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.
Session Recap:
Today’s Council session was a brief one with only a handful of substantive bills and resolutions introduced. One resolution, however, elicited a passionate speech from its sponsor and promises of reform from other members . Councilmember Katherine Gilmore-Richardson (D-AL) introduced a resolution empowering the Committee on Education to hold hearings on the Philadelphia School District’s leveling policies.
Leveling is the process through which the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) uses enrollment data to reallocate resources in the middle of the school year. In some cases, leveling results in the combining of small classes into a larger class or the transfer of teachers to other schools. Recent leveling announcements have prompted outrage and protests across the district.
Gilmore-Richardson, whose three children are SDP students, lambasted the policy which she called particularly damaging in light of the documented learning losses suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Gilmore-Richardson says she intends to delve deeply into the practice, which other urban districts have abandoned because of the resulting negative impacts and trauma to students. She also expressed frustration with the SDP’s lack of response to her multiple inquiries, noting that she is in a privileged position to be able to pick up the phone and reach out and that she cannot imagine what other parents have to deal with.
At the conclusion of her fiery remarks, Gilmore-Richardson promised the parents and children of the city that “We will see a change.”
A full copy of the resolution can be found here.
Council stands adjourned until Thursday, October 19th at 10:00 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.
🏗️ Construction / Zoning
Bill approving Amendments to the Temple University Master Plan. (Clarke)
💼 Business Regulation
Bill amending Philadelphia Code 9-5900 by adding additional prohibitions on certain gambling machines. (Jones)
Bill amending the Philadelphia Code regarding the regulation of businesses - by adding a new chapter creating penalties for trespassing in retail. (Jones)
🚦Streets
Bill establishing no truck parking regulations in the 8th Councilmanic District. (Bass)
Bill establishing no truck parking regulations in the 8th Councilmanic District. (Bass)
🔏 Contract / Agreement Authorization
Bill authorizing the City Solicitor to enter into a contract to produce the Philadelphia Code. (Clarke)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings concerning the practicing of leveling and its impact on students and teachers in the School District of Philadelphia. (Gilmore-Richardson)
Resolution calling on the administration to create grant program for businesses suffering from retail theft. (Jones)
Resolution condemning Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. (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)
R: Condemning Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and calling for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)
B: Amending Philadelphia Code 9-5900 by adding additional prohibitions on certain gambling machines.
B: Amending the Philadelphia Code regarding the regulation of businesses - by adding a new chapter creating penalties for trespassing in retail.
R: Calling on the administration to create grant program for businesses suffering from retail theft.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
B: Approving Amendments to the Temple University Master Plan.
B: Authorizing the City Solicitor to enter into a contract to produce the Philadelphia Code.
Councilmember Cindy Bass (D-8th)
B: Establishing no truck parking regulations in the 8th Councilmanic District.
B: Establishing no truck parking regulations in the 8th Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Katherine Gilmore-Richardson (D-AL)
R: Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings concerning the practice of “leveling” and its impact on students and teachers in the School District of Philadelphia, especially following the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🗺️ 230684 (Johnson): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2609-27 Sears Street (including 1308-14 S 26th Street) located in the 2nd Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
🗺️ 230685 (Johnson): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1324 S. Bancroft Street; 1213 S. Bonsall Street; 1202, 1223 S. Bucknell Street; 2117, 2221 Earp Street; 2007 Ellsworth Street; 2537 Oakford Street; 1818, 2229 Latona Street; 1730, 2014, 2114, 2236, 2426, 2532 Manton Street; 1545 S. Ringgold Street; 1506, 1511, S. Stillman Street; 1519, 1527, 1529 S. Taney Street; 1702 S. 20th Street; 1419 S. 22nd Street; 1230, 1303 S. 23rd Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
🗺️ 230686 (Johnson): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1811, 2114, 2123 Fernon Street, 1930, 1932 Norwood Street, 1629, 1642, 1648, 1652 Point Breeze Avenue, 1824 S. 20th Street, 1835 S. 22nd Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.
⚖️ 230694 (Harrity):Authorizing a “Joint Task Force on City Flag Reform” to reexamine and recommend a process to reform the flag of the City of Philadelphia in line with vexillological conventions and an aim to promote Civic Pride.
🏆 230696 (Bass): Recognizing and honoring Philadelphia’s Reverend Melvin Floyd, by renaming the 5200 block of Wayne Avenue, “Reverend Melvin Floyd Way” to honor the life and legacy of Reverend Floyd, Founder and Pastor Agape Christian Chapel and the Neighborhood Crusades, Inc., where he tirelessly worked to prevent gang violence citywide and since 1970, successfully reaching youth and families for over 40 years.
⚖️ 230### (Gilmore-Richardson): Authorizing the Committee on Education to hold hearings concerning the practice of “leveling” and its impact on students and teachers in the School District of Philadelphia, especially following the learning loss caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
🏆 230### (Gauthier): Designating Thursday, October 12th as Children's Environmental Health Day 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, October 17th
Committee on Streets and Services, 10:00 AM - the committee will hear testimony on twenty-six (26) bills related to streets and rights of way.
Committee on Children and Youth, 1:00 PM - the committee will hold a hearing to evaluate existing support services for Early Childhood Education and Pre-K Centers and Providers and to examine the role of high-quality Early Childhood Education and Pre-K opportunities in addressing childhood poverty and promoting the future academic success of children in Philadelphia.
Wednesday, October 18th
Committee of the Whole, 10:00 AM - the committee will hear testimony on the Bill No. 200253, amending Section 20-303 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Salaries of Specified Officers,” to establish salaries based on an Annual Compensation Plan.
Monday, October 23rd
Committee on Rules, 10:00 AM - the committee will hold a public hearing to consider twelve (12) bills related to zoning and land use.