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.
Special Announcement: A new way to stay informed
I’m thrilled to announce a new partnership with WURD Radio and Reality Check with Charles Ellison. Tune in on Tuesday mornings at 10:25 a.m. to hear “City Council Calendar with Lauren Vidas” to get a preview of the issues and legislation that Council will tackle at its Thursday meeting.
Programming Note: City Council Calendar with Lauren Vidas will be heard on Wednesday, February 16th instead of Tuesday, February 15th. The segment will resume its regular Tuesday schedule on February 22nd.
Reality Check with Charles Ellison airs every Monday through Thursday (when City Council is not in session) from 10am-1pm . Each day features important thought leadership, analysis and data on the politics, policies and people impacting our communities here and abroad. Veteran political strategist and Philly native, Ellison presents the issues rippling through the nation’s capitals, state houses, city halls and neighborhoods. If you need a #RealityCheck, tune in!
Session Recap:
Councilmember Allan Domb renewed his push for the creation of term limits for City Councilmembers at today’s session with the introduction of a Charter Change package. The bill and resolution would restrict City Councilmembers from serving no more than four terms with the clock starting January 2024.
“The reasons behind this charter change are simple: term limits allow for fresh ideas and increase diversity in City Council candidates – creating a more engaging democratic process for voters and candidates,” said Councilmember Domb. “Term limits encourage officials to make bold policy decisions and to hold leaders accountable.” While the bill has six cosponsors, as a Charter change, it would need the support of at least 12 members to pass Council before it could head to voters for approval.
City Council gave the final go-ahead to an amended redistricting map, which was introduced at the first Council session in January. While the map makes no major changes to Council boundaries, it came under scrutiny for the lack of public process in its creation and the failure to address the issue of prison gerrymandering, through which individuals are counted where they are incarcerated rather than their non-incarceral home. As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, “[Council President Darrell] Clarke said…that lawmakers could revisit that issue by taking the unusual step of revising the map between the redistricting cycles triggered by the decennial census.” The new maps will be in effect for the 2023 election cycle.
Council stands adjourned until Thursday, February 17th at 10:00 a.m.
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 adding additional requirements for the demolition of buildings previously used for religious purposes. (Jones)
Bill modifying licensing requirements for fire suppression system installation workers. (Quiñones-Sánchez)
🚦Streets
Bill adding additional streeteries locations. (Jones)
Bill authorizing a sidewalk encroachment at 1801 East Passyunk Avenue. (Squilla)
Bill authorizing an existing bulk window. (Squilla)
🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 7th Councilmanic District. (Quiñones-Sánchez)
Resolution authorizing land transfer to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority of land located in the 3rd Councilmanic District. (Gauthier)
Resolution authorizing land transfer to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority of land located in the 3rd Councilmanic District. (Gauthier)
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 3rd Councilmanic District. (Gauthier)
💼 Business / Commerce
Bill extending the Manayunk Special Services District. (Jones)
Bill authorizing plan for the Manayunk Special Services District. (Jones)
Bill authorizing the continuance of the Mount Airy Business Improvement District. (Bass)
Resolution authorizing the continuance of the Mount Airy Business Improvement District. (Bass)
📜 Charter Change
Bill amending the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for term limits (four terms) for Councilmembers. (Domb)
Resolution submitting an amendment to the Home Rule Charter to to provide for term limits (four terms) for Councilmembers. (Domb)
💸 Finance / Budget
Bill appropriations transfer ordinance. (Clarke / Administration)
Bill amending the PGW Capital Budget. (Green)
📛 Board / Commission Appointment
Resolution confirming Sophia Lee to Philadelphia Energy authority. (Clarke)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution encouraging the Board of Education to adopt a civic participation and voter registration program. (Green)
Resolution authorizing Committee on Streets to hold hearings on beets, brine and salt usage on the city’s roadways. (Thomas)
Resolution authorizing the Commerce Committee to hold hearings on the effectiveness of procurement efforts to purchase locally. (Thomas)
Resolution urging policy makers to ensure sickle-cell disease patients have access to treatment regardless of their insurance status. (Bass)
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 - Authorizing a sidewalk encroachment at 1801 East Passyunk Avenue.
Bill - Authorizing an existing bulk window.
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)
Resolution - Authorizing land transfer to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority of land located in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Authorizing land transfer to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority of land located in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)
Bill - Adding additional requirements for the demolition of buildings previously used for religious purposes.
Bill - Adding additional streeteries locations.
Bill - Extending the Manayunk Special Services District.
Bill - Authorizing plan for the Manayunk Special Services District.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
Resolution - Confirming Sophia Lee to Philadelphia Energy authority.
Bill - Appropriations transfer ordinance. (Administration)
Councilmember Maria Quiñones-Sánchez (D-7th)
Bill - Modifying licensing requirements for fire suppression system installation workers.
Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 7th Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Cindy Bass (D-8th)
Bill - Authorizing the continuance of the Mount Airy Business Improvement District.
Resolution - Authorizing the continuance of the Mount Airy Business Improvement District.
Resolution - Urging policy makers to ensure sickle-cell disease patients have access to treatment regardless of their insurance status.
Councilmember Allan Domb (D-AL)
Bill - Amending the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for term limits (four terms) for Councilmembers.
Resolution - Submitting an amendment to the Home Rule Charter to to provide for term limits (four terms) for Councilmembers.
Councilmember Derek Green (D-AL)
Bill - Amending the PGW Capital Budget.
Resolution - Encouraging the Board of Education to adopt a civic participation and voter registration program.
Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (D-AL)
Resolution - Authorizing Committee on Streets to hold hearings on beets, brine and salt usage on the city’s roadways.
Resolution - Authorizing the Commerce Committee to hold hearings on the effectiveness of procurement efforts to purchase locally.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🗣️ 220012 (Parker): Calling on Secretary Xavier Becerra and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to reconsider the implementation of a rule instituted by the prior administration that could upend our nation's system of organ procurement, particularly in communities of color, and to include the vast, specific needs of the organ transplant system in analyzing and improving the metrics and outcomes of organ procurement organizations.
🏆 220084 (Jones): Honoring and congratulating Pennsylvania athletes Summer Britcher, Andrew Heo, and Brian O’Neill, and wishing them well as they compete with Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
🏆 220085 (Jones): Designating the week of January 30, 2022, to February 5, 2022, as “Catholic Schools Week” in the City of Philadelphia, and further honoring and recognizing Catholic education throughout the City, and all Catholic Schools in the 4th Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia.
🏆 220086 (Johnson): Recognizing Chad Dion Lassiter for being named Pennsylvania’s 2021 Social Worker of the Year.
🗺️ 220087 (Johnson): Authorizing the transfer of land located in the Second Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Land Bank.
🗺️ 220088 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 7th Councilmanic District.
🏆 220089 (Brooks): Honoring the labor and power of “Black Rosie” Ruth “Ruthie” Wilson, whose critical industrial work at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, along with six hundred thousand other Black Rosies, helped win World War II and whose labors and wages served as the launching pad of the Black middle class.
🏆 220090 (Gauthier): Honoring and celebrating the life and monumental legacy of community and religious leader Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid of Masjid Mujahideen, who passed away on January 29, 2022.
🏆 220092 (Thomas): Honoring and congratulating Champion of the Week, Beech Community Services, on their development of the Philadelphia Black Biz directory and community engagement in North Philadelphia during the 4th annual Black Business Crawl.
🏆 220093 (Squilla): Honoring and recognizing Edward “Ed” McBride, PECO External Affairs Manager on the occasion of his passing.
🗣️ 220095 (Bass): Calling on the City of Philadelphia to explore ways to assist residents in maintaining the infrastructure of their property.
🗣️ 220096 (Oh): Declaring “Philadelphia Stands with Ukraine” and urging the White House and the United States Congress to fully support Ukraine amid hostile acts and military build-up along its border from Russia.
🏆 220### (Parker): Recognizing February 14, 2022 as Maternal Healthcare Provider Appreciation Day.
⚖️ 220### (Thomas): Authorizing Committee on Streets to hold hearings on beets, brine and salt usage on the city’s roadways.
⚖️ 220### (Thomas): Authorizing the Commerce Committee to hold hearings on the effectiveness of procurement efforts to purchase locally.
Bills:
⚖️ 220003 (Clarke): Amending Chapter 20-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Councilmanic Districts,” by revising the boundaries of the Councilmanic Districts
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Monday, February 14th
Committee on Public Health and Human Services, 1:00 PM - Council will hold a public hearing related to the abatement of rats and other vermin (210902), the provision of additional Covid-19 leave time (220051) and to examine the City of Philadelphia’s compliance with the Pennsylvania Firefighter Cancer Presumption Act. (210046).
Tuesday, February 15th
Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless, 10:00 AM - Council will hold a hearing to explore the crisis of expiring affordable housing subsidies and the impact of those expirations on the availability of affordable housing units in the City of Philadelphia. (211029)
Committee on Law and Government, 1:00 PM - Council will hear a number of proposed changes to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, including the removal of gender-based references throughout the Charter and the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, the creation of a Fair Housing Commission (220077) and also take testimony regarding the feasibility of offering election materials in additional languages, exploring ballot randomization, and enabling safer and more secure elections to adequately prepare for and participate in local, state, and federal elections (210657).
Wednesday, February 16th
Committee on Finance, 9:00 AM - Council will consider a number of matters including (1) requiring employers to provide notification to workers regarding the availability of certain additional federal and City tax benefit programs and extending the Department of Revenue’s notification and reporting requirements to such additional tax benefit program, (2) authorizing the Bond Committee to issue and sell one or more series or subseries of tax-exempt or taxable water and wastewater revenue bonds and revenue refunding bonds and (3) authorizing the execution, delivery and performance by the Philadelphia Facilities Management Corporation on behalf of the Philadelphia Gas Works of a Renewal of Service Agreement for Gas Storage and Transportation.
Tuesday, March 1st
Committee on Rules, 10:00 AM - Council will consider six bills amending zoning maps throughout the city and one bill authorizing land transfer to the Philadelphia Housing Authority.