City Hall Roll Call: October 6th, 2022
Council celebrates trailblazing young athletes
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:
Today’s Council Stated Meeting was a very efficient affair, with relatively few introductions by members and only resolutions considered on the short final passage calendar.
Councilmember Kendra Brooks (I-AL) introduced a bill that would amend her previously enacted bill on Covid-19 related “Public Health Emergency Leave.” That legislation enacted in March 2022, Bill No. 22051-A, established additional leave time, modified existing provisions concerning the paid sick leave, and made technical changes to the legislation. As of publishing of this newsletter, a copy of Councilmember Brooks newly introduced amendments to the City’s Public Health Emergency Leave law has been requested but not yet received.
The remainder of the few Council bills and resolutions introduced today were relatively routine - either honorifics, district land transfers or authorizing Council hearings. As a result, most of the Council session was taken up by public comment on the resolutions on the final calendar.
A resolution urging the Pennsylvania Senate to pass House Bill 1419, the “Dignity for Incarcerated Women” Act, attracted a number of supporters to public comment. Many of the women who spoke in support of the resolution were formerly incarcerated and shared stories of the trauma and pain they suffered through lack of reproductive care they were afforded during their time the penal system. One woman shared the story of watching her pregnant daughter be shackled and led into the winter night without even a coat or proper clothing. Another woman shared the horrific mental and physical impacts of suffering a miscarriage while incarcerated. Before its adoption, Councilmember Brooks spoke on this resolution, urging her colleagues and residents to contact their state senator for support HB 1419 stating that passage of this bill was “Critical to returning dignity and safety to incarcerated people.”
Members of the George Washington High School Spirit Team were also present in Council today in support of a resolution congratulating them for being the first Philly public school to make it to the National Cheerleading Association’s National Championship. The head coaches and captains each shared how much the support of the city meant to them and how proud they were to represent not only Philadelphia, but the School District at this competition. Councilmember Helen Gym (D-AL) who sponsored the legislation, wished them luck in their competition and told them “You are our champions. You are the best of our city at the time we need it the absolute most...You have won over the hearts of everyone in Philadelphia."
Council stands adjourned until Thursday, October 13th at 10 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.
🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition
Resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer land located in the 5th Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. (Clarke)
Resolution - Authorizing Public Property to transfer land located in the 3rd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. (Gauthier)
Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of property located in the 3rd Councilmanic District. (Gauthier)
🏥 Public Health
Bill amending Bill No. 220051-A, “Public Health Emergency Leave,” by making clarifications and technical changes.
🚦Streets
Bill authorizing various encroachments in the 4th Councilmanic District. (Jones)
Bill prohibiting truck parking in certain areas of the 4th Councilmanic District. (Jones)
Bill amending Section 12-919 of the Philadelphia Code related to on-street parking of boats, campers, etc. to provide for prohibition of semi-trailer and truck parking in the 10th Councilmanic District. (O’Neill)
🔏 Contract / Agreement Authorization
Bill authorizing the Procurement Commissioner to enter into agreements for the purchase of natural gas and fuel for City vehicles. (Clarke)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Housing to hold hearings examining MV Realty of Pennsylvania LLC and their Homeowner Benefits Agreement and the impact these agreements may have on Philadelphia homeowners. (Clarke)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Housing to hold hearings to examine Brooklyn’s Nehemiah program and its potential to help Philadelphia increase affordable housing opportunities. (Jones)
Resolution urging Council to hold hearings regarding the transfer of the Atwater Kent Collection from the City of Philadelphia to Drexel University to ensure the stewardship of the collection. (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 Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)
Resolution - Authorizing Public Property to transfer land located in the 3rd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of property located in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)
Bill - Authorizing various encroachments in the 4th Councilmanic District.
Bill - Prohibiting truck parking in certain areas of the 4th Councilmanic District.
Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Housing to hold hearings to examine Brooklyn’s Nehemiah program and its potential to help Philadelphia increase affordable housing opportunities.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
Bill - Authorizing the Procurement Commissioner to enter into agreements for the purchase of natural gas and fuel for City vehicles.
Resolution - Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer land located in the 5th Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority.
Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Housing to hold hearings regarding MV Realty of PA’s Homeowner Benefits Agreement and the homeownership program’s impact on Philadelphia residents.
Councilmember Cindy Bass (D-8th)
Resolution - Urging Council to hold hearings regarding the transfer of the Atwater Kent Collection from the City of Philadelphia to Drexel University to ensure the stewardship of the collection.
Councilmember Brian O’Neill (R-10th)
Bill - Amending Section 12-919 of the Philadelphia Code related to on-street parking of boats, campers, etc. to provide for prohibition of semi-trailer and truck parking in the 10th Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Kendra Brooks (I-AL)
Bill - Amending Bill No. 220051-A, “Public Health Emergency Leave,” by making clarifications and technical changes.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🏆 220784 (Jones): Naming the 4100 Block of Monument Road as “Jim Gardner Way,” in honor of Jim Gardner to commemorate his retirement after a decades long career in broadcast journalism as an anchor with 6ABC.
🗺️ 220786 (Jones): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 650 N. Conestoga Street, 658 N. Conestoga Street, 662 N. Conestoga Street, 5436 W. Girard Avenue, 5552 Harmer Street, 653 N. Sickels Street, 534 -36 N. 54th Street, 538-40 N. 54th Street, 546 N. 54th Street, 550 N. 54th Street, 623-33 N. 55th Street located in the 4th Councilmanic District.
🗣️ 220787 (Brooks): Urging the Pennsylvania State Senate and Governor Tom Wolf to pass House Bill 1419, known as the “Dignity for Incarcerated Women” Act, intended to improve conditions and treatment of pregnant people in Pennsylvania’s jails and prisons.
🗺️ 220788 (Squilla): Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority deeds conveying fee simple title to 3001 Martha Street in the First Councilmanic District of the City of Philadelphia and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer to the Philadelphia Land Bank fee simple title.
🗺️ 220789 (Squilla): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2843-2861 Janney Street and 2842-2860 Weikel Street located in the 1st Councilmanic District.
🏆 220### (Katherine Gilmore Richardson): Recognizing and honoring Miskeen Original and its co-founders for over 20 years of producing wearable works of art during Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week 2022
🏆 220### (Gym): Honoring George Washington High School’s Spirit Team for becoming the first in the School District of Philadelphia to make it to the National Cheerleader Association’s All-Star National Championship.
🏆 220### (Thomas): Honoring Champion of the Week, Zuhairah McGill, founder of the First World Theatre Ensemble in West Philadelphia, for representing Philadelphia at the National Black Theatre festival in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
⚖️ 220### (Clarke): Authorizing the Committee on Housing to hold hearings examining MV Realty of Pennsylvania LLC and their Homeowner Benefits Agreement and the impact these agreements may have on Philadelphia homeowners.
⚖️ 220### (Jones): Authorizing the Committee on Housing to hold hearings to examine Brooklyn’s Nehemiah program and its potential to help Philadelphia increase affordable housing opportunities.
🏆 220### (Gauthier): Recognizing and congratulating the Drexel University Black Alumni Council's release of its first book, "A Legacy to Share."
🏆 220### (Squilla): Designating the week of October 9 through October 15, 2022 as “Italian American Heritage Week” in the City of Philadelphia and honoring Deana Martin as the Grand Marshall of the 2022 Philadelphia Italian American Parade.
🏆 220### (Oh): Honoring the life and legacy of Samuel Tinsing Mok for his exemplary and outstanding service to the United States as a trailblazing military officer, statesman, public servant, and entrepreneur.
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Tuesday, October 11th
Committee on Public Safety, 2:00 PM - the committee will consider Bill No. 220654, “An Ordinance amending Chapter 10-300, entitled “Minors,” to revise the evening curfew hours.”
Monday, October 17th
Committee on Finance, 10:00 AM - the committee will meet to consider bills related to fixing typographical errors in the recently passed budget tax code.
Friday, October 21st
Committee on Rules, 1:00 PM - the committee will hear three bills establishing overlay districts: Bill No. 220658, “Nelson Brown People’s Village Overlay District”; Bill No. 220661, “Yorktown Neighborhood Overlay District”; and, Bill No. 220662, “Nehemiah Homes Overlay District.”