A resolution agreeing to participate in the "Headquarter Hotel Tax Increment Financing District," if it should be created by the Council of the City of Philadelphia in accordance with the Tax Increment Financing Act of July 11, 1990, 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING as amended, in the Center City Redevelopment Area, in an area generally bounded by South Penn Square on the north, Broad Street on the east, 15th Street on the west, and Chestnut Street on the south.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones for a motion.
I'm sorry. Hold on. Councilman Jones, hold on one second, please.
After the motion, okay. Councilman, please proceed with 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING the motion.
I make a motion that we approve the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and seconded. Before we take the vote, the Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today we've heard from hotel owners and union members against this TIF project, and I'm thankful for the extra week so that we could hear some other perspectives, and if this resolution moves forward, we will have a hearing in the Finance Committee next week on this matter where we will hear additional people against this. Let me explain my potential opposition to this TIF project in simple terms. What this TIF project means is simple: They don't have to pay their taxes so they can pay their mortgage. Everyone else has to pay both, but they 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING get to just pay their mortgage and not all their taxes. Here's a $33 million tax break based on assumptions in your project plan, and the plan states that even those assumptions may change, could change, will change. But here's a $33 million tax break anyway. I'll be voting no today and maybe next week as well. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. President. This resolution today does not create a TIF. This resolution today is required so that we can have the hearing in the Finance Committee that Councilman Goode just mentioned. And so in order for us to go ahead with that hearing, we have to agree that we would participate in a TIF and we have to 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING appoint the people who would make it happen, and that would be the Mayor's Office and PAID, and this resolution will have to be delivered to the Committee so that we can have the hearing on the substance of whether or not a TIF can be created. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Yes. Thank you, Mr. President. I will concur that my vote today for this resolution is only to allow us to have the hearing to discuss all the details and parameters of the possibility of doing a TIF. It does not mean that I'm voting for the TIF.
Yes. Yes, Councilwoman. That may be my vote also. Councilman Goode.
Thank you, 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Mr. President. Although we are not necessarily discussing the substance of the matter today, it is a state process which I find curious, particularly for those of us who have already reviewed the project plan. The project plan reads, The project design has not been finalized and figures presented here are based on estimates. The total amount of line items may vary as the project designs are refined and are not intended as limitations. The initial project costs and/or size of the project may decrease as long as increases are privately funded. If the initial project cost and the size of the project decreases by more than 15 percent prior to the settlement of the financing, such decreases shall result in a pro rata reduction of the developer's TIF notes. What's clear about this, which is the substance of the plan that will be discussed, is that we actually have a project presented to us that says that 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING it's based upon assumptions, that says that those assumptions may change, says that the project has to be off by as much as 15 percent before we get any money back. That's just wrong, and that's why I'm voting no starting today.
I apologize, Mr. President. I have to leave the Chamber, but I would like to be recorded aye on -- voting aye on this resolution and all other bills and resolutions.
Councilman Henon. 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
Council President, coincidentally, I too must be leaving the Chambers on Council business and want to be recorded as voting aye on all bills and resolutions.
Thank you, Councilman. As Council President, I don't get to leave. Thank you, Councilman. There is a motion, and it has been seconded. All in favor of Resolution 130736? (Aye.)
All right. Do that again, because I wasn't quite clear. All in favor say aye. (Aye.)
Those opposed? (Nay.) 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
It sounds like the ayes have it. The ayes have it. 130736 is approved. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 130777.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Seventh Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING (Aye.)
The ayes have it. 130777 has been approved. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 130779.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Ninth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 130779 is approved. Mr. Decker, 130783.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Seventh, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Thirty-Seventh Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. 130783 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 130788.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Thirty-Fourth Ward of the 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. 130788 is adopted. And, Mr. Decker, 130789.
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Mantua Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2553 South Fairhill Street. 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it and Resolution 130789 is adopted. There are no bills scheduled for final passage today. Mr. Decker, do you have any additional resolutions.
A resolution honoring, recognizing and commending Avenue of the Arts on its 20th Anniversary, for its contributions to the region's economy through its efforts to 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING attract people and investment to the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Johnson.
Also for the record, that bill is also co-sponsored by Councilman Mark Squilla. Mr. President, I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution recognizing and honoring The Life of Roberto Clemente and his Family on the 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING occasion of the publishing of Clemente: The True Legacy of an Undying Hero, introduced by Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Quinones-Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it, and that resolution is adopted.
And a resolution authorizing Council's Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative 10/31/13 - STATED - 2ND READING Economy and Council's Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities to hold hearings to investigate the current status of taxi cabs in the City and the impact of modernizing and increasing the number of taxi cabs as it relates to the continued efforts of making Philadelphia a globally competitive, world-class destination city, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. All those in favor? (Aye.)
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you very much. That concludes our Calendar, and at this time, are there any speeches on the part of the minority? The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
Thank you very much, Mr. President. Before I begin my comment, I'd just like to recognize that Jun Wong Hu has just walked in. I'd like to recognize him, because he's bringing with him today a trade delegation from China. They just happened to stop by our Council Chambers.
Please stand up so you can be recognized. (Applause.)
Thank you very much, Council President. I'd like to just recognize our City Council for all the hard work that we did over the summer and especially Council President working with the Mayor, ultimately in the culmination of what was a very good thing for our city, and there is a little bit of confusion about it, but what it is is that we have had buildings in our school system that were unoccupied and vacant which were costly to the School District and a burden upon it as it tried to deal with less than enough funds to educate children. And the School District, which we do not control, wanted to sell those buildings, but was unable. But thankfully through the coordinated work of mostly the District Councilmembers here and your office and ultimately the Mayor, as of yesterday those buildings are up for sale with very promising results. addressed, there's still the issue, as Councilwoman Blackwell has articulated before, with not only funding our education system but also ensuring that everyone gets a high-quality education. In that light, I'd like to just announce that our committees, the Committee on Education chaired by Councilwoman Blackwell and my Committee on Global Opportunities and Creative/Innovative Economy, will have a second hearing on November the 19th at 1 o'clock here in the Chambers, our second hearing on creating a world-class education featuring Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, who is a Professor from Stanford, who is respected by both democrats and republicans, but she was the head of President Obama's Education Policy group as well as leading that team and being on this transition team as well. So I certainly would invite anyone interested in further examination the U.S. for public education to come and hear that testimony. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Reynolds Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to take a moment to salute you, your leadership in securing the $50 million for the School District of Philadelphia. It is also appropriate that we salute the Mayor for signing the bill yesterday and transferring those needed dollars to the School District. And I salute my Council colleagues, who played a critical role in advancing a plan that is what I call a win-win-win, taking action to repurpose buildings, fulfilling Dr. Hite's request from Council for $50 million, and doing so in a way that did not raise taxes. A special shout-out to Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, Chair of the Education Committee, whose district is home to the most vacant school buildings. She demonstrated considerable leadership working overtime with you, President Clarke, and others to help make that plan a reality. The bad news is that yesterday was a short-term fix. We need to put a comma and not a period at yesterday's action. Let the record reflect that while we may sometimes differ on how to get there, the Mayor, Dr. Hite, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, and City Council are on the same team when it comes to the end game, a long-term, responsible, sustainable funding formula for the School District of Philadelphia. I believe parents, students, teachers, and faculties of the School District would agree that the last few summers have been a nightmare, with question marks hanging over every aspect of our system of public education. I would like to offer a friendly reminder that one year from today, we will be on the eve of finding out is our public school system funding nightmare over or should we prepare for another four years of a Governor and an administration determined to strangle the School District of Philadelphia and other school systems across the Commonwealth. This Tuesday, November 5th is Election Day. We all fully remember that famous statement, It doesn't matter who you vote for, but that we vote. Philadelphians are famous for turning out huge numbers for presidential elections. In 2008, 715,000 Philadelphians turned out to vote in the presidential election. Six hundred thousand of those votes were for President Barack Obama. In 2012, 685,000 Philadelphians turned out for the presidential election. Of that number, 588,000 were for President Barack Obama. But when it came time to vote for Governor in 2010, only 423,000 folks showed up at the polls. Three hundred and fifty thousand of those went to Governor Corbett. In 2008, ultimately 200-plus thousand Philadelphians did not vote. Over a quarter of a million people stayed home. Forty thousand of those who voted in 2008 thought their vote would not make a difference. And so the moral of the story is, we get what we vote for, and we get what -- and we get -- when we don't vote, we get nothing. That is the metaphor for the financial support we have seen for our students coming from Tom Corbett, nothing. So viewers and listeners, put Tuesday, November 5th on your calendar. Show up to vote. Take neighbors who need a ride. Speak to members of your remind them that every election matters, and then let's get ready and prepared to change the occupant of the Governor's Office come May 2014. Let's prepare to elect a governor who will honor the duty to adequately fund Philadelphia's public schools. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. Yesterday I attended, at least for a while, the Labor and Civil Service Committee hearing dealing with another conflict between the Administration and firefighters, and I want to recognize and commend Councilman Kenney for his work and passion on that issue. And it got me to thinking -- and I've been around here, like a lot of us have been, for a long time, either as a a Councilmember, and I think unfortunately on this issue, I can safely say I never remember such a continuing conflict for such a long period of time between management and labor. And I'm not going to comment either on the issue yesterday or the various other issues. That can be a discussion for another day. And I understand in any of these kind of things, people have a difference of opinion, and that's the way these things work. But when I see such discord as seems to be here, not just in City government but anywhere, I think management -- and I guess this is showing my pro labor leanings. I do think management has a responsibility to calm the waters, to lower the tone, to try to do everything they can do to try to -(Applause.)
-- to try to resolve this situation. It doesn't mean anybody is to blame or anybody is blameless, but I think management does carry that responsibility. And in this case, I just don't mean the Fire Commissioner. I mean everyone involved in the chain of command, including the Mayor. It's clear in talking to firefighters I know and in hearings both yesterday and before, the morale in the Fire Department is not where it should be. And, again, without laying blame, I will say to the Administration, I have seen instances where it's true that because you can say something, you don't have to say it or because you can do something, you don't have to do it. Sometimes thinking about something, taking a breath, considering the implications, the long-range implications, can make a significant impact. So, again, without getting into specifics on that, I just respectfully urge all parties, all parties to just breath, to think about things, sit down, lower the rhetoric, and try to do what you can do to improve this situation. It's not only good for the firefighters and their families, it's not only good for City government, but ultimately it's good for all the citizens of Philadelphia, which I think in the end is really what this all should be about. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes -(Applause.)
Thank you, Mr. President. I too, like my colleagues, rise to salute your leadership, along with working with the Mayor, on taking a commonsense approach to dealing with what is a temporary solution but a real needed solution for the school crisis in the City of will be put out for bid will provide needed services. And people testify we don't know yet what the line items will be appropriated to, but a nurse in a school is better than not having any at all. Libraries opening back up is better than them being closed. And indeed providing NTAs in schools and other needed counseling in schools is better than none at all. I want to also say to you that the 30-plus schools that are now going on on the other side of the ledgers could have been nightmares in our community. During the process when talking and communicating with you, one of the schools in my district caught fire. Beeber Annex caught fire, and it could have been a catastrophe in the City. And for me, for my constituents, schools like Beeber Annex and schools like Whittier in North Philly have a better purpose. When Brooks was redone in my district, there 40-plus units that were developed for senior citizens. Now, no, they're not the high end triple A-rated schools that have higher value, but to the people, the seniors that live in those facilities, they're triple A enough. So I'm glad we are not Washington, DC where we can't find compromise, and I applaud you for finding it, seeking it, and gaining it for the kids and the seniors in the City of Philadelphia. So I salute you, Mr. President.
As said before -- many before me, I couldn't have done it without you. It's very simple. Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to commend you and all the members of District decisions, as has been said today. I concur with all the statements today about that 50 million, and also agree with Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown about the 45 million. So this has been an important week for education. Also, today I'm reminding everyone that at 1 o'clock, we have a briefing in the Caucus Room with regard to Philadelphia Graduate, Campus Philly, and Dr. Shorr will be in attendance and certainly Ms. Mattleman. We want to talk about PhillyGoes2College and what we can do for our youngsters. Let me also note that this is Halloween. We'll have some Halloween treats, a little lunch, pizza, for folks who come, and we hope that you and your staff will be present to get some information for your neighborhoods about PhillyGoes2College. That's 1 o'clock, Caucus Room. Thank you.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too concur with the statements that were already mentioned today on your leadership, also in working in partnership with Councilmembers, to provide the funding necessary to support our public schools, and even beyond the 50 million, the additional 11 million. So it's a total of 61 million potentially that could be going to the School District. So I just want to thank you for your resolve and your patience on the issue. On another note, today I introduced a camera bill which provides a thousand-dollar tax credit against the business income and receipts tax bill for a business owner who installs and operates a video surveillance camera. The camera must be pointed toward the with the Philadelphia Police Department SafeCam program. This will serve as a critical tool in addressing the issue of crime and violence, specifically homicides, armed robberies, burglaries, and most recently the spike in children's kidnappings. And so as we focus on the issue of public safety, I know part of your platform is addressing the issue of public safety through using surveillance cameras, as well as my colleague Councilman Curtis Jones and also Councilwoman Cindy Bass. And so hopefully this can go toward -- the numbers were coming down as relates to the issue of crime and violence, but I know every time I, for some reason, turn on the television, I see some nonsense revolving around homicides taking place specifically in my 2nd Councilmanic District and all throughout the City of Philadelphia, and for some reason, I'm rising of children abductions or attempted abductions. And hopefully the cameras will go to that, similarly how they did up at Bryant School, the information could be used to addressing the issue of crime and violence as a good tool for our law enforcement agencies. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. Timely introduction of the bill. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I too want to weigh in on what Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown and Councilwoman Blackwell and others have mentioned around education, and Councilwoman Brown's point that it's a comma is very important. And while this Council continues to do everything it can and will continue to do so, I am reminded of the work that is going on the Pennsylvania Law Center, there have been over 800 complaints filed at 70 to 90 different schools in the City of Philadelphia because children's rights are being violated every single day. It is very important as we move this 45 million and the 61 million that we not forget that we have to have a discussion, a public discussion, about how the money gets allocated. There's clearly some things that we all agree on. Nurses, absolute necessity. And I think that we all agree that the counseling situation at the schools is dire. My son took his PSATs. He is at Central where additional private money has been allocated so that Masterman and Central libraries could be open. This is creating a further divide. He cannot be in a school and be a lucky one. There are schools all throughout the City who and adequate counselors. And this teaching situation with split grades is also unacceptable. So we have to continue the discussion. We got to continue about the priorities. I hope that the state follows its constitutional obligation and it reviews these 800 complaints. We have frustrated families in the City of Philadelphia. The state needs to review those complaints. It needs to act swiftly, and it needs to do more. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilwoman. That concludes our speeches. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.
Mr. President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, November 14th, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It properly seconded that the Council stand adjourned until Thursday, November 14th, 2013, 10:00 a.m. All those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Council is adjourned. Thank you all very much. ) 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, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A adjourn 112:19 agreeing 77:20 Anniversary 105:6 abductions 110:3 adjourned 112:22 agreement 24:22 31:23 90:24 appropriations 110:3 113:3,11,13 26:18 62:24 announce 96:8 22:18 23:2,9,19 ability 75:5 ADJOURNME...