Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the first bill.
An ordinance, amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled zoning and planning, by providing for new special district controls for Girard Avenue Area, under certain terms and conditions.
The bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Chapter 19-1300 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled real estate taxes, by providing for an economic opportunity plan as a condition for the grant of certain tax abatements, under certain terms and conditions.
This bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a resolution agreeing to participate in the Avenue North Tax Increment Financing District. Stated - 4/21/05
Madam President, I move for the adoption of the resolution.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the resolution be adopted. All in favor will signify by saying aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kelly.
Yes. Madam President, I offer one resolution which is co-sponsored by Councilman O'Neill, Councilwoman Krajewski, and Councilman Mariano. And I would like the opportunity to speak upon this resolution. Stated - 4/21/05
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of the resolution.
A resolution urging the Mayor not to proceed with the closing of the North and Northeast Municipal Service Centers, properly known as the mini City Halls.
Yes. Before I move for the adoption, Madam President, I understand that there's two other co-sponsors. Councilwoman Miller and Councilman Rizzo also sponsored the resolution. I move for the adoption of the resolution.
Now. I would suggest you speak now. Stated - 4/21/05 Is there a second?
Okay. Thank you, Madam President. I just want to... First of all, I want to thank all the members who signed this resolution today, especially all of the co-sponsors. I think that's very, very important that the Mayor take this resolution very seriously. I think this is not just a nuisance or an inconvenience for some people who use these facilities. It's more than that. It's a quality of life issue. And many, many people -thousands of people -- from not only the community of North Philadelphia, but also many communities in Northeast Philadelphia, such as... I can go on: The Castor Gardens, Burholme, Rhawnhurst, Bustleton, Somerton, Fox Chase, Toresdale, Wissinoming, Mayfair, Northwood, Juniata... All those -- All of Stated - 4/21/05 those communities, many thousands of the people in those communities use this, especially the Northeast facility, which is located up in Welsh Road and Roosevelt Boulevard. There are many thousands of people. There's over... In fact, in northeast alone, they had over a hundred thousand residents that use that facility over the course of a year. There were 17,000 water and sewer interviews, 15,000 real estate interviews, 6500 license applications, 1250 wills probated, and 67,500 taxpayers making their payments. I think this is -- If the Mayor is serious about being the Mayor of neighborhoods, this is about neighborhoods. This is about a quality of life issue into those neighborhoods. And I would suggest to the Mayor that he take this very seriously. Now, I know a few weeks ago we had the Managing Director sitting over here. And Stated - 4/21/05 he mentioned that if we were serious about maybe restoring some of the things that we would like restored, for instance, the Art Museum, restoring their funding, we have to make cuts. We have to make -- We have to be fiscally responsible. Well, I think this Council is. And I think one of the things that I did into this resolution, I sent the Mayor a letter about ten days ago. And in it, I not only wanted this office kept open; I wanted it expanded. I wanted to have more services to the people. And you can do that without adding a penny of expenses to this administration. , Comcast, all of those organizations, all of those companies to contribute. And what we're talking about is not a lot of money here. We have a $3 billion budget. And what we're talking about is an overhead of $45,000. Now, if any of these organizations Stated - 4/21/05 or companies participate, I think that overhead would be eliminated. And not only that. I also recommended, and I would be acceptable, and I think most of the people in these communities would be acceptable of having a transaction fee of maybe 25 cents, 50 cents or even a dollar. That would make that almost a profit-making organization. And I think that would end up as being on the plus side, not the minus. Now, I don't know if anyone is listening to this, but a few weeks ago I also proposed some changes in the library. I've worked with very successful businessman Larry Weiss. And he's also an avid supporter of the libraries of Philadelphia. We come up with a plan to save a lot of money. And not only saving money, but we also would keep those libraries open. We would do away with those certain libraries that were going to be cut back on time. Stated - 4/21/05 And this isn't something new. Governor Rendell, then Mayor Rendell, used that in 1992. He used the same tactics that I'm proposing today for the libraries to keep them open. We were on -- We were on the verge of fiscal bankruptcy in 1992, and yet he did that. And that's all I'm doing today. If we adopt any of these changes, if we -- if we use the plans that I have put through with the library, and also with the recommendations that I have given the Mayor, about the keeping open this facility in North and Northeast Philadelphia, I think that this is going to be a plus for everybody. It's a win-win situation.
And that's all I want to do, is to make sure that we give more services to the people than what they're getting today. And one of the things that the Managing Director pointed out, that people have an option. They have an option to -they can send in their payments. Well, they can do that. But you've Stated - 4/21/05 got to remember that there are a lot... There's probably a large amount of people who are senior citizens who live on fixed income. And they want to receive that one percent discount, if they pay within a certain time. There's no guarantee if they mail it in of whether some bureaucrat is going to tell them, well, we didn't get it in time. They have nothing to prove it. That's one of the reasons why they want to have somebody to go in there and give them the receipt. Another thing that was proposed by the Managing Director is possibly using the internet. Well, using the computer is fine. And one of the things he suggested was going to the libraries to use them. Well, if they're lucky enough to find a library open, I guess they could. 9 transaction fee to be placed on anyone using that service. So, therefore, not only did they lose the one percent discount, but it's costing them another percent to use that, to Stated - 4/21/05 use that service. And finally, the only other option they have is to go into the MSB building. Well, I know in Northeast Philadelphia, I travel that. And it's 19 8 miles from my house to that facility. And there are people that live -that live probably longer distances than that. And you have to remember that there's a lot of seniors that use that facility. They would have to get on public transportation, many of them. You're talking about an hour and a half each way. You're talking about standing up there for an hour. And there's a lot of other -- other problems that they would have. If they get into a car, they're going to have to come down here and go through traffic. They're going to have to pay a $20 parking fee. There's a lot of other things. And now, what I've proposed is keeping it open, expanding the services and actually reducing the cost of this Stated - 4/21/05 administration. If we do that, I think that we can -- we can be well on our way of getting in -- getting this government to work much more efficiently than what it is. And this is one of the reasons why I proposed these plans. I am speaking loud and clear, but I don't know if anyone's listening. I really don't. Because I haven't heard one word from either the library officials. I haven't heard from the administration about the libraries. I haven't heard one word from the Mayor of the letter that I sent him ten days ago. I'm still waiting. My office is open. I am willing to work with anyone, anyone: With the Mayor or anyone he designates, to work with us to get this moving, to get these plans in operation so that we can provide that service, without adding to the cost of government. And that's all I want to say, that I hope... I really hope that the Mayor is listening, and he will take this seriously, Stated - 4/21/05 and he will do the right thing by keeping those facilities open. And I think by doing that, I think it's one of the things that -- that I think is justified. I think the people deserve it. And damn it, I think they're entitled to it. Thank you, Madam President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Madam President. Councilman Kelly has covered most of this subject, but I want to mention a couple things. One, this isn't an idea of this administration. It wasn't part of NTI. It wasn't an initiative of any of the Managing Directors under the current Mayor. This office, this mini City Hall was created by Mayor Goode I think back in 1986. So it's really been institutionalized. It was 20 years of success, to the point where Stated - 4/21/05 not only are a hundred thousand people a year using it, 65,000 just to pay water bills and real estate taxes, but we're collecting over a hundred million dollars a year at that site. For a cost of $47,000, half of which, without anybody else getting involved, P.G.W. or any of the other entities mentioned, just if the Water Department paid half... It's a separate fund. They're getting a pretty good deal on this. They've never been asked -- They've stated that on the record: They've never been asked to contribute to this mini City Hall. So, it is a good deal for the City. It was a smart idea. It's been tested. Any other ideas about computers and libraries or rec centers should be another layer of service, not a substitute for something this successful. And let's look at who primarily uses this site: Seniors. And seniors are in and of themselves a profit center for this City. Stated - 4/21/05 They pay their taxes. They don't commit crime. They don't cause trash on the streets. They're people that don't cost the City a whole lot of money. All they're asking for is not to get something additional, but just to keep something that has been so valuable to them. Councilman Kelly mentioned getting the receipt for the one percent. There's also the idea of having a receipt when you pay your water bill. Seniors have traditionally wanted, many of them, to pay a person. It's the tradition that they've always had, paying in person, oftentimes paying with a check or cash. Many don't have a credit card, let alone the internet, to do the other kind of transaction in a -- in a library. So, this is something very basic. And for $47,000, if you don't bring P.G.W. in which would be a great service, since they cut out two Northeast offices a few years ago, you're still talking about half of that. Same amount of employees. Instead of working Stated - 4/21/05 out of the MSB building, where these residents of the far Northeast are not going to go, for many, many reasons. They would be actually performing a service that they've been doing, been doing very well. And this administration has made a decision. It wasn't their idea to begin with, so they see no need to keep it up. I would hope that collectively we could keep this office open. And I know for one, if it doesn't stay open, it will be the number one Northeast issue in the next Mayoral election. Thank you.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller.
Thank you, Madam President. I agree with most of the comments made by Councilman Kelly and Councilman O'Neill. The North Philadelphia site serves Stated - 4/21/05 people throughout North Philadelphia and the Northwest. And in fact, I've even heard people from West Philadelphia say that they'll travel to North Philadelphia. It's easier than to go to Center City and incur the parking expenses, et cetera. I believe that the $100,000 a year the City spends on these two sites combined is money well spent. The North Philadelphia location has more than 500 visitors per day paying their bills there. Those visitors also hope to keep the economy of that commercial strip there on 22nd Street and the surrounding area alive and well. So, closing the center not only, you know, makes it inconvenient for those individuals that want to pay the bills, but it also will have a devastating impact on the success of that very vibrant commercial strip. I strongly support keeping both centers open. I think that this is a good Stated - 4/21/05 way to service our citizens and our residents. And I again just want to say that I think spending a hundred thousand dollars a year is not a bad investment, when the return of that is more than millions. So, I just wanted to, you know, echo my strong support for maintaining the mini City Halls. Thank you.
You're welcome. It has been moved and seconded that Councilman Kelly's resolution be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it, and the resolution is adopted. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo. Stated - 4/21/05
Thank you, Madam President. No bills or resolutions today.
Thank you. The next order of business is reports from committees. And the Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a report from the Committee of the Whole.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee of the Whole reports out three bills with a favorable recommendation.
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 of the Whole to which was referred Bill Number 050004 entitled, an ordinance amending Section 19-1801 of The Philadelphia Code entitled authorization of tax, to further authorize Stated - 4/21/05 the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia to impose a tax on real estate within the City of Philadelphia. And Bill Number 050005, entitled, an ordinance amending Chapter 19-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled, school tax authorization by amending Section 19-1804 entitled, authorization of net income tax. And Bill Number 050006 entitled, an ordinance amending Chapter 19-1800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled school tax authorization, respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. Bill Numbers 050004, 050005 and 050006 will be placed on our first reading calendar for our next session of Council. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for a report from the Committee on Finance.
Thank you, Madam President. Stated - 4/21/05 The Committee on Finance reports out one bill with a favorable recommendation.
To the Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill Number 041079 entitled, an ordinance amending various provisions of The Philadelphia Code, by increasing the maximum penalties for violations of various provisions of The Philadelphia Code, and making related technical changes, all under certain terms and conditions, respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bill to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Number 041079. Stated - 4/21/05 UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL PERSON: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Number 041079. All in favor will say aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it, and the bill just read will be placed on today's first reading calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano for a report from the Committee on Appropriations.
Thank you, Madam President. The Committee on Appropriations reports five bills with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you The Chief Clerk will please read the report. Stated - 4/21/05
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Appropriations to which was referred Bill Number 050009, entitled, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance, provisions for other grants of the Mayor's Office of Information Services, the Department of Licenses and Inspections, the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia, the District Attorney, and the Register of Wills, and the City Commissioners. And Bill Number 050010, entitled, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005 from the General Fund certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, and from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance. And Bill Number 050011 entitled, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005 from the Stated - 4/21/05 Grants Revenue Fund to the Special Gasoline Tax fund. And Bill Number 050012 entitled, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005, within the Water Fund, to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. And Bill Number 050231, entitled, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund to the Department of Public Property respectfully reports it has considered the same and returns the attached bills to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
Madam Chair, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading today of Bill Number 050009, 050010, 050011, 050012 and 050231.
A motion Stated - 4/21/05 was made. Is there a second?
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill Numbers 050009... Councilman.
I didn't know what the bill was. It seems to deal with a wide range of redistributions.
Councilman Mariano, would you like to respond to Councilman Cohen?
No, I would not like to respond. I mean, there are bills. We had a committee hearing yesterday. They are transfer appropriation, Councilman, for different committees. It was an open committee hearing. The notes of testimonies were here, and we held one bill at the request of the sponsor. There were a lot of Class 200 transfers and a few other things. Stated - 4/21/05 If we can get into specifics, I couldn't get into specifics without my notes, and I don't have those in front of me right now.
There were five bills in the report. I was wondering how much money was totally involved, and what the purpose is. Is it a redistribution? Is the Mayor requesting -- Did he request Council permission to change the budgetary allocation on these amounts?
Madam President, in all due fairness to my colleague, the time to ask that question was yesterday, when the people were here that could answer the questions. Committee chairs came in and asked for these specific requests. I mean, actually, I'm just the vice chairman of the committee, but I ran the committee hearing. It was a quick, swift committee hearing. And there wasn't a question from anybody here yesterday or any other Council people. Stated - 4/21/05
Councilman, these are, as I understand it, mid year transfers.
We do this just about every year. If you would like to see copies of the bills, we'll be more than happy to get them for you, and we'll continue on with some of the other business that we have.
No. That's all right. I was just requesting whether they were the usual transfers at the end of an appropriation year or whether it was something unusual about the requests.
Councilman, we're really not taking a vote today. This is simply to report the bills out of committee with a suspension of the rules, so that you would certainly have a week to review the bills and question and decide whether you want to vote for or against.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilman Clarke.
Madam President, I actually inadvertently hit my button, but since I have the mike... (Laughter.)
I might as well say to Councilman Cohen that the notes of testimony and the bills actually had the specific dollar amount for every particular department. So, I think that we probably still have the notes of testimony that speak of every department and every transfer. And it talks about the specific amount. I think the largest amount, as it relates to transfer, was with the First Judicial System. That was nine hundred... I think it was actually $9 million was the largest. $9 million, Councilman? And I think the lowest was like Stated - 4/21/05 114,000. So, it was a wide range of numbers, as it relates to transfers.
Thank you. Councilman Mariano, you made a motion to suspend the rules.
And I don't recall whether... Was there a second? UNIDENTIFIED COUNCIL PERSON: Second.
It has been moved and properly seconded that the rules of Council be suspended to as to permit first reading this day of Bill Numbers 050009, 050010, 050011, 050012 and 050231. All in favor will say aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it, and the bills just read will be placed on today's first reading calendar. The next order of business is Stated - 4/21/05 consideration of the calendar. The Chief Clerk will please read the bills on the first reading calendar.
Bill Number 041079, an ordinance amending various provisions of The Philadelphia Code, by increasing the maximum penalties for violations of various provisions of The Philadelphia Code, and making related technical changes, all under certain terms and conditions.
And Bill Number 050009, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance, to the Mayor's Office of Information Services, the Department of License and Inspections, the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia, the District Attorney, the Register of Wills, and the City Commissioners.
And Bill Number 050010, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005 from the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, to the General Fund certain or all City offices, departments, board and commissions.
And Bill Number 050011, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005 from the Grants Revenue Fund to the Special Gasoline Tax Fund, the Department of Streets.
And Bill Number 050012, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005 within the Water Fund, to certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
And Bill Number Stated - 4/21/05 050231, an ordinance authorizing transfers and appropriation for fiscal year 2005 within the Grants Revenue Fund from the Director of Finance, provision for other grants to the Department of Public Property.
The Chair agrees. That completes the first reading calendar for today. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell for the purpose of calling up bills on the second reading and final passage calendar to be called up for consideration today.
Thank you, Madam President. Today Bill Number 050132-A is being called up, as is Bill Number 040995. Bill Number 050058 is to be amended. Again called up for second reading and final passage is Bill Number 041044, 041070, 050069, 050070, 050108, 050131 and 134, 135. 050140, 141, 142 and 142. Finally, 050163, 167, 050200 and 050205. All of those are Stated - 4/21/05 being called up for second reading and final passage. All other bills are being held.
The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill Number 050132-A.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property on behalf of the City of Philadelphia to acquire by condemnation a certain underground easement through 3111 West Allegheny Avenue, for sewer and drainage purposes, under certain terms and conditions.
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. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16. The nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, the bill passes. The next bill to be considered is Bill Number 040995.
An ordinance authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development a deed located in an area generally bounded by Casper, Carbon, Ontario and Tioga Streets.
This bill having been read on two different days, the Stated - 4/21/05 question is, shall the bill pass finally. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll. The Chief Clerk will please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16. The nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. The next bill to be called for consideration is Bill Number 050058.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia zoning maps by changing Stated - 4/21/05 zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Delaware River, lands belonging to the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Terminal Avenue, to the Baltimore and Ohio, Pennsylvania Railroad and the Schuylkill River, this land also being known as the Philadelphia Naval Base.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Madam President. This bill is to be amended. All of the amendments have been circulated well in advance.
Yes. We move that Bill Number 050058, as amended... We move that the amendments be adopted.
It has been moved and seconded that the amendments which have been circulated be adopted. All in favor will indicate by saying aye. (Chorus of "ayes.")
The ayes have it, and the amendments are adopted. The Chief Clerk will please read the title of Bill Number 041044.
An ordinance authorizing a revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan Number 299, by striking from the City Plan Domino Lane, from Henry Avenue to Hagner 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. The Chief Clerk will please call the Stated - 4/21/05 roll.
Aye. The ayes are 16. The nays are zero. A majority of all members having voted in the affirmative, this bill passes. The next bill to be called for consideration is Bill Number 041070.