Welcome to Thursday’s City Hall Roll Call, powered by The Committee of Seventy.
Subscribe to the Committee of Seventy's newsletter for weekly news and insights on local elections, redistricting, and efforts to improve our state and local government, all delivered directly to your inbox.
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.
A big thank you to Charles Ellison at WURD for having me on this morning’s show to discuss Council’s agenda and issues impacting the city. Charles broadcasts Council Stated meetings gavel to gavel on 96.1FM and 900AM every Thursday and is a great resource for keeping on top of Council matters.
Session Recap:
With time running out before its winter recess, Council took a major step forward in wresting more control over the development process from the Administration by advancing a measure that would require City Council approval over Mayoral appointments to the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA).
On Monday, City Council President Darrell Clarke’s ZBA reform proposal advanced out of Council’s Committee on Law and Government, which has jurisdiction over all proposed changes to the City Home Rule Charter. The bill would make three major changes to the the current Zoning Board of Adjustment whose members currently are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor. The bill increases the number of members from five (5) to seven (7), requires certain qualifications for service and would require City Council approval of any Mayoral appointees.
Director of Planning and Development, Anne Fadullon testified on behalf of the administration at the hearing. Fadullon expressed the Administration’s concern that the proposal could make it harder to find members to serve and would “significantly delay the ZBA’s work and ultimately impede development.” The Administration sought amendments to the measure to add flexibility to the appointment process so as to not delay the work of the board; however, these amendments were not adopted by the committee.
Clarke’s legislation was prompted by what he and a number of community groups see as a ZBA that is overly generous in granting variances to developers. In a letter to his colleagues sent earlier this year, Clarke wrote, “The board has flagrantly violated the law by granting zoning variances without any demonstration of hardship by the developer. Far too often, the board is condescending to the community and dismissive of legitimate issues raised by neighbors.”
While some community leaders testified in support of the bill, others involved in the development process harbor serious concerns about the proposal. One zoning attorney, who wished to remain anonymous because of pending matters before the city and Council, called the requirement that Council approve the mayoral appointees “a total overreach by the legislative branch.” Specifically, they raised concerns regarding the separation of powers between Council, which writes the zoning code laws, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment, which is authorized under the law to grant relief from the zoning code.
Clarke’s ZBA reform package will be eligible for a final vote by City Council, but because it requires a change to the Home Rule Charter would still need approval at the next election by voters. Should the measure make it on the ballot, there is an extreme likelihood that it would be passed by votres. Since the Home Rule Charter was adopted in 1951, voters have only rejected three ballot measures - two attempts to eliminate the requirement that Councilmembers resign to run for another office and one attempt by then Mayor Frank Rizzo to get past the Charter’s mayoral term limit restrictions.
Council’s last session is Thursday, December 16th. It will then stand adjourned until mid-January.
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.
📛 Boards / Commissions Appointments
Resolution reappointing Dr. Jay Feldstein, DO to the City Avenue Special Services District. (Jones)
Resolution reappointing Bernie Prazenica to the City Avenue Special Services District. (Jones)
🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition
Resolution authorizing the disposition of property by the Land Bank located in the 5th District. (Clarke)
Resolution authorizing the transfer of land to the Land Bank located in the 5th District. (Clarke)
Resolution authorizing the transfer of land located in the 5th District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. (Clarke)
Resolution authorizing the transfer of land located in the 2nd District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. (Johnson)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution authorizing the City Council Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention to hold hearings to examine the correlation between gun violence and domestic violence. (Johnson)
Resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to prohibit the use of deadly force for citizen’s arrest. (Johnson)
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 Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)
Resolution - Authorizing the City Council Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention to hold hearings to examine the correlation between gun violence and domestic violence.
Resolution - Calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to prohibit the use of deadly force for citizen’s arrest.
Resolution - Authorizing the transfer of land located in the 2nd District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)
Resolution - Reappointing Dr. Jay Feldstein, DO to the City Avenue Special Services District.
Resolution - Reappointing Bernie Prazenica to the City Avenue Special Services District.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
Resolution - Authorizing the disposition of property by the Land Bank located in the 5th District.
Resolution - Authorizing the transfer of land to the Land Bank located in the 5th District.
Resolution - Authorizing the transfer of land located in the 5th District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🏆 210959 (Clarke): Honoring and congratulating Jazmine Sullivan for winning the 2021 BET Soul Train Music Award for Best New Album, for her critically acclaimed EP, Heaux Tales.
🗺️ 210962 (Jones): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 3119 N. 35th Street located in the 4th Councilmanic District.
🗺️ 210963 (Johnson): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2224 Wilder Street and 2715 Annin Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District
🗺️ 210964 (Johnson): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1932 S. Salford Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District
🏆 210965 (Johnson): Honoring American Legion Lincoln Post 89 for its service to the veterans of South Philadelphia and the broader community, and for making history as the first American Legion Post in Philadelphia for African Americans.
🏆 210967 (Johnson): Recognizing Ryan Boyer, business manager of Laborers' District Council of Metropolitan Philadelphia & Vicinity, for making history as the first African American business manager of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council.
🗺️ 210968 (Quinones-Sanchez): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of forty-seven (47) properties located in the 7th Councilmanic District
🏆 210969 (Green): Recognizing the Community Design Collaborative on the 30th Anniversary of its founding.
🗣️ 210970-A (Domb): Calling on Mayor James F. Kenney and his Administration of the City of Philadelphia to establish and implement an Academic Expert Advisory Team in its selection and evaluation of recipients of the Anti-Violence Community Expansion Grant program and other anti-violence efforts during Fiscal Year 2022 and beyond.
🗺️ 210972 (Gauthier): Authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to certain properties located in the Third Councilmanic District.
🏆 210973 (Thomas): Honoring and congratulating Champion of the Week, the Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper, on capturing his second National League’s MVP Award and becoming the 6th Phillie to win Baseball’s most prestigious award.
🗺️ 210974 (Squilla): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of forty-three (43) properties located in the 1st Councilmanic District
🗺️ 210975 (Squilla): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of fifteen (15) properties located in the 1st Councilmanic District
🗺️ 210976 (Squilla): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of thirteen properties located in the 1st Councilmanic District
🗺️ 210977 (Squilla): Authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to certain properties located in the First Councilmanic District
⚖️ 210### (Johnson): Resolution authorizing the City Council Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention to hold hearings to examine the correlation between gun violence and domestic violence.
Bills:
💼 210670 (Parker): Amending Chapter 9-5100 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Food Delivery Services,” to modify the limitation on fees charged to food service establishments.
🚦 210672 (Henon): Amending Section 9-207 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Motor Vehicle Repairs,” to prohibit the use of City streets for the sale or storage of motor vehicles, and revising penalties.
🚓 210680 (Jones): Amending Section 21-1203 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Appointments to Citizens Police Oversight Commission,” by revising the qualifications for appointment.
🏗️ 210686 (Squilla): To amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Walnut Street, 9th Street, Locust Street, and 10th Street.
🏗️ 210744 (Henon): To amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Germania Street, Arendell Avenue, Delaware Avenue, and Linden Avenue.
🔏 210771 (Clarke): Authorizing the PRA to act as the City’s agent to include and incorporate Philadelphia Water Department-identified green stormwater infrastructure projects (the "Stormwater Infrastructure").
🏗️ 210861 (Clarke): To amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain portions of land located within an area bounded by Berks Street, Memphis Street, Wilt Street, and Tulip Street.
🏗️ 210862-A (Gilmore-Richardson): Amending Section 17-111, entitled “Energy Efficiency and Environmental Design in Construction of Buildings,” to update requirements and make technical changes.
🏗️ 210863 (Quinones-Sanchez): To amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Huntingdon Street, Howard Street, Susquehanna Avenue, American Street, Jefferson Street, and 6th Street.
🏗️ 210865 (O’Neill): Amending Section 14-514 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/FNE, Far Northeast Overlay District,” to prohibit eligibility for floor area, height, and dwelling unit bonuses and to increase minimum parking requirements.
🏗️ 210869 (Squilla): Amending Section 14-525 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/SNM, South Ninth Street Market Overlay District,” to clarify existing provisions.
💸 210901-A (Quinones-Sanchez): Authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022 from the General Fund…to the General Fund.
🔏 210924 (Clarke): Authorizing the Commissioner of Procurement and the Chief Executive Officer, Philadelphia International Airport, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a Concession Agreement with Kale Info Solutions, Inc., for the implementation and operation of an Airport Cargo Community System for the Philadelphia International Airport.
🔏 210925 (Johnson): Authorizing the Procurement Commissioner to enter into agreements to purchase electricity, natural gas and motor fuel for use by the City in City facilities and vehicles, including agreements that obligate payment for delivery of such energy supplies in future fiscal years.
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Monday, December 13th
Committee on Finance, 10:00 AM - the Committee will hear testimony on the bill 210956, an Ordinance signifying the intention of the City of Philadelphia to organize the Philadelphia Public Financial Authority.
Tuesday, December 14th
Committee on Children and Youth, 2:00 PM - the Committee will hold hearings examining out-of-school time programs and funding from the 2021 Summer targeted at improving safety and positive life outcomes for Philadelphia’s young people.
Wednesday, December 15th
Committee on Education, 9:00 AM - the committee will hold a public hearing to examine the School District’s newly proposed admission process for criteria-based middle and high schools
Joint Committees on Children and Youth & Finance, 2:00 PM - thee committees will hold a joint hearing on a plan to fund a comprehensive remediation and modernization of Philadelphia’s public school buildings.