City Hall Roll Call: June 8th, 2023
City Hall Roll Call: June 8th, 2023
Council Okays Budget - Adopts Larger Tax Cuts
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Now that the primary is over, it's time to put the divisiveness of the election behind us and focus on what really matters - laughing at ourselves and making the City of Philadelphia an even better place to call home.
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Join us on Wednesday, June 21st at the Pen & Pencil where the funniest, worst and dumbest tweets get read out loud. We'll probably give out some awards too.
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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.
Session Recap:
After taking last Thursday off because of the Memorial Day Weekend holiday, Council returned to session today in an attempt to reach a budget deal with the Mayor. The City’s annual budget takes the form of a number of pieces of legislation typically referred to as “the budget package.” In order to be formally adopted, the budget package must receive a favorable recommendation by Council’s Committee of the Whole before making its way to a final vote at a Stated Meeting.
Council’s plan to pass the budget out of committee prior to its 10 AM Stated Meeting was thwarted by last minute negotiations. Instead, Council ping-ponged back and forth between Committee of the Whole and its Stated Meeting throughout the day before wrapping up its business in the late afternoon.
With a budget surplus and no controversial tax increases on the table, what was the hold up? According to a number of Councilmembers, negotiations regarding individual funding requests for various projects and Council initiatives were the heart of the last mile of marathon negotiations.
When the dust settled, Council returned with a $6.2 billion budget that looked very similar to the Mayor’s original proposal, with some pleasant surprises for the City’s business community. The budget approved by Council today in committee includes the following items, as highlighted in a City Council press release:
Hiring Bonuses. $10 Million in hiring bonuses to fill vacancies in public safety and other hard-to-fill city positions – a problem that has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic. Council heard repeated testimony in budget hearings of widespread vacancies in the Police Department, Prisons, and other departments.
Police Recruitment & Cadet Training. Adding $3 Million for intensive recruitment of Police Officers, and $1.5 Million to further develop the Police Cadet program.
Quality of Life. $6.5 Million in additional funding to fight illegal dumping, fund PHS clean up of vacant lots and expansion of the City’s commercial corridor cleanup program, “Taking Care of Business”
Mental Health Crisis Response Teams. $3 Million more for Mobile crisis response teams equipped to assist Police in responding to 911 calls where mental health problems are indicated. The city currently budgets $6 million for these teams.
Wage and Business Income & Receipt Tax Reductions. The Wage tax on residents would decrease from 3.79 percent down to 3.75 percent. The net income portion of BIRT would decline from its current 5.99 percent to 5.81 percent. The original reductions proposed by Mayor Kenney would provide $150 million in tax relief over the Five-Year Plan; the additional tax cuts voted by Council today would provide another $24.1 million in relief over the Five-Year Plan.
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd) voted no on the budget in committee, saying that Council’s tax cuts, deeper than those proposed by the Mayor, were a corporate give away that came at the expense of services to residents. Throughout the budget process, Gauthier advocated for $72mm in funding for her “Just Services Program”, to address quality-of-life concerns in neighborhoods throughout the city. While some additional resources were ultimately dedicated to supporting the programatic goals, the funding levels fell far short of the $72mm Gauthier was seeking.
Councilmembers Katherine Gilmore-Richardson (D-AL) and Isaiah Thomas (D-AL), who introduced the tax cut amendments, pushed back on Gauthier’s narrative linking the tax cuts to the failure to fund Just Services. In speeches in the committee hearing, Gilmore-Richardson and Thomas stated that the failure to adopt the $72 million “Just Services” program was not caused by Council’s adoption of the tax cuts, noting that the slight increase in cuts would have a negligible impact on the City budget and its fund balance. Rather, Gilmore-Richardson stated that the cuts were needed to create a better economic climate and would, “allow us to further uplift residents and Philadelphia’s small and diverse business communities.” Thomas noted that, “As the poorest big city in America, we need to make it easier to create jobs and grow small businesses in our city.”
The budget moves to a final vote at Council’s next session on June 15th before heading to the Mayor’s desk for signature.
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.
🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition
Resolution authorizing Land Bank Disposition (Gauthier)
Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of property located in the 5th Councilmanic District. (Clarke)
Resolution authorizing Public Property to transfer land located in the 5th Councilmanic District. (Clarke)
🚦Streets
Bill authorizing the revisions of lines and grades in the 1st Councilmanic District. (Squilla)
Bill revising requirements, limitations and fines related to angled parking. (Squilla)
Bill authorizing the revisions of lines and grades in the 1st Councilmanic District. (Squilla)
Bill creating a new chapter of the Philadelphia Code entitled, “Camera Based Enforcement System” for parking, stopping and standing violations that interfere with mass transit. (Squilla)
Bill amending the Traffic Code Providing for prohibitions related to “drifting” and for penalties and enforcement. (Driscoll)
🔏 Contract / Agreement Authorization
Resolution approving redevelopment contract for Urban Renewal Area located in 3rd Councilmanic District. (Gauthier)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to examine the use of face masks as well as oversized bandanas and ski masks during commissions of crime and to examine strategies to combat this threat. (Jones)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold public hearings on parent universities and their impact on education. (Jones)
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)
B: Authorizing the revisions of lines and grades in the 1st Councilmanic District.
B: Revise requirements, limitations and fines related to angled parking.
B: Authorizing the revisions of lines and grades in the 1st Councilmanic District.
B: Creating a new chapter of the Philadelphia Code entitled, “Camera Based Enforcement System” for parking, stopping and standing violations that interfere with mass transit.
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)
R: Authorizing Land Bank Disposition
R: Approving redevelopment contract for Urban Renewal Area located in 3rd Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)
R: Authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to examine the use of face masks as well as oversized bandanas and ski masks during commissions of crime and to examine strategies to combat this threat.
R: Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold public hearings on parent universities and their impact on education.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
R: Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of property located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
R: Authorizing Public Property to transfer land located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Mike Driscoll (D-6th)
B: Amending the Traffic Code Providing for prohibitions related to “drifting” and for penalties and enforcement.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🗺️ 230423-A (Clarke): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Housing Authority a deed conveying fee simple title to 2338 N. 31st Street; 2340 N. 31st Street; 2408 N. 31st Street; 2410 N. 31st Street; 2412 N. 31st Street; 2500 N. 31st Street; 2401 N. 32nd Street; 2549 1⁄2 N. 32nd Street (aka 2551 N. 32nd Street); 3230-38 Diamond Street; 3010 W. York Street; 3012 W. York Street; 3014 W. York Street; 3013 W. York Street; 3015 W. York Street; 3108 W. York Street; 3110 W. York Street; 3112 W. York Street; 3200 W. York Street; 3202 W. York Street; 3204 W. York Street; 3206 W. York Street; 3214 W. York Street; 3222 W. York Street in the Fifth Councilmanic District.
📛 230456 (Clarke): Confirming the appointment of Elinor Haider to the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority to serve in the term ending January 1, 2028.
🗣️ 230458 (Clarke): Calling for the creation of the Community-Temple Safety Partnership Zone and a Response Resource Task Force, as recommended in 21CP Solutions’ audit entitled “Recommendations for Community Safety at Temple University and the Temple University Police Department”, which would collaborate with the City of Philadelphia and neighborhood stakeholders to work toward safer neighborhoods for Temple University and all surrounding communities.
🗺️ 230465 (Squilla): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 372, 702 Cantrell Street; 613, 625, 723 Mercy Street; 737 Tree Street; 535, 537, 602 Winton Street located in the 1st Councilmanic District.
🗺️ 230466 (Lozada): Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 2335 and 2337 N. 6th Street in the Seventh Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title.
🗣️ 230470 (Harrity): Urging the Administration to pursue comprehensive qualitative and quantitative efforts to improve access to good-paying jobs in the City of Philadelphia.
🏆 230### (Gilmore-Richardson): Recognizing June 2023 as Black Music Month.
🏆 230### (Thomas): Honoring the life and legacy of Ted Cillary as a High School Sports Reporter.
🏆 230### (Thomas): Honoring the 2023 Philadelphia James Beard Award Winners.
🏆 230### (Thomas): Honoring and congratulating Philadelphia Native Kristen Welker for being named the next moderator of the legendary Sunday show “Meet the Press.”
🏆 230### (Jones): Congratulating Philadelphia Soccer 2026 and FIFA for the unveiling of its new branding, “We Are ‘26.”
🏆 230### (Jones): Honoring Leslie Mason, Principal of Thomas Miffline Elementary School on the occasion of her retirement.
⚖️ 230### (Jones): Authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to examine the use of face masks as well as oversized bandanas and ski masks during commissions of crime and to examine strategies to combat this threat.
⚖️ 230### (Jones): Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold public hearings on parent universities and their impact on education. (Jones)
🏆 230### (Johnson): Recognizing the week of June 5-June 9 as Union Organizing Week in Philadelphia.
🏆 230### (Harrity): Honoring John Stefan Clarke for his acceptance into all five military service academies.
🏆 230### (Gauthier): Honoring the Central High School Robotics Team for winning the 1st Impact Award.
🏆 230### (Squilla): Honoring the Philadelphia Masonic Temple on its 150th Anniversary Celebrations.
Bills:
🚦 200658 (Jones): Authorizing the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Upland Way and Berks Street.
🚦 210800 (Gauthier): Amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Parking Regulations and Penalties,” to add a new section entitled “Parking for Qualified School Employees,” to provide parking for certain school employees at certain location.
🏗️ 220916 (Jones): Amending the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Queen Lane, Wissahickon Avenue, Roosevelt Boulevard (Extended), and Henry Avenue, and to authorize Basic Utilities and Services in a section of Fairmount Park.
💸 221015 (Clarke): Amending Title 19 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Finance, Taxes and Collections,” to incentivize Affordable Housing development by authorizing tax exemptions pursuant to the Affordable Housing Unit Tax Exemption Act.
💸 230186 (Clarke): Authorizing an increase in the non-electoral indebtedness of the City within the Pennsylvania constitutional limit; authorizing the Bond Committee to sell bonds at public or private negotiated sale, to provide funds toward various capital municipal purposes; providing for appropriations to the Sinking Fund Commission for the payment of such bonds; and authorizing agreements to provide credit or payment or liquidity sources for the bonds in connection with issuance of the bonds, and certain other actions.
💸 230250 (Clarke): Amending Ordinance (Bill No. 190935) of the Council of The City of Philadelphia, approved by the Mayor on December 18, 2019, to authorize the refunding of additional series of outstanding general obligation bonds; authorizing the purchase by The City of Philadelphia, from time to time, of any of its outstanding general obligation debt; authorizing the amendment, novation or termination, from time to time, of any agreement to manage interest costs incurred in connection with The City of Philadelphia’s general obligation debt; further amending said Ordinance (Bill No. 190935) to authorize the payment by The City of Philadelphia from proceeds of general obligation refunding bonds of any required settlement payments and related required amounts in connection with the termination of any such agreements to manage interest costs and additionally authorizing the payment of such settlement payments and related amounts from other legally available funds; and authorizing certain other actions.
🏗️ 230276 (Driscoll): Approving a major amendment to the Holy Family University Master Plan related to the Welcome Center and an athletic fields structure in the area bounded by Grant Avenue, Frankford Avenue, Carteret Drive, Saint Denis Drive (extended), the Poquessing Creek, and the Delaware Expressway and to consolidate previously-approved minor amendments in the same area.
🏗️ 230302 (Jones): Approving a major amendment to the Saint Joseph’s University Master Plan related to a proposed Residence Hall and Student Center and the addition of six existing buildings to the Master Plan and to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land, all in the area bounded by City Avenue, 52nd Street, Woodbine Avenue, Wynnefield Avenue, Overbrook Avenue, Upland Way, and Drexel Road.
🏗️ 230308 (Squilla): Amending Section 14-502 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/CTR, Center City Overlay District,” by amending the South Street/ Head House Square Area.
🏗️ 230318 (Clarke): Amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by revising certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled “Overlay Zoning Districts,” by creating the “/EOD, East Poplar Overlay District.”
🏗️ 230319 (Jones): Amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by revising Section 14-524, entitled “/FDO, Fourth District Overlay District,” to extend the boundaries of certain areas.
🏗️ 230322 (Gauthier): Amending Chapter 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Overlay Zoning Districts,” to modify the area subject to Section 14-534, entitled the “/AHP, Affordable Housing Preservation Overlay District.”
🏗️ 230323 (Gauthier): Amending Section 14-533 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/MIN, Mixed Income Neighborhoods Overlay District,” to create a mechanism for satisfying certain use standards related to the construction of affordable housing in the portion of the MIN Overlay District located in the Third Councilmanic District.
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Thursday, June 8th
Committee on Law and Government, 1:00 PM - Council will hold public hearings on a number of bills including: Bill No. 230005 which would expand access to Life Partnerships to individuals regardless of gender, Bill No. 230411 and Res. 230430 regarding a proposal to amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create an Office for People with Disabilities and, Bill No. 230435 to modify and eliminate certain reporting requirements by companies with city contracts.
Monday, June 12th
Committee on Public Property and Public Works, 10:00 AM - Council will hear testimony on nine bills related to the acquisition or disposition of interest in property, or the authorization of lease agreements.
Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities, 1:00 PM - Council will hear testimony regarding Bill No. 220491 authorizing the Chief Executive Officer of Philadelphia International Airport to enter into Use and Lease Agreements between the City and each of the airlines servicing Philadelphia International Airport.
Committee on Public Safety, 5:30 PM - Council will hold a public hearing to examine the open-air drug market and other barriers to clean, safe, crime-free streets in Kensington. (This hearing will not be held in City Council Chambers. It will be held at Russell Conwell Middle School, 1849 E. Clearfield Street), Philadelphia, PA 19134.)
Tuesday, June 13th
Committee on Streets and Services, 10:00 AM - Council will hear testimony on a number of bills including, Bill No. 230307 permitting sidewalk cafes to be maintained on various portions of Frankford Avenue and other bills establishing parking regulations.
Committee on Finance, 1:00 PM - Council will hear testimony on a number of bills including: Bill No. 203190 - providing for a discount for early payment of real estate taxes; Bill No. 230408, extending certain KOZ benefits, Bill Nos. 230418 and 230419 requiring public notice regarding the availability of tax relief programs; Bill No. 230451 approving the PGW Capital budget; and, various bills authorizing the city to take official action regarding the application of grants, contracting for payroll services and execution of agreements.
Wednesday, June 14th
Committee on Rules, 10:00 AM - the Committee on Rules will hear testimony on eleven (11) bills related to the zoning and land use.