City Hall Roll Call: January 19th, 2022
City Hall Roll Call: January 19th, 2022
Council looks to expand access to life partnership coverage
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:
City Council returned to its regular business today, marking the official end to its winter recess. On its first day back, members introduced a variety of routine bills and resolutions, with a few noteworthy pieces of legislation.
Councilmember Jim Harrity (D-AL) introduced a bill that would remove gendered language from the city’s Life Partnership ordinance, thereby expanding coverage of the ordinance. City Council first enacted a Life Partnership ordinance in the late 1990s to establish certain protections and rights for same-sex partnerships, prior to federal recognition of same-sex marriage in 2012.
Harrity’s legislation opens Life Partnernship registration to all couples by eliminating the requirement that the partnership be between two individuals of the same gender. Harrity notes that this brings Philadelphia’s Life Partnership ordinance in line with other cities. Under the law, life partnerships do not automatically provide the same rights to a couple in marriage, but allow certain rights and protections such as hospital visitation rights and insurance coverage. Councilman Harrity noted that “it is essential that this status be afforded to all Philadelphians to show their commitment to the individuals they love and obtain important rights and privileges while not being traditionally married.”
Councilmember Brian O’Neill (R-10th) introduced a resolution “authorizing requests to the Law Department to represent City Council in an appeal from decisions of the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) to the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment or the License and Inspection Review Board.” The resolution reasons that because decisions of L&I can directly impact the legislative policy of City Council, “City Council wishes to be able to participate in appeals from L&I decisions, whether to appeal from L&I decisions contrary to the legislative policy of City Council, or to support the decisions of L&I that are consistent with the legislative policy of City Council.” Should the Law Department decline to represent Council in the appeal, Council would then be authorized to hire outside legal counsel to pursue the appeal. The resolution will be eligible for a vote at the next Council session.
Council stands adjourned until Thursday, January 26th.
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 Philadelphia Zoning Code to provide clarifications regarding certain definitions. (Clarke)
Bill amending Section 14-513 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/TOD, Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District” and amending Section 14-533 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/MIN, Mixed Income Neighborhoods Overlay District,” to expand the applicable areas of each district in the vicinity of Market Street between 54th Street and 63rd Street. (Gauthier)
✊ Civil Rights
Bill - Amending Section 9-1102 through 1123 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Verification of Life Partnerships” by removing gendered language relating to same-sex and same-gender couples, expanding access to this Life Partnerships regardless of gender.
🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 2nd Councilmanic District.
📜 Charter Change
Bill proposing an amendment to the Home Rule Charter to provide civil service exemptions for members of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones)
Resolution proposing an amendment to the Home Rule Charter to provide civil service exemptions for members of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones)
🚦Streets
Bill establishing a no truck parking regulation in the 4th Councilmanic District. (Jones)
Bill establishing a no truck parking regulation in the 4th Councilmanic District. (Jones)
Bill amending Chapter 11-200 of The Philadelphia Code, to impose additional conditions on permittees and contractors to repair openings on public streets, under certain terms and conditions. (Harrity)
Bill providing with respect to monetary penalties for on-street parking of semitrailers and truck tractors. (O’Neill)
🔏 Contract / Agreement Authorization
Resolution authorizing requests to the Law Department to represent City Council in an appeal from decisions of the Department of Licenses and Inspections to the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment or the License and Inspection Review Board and, if the Law Department declines to render such services to City Council, authorizing the retention of outside counsel to provide such services. (O’Neill)
📛 Board / Commission Appointments
Resolution reappointing James Aros, Jr., to the position of Chief Assessment Officer of the Office of Property Assessment. (Clarke)
Resolution approving the reappointment of Wendell Anthony Ewing to the Philadelphia Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board. (Clarke)
Resolution appointing Albert Littlepage to the Philadelphia Land Bank Board. (Johnson)
💸 Finance / Budget
Bill allowing At-Large Councilmembers to bring recreational assistance activities and programs to the Philadelphia Activities Fund Board of Directors for funding consideration. (Oh)
Bill authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023 from the Grants Revenue Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions. (O’Neill)
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 Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 2nd Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Appointing Albert Littlepage to the Philadelphia Land Bank Board.
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)
Bill - Amending Section 14-513 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/TOD, Transit-Oriented Development Overlay District” and amending Section 14-533 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/MIN, Mixed Income Neighborhoods Overlay District,” to expand the applicable areas of each district in the vicinity of Market Street between 54th Street and 63rd Street.
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)
Bill - Establishing a no truck parking regulation in the 4th Councilmanic District.
Bill - Establishing a no truck parking regulation in the 4th Councilmanic District.
Bill - Proposing an amendment to the Home Rule Charter to provide civil service exemptions for members of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission.
Resolution - Proposing an amendment to the Home Rule Charter to provide civil service exemptions for members of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
Bill - Amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Zoning and Planning,” by defining and clarifying certain definitions, all under certain terms and conditions.
Resolution - Reappointing James Aros, Jr., to the position of Chief Assessment Officer of the Office of Property Assessment.
Resolution - Approving the reappointment of Wendell Anthony Ewing to the Philadelphia Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board.
Councilmember Brian O’Neill (R-10th)
Bill - Providing with respect to monetary penalties for on-street parking of semitrailers and truck tractors.
Bill - Authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023 from the Grants Revenue Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
Resolution - Authorizing requests to the Law Department to represent City Council in an appeal from decisions of the Department of Licenses and Inspections to the Philadelphia Zoning Board of Adjustment or the License and Inspection Review Board and, if the Law Department declines to render such services to City Council, authorizing the retention of outside counsel to provide such services.
Councilmember Jim Harrity (D-AL)
Bill - Amending Section 9-1102 through 1123 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Verification of Life Partnerships” by removing gendered language relating to same-sex and same-gender couples, expanding access to this Life Partnerships regardless of gender.
Bill - Amending Chapter 11-200 of The Philadelphia Code, to impose additional conditions on permittees and contractors to repair openings on public streets, under certain terms and conditions.
Councilmember David Oh (R-AL)
Bill - Allowing At-Large Councilmembers to bring recreational assistance activities and programs to the Philadelphia Activities Fund Board of Directors for funding consideration.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🗺️ 221029 (Gauthier): Authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to 1-49 Rudy Robinson Way, located in the Third Councilmanic District, pursuant to the requirements of the Commonwealth Land Bank Act.
🗺️ 221032 (Gauthier): Authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Land Bank deeds conveying title to various properties located in the Third Councilmanic District including on the following streets: Cambridge street, Fairmount avenue and Pallas street, pursuant to the requirements of the Commonwealth Land Bank Act.
🔏 221042 (Oh): Adopting the Philadelphia Music Industry Task Force Report and Recommendations issued by Council’s Global Opportunities and Creative/Innovative Economy.
🏆 230012 (Thomas): Honoring and congratulating Champion of the Week, the Girard Academic Music Program Competitive Spirit squad for becoming the first ever Philadelphia Public League Grand Champions of the Competitive Spirit Championship.
🏆 230015 (Clarke): Honoring and congratulating Cadet 2nd Lt. Kaheem Bailey-Taylor for receiving the Medal of Heroism, the U.S. Army’s highest honor for JTROC students, for his bravery in the face of gun violence.
🏆 230017 (Jones): Honoring Philadelphia’s new generation of Living Legends: Isaac “Ikey Raw” Gardner, Ernest Owens, Chad Fain, Matt Cain, Tom “Tom Flies” Manning, Colin Chambers, and Damona “Mona” Love, for their roles as podcast influencers, as part of the commemoration of Black History Month.
🏆 230020 (Johnson): Honoring WURD Radio on the occasion of their 20th Anniversary and recognizes the station's role as the voice of the African American Community.
🏆 230022 (Oh): Commending and honoring Oliver St. Clair Franklin, CBE and Honorary Consul for his appointment as Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II.
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Monday, January 23rd
Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities, 10:00 AM - Council will hold public hearings examining to examine the approach and expected impacts of SEPTA’s Bus Revolution service reconfiguration.