City Hall Roll Call: June 10th, 2021

Session Recap:

With only two Council Stated Meetings left before their summer recess, the clock is ticking for a budget to be passed before the July 1st fiscal year. Typically, budget disagreements between the Administration and City Council revolve around proposed tax increases. Thanks to a $1.4 billion rescue package from the federal American Recovery Program, this year’s controversy is focused on proposed tax cuts. City Council is considering a cut to the parking tax, the Mayor’s proposed tax cuts to the Wage and Business Income and Receipts tax, as well as competing tax cut proposals introduced by Councilmember Domb that would more aggressively cut wage and business taxes.

There have been few signs from Council as to what the final budget compromise will look like, but a number of people closely following negotiations believe that cuts to the resident wage tax as proposed by Mayor, a smaller reduction in the non-resident wage tax and a static BIRT rate is the most likely of the still unknown outcomes. Most of Council has not showed much of an appetite for reducing business taxes, calling the Mayor’s proposal “trickle down economics.” In other words, stay tuned.

Today’s Council session was filled with a lengthy final passage calendar, as Council scrambles to take care of business before its summer recess. Council approved a voter referendum that would allow Philadelphians to weigh in on whether they think the Pennsylvania General Assembly should legalize adult use marijuana. Council also passed a measure aimed at cracking down at short-term rental, like Air BNBs, which are raising ire and some argue, housing prices, in neighborhoods across the city.

At the end of its regular business today, City Council took the unusual step of recessing, rather than adjourning its Stated Meeting. This move came after City Council President Clarke announced that a recessed Committee of the Whole hearing would meet at 4pm today (Thursday), with the Stated Meeting set to reconvene after that hearing.

Procedurally, this would allow the Committee of the Whole to vote out the packet of budget bills this afternoon, reconvene the Stated Meeting to allow for a first reading of those bills, and then possibly tee up the budget for a final vote next Thursday.

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.

🏥 Public Health

• Bill amending the end date of the City’s emergency Covid declaration to coincide with federal end date. (Bass)

🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 5th District to the Land Bank. (Clarke)

• Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 7th District. (Quinones-Sanchez)

• Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 7th District. (Quinones-Sanchez)

• Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 7th District. (Quinones-Sanchez)

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 3rd District to the Land Bank. (Gauthier)

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 1st District to the Land Bank. (Squilla)

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 1st District to the Land Bank. (Squilla)

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 1st District to the Land Bank. (Squilla)

⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)

• Resolution urging of the restoration of funding to a Philadelphia non-profit dedicated to Sickle Cell Anemia. (Gym)

• Resolution urging Congress to pursue reconciliation and reparations for the Tulsa Race Massacre. (Johnson)

• Resolution authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold hearings to examine making permit sidewalk dining and entertainment beyond the pandemic. (Domb)

• Resolution proposing the establishment of the Philadelphia Promise Trust Fund. (Bass)

🔏 Contract Authorizations

• Resolution approving an amendment to the operating charter of the City Avenue Special Services District. (Jones)

📛 Board or Commission Appointments

• Resolution appointing Matt Stitt to the Philadelphia Energy Authority. (Clarke)

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)

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 1st District to the Land Bank.

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 1st District to the Land Bank.

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 1st District to the Land Bank.

Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)

• Resolution urging Congress to pursue reconciliation and reparations for the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 3rd District to the Land Bank.

Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (D-4th)

• Resolution approving an amendment to the operating charter of the City Avenue Special Services District.

Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)

• Resolution appointing Matt Stitt to the Philadelphia Energy Authority.

• Resolution authorizing transfer of City owned land in the 5th District to the Land Bank.

Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez (D-7th)

• Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 7th District.

• Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 7th District.

• Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of properties located in the 7th District.

Councilmember Cindy Bass (D-8th)

• Bill amending the end date of the City’s emergency Covid declaration to coincide with federal end date.

• Resolution proposing the establishment of the Philadelphia Promise Trust Fund.

Councilmember Allan Domb (D-AL)

• Resolution authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold hearings to examine making permit sidewalk dining and entertainment beyond the pandemic.

Councilmember Helen Gym (D-AL)

• Resolution urging of the restoration of funding to a Philadelphia non-profit dedicated to Sickle Cell Anemia.

Bills and Resolutions Passed by City Council at Today’s Session

Resolutions:

• 🏆 210257 (Gilmore-Richardson): Recognizing and congratulating Folasade A. Olanipekun-Lewis on her election as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Free Library of Philadelphia.

• 🗳️ 210215 (Green): Submitting to the electors of the City an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, entitled “Referenda Approved by the Voters,” by providing that the citizens of Philadelphia call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that will decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes.

• 🔏 210512 (Clarke): Approving the redevelopment contract for a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area

• 🗣️ 210513 (Parker): Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to appropriate the full $350 million from the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund as soon as possible without imposing additional restrictions.

• 🏆 210515 (Gilmore-Richardson): Recognizing June as African American Music Appreciation Month to celebrate the African American musical influences.

• 🗣️ 201516 (Gym): Calling upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly to end the unconstitutional race and wealth disparities in school funding and to fully, adequately, and fairly fund its schools in Philadelphia and across the Commonwealth by utilizing the state’s Fair Funding formula as the basis of all K-12 education funding and providing adequate recurring state funding.

• 🗣️ 210518 (Johnson): Urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to adopt Senate Bill 670 and House Bill 696, which will provide $30 million in funding for community-based violence interventions.

• 🗺️ 210519 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property transfer City-owned lots in the Seventh Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🗺️ 210520 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property transfer City-owned lots in the Seventh Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🗺️ 210521 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property transfer City-owned lots in the Seventh Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🗺️ 210522 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of 1905 N. Philip Street and 1909 N. Lawrence Street.

• 🗣️ 210523 (Green): Calling upon the Congress of the United States to enact the Law Enforcement Education and Accountability for People with Disabilities Initiative, bipartisan policing reform bills to address the high incidence rate of violence involving people with disabilities, offered by Senator Bob Casey.

• 🗣️ 210525 (Green): Calling upon the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to enact Senate Bill 598 to allow political subdivisions to restrict the presence and use of firearms at their properties and facilities.

• 🏆 210526 (Green): Honoring the business owners of color receiving Comcast RISE Investment Fund grants and in-kind support and recognizing that businesses owned by people of color are key to equitable growth and recovery in Philadelphia.

• 🏆 210528 (Domb): Recognizing the month of May as Celiac Disease Awareness Month in Philadelphia and honoring eight-year-old Philadelphian Jax Bari for shining a national light on ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir on the need for increased federal funding for Celiac research and federally mandated labeling of gluten on all packaged foods.

• 🏆 210529 (Clarke): Honoring and congratulating the Carver Engineering and Science High School boys bowling team on their successful 2020-2021 season and first ever championship win.

• 🏆 210530 (Clarke): Honoring and recognizing Theresa Alicea on the occasion of her retirement following 25 years of loyal and dedicated service to the residents of the 175th legislative district.

• 🏆 210531 (Squilla): Naming Bainbridge Street, between 8th and 9th Streets, as “Henry L. Philips Way”.

• 🗺️ 210532 (Squilla): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1740 S. Howard Street.

• 🏆 210533 (Oh): Commemorating June 19, 2021 as Korean American Citizenship Day to Celebrate the First Naturalization of a Korean American in 1890.

• ⚖️ 210### (Domb): Authorizing the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold hearings regarding the potential to make permanent sidewalk dining and streeteries, in light of the upcoming expiration of the

Bills:

• 🗳️ 210206 (Green): Submitting to the electors of the City an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, entitled “Referenda Approved by the Voters,” by providing that the citizens of Philadelphia call upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly and the Governor to pass legislation that will decriminalize, regulate, and tax the use, and sale to adults aged 21 years or older, of cannabis for non-medical purposes.

• 🏗️ 200713 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Lehigh Avenue, Frankford Avenue, Master Street and 6th Street.

• 👷 210081 (Squilla): Adding and revising provisions related to the use of properties for limited lodging and hotel purposes and to the collection of hotel rental taxes in connection therewith.

• 🏗️ 201204 (Henon): Amending the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Cottman Avenue, Milnor Street, Princeton Avenue, and the Delaware River.

• 🏗️ 210362 (Squilla): Amending “/ CTR, Center City Overlay District,” to create the “Mid- Walnut Street Area.”

• 🏗️ 210425 (O'Neill): Revising “/FNE, Far Northeast Overlay District.”

• 💸 210328 (Clarke):Authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021 from the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, the Grants Revenue Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, and the Community Development Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, and the Community Development Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.

• 🚦 200627 (Squilla): Authorizing ARD 1105 Walnut LLC or a subsequent owner to install, own and maintain various encroachments at 1101-07 Walnut Street & 138-140 11th Street.

• 🚦 210333 (Squilla): Establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Greenwich street and 2nd street; Reed street and S. 4th street; Moyamensing avenue and Wharton street.

• 🚦 210334 (Squilla): Establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Morris street and S. 2nd street.

• 🚦 210390 (Squilla): Establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Dauphin street and Belgrade street; Almond street and Dauphin street; York street and Almond street; Taggert street and Norris street; Cedar street and Norris street; Marlborough street and Thompson street.

• 🚦 210391 (Squilla): Establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Ellsworth street and S. 9th street; Reed street and S. Broad street; Mountain street and S. 6th street; Latona street and S. 7th street.

• 🚦 210392 (Squilla): Establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Moore street and S. 6th street; McClellan street and S. 5th street; Mifflin street to S. 6th street; S. 3rd street to McKean street.

• 🚦 210393 (Squilla): Authorizing bicycle lanes on Race Street from North 5th Street to North 4th Street; and making associated changes to parking regulations within the same limits.

• 🚦 210394 (Squilla): Authorizing encroachments in the nature of a sidewalk café in the vicinity of 941 S. 8th Street.

• 🚦 210412 (Parker): Establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of the 6400 block of Summerdale Avenue.

• 🚦 210413 (Parker): Establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of Lowber Avenue between East Upsal Street and East Hortter Street.

• 🚦 210414 (Parker): Establishing a no parking regulation on N. 3rd street, both sides, between W. Erie avenue and W. Sedgley avenue.

• 🚦 210415 (Parker): Establishing a no truck parking regulation on W. 65th avenue, both sides, between N. Front street and N. 2nd street.

• 🚦 210416 (Parker An Ordinance establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: N. 12th street and Champlost street; 69th avenue and N. 12th street; Camac street and Champlost avenue; Park avenue and Nedro avenue; N. 13th street and Olney avenue.

• 🚦 210422 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Regulating the direction of movement of traffic on certain portions of Paul Street, Meadow Street, Tackawanna Street, Worth Street, Pear Street, Gillingham Street, Josephine Street, Blair Street, and East Montgomery Avenue, and making associated changes to parking regulations.

• 🚓 210423 (Domb): Amending Section 12-1133 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “All-Terrain Vehicles,” to address off-road vehicle use in the City of Philadelphia, all under certain terms and conditions.

• 🚦 210447 (Johnson): Establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of Chester Avenue from 66th street to 67th street.

• 🚦 210448 (Johnson): Establishing parking regulations on both sides of Webster Street, between 20th Street and 21st Street.

• 🏥 210364 (Bass): Amending various chapters of The Philadelphia Code to address matters related to the availability of feminine hygiene products in City facilities.

📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings

(Click on the Committee listing to download the full agenda of bills and resolutions for the meeting.)

Thursday, June 10th

• Committee on Labor and Civil Service, 1:00 p.m. - The Committee on Labor and Civil Service will consider two bills 1) requiring hiring entities provide individuals with information regarding career pathways (210443) and 2) extending prevailing wage provisions that apply in connection with the receipt of charity water rates.

• Committee of the Whole, 4:00 p.m. - The Committee of the Whole will consider, among other matters, the bills related to the FY2022 budget.

Monday, June 14th

• Committee on Public Safety, 10:00 a.m. - The Committee on Public Safety will consider a bill revising evening curfew hours for minors and modifying penalties. (210503)

• Committee on Public Health and Human Services, 3:30 p.m. - The Committee on Public Health will consider a bill revising the rules and requirements of the transfer of retail tobacco permits. (210227)

Tuesday, June 15th

• Committee on Rules, 9:30 a.m - the Rules Committee will consider sixteen bills related to amending zoning designations and rules. The Committee will also consider a couple of bills with historical preservation implications, including bill 210446, which would amend use standards for historically designated properties and bill 210473 which would establish a temporary demolition moratorium with respect to properties in the area of Christian Street between Broad and 20th Streets.

• Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, 2:00 p.m. - the Housing Committee will consider a bill amending the Code related to the landlord and tenant relationship during the novel coronavirus of 2019 pandemic, including providing for alternative methods for tenants to meet their obligation to make security deposits. (210138)

Wednesday, June 16th

• Committee on Streets and Services, 9:30 AM - the Streets Committee will hear thirteen (13) bills related to parking, littering, bicycle lanes, parking permitting and Personal Delivery Devices.

Monday, June 21st

• Committee on People with Disabilities and Special Needs, 1:00 PM - the Committee will hold hearings regarding services for people with disabilities and general compliance with and enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (210128) and regarding the Community Autism Peer Specialist program, also known as CAPS. (210372).