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.
Introducing: How Philly Works
I’m proud to have partnered with Committee of Seventy to bring you “How Philly Works: A Guide to Our City Government.” Philadelphia is known as the birthplace of American democracy, yet far too many Philadelphians feel disconnected from their local democratic process. Whether you’ve stepped into the voting booth and felt uninformed about the offices on the ballot, or you want to learn how to be an effective resident advocate, we hope this guide serves as a valuable tool.
Session Recap:
Today’s Council Stated Meeting was dominated by public comment surrounding the Mayor’s veto of the City Council “ban” of Overdose Prevention Centers throughout most of the city. The bill would require a variance for any such center, which would include a public presentation before impacted Registered Community Organizations. The bill covers the entire city, with the exception of the Third Councilmanic District represented by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd). In a speech on the floor of Council, Gauthier stated that she did not include the Third District in the legislation because she believes in a “data driven, human-centered” approach to the crisis. Gauthier ultimately voted to override the veto out of deference to her colleagues’ Councilmanic Prerogative. The Mayor’s veto was overridden by a vote of 14-1, with Councilmember Kendra Brooks (I-AL) the sole no vote.
Councilmember Jim Harrity (D-AL) introduced a bill to ban medical deportations of undocumented individuals. Under the law, “No hospital in Philadelphia may engage in medical deportation,” defined as “the forcible act of medical repatriation without consent, consideration of health insurance eligibility, or consideration of health risks to the patient.” Harrity called the issue a human rights issue that needed to be addressed.
Council stands adjourned until Thursday, October 5th, 2023 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.
🏗️ Construction / Zoning
Bill amending the zoning of land located at Arch and 50th Streets. (Gauthier)
Bill amending the zoning of land located at Westminster St. and Mantua Avenue. (Gauthier)
Bill making amendments to the Plumbing Code by amending the City’s adoption of the 2018 International Plumbing Code. (Clarke)
Bill amending the Building and Property Maintenance Code to add restrictions and remedies regarding encroaching trees. (Phillips)
Bill amending the Property Maintenance Code to modify prohibitions and remedies related to shared retaining walls. (Phillips)
🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition
R: Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of land located in the 8th Councilmanic District. (Bass)
💸 Finance / Budget
Bill approving a substantial amendment to the City’s consolidated plan to add $163 million in CDBG and Disaster Recovery Funding. (Clarke)
Bill amending Section 19-3900 to extend the 2023 application deadline for LOOP. (Lozada)
🚦Streets
Bill prohibiting street vending on certain portions of Girard Avenue. (Squilla)
Bill amending a bill authorizing the revision of lines and grades in the 3rd Councilmanic District. (Gauthier)
🏥 Public Health
Bill amending Philadelphia Code Chapter 6-400 to end the unlawful practice of medical deportation. (Harrity)
⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)
Resolution urging Governor Josh Shapiro to establish an office of gun violence prevention. (Johnson)
Resolution authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth to examine the city’s response to human trafficking in Philadelphia. (Lozada)
Resolution recognizing the immense pain caused to the Irizarry family and community by Judge Pew's erroneous decision dismissing charges against Officer Dial. (Lozada)
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: Prohibiting street vending on certain portions of Girard Avenue.
Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)
R: Urging Governor Josh Shapiro to establish an office of gun violence prevention.
Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)
B: Amending the zoning of land located at Arch and 50th Streets.
B: Amending the zoning of land located at Westminster St. and Mantua Avenue.
B: Amending a bill authorizing the revision of lines and grades in the 3rd Councilmanic District.
Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)
B: Approving a substantial amendment to the City’s consolidated plan to add $163 million in CDBG and Disaster Recovery Funding.
B: Making amendments to the Plumbing Code by amending the City’s adoption of the 2018 International Plumbing Code.
Councilmember Quetcy Lozada (D-7th)
B: Amending Section 19-3900 to extend the 2023 application deadline for LOOP.
R: Authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth to examine the city’s response to human trafficking in Philadelphia.
R: Recognizing the immense pain caused to the Irizarry family and community by Judge Pew's erroneous decision dismissing charges against Officer Dial.
Councilmember Cindy Bass (D-8th)
R: Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of land located in the 8th Councilmanic District.
Councilmember Anthony Phillips (D-9th)
B: Amending the Building and Property Maintenance Code to add restrictions and remedies regarding encroaching trees.
B: Amending the Property Maintenance Code to modify prohibitions and remedies related to shared retaining walls.
Councilmember Jim Harrity (D-AL)
B: Amending Philadelphia Code Chapter 6-400 to end the unlawful practice of medical deportation.
Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session
Resolutions:
🗺️ 230634 (Clarke): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 3101, 3113, 3117, 3118, 3123-29, 3126, 3130-34 Clifford Street located in the 5th Councilmanic District.
🗣️ 230635 (Jones): Calling on Representatives of the Administration to join with Members of City Council to better understand how Philly works at night by doing nighttime tours with various City Departments.
🏆 230638 (Johnson): Also naming the 7800 block of Saturn place “Leonard K. Brundage Way”, to honor the life and legacy of Eastwick native and lifelong Philadelphian, Leonard K. Brundage.
🏆 230### (Thomas): Honoring Thomas Paine Cronin on his retirement after 60 years of service and membership with AFSCME DC 47.
🏆 230### (Clarke): Honoring the life and legacy of Temple President Joanne Epps.
🏆 230### (Johnson): Honoring Power 99 on the occasion of the station’s 40th Anniversary.
🏆 230### (Breslin): Honoring retiring Revenue Commissioner Frank Breslin for his years of service.
🏆 230### (Brooks): Honoring Philadelphia’s new Youth Poet Laureate, Oyewumi Oyeniyi.
🏆 230### (Lozada): Recognizing September as National Recovery Month.
⚖️ 230### (Lozada): Resolution authorizing the Committee on Children and Youth to examine the response to human trafficking in the City of Philadelphia.
🏆 230### (Harrity): Resolution honoring the life and legacy of David Krain
Veto Overrides:
🏗️ 230410 (Lozada): Amending Chapter 14-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Overlay Zoning Districts,” to add an overlay district pertaining to injection sites for narcotics, all under certain terms and conditions.
📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings
(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)
Friday, September 29th
Committee on Public Safety, 2:00 PM - The committee will conduct a hearing regarding the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, also known as drones, as an additional law enforcement tool that would enhance public safety in the City of Philadelphia.