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:
Today’s Council Calendar was a relatively light affair, with only a handful of bills and resolutions voted on. However, it was a resolution that was not called up for a vote that prompted the most public comment. Council President Darrell Clarke’s Resolution No. 210848 remains unadopted. The resolution would transfer city-owned land and authorize a redevelopment contract with Habitat for Humanity for the construction of six affordable homes in North Philadelphia.
Habitat for Humanity CEO Corinne O’Connell testified at today’s public comment stating that Habitat remained ready to build the six homes. O’Connell noted that the proposed homes fit into the City’s overall plan for the neighborhood, by providing much needed affordability in the form of infill development on the site of an empty lot used as an unofficial parking lot by some neighbors. O’Connell urged for the adoption of the resolution to allow her team to begin construction and move the waiting families into their new homes.
Also speaking in favor of the resolution were two future Habitat for Humanity homeowners. Kenajah Hammond, a current resident of the soon to be closed University City Townhomes, is a single mother of five waiting on her new home to be built. Ms. Hammond stated that she understood neighbors had concerns about parking, but noted that there was a much bigger need for homes than parking. She implored Council, “If you guys could just take the genuine expression from me that this is detrimental.” Ms. Hammond was joined by another future Habitat homeowner, Tyreekah Richardson, a single mother of two that has been in the Habitat for Humanity program since 2019. Having completed the requisite trainings and compiled the necessary savings to be a successful homeowner, Ms. Richardson told Council she needed their help in creating “a warm, safe place to call home for her family.” Council President Clarke has not publicly released a timeline for calling the resolution up for a vote.
In other noteworthy introductions, Councilmember David Oh introduced a package of bills aimed at combating the scourge of illegally parked and abandoned trucks and trailers on City streets. Councilmember Helen Gym introduced a bill that would require the City to screen foster children for benefits eligibility, assist with applications and then create a fund to hold and distribute the benefits to the child. Gym’s bill comes on the heels of an Philadelphia Inquirer report that showed the City was collecting benefits on behalf of children in the foster system and sending the money to the City’s general Fund.
Council stands adjourned until Thursday, March 24th.
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.
📜 Charter Change / Governance
Bill establishing uniform standards for flag raisings. (Oh)
🚦Streets
Bill authorizing a Streetery at 738 S. 11th St. (Hawthornes). (Johnson)
Bill authorizing a Streetery at 1631 Packer Ave. (Philadium). (Johnson)
Bill sanctioning 3rd Party Administrators as enforcers for illegal dumping violations. (Oh)
Bill regulating semi and tractor trailer parking. (Oh)
Bill adding new regulations regarding the towing of illegal semis. (Oh)
Bill establishing new fines and penalties regarding semis. (Oh)
Bill expanding the CLIP Service area. (Clarke)
🔏 Contract / Agreement Authorization
Resolution authorizing the redevelopment contract related to air rights for a pedestrian bridge on Filbert Street. (Squilla / Admin.)
Resolution authorizing redevelopment plan for properties located in the 5th Councilmanic District. (Clarke)
💸 Finance / Budget
Bill amending the Philadelphia Code related to Foster Care by limiting use of Social Security Insurance by the City and providing notice to foster children of actions taken regarding their benefits. (Gym)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution calling on Pennsylvania Attorney General, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff, Controller and Managing Directors Office to conduct a joint investigation into the city’s witness relocation program. (Jones)
Resolution authorizing Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to examine the Philadelphia Police Department's Neighborhood Services Unit and laws related to abandoned vehicles. (Gauthier).
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Labor and Civil Service to hold hearings to examine License and Inspections enforcement of building codes and worker misclassification, also known as paycheck fraud.
Councilmember Mark Squilla (D-1st)
Resolution - Authorizing the redevelopment contract related to air rights for a pedestrian bridge on Filbert Street. (Admin.)
Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)
Bill - Authorizing a Streetery at 738 S. 11th St. (Hawthornes).
Bill - Authorizing a Streetery at 1631 Packer Ave. (Philadium).
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)
Resolution - Authorizing Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to examine the Philadelphia Police Department's Neighborhood Services Unit and laws related to abandoned vehicles.
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)
Resolution - Calling on Pennsylvania Attorney General, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Sheriff, Controller and Managing Directors Office to conduct a joint investigation into the city’s witness relocation program.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
Resolution - Authorizing redevelopment plan for properties located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
Bill - Expanding the CLIP Service area.
Councilmember Cherelle Parker (D-9th)
Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Labor and Civil Service to hold hearings to examine License and Inspections enforcement of building codes and worker misclassification, also known as paycheck fraud.
Councilmember Helen Gym (D-AL)
Bill - Amending the Philadelphia Code related to Foster Care by limiting use of Social Security Insurance by the City and providing notice to foster children of actions taken regarding their benefits.
Councilmember David Oh (R-AL)
Bill - Sanctioning 3rd Party Administrators as enforcers for illegal dumping violations.
Bill - Establishing uniform standards for flag raisings.
Bill - Regulating semi and tractor trailer parking.
Bill - Adding new regulations regarding the towing of illegal semis.
Bill - Establishing new fines and penalties regarding semis.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🗺️ 220226 (Clarke): Authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to convey deeds to the Philadelphia Land Bank for properties located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
🏆 220227 (Parker): Honoring and congratulating the Independence Blue Cross Foundation on the occasion of its 10th Anniversary.
🏆 220228 (Gilmore-Richardson): Celebrating and congratulating Girl Scouts of the USA on the occasion of its 110th Anniversary and thanking Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania for its service to the girls of Philadelphia.
🏆 220229 (Jones): Honoring and celebrating the remarkable accomplishments of inspiring women leaders: Benazir Bhutto, Sarah Boone, Brigadier General Hazel Johnson-Brown, Meta L. Christy DO, Admiral Michelle Howard, Mae Jemison, Katherine Johnson, Condoleezza Rice, Linda Thomas-Greenfield and Madam C.J. Walker, in honor of Women’s History Month.
🏆 220231 (Domb): Honoring NBC10 Philadelphia’s Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz on the occasion of his upcoming retirement and recognizing his twenty-seven years with the First Alert Weather Team and his forty-two year career on television reporting the weather.
🏆 220233 (Thomas): Honoring and congratulating Women’s History Month’s Champion of the Week, Kate Scott, on becoming the second female full-time broadcaster in N.B.A. history and female play-by-play announcer in Philadelphia sports history.
⚖️ 220### (Parker): Authorizing the Committee on Labor and Civil Service to hold hearings to examine License and Inspections enforcement of building codes and worker misclassification, also known as paycheck fraud.
⚖️ 220### (Gauthier): Resolution authorizing Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to examine the Philadelphia Police Department's Neighborhood Services Unit and laws related to abandoned vehicles.
Bills:
🚦 220111 (Jones): Amending Section 9-215 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Streeteries,” to revise and add additional permitted locations.
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Monday, March 21st
Joint Committees on Public Safety, Labor and Civil Service & Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation , 9:30 AM - the committees will hold a hearing examining the current staffing landscape within the Philadelphia Police Department to identify problems and solutions to improve public safety.
💸 📆 Budget Hearing Calendar (as of 2/24/22)
Tuesday, April 5th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Five-Year Plan
Capital Program
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Mayor’s Office (including Deputy Mayors and Office of Labor)
Wednesday, April 6th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Department of Finance
Department of Revenue
Tax Bills
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Sinking Fund
Board of Pensions
City Treasurer
Public Testimony – Tax Bills
Tuesday, April 12th, 2022
Full Day (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM)
Office of Property Assessments
Board of Revision of Taxes
Wednesday, April 13th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Department of Human Services
Office of Homeless Services
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Behavioral Health
Public Health
Tuesday, April 19th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Office of Public Property
City Commissioners
Office of Procurement
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Aviation
Fleet Management
Wednesday, April 20th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Commerce
Office of Human Resources
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Chief Administrative Office
Office of Innovation & Technology
Tuesday, April 26th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Police
District Attorney’s Office
Defender’s Association
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
First Judicial District
Law Department
Sheriff
Wednesday, April 27th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Register of Wills
City Controller
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Licenses and Inspections
Water Department
Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
Mural Arts Program
Free Library
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
SEPTA
Parks & Recreation
Wednesday, May 4th, 2022
Morning (10:00 AM - 12:30 PM)
School District of Philadelphia
Community College
Afternoon (1:30 PM - 4:00 PM)
Public Testimony - School District
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