Welcome to Thursday’s City Hall Roll Call, powered by The Committee of Seventy.
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Welcome to City Hall Roll Call, a summary of City Council’s weekly Stated Meeting. Reminder, the information provided below is not an official or complete record. City Council’s official legislative database can be accessed through Legistar.
For a full play-by-play of the Council session, including speeches and public comment, be sure to follow me on Twitter. Also, don’t forget to tune in on Tuesday mornings at 10:25 a.m. to WURD Radio and Reality Check’s “City Council Calendar with Lauren Vidas.” Show host Charles Ellison and I preview the issues and break down the legislation that Council will tackle at its Thursday meeting.
Session Recap:
Council’s time and energy appears strongly focused on the budget process, with today’s Stated Meeting another routine affair with very little in the way of controversy or major legislative introductions.
As protests rage across the nation in response to the leaked Supreme Court majority opinion which would overturn Roe v. Wade, City Councilmember Helen Gym (D-AL) introduced a resolution authorizing hearings on the potential impact of such a decision. Gym’s resolution, authorizes
the Committees on Children and Youth and Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings concerning the imminent threat to the longstanding constitutional right to an abortion, to examine the profound and devastating local impact that the potential repeal of Roe vs. Wade would have on individual lives and society as a whole, and to explore what Philadelphia can do to ensure and increase access to abortion in the face of this threat.
In a speech on the floor of Council on the importance of protecting the constitutional right to privacy and choice, Gym stated, “This work now comes home to us. To local governments, to state level legislatures…this [leaked] memo is an opportunity for the next six weeks for all of us to take this seriously.”
Critical Budget Hearing Scheduled for Monday
Outside of chambers, Council is closely tracking the yet to be publicly released property tax reassessments. As reported by the Inquirer, “In the first citywide reassessment in three years, the value of the average residential property in Philadelphia increased a staggering 31%, Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration announced Tuesday.”
Philadelphia is not subject to a “windfall provision,” which would require reassessments to be revenue neutral through a lowering of the millage rate. The Mayor has instead proposed using the new revenue to pay for reductions in the wage tax. However, Council, which must approve the City budget by June 30th, has expressed concern about this proposal and whether such action will provide impacted homeowners enough relief.
In a public statement, Council President Clarke and the City Council AVI Monitoring Group identified other options that Council is considering to ease the blow of the assessment increase. “The AVI Monitoring Group of City Council will explore every available option to mitigate these substantial increases in property assessments. Those options include the Homestead Exemption, as well as the Long-Term Owner Occupant (LOOP) program, property tax deferments, phase-ins of any increases, and working to maximize enrollment in monthly installment payment plans and the senior freeze program.”
The budget hearing on property assessments, originally scheduled for last month, was pushed back until Monday. Representatives from the Office of Property Assessment will testify before the Committee of the Whole in the morning, with public testimony on the reassessments scheduled for the afternoon.
Bills and Resolutions Introduced Today (By Subject Matter)
Due to the volume, ceremonial resolutions introduced by Councilmembers that honor or memorialize individuals or organizations will not be listed below, but can be found on Legistar.
🏗️ Construction / Zoning
Bill amending the Building and Construction Code regarding the allowable extension of permits. (Squilla)
🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition
Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer land located in the 2nd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. (Johnson)
Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer land located in the 2nd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. (Johnson)
Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer land located in the 2nd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. (Johnson)
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 2nd Councilmanic District. (Johnson)
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 2nd Councilmanic District. (Johnson)
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 2nd Councilmanic District. (Johnson)
Resolution authorizing the transfer of land to the Land Bank located in the 5th Councilmanic District. (Clarke)
Resolution authorizing the transfer of land to the Land Bank located in the 5th Councilmanic District. (Clarke)
🚦Streets / Sanitation
Bill creating parking regulations for various streets located within the 2nd Councilmanic District. (Johnson)
Bill amending the Philadelphia Code to further define short dumping and revising fines and penalties. (Parker)
Bill creating parking regulations for streets in the 9th Councilmanic District. (Parker)
Bill creating parking regulations for streets in the 9th Councilmanic District. (Parker)
Bill creating parking regulations for streets in the 9th Councilmanic District. (Parker)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution authorizing the Committees on Children and Youth and Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings concerning the imminent threat to the longstanding constitutional right to an abortion, to examine the profound and devastating local impact that the potential repeal of Roe vs. Wade would have on individual lives and society as a whole, and to explore what Philadelphia can do to ensure and increase access to abortion in the face of this threat. (Gym)
Resolution authorizing the Special Committee on Child Separations in Philadelphia to hold hearings on the committee’s final report and recommendations. (Oh)
Bills and Resolutions Introduced Today (By Member)
Due to the volume, ceremonial resolutions introduced by Councilmembers that honor or memorialize individuals or organizations will not be listed below, but can be found on Legistar.
Councilmember Mark Squilla (D-1st)
Bill - Amending the Building and Construction Code regarding the allowable extension of permits.
Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)
Bill - Creating parking regulations for various streets located within the 2nd Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer land located in the 2nd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
Resolution - Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer land located in the 2nd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
Resolution - Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer land located in the 2nd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 2nd Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 2nd Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 2nd Councilmanic District.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
Resolution - Authorizing the transfer of land to the Land Bank located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Authorizing the transfer of land to the Land Bank located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Cherelle Parker (D-9th)
Bill - Amending the Philadelphia Code to further define short dumping and revising fines and penalties.
Bill - Creating parking regulations for streets in the 9th Councilmanic District.
Bill - Creating parking regulations for streets in the 9th Councilmanic District.
Bill - Creating parking regulations for streets in the 9th Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Helen Gym (D-AL)
Resolution - Authorizing the Committees on Children and Youth and Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings concerning the imminent threat to the longstanding constitutional right to an abortion, to examine the profound and devastating local impact that the potential repeal of Roe vs. Wade would have on individual lives and society as a whole, and to explore what Philadelphia can do to ensure and increase access to abortion in the face of this threat.
Councilmember David Oh (R-AL)
Resolution - Authorizing the Special Committee on Child Separations in Philadelphia to hold hearings on the committee’s final report and recommendations.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🏆 220367 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Recognizing and honoring the Philadelphia Children’s Alliance and the Philadelphia Department of Human Services for their collaborative commitment to bring healing and justice to victims of child sexual abuse in Philadelphia and declaring April 2022 to be Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia.
🗺️ 220370 (Gauthier): Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 1834, 1837, 1840, 1846, 1848 S. Allison Street in the Third 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 Section 16-405 of The Philadelphia Code.
🔏 220371 (Squilla): Initiating action to continue the Port Richmond Industrial Development Enterprise Neighborhood Improvement District beyond its termination date…; approving a preliminary plan for and report concerning the District; and authorizing and directing the Committee on Rules and the Clerk of Council to take all actions that are required by the Community and Economic Improvement Act prior to enactment of an ordinance that would formally continue the District.
🏆 220373 (Oh): Declaring May 2022 to be Hepatitis Awareness Month in Philadelphia to recognize and support the joint efforts of “Hep B United Philadelphia” and “Hepatitis C Allies of Philadelphia” coalitions aimed at raising awareness of the link between viral hepatitis and liver cancer and the importance of elimination activities.
🏆 220374 (Oh): Recognizing Black Enterprise for hosting its 11th Annual Black Entrepreneurs Summit - the nation’s largest annual gathering of Black business owners, entrepreneurs, and wealth creators - in Philadelphia.
⚖️ 220### (Gym): Authorizing the Committees on Children and Youth and Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings concerning the imminent threat to the longstanding constitutional right to an abortion, to examine the profound and devastating local impact that the potential repeal of Roe vs. Wade would have on individual lives and society as a whole, and to explore what Philadelphia can do to ensure and increase access to abortion in the face of this threat.
⚖️ 220### (Oh): Authorizing the Special Committee on Child Separations in Philadelphia to hold hearings on the committee’s final report and recommendations.
Bills:
🏗️ 210933 (Squilla): Amending the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Snyder Avenue, Weccacoe Avenue, Wolf Street and Swanson Street.
🔏 220112 (Jones): Adopting an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Manayunk Special Services District of Philadelphia to extend the term of that Authority.
🔏 220113 (Jones): Approving a new plan, estimated costs and proposed method of assessment of the Manayunk Special Services District for and concerning business improvements and administrative services to the Manayunk business district of the City of Philadelphia.
🏗️ 220224 (Gauthier): Approving amendments to the Drexel University Master Plan in the area bounded by 34th Street, Cherry Street, 33rd Street, and Powelton Avenue, related to the Kelly Hall building at 203 N 34th Street.
💸 220291 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022 from the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, the Grants Revenue Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, and the Aviation Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, and the Aviation Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
🏗️ 220298 (O'Neill): Approving amendments to the Jefferson Torresdale Hospital Master Plan related to a new Proton Therapy Center building at 10800 Knights Road.
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Thursday, May 5th
Committee on Public Safety, 2:00 PM - the committee will hear testimony on two matters related to illegal dumping and streets conditions. The first, Bill No. 210802, would amend Section 12-1120 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Abandoned Vehicles,” to authorize Public Safety Officers to authorize the removal of abandoned vehicles. Council will also examine enforcement practices, preventative measures, and potential solutions necessary to address the widespread illegal dumping taking place in the City of Philadelphia (Res. No. 220232).
Friday, May 6th
Special Committee on Child Separation In Philadelphia, 10:00 AM - the committee will hold a public hearing to further understand the role of community umbrella agencies (CUA), such as Turning Points for Children, in the local child welfare system, and further investigate the systemic failures that resulted in three girls being returned to their sexually abusive father.
Friday, May 13th
Committee on Public Safety, 10:00 AM - the committee will hear testimony exploring the role of the Philadelphia Police Department Neighborhood Services Unit as a part of the City’s comprehensive response to the widespread prevalence of abandoned vehicles in the City of Philadelphia, and to examine enforcement practices, preventative measures and potential solutions necessary to address this problem (Res. 220254) and on the use of technology to solve shootings in the neighborhoods surrounding the 57 blocks where 10 or more people have been shot since 2015.
Friday, May 20th
Committee on Rules, 10:00 AM - the committee will hear testimony on Bill No. 220007, an Ordinance amending Chapter 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code entitled, “Overlay Zoning Districts,” by amending a section as proposed to be added by Bill No. 210778, entitled the “/AHP, Affordable Housing Preservation Overlay District” to add certain areas, within the area bounded by Haverford Avenue, 38th Street, Walnut Street and 46th Street, to the district and making other changes.
💸 📆 Budget Hearing Calendar (as of 4/5/22)
Monday, May 9th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 3:00 PM)
Office of Property Assessment
Board of Revision of Taxes
Afternoon (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM)
Public Testimony ‒ Tax Bills
Tuesday, May 10th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Managing Director’s Office
Mayor’s Office of Children & Families
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Planning and Development
Wednesday, May 11th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Streets Department
Fire Department
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Prisons
Tuesday, May 24th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Department Callbacks
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Public Testimony
Wednesday, May 25th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Department Callbacks
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Department Callbacks