President. Good morning, colleagues. Good morning, viewing public.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Mr. President. Good morning, colleagues.
Buenos dias. Buenos dias to my colleagues. Thank you.
Good morning, Mr. President, and good morning, colleagues.
Good morning, Council President. Good morning, colleagues. Happy to be here this morning.
Good morning. Thank you. We've established a quorum and we will now come to order. Despite the great need, there will be no invocation today. We will, however, observe a very brief moment of silent prayer for our city, its leaders, Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 during the current public health crisis. We will now observe a brief moment of silence. (Moment of silence.)
Thank you very much. Our next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, October 1, 2020, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the approval of the Journal for Thursday, October 1st, 2020. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly approved the meeting of October 1st, 2020. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 & COMMUNICATIONS Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that Journal is approved. And our next order of business is requests for leave of absence, and the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the members of Council, there are no requests for leaves of absence today.
Thank you. The Chair thanks the Councilwoman. Our next order of business is communications. And, Mr. Decker, would you please read the messages from the Mayor and any other communications that you may have in your possession.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I respectfully request and submit for the consideration of your Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Second Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia; and A resolution approving the appointment of Ismail Shahid as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Philadelphia Housing Authority; and An ordinance amending Section 2 of an Ordinance (Bill No. 180560) approved July 10, 2018, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 250 by striking from the City Plan and vacating the legally open portion of Montour Street from Adams Avenue to Foulkrod Street," by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein; and Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 299 by striking from the City Plan Parker Avenue from a point approximately one-hundred fifty-six feet southwest of Matthias Street to its terminus southwestwardly therefrom and reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for various utility purposes within a portion of Parker Avenue being stricken and authorizing the acceptance of the grant to the City of the said right-of-way, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. And our next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. And by way of a reminder, we are asking that all resolutions, including privileged resolutions, be placed on the Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council, unless they are being referred to committee. In our Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 current remote environment, this procedure will provide an appropriate opportunity for public comment. And I just want to thank you very much in advance for your cooperation. Mr. Decker, would you please read the titles of the legislation that is being offered today by the members.
Councilwoman Parker offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No. 180560) approved July 10, 2018, entitled 'An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 250 by striking from the City Plan and vacating the legally open portion of Montour Street from Adams Avenue to Foulkrod Street,' by extending the period for compliance with the terms and conditions stated therein."
Councilwoman Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 Gilmore Richardson offers one resolution, entitled a "Resolution authorizing City Council's Committee of the Whole to hold all hearings required pursuant to Bill No. 200364-A, which established a requirement that the Council hold hearings in connection with anticipated collective bargaining agreements between the City and Police Employees in the Philadelphia Police Department represented by the Fraternal Order of Police."
Councilwoman Gym offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code to create a new Chapter 10-2500, entitled 'Less Lethal Devices,' to regulate the use of less lethal devices Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 in specific situations."
Thank you. Councilwoman, did you want to be recognized at this point?
Thank you very much, Mr. President. First of all, I would like to thank all my colleagues, especially those on the Public Safety Committee. Eight of us are submitting a bill that would require the Police Department to make permanent its current moratorium on the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and less lethal ammunitions in clearly First Amendment-related activities. Last night we had a chance with our Public Safety Committee and many others -- thank you, Councilmember Gilmore Richardson and others for joining Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 us -- to hear from residents who were impacted by the events of May and June in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others. We heard three hours of testimony of people who talked about how they took to the streets to demand justice, to talk for -- to see a better tomorrow, and they were met with a show of force that had not been deployed on such a scale in our city in decades. Militarized vehicles rolled down 52nd Street. Tear gas, pepper spray, agrichemicals filled the air. Individuals held up sizable tear gas canisters that had been shot at them. Without warning, rubber bullets and other objects tore through West Philadelphia and on I-676, forcing families to evacuate and leaving many with no place to retreat. The targeting was clear. It was indiscriminate. It was young people. It was journalists. It was observers, demonstrators, longtime residents, and Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 those calling out for assistance. Many of us had witnessed videos and maybe social media posts that documented the chaos and terror, but few of us on the ground had heard directly from the people who experienced it. Last night we had a chance to hear from many of those people, and I think that their stories were loud and clear. I want to express my gratitude to those who shared. I know they did so from a place of anger that was palpable and, let's be honest, justified. But they also did it with an urgent call for us to change. And the courageous words of ordinary Philadelphians demand more of us. The retelling and reliving of those stories was extremely hard, and I firmly want to reiterate again before our full City Council that every single person who stepped forward last night or who submitted their written testimonies and took the time to talk with us and Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 engaged with Council over the last few months did the City and their communities a profound public service. There are multiple investigations that are going on. We are not pretending to do that. City Council wanted to hold space to recognize that the voices of our residents have to guide the work that we do and that their courage calls us to task to build a better Philadelphia. So I'm proud, along with my colleagues and especially our Public Safety Chairman, Councilmember Jones, to submit this bill. I know it will go through a rigorous review, and I know that we face difficult times ahead, including the fact that in the next couple of weeks we also will continue over the next couple of weeks and months, we will continue to be tested about what our commitment to civil liberties are, what First Amendment freedoms are, and how we intend to fully uphold the Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 constitutional right to voting, to walk freely through our city, to make sure that we are safe in our communities as well. I hope that this bill will be part of that conversation. So thank you.
Councilman Jones offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 299 by striking from the City Plan Parker Avenue from a point approximately one-hundred fifty-six feet southwest of Matthias Street to its terminus southwestwardly therefrom and reserving and placing on the City Plan a right-of-way for various utility purposes within a portion of Parker Avenue being stricken and authorizing acceptance of the grant to the City of the said right-of-way." Stated Meeting October 8, 2020
Councilman Johnson offers four bills and one resolution. On behalf of Council President, Councilman Johnson offers an ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 from the General Fund, the Council to the General Fund, the Department of Planning and Development. On his own behalf, Councilman Johnson offers an ordinance amending Chapter 21-1500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Boards and Commissions - Public Deliberations," to require recording or transcription of certain meetings and provision to the public of access to such recordings and transcriptions; and An ordinance authorizing DSW1, LLC doing business as Nifty Fifty's to install, own, and maintain a proposed sidewalk cafe at 2700 South 10th Street; and Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 An ordinance authorizing Stephen Garafolo to construct, own, and maintain a proposed exterior stairway at 3000 South 15th Street.
Those four bills just read by the Chief Clerk will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Second Councilmanic District.
Councilman Green offers one resolution, entitled a "Resolution declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia." Stated Meeting October 8, 2020
Councilman Domb offers one bill, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 9 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions,' by adding a new Chapter entitled 'Residential Property Wholesalers,' to regulate the solicitation of purchases of real property and require certain disclosures by property purchasers to homeowners, and amending Chapter 9-1100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Fair Practices Ordinance: Protections Against Unlawful Discrimination,' to provide protections to homeowners from solicitation and related problems."
Absolutely. I'm sorry, Councilman. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020
Thank you, Council President. And I really want to thank Community Legal Services and the Greater Philadelphia Association of Realtors for their willingness to work together on this important issue to protect property owners in Philadelphia. I also want to thank the Administration, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, and the Law Department for their countless hours of work and their valuable input on this bill. I also appreciate the level of support I received from many of my colleagues and would like to thank those who co-sponsored this bill, Councilmembers Gilmore Richardson, Squilla, Quinones-Sanchez, Johnson, Gauthier, Parker, Thomas, Green, Brooks, and Councilman Gym. Thank you all very much. Also, I look forward in this Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 bill to helping residents across Philadelphia to better understand their rights as property owners and level the playing field by arming them with important information they need should they wish to sell to a wholesaler or avoid them altogether. Now, we've seen all these Buy Houses or Cash for Homes signs throughout the City. You see them on telephone poles and all over the City, and we've heard the horror stories from so many homeowners who undersold their homes or fought alongside someone to regain ownership of their home, after unknowingly agreeing to what they thought was a fair deal but in many cases was not. Making an offer to buy someone's home is not illegal and it's certainly not illegal to sell your home for any price or for any reason you see fit. However, we have to be sure that everyone at the table is abiding by a Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 shared set of standards and rules we all deem reasonable and responsible. Many wholesalers are currently working in the shadows, with no real oversight, and it's time now that we shed some light on their practices. So it's my hope with this legislation that we will provide more protections for homeowners who are solicited by wholesale buyers and will be able to hold them accountable to the standards we expect of our businesses. Again, I want to thank CLS, Community Legal Services, and the Greater Philadelphia Association of Realtors, GPAR, for their ongoing dedication to this effort, and it was great to see them working together. And I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to educate our residents and set these new standards for wholesalers doing business in our city. Thank you, Council President.
Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 Thank you, Councilman.
Council President, I just want to applaud my colleague Councilman Domb for this piece of legislation. Living in a gentrified neighborhood, I have seen and I continue to see the aggressive tactics of individuals coming into their neighborhood soliciting for residents to sell their homes. A lot of individuals in the neighborhood sell their homes way below, under market value, but also going even beyond that, the process has become so disrespectful, because I've had constituents reach out where they have lost loved ones and they will go down to the Register of Wills Office and will pull a person's death certificate and then they will begin to start calling and soliciting that individual to sell their Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 home. There have been text messages. Don't know where they're getting our phone numbers from, but text messages and phone numbers aggressively asking you to sell your homes, and it's primarily happening in areas that are becoming gentrified. And so I thank Allan Domb, who comes from the real estate community, for stepping up to the plate and addressing this issue. Thank you very much, Councilman Domb.
Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. And that will be referred to committee.
Councilman Thomas offers one resolution, entitled a "Resolution honoring and congratulating the Northeast High School Football team, on their successful 2019-2020 season and overall 12 to 2 record in the Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 Philadelphia Public Football League."
Councilwoman Bass offers one bill and two resolutions, entitled "An ordinance amending Chapter 19-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'City Funds - Deposits, Investments, Disbursements,' by revising the list of City depositories."
And a resolution authorizing the Committees on Education and Public Health and Human Services to hold joint hearings examining the School District of Philadelphia's preparedness for public health and environmental emergencies, and to develop best practices that can help the District adequately prepare for these emergencies.
This week's Calendar. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020
And a resolution authorizing the Committees on Public Health and Human Services and on Children and Youth to hold joint hearings examining current and best practices to ensure youth have a successful transition from foster care to thriving adulthood.
There are no other bills or resolutions being offered by the members, Mr. President.
Thank you very much, Mr. Decker. And our next order of business is reports from committees, and the Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson for a report from the Committee on Rules. (No response.)
Okay. We'll come back. We'll find out Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 going to come back to Councilman Johnson when we find out what's going on. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Bass for a report from the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
I'm ready, Council President, when you are. I apologize. I had technical difficulties.
Okay. Let's go back to Councilman Johnson. Councilman Johnson, just call on you.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Rules reports out one bill with a favorable recommendation.
To the President Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Rules, to which was referred Bill No. 200349, entitled "An ordinance amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled 'Zoning and Planning,' to amend certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled 'Overlay Zoning Districts,' by creating the '/AME, American Street Overlay District,'" respectfully reports it has considered and amended the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair again recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so to permit first reading of this Bill No. 200349. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 200349. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and this bill will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Bass for a report from the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. (No response.)
Another challenge? Councilwoman Bass? (No response.)
Okay. Someone reach out. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020
Okay. She's just saying she's having technical difficulties. Okay. We'll try and get back to her prior to the session ending. That concludes our reports from committee at this time. And our next order of business is consideration of the Calendar, and I note that the bills just reported from committee with a suspension of the rules have been deemed to have had a first reading. These bills will be placed on our Second Reading Calendar and Final Passage Calendar at our next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on our First Reading Calendar, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Parker for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up from the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendars today. They are Nos. 200519, 200522, 200523, 200525, 200528, 200529, 200530, 200532, and 200534. All other bills and resolutions are being held.
Thank you so much, Councilwoman. Before we proceed with the consideration of the public comment, I will now take a brief five- to ten-minute -- I think it's going to be more like five-minute -- recess to give our technology professionals some time to connect the speakers we have for today's meeting. (Brief pause.)
Good Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 morning. Just please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
Thank you. Good morning. My name is Karen Harvey. I'm a retired social worker. I am also a lead organizer at TURN, Director of the Philadelphia Rent Control Coalition, and a member of the Philadelphia Tenants Union. I lived at the Penn Wynn House Apartments from March 2010 until June 2017. From December 2016, when I and the other 100-plus tenants of Penn Wynn were informed of the pending mass eviction until June 2017, I applied for 40 different residences in search of a place to live. Myself and numerous other Penn Wynn tenants were erroneous filed against in Landlord-Tenant Court three times for supposed failure to pay rent. Any month for which we were unable to present rent receipts was deemed as our having failed to pay. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 Because of an inept maintenance man, who flooded my apartment when he failed to turn off the bathroom water valve before raising the toilet to repair it, many of my belongings, including the majority of my rent receipts, were destroyed in that flood. Each eviction filing became a stain on my credit report, making it impossible for me to find a decent place to live. Finally, and only thanks to a family friend's willingness to provide me with a character reference, in June 2017 her landlord agreed to rent me a house, where I continue to reside today. I live in West Philadelphia on a block known for illegal activity and gun violence. I don't feel safe in my home. On two separate occasions, young men were shot in front of my door. Just this summer, my next-door neighbor was shot when an errant bullet went through her front door, hitting her as she sat watching television. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 There's virtually no police presence on my street. There is as many abandominiums and vacant lots as there are occupied homes on my street. More than once, young men have followed me from the El stop onto my block, only turning back after a neighbor exiting her home spoke to me. Both times, the sun was still high in the sky. I am a senior, using a cane, ripe for the picking. Rarely am I outside after dark alone. Almost nightly young men lounge on my front steps smoking weed and drinking. Last week, as is their frequent custom, they left their party favors behind for me to pick up. Thinking I've gotten everything, walking down the cement steps, I stepped on an unseen plastic container and fell down the remaining steps. Because of those court filings on my record, I am unable to secure a safe place to live. The resolution Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 presented today by Councilman Thomas represents my only chance of securing safe and decent housing for the remainder of my golden years. I seek nothing more than that which each of you desire for your own parents - a safe and decent place to live. I ask each of you in good conscience is it really fair for me to be denied that right? I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak on my truth today.
You're welcome. Mr. Decker, do we have anybody else?
There are no other speakers on the public comment list, Mr. President.
Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 We will briefly go back to our reports from committee, and at this time, I would like to recognize Councilwoman Bass for a report from the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs reports out two bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you very much. Mr. Decker, please read the report.
The Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, to which was referred Bill No. 200374, entitled "An ordinance renaming and designating Chalfont Playground in Northeast Philadelphia as the 'Corporal Jimmy O'Connor Memorial Playground'"; and Bill No. 200424, entitled "An ordinance renaming and designating the Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 as the 30th and Jefferson Playground, located at the corner of 30th and Jefferson Streets, as the 'Howard McCall, Senior Playground' in the City of Philadelphia," respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Thank you very much. It's been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council -- I'm sorry. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Nos. 200374 and 200424. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bills No. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 200374 and 200424. All those in favor please say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and these bills will be placed on our First Reading Calendar today.
Mr. President, Councilmember Thomas had noted he wanted to be recognized.
Thank you, Council President. I just wanted to first thank Ms. Karen for her testimony, but I did want to offer some clarity that the bill that she testified on today has been moved to next week's Calendar. So we will be voting on that bill next week. I did not want her to think that we did Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING not hear her testimony and we did not listen to the important issue that people are facing in Philadelphia as it relates to evictions. Thank you, Council President, for allowing me to clarify.
Thank you, Councilman. Thank you so much. Let me get back on our agenda. And we will now move to our Calendar. So, Mr. Decker, will you please read the title of Resolution No. 200519.
A resolution recognizing and celebrating the reopening of the historic Philip Jaisohn Memorial House on October 10, 2020, which honors the legacy of Philadelphian Philip Jaisohn, a Korean-American pioneer for democracy, political and religious freedom, and Korean independence.
And at this time, the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Gym for a motion on the Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING resolution.
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor indicate by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
A resolution recognizing October 2020 as Manufacturing Month, and further honoring Oat Foundry for their innovation and dedication to the Manufacturing Industry in the City of Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia.
Thank you, Council President. I'd like to speak prior to making a motion on this resolution. As you well know, October is Manufacturing Month, and manufacturing and industry has always been one of my primary focuses with small businesses in our neighborhoods putting people all throughout our community to work. We live in a region that is home to more than 5,600 manufacturing firms. Over 200,000 workers are employed in the sector right here in the City of Philadelphia. COVID-19 has created so many challenges for Philadelphia area manufacturing and industry firms. In partners with Commerce, PIDC, and the business leaders, we've worked real hard to troubleshoot some of the unique Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING challenges these businesses have faced, just like a lot of businesses, transportation, childcare. But unlike other sectors of the economy, most manufacturing firms were permitted to keep working as essential businesses, but they were faced, as I had stated earlier, with some challenges in their workforce and their supply challenges and their transportation problems, but they adapted rapidly so that we can continue to make products that were critically needed nationally and internationally and right here in the City of Philadelphia with great partners. These firms did a great job, and despite the challenges, we've had some of the most major successes in the sector on the East Coast. For example, earlier this year, AgustaWestland, a helicopter manufacturer in Northeast Philadelphia, was awarded a $176 million contract to build training simulators, and we've seen significant amount of Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING industrial development. In fact, the inventory of available industrial land is at an all-time low. Warehouse distribution is the future of a lot of our manufacturing and product-moving sector. Each year for Manufacturing Month, I highlight a Philadelphia manufacturing firm that deserves extra recognition. This year I selected Oat Foundry. Oat Foundry is a specialty manufacturing firm in the Frankford Arsenal right here in my district, and they all do wonderful things in the Arsenal. They are an award-winning agency of engineers that describe what they do as designing and building electromechanical, measurable, interactive, and other cool stuff. They are from Drexel. They're local. They're pretty smart kids, and they do a fantastic job with the technology, delivering their products and specialty. And it is true, they are a very cool Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING company. I'm coordinating a tour for their facility later this month, and I welcome any member of Council who wishes to participate to join me, and if you're interested, please reach out to my office. And, again, as always, I want to thank you, Council, for recognizing that the people who live in the City of Philadelphia are also working in these manufacturing and specialty industries right here in our neighborhoods. So thank you, Council President. With that, I make a motion to approve. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200523.
A resolution honoring and congratulating Lisa Forrest on the occasion of her promotion to Battalion Chief of the Philadelphia Fire Department, and for becoming the first African American woman to earn this prestigious position in the 149-year history of the Philadelphia Fire Department.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Now I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.) Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200525.
A resolution condemning President Donald Trump for making a Supreme Court nomination during his presidential election and calling upon Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to defer consideration of the nomination until after the presidential inauguration in January.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson for a motion. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Council President. I enthusiastically move for the adoption of this resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All in favor signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
Thank you. The ayes have it and the resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200528.
Councilman O'Neill. Could I be recorded as voting Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING nay on this resolution.
Same for me, Council President. I oppose it as well. Thank you.
Okay. Let the record reflect that Councilman O'Neill and Councilman Oh voted for nay on Resolution No. 200525. Thank you. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200528.
A resolution congratulating Daniel J. Hilferty on his retirement as the President and CEO of Independence Health Group and honoring his contributions to Philadelphia during his career.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Domb. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Council President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200529.
A resolution honoring and congratulating the Neumann-Goretti boys basketball team, on their successful 2019-2020 season and overall 24 to 4 record in the Philadelphia Catholic League boys basketball championships.
The Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas.
Thank you, Council President. We're going to just try to continue to introduce different champions throughout the course of the City every week just to continue to boost morale and enthusiasm. So I enthusiastically move for the adoption of the resolution, and I congratulate all of the participants who were able to be victorious last year. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It has been moved and enthusiastically seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is enthusiastically adopted. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 200530.
A resolution authorizing the Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy to establish an advisory Task Force on Disadvantaged Communities, and further authorizing the Task Force to produce a report of findings and strategies for uplifting disadvantaged persons in Philadelphia through access to arts and culture.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Thomas.
Thank you, Council 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 say aye. Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 200532.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon situate in the First Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title to such properties pursuant to 16-405 of The Philadelphia Code.
Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. 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 200534.
A resolution recognizing and celebrating the second annual Latin American Book Fair in Stated Meeting October 8, 2020 10/8/20 - STATED - 2ND READING Philadelphia for its work in highlighting local Latin-American authors, literature, and culture.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh for a motion on the resolution.