City Hall Roll Call: March 24, 2022
Special Election Date Set for Vacated Henon Seat
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. 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:
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th) set the date for the Special Election to fill the Sixth District Council seat vacated by Councilmember Bobby Henon following his federal conviction. The Special Election will be held on the same day as Pennsylvania Spring Primary, May 17, 2022. Democratic Ward Leaders have named State Representative Mike Driscoll as the democratic nominee. Republican Party leadership has not yet publicly announced their nominee; they have until April 5th to do so.
Today marked the last City Council Stated Meeting before Mayor Jim Kenney is expected to deliver his budget address at next week’s session. Council moved one step closer to a functional Citizens Police Oversight Commission with Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr.’s (D-4th) introduction of nine resolutions representing the initial appointments to the newly formed Commission. In introducing the appointments, Jones noted that the ball was in Council’s court to provide funding to organization as the “final leg of the relay race.”
Council President Clarke also formally withdrew last year’s resolution (Res. 210848) authorizing Habitat for Humanity to construct its Page Street project. Instead, the project will proceed under a new resolution introduced last week (Res. 220248) which reflects changes to the project resulting from negotiations with neighbors, including the elimination of a home. Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Corinne O’Connell and one of the projects future residents testified in support of advancing the necessary resolutions forward to allow the fully-funded project to break ground. Council President Clarke assured the homeowner, “we are going to make sure you get in that house as soon as possible.”
Lastly, a resolution introduced by Councilmember David Oh (R-AL) sparked a debate on humanitarian no-fly zones in Ukraine and whether City Council should even be weighing in on such an issue. After lengthy debate, the resolution “Urging the White House and United States Congress to work with NATO partners in establishing a limited no-fly-zone over humanitarian corridors in Ukraine” was defeated by a vote of 6 to 9.
Council stands adjourned until Thursday, March 31 at 10 AM.
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.
👷♀️ Labor Law
Bill clarifying that temporary residence outside the city does not prevent the person, including a police recruit, from meeting the residency requirement for employment with the City. (Clarke)
📛 Board / Commission Appointments
Resolution making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones) [1/9]
Resolution making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones) [2/9]
Resolution making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones) [3/9]
Resolution making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones) [4/9]
Resolution making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones) [5/9]
Resolution making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones) [6/9]
Resolution making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones) [7/9]
Resolution making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones) [8/9]
Resolution making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. (Jones) [9/9]
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution calling on PA General Assembly to adopt the “Whole Home Repairs Act.” (Gilmore-Richardson)
Resolution urging the White House to create a process to help bring Ukrainian refugees to USA. (Oh)
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 Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)
Resolution - Making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. [1/9]
Resolution - Making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. [2/9]
Resolution - Making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. [3/9]
Resolution - Making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. [4/9]
Resolution - Making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. [5/9]
Resolution - Making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. [6/9]
Resolution - Making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. [7/9]
Resolution - Making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. [8/9]
Resolution - Making an appointment to the Citizens Police Oversight Commission. [9/9]
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
Bill - Clarifying that temporary residence outside the city does not prevent the person, including a police recruit, from meeting the residency requirement for employment with the City.
Councilmember Katherine Gilmore-Richardsoon (D-AL)
Resolution - Calling on PA General Assembly to adopt the “Whole Home Repairs Act.”
Councilmember David Oh (R-AL)
Resolution - Urging the White House to create a process to help bring Ukrainian refugees to USA.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
📛 210831 (Clarke): Approving the appointment of McCullough Williams III to the Philadelphia Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board.
📛 211005 (Jones): Reappointing Jay S. Feldstein, D.O., to the Board of Directors of the City Avenue Special Services District of Philadelphia and Lower Merion.
📛 211006 (Jones): Reappointing Bernie A. Prazenica to the Board of Directors of the City Avenue Special Services District of Philadelphia and Lower Merion.
📛 220025 (Squilla): Appointing Erik Derr to the Board of Directors for the Old City Special Services District.
📛 220026 (Squilla): Appointing Brennan Tomasetti to the Board of Directors for the Old City Special Services District.
🗣️ 220250 (Jones): Calling on the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Philadelphia Sheriff ’s Office, Office of the City Controller and the Managing Directors Office to conduct a joint evaluation of the City’s current witness relocation and protection programs.
🗣️ 220251 (Green): Expressing solidarity with the local leaders of Ukraine.
🏆 220255 (Thomas): Honoring and congratulating Women’s History Month’s Champion of the Week, Imhotep Charter School’s Girls Basketball team, on its successful 2022 season and winning the Philadelphia Public League title two years in a row.
🔏 220256 (Squilla): Approving the First Amendment to License Agreement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Market Street East Urban Renewal Area, for a certain pedestrian bridge located between Tenth and Eleventh streets above Filbert street, including air rights; and authorizing the Redevelopment Authority to execute the First Amendment to License Agreement with Keystone Philadelphia Properties, L.P. and to take such action as may be necessary to effectuate the First Amendment to License Agreement.
Bills:
🚦 220143 (Johnson): Amending Section 9-215 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Streeteries,” to add additional permitted locations.
🏆 210743 (Clarke): Renaming and designating the property commonly referred to as the 11th and Venango Playground, located at 3600 North 11th Street, as the "Williams Moore Reed Memorial Park” in the City of Philadelphia.
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Tuesday, March 29th
Committee on Public Safety, 6:30 PM - Council will hold public hearings regarding the anti-gun violence movement #ManUpPHL.
Wednesday, March 30th
Special Committee on Child Separation, 10:00 AM - The committee will conduct public hearings to further understand the role of community umbrella agencies (CUA), such as Turning Points for Children, in the local child welfare system, and further investigate the systemic failures that resulted in three girls being returned to their sexually abusive father.
Wednesday, March 30th
Committee on Technology and Information Services, 2:00 PM - The committee will consider a bill authorizing the Chief Information Officer, on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to purchase licenses for email, cloud services, enterprise software, data services, security software, and other related computing products and services.
💸 📆 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