City Hall Roll Call: May 20, 2021

Session Recap:

Today’s Council session was a quick one thanks to a short Final Passage calendar. Eyeing a quickly approaching summer recess deadline, members introduced a flurry of proposed ordinances that would amend the Philadelphia Zoning Code in a variety of ways, including sign controls, a density bonus amendment and creation of new overlay.

Councilmember Johnson introduced a demolition moratorium for structures on Christian Street between Broad Street and 20th Street. This stretch of beautiful three-story brick row homes in South Philadelphia was historically known as “Doctor’s Row,” as it was home to many of the Philadelphia's Black professionals dating back to the 1800s, including famed architect Julian Abele. Abele’s portfolio includes such landmarks as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the campus of Duke University.

Recently, developers have targeted many of these homes for redevelopment prompting outcry from neighbors and historical preservationists. In a speech on the floor of Council today, Johnson noted that this moratorium would provide an opportunity to engage preservationists and bring a halt to the destruction of important historical buildings in the neighborhood.

City Council also honored Logan Square activist and Philadelphia booster Rob Stuart, who passed away suddenly at the age of 49 almost a decade ago. Rob was honored by friends, family and Councilmembers in public comment and speeches at today’s session. As a permanent remembrance of his public advocacy and positive impact on the city, Council unanimously voted to name the new Winter Street dog park in his honor.

Council will continue budget hearings next week with departmental call backs. City Council is scheduled to break for its summer recess in June, which means that time is running out for the introduction and passage of legislation prior to the recess. As a result, Council will have a busy committee hearing schedule in the next few weeks, as it works to wrap up Council business prior to its break which lasts through Labor Day.

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.

💸 Tax and Finance

• Bill approving amendment to FY2021 capital budget for the Philadelphia Gas Works (Green)

• Bill approving FY2022 Capital budget for the Philadelphia Gas Works (Green)

👷 Labor / Business

• Bill modifying requirements for operating a self-service laundry (Clarke on behalf of the Administration)

🚦 Streets

• Bill authorizing non-accessory parking (Jones)

• Bill amending boundaries of permit parking district 16 (Jones)

• Bill establishing Parking Regulations in 3rd Councilmanic District (Gauthier)

⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)

• Resolutions appointing or reappointing individuals to Philadelphia Energy Authority (4 resolutions) (Clarke on behalf of the Administration)

• Resolution urging support for Pennsylvania House Bills 1204, 806, 244 which address disparities in education and creating workforce development opportunities. (Gilmore-Richardson)

🔏 Contract Authorizations

• Bill authorizing Department of Planning and Development to apply for CDBG funds with federal government (Clarke on behalf of the Administration)

🏗️ Zoning and Construction

• Bill amending zoning in area near Cecil B. Moore (Clarke)

• Bill amending zoning in area near Thompson Street (Clarke)

• Bill revising NCP Overlay (Clarke)

• Bill creating new sign controls at 1900 Market Street (Clarke)

• Bill establishing demolition moratorium on Christian Street between Broad and 20th Streets (Johnson)

• Bill revising housing density bonus requirements (Quinones-Sanchez)

• Bill amending University of Pennsylvania Master Plan (Gauthier)

• Bill amending zoning maps in University City (Gauthier)

• Bill creating a Heliport Hazard Control “HHC” overlay district (Squilla)

• Bill changing zoning near West Tulip Street (Squilla)

• Bill changing zoning near Broad and Erie Streets (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 Mark Squilla (D-1st)

• Bill creating a Heliport Hazard Control “HHC” overlay district

• Bill changing zoning near West Tulip Street

Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)

• Bill establishing demolition moratorium on Christian Street between Broad and 20th Streets

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)

• Bill establishing Parking Regulations in 3rd Councilmanic District

• Bill amending University of Pennsylvania Master Plan

• Bill amending zoning maps in University City

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

• Bill authorizing non-accessory parking

• Bill amending boundaries of permit parking district 16

Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)

• Bill modifying requirements for operating a self-service laundry (on behalf of the Administration)

• Resolutions appointing or reappointing individuals to Philadelphia Energy Authority (4 resolutions on behalf of the Administration)

• Bill authorizing Department of Planning and Development to apply for CDBG funds with federal government (on behalf of the Administration)

• Bill amending zoning in area near Cecil B. Moore

• Bill amending zoning in area near Thompson Street

• Bill revising NCP Overlay

• Bill creating new sign controls at 1900 Market Street

Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez (D-7th)

• Bill revising housing density bonus requirements

Councilmember Cindy Bass (D-8th)

• Bill changing zoning near Broad and Erie Streets

Councilmember Katherine Gilmore-Richardson (D-AL)

• Resolution urging support for Pennsylvania House Bills 1204, 806, 244 which address disparities in education and creating workforce development opportunities

Councilmember Derek Green

• Bill approving amendment to FY2021 capital budget for the Philadelphia Gas Works

• Bill approving FY2022 Capital budget for the Philadelphia Gas Works

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

Resolutions:

• 🚦 210452 (Johnson): Naming the 1600 block of South Street "Ronald K. Washington Way" to honor Ron Washington, founding owner of the legendary Ron’s Ribs, for his legacy of dedicated service to the South Philadelphia community.

• 🗺️ 210453 (Johnson): Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer deeds to property in the 2nd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer those deeds to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🗺️ 210454 (Gauthier): Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to transfer deeds to property in the 3rd Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority and further authorizing the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to transfer those deeds to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🗺️ 210455 (Gauthier): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 5559 Locust Street located in the 3rd Councilmanic District.

• 🏆 210456 (Thomas): Honoring and congratulating Destiny Jackson on her acceptance into 50+ colleges while experiencing homelessness, foster care, and participating in several extra-curricular leadership positions.

• 🏆 210458 (Squilla): Honoring and congratulating Frank Stephen Spera on the occasion of his retirement from the Pennsylvania State Police-Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.

• 🗣️ 210460 (Oh): Calling on the City of Philadelphia to include the flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the display of international flags along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Bills:

• 🚦 210360 (Clarke): Officially naming and designating the dog park located on the north side of Winter Street between 21st Street and 22nd Street, in the City of Philadelphia, as the “Rob Stuart Memorial Dog Park”.

📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings

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

Thursday, May 20th

• Committee on Labor and Civil Service, 1:00 p.m. - The Committee will consider a number of bills including legislation modifying the circumstances when certain City of Philadelphia employees are entitled to service-connected death benefits during the pandemic (210325) and creating a new classification of covered airport service employees to receive prevailing wages (210421).

Friday, May 21st

• Committee on Appropriations, 10:00 a.m. - The Committee will consider a bill transferring funds within the General Fund. (210328)

• Committee on Public Health and Human Services, 2:00 p.m. - the Committee will hear a bill targeted at ending “period poverty” which would address matters related to the availability of feminine hygiene products in City facilities (210364).

Monday, May 24th

• Committee of the Whole, 9:30 a.m. - The Committee of the Whole will meet to consider the Mayor’s FY2022 Budget. This budget hearing will cover TBA Department Callbacks.

Tuesday, May 25th

• Committee on Rules, 9:30 a.m. - The Committee on Rules will hear public testimony on a number of bills including ordinances:

  • Changing the zoning of an area bounded by Lehigh Avenue, Frankford Avenue, Master Street and 6th Street (200713).

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

  • Changing the zoning of an area located within an area bounded by Cottman Avenue, Milnor Street, Princeton Avenue, and the Delaware River (210204).

  • Establishing and adding a new subarea within the Broad Street Area Overlay, entitled “South Broad Street Gateway” (210225).

  • Crating the “Mid- Walnut Street Area” of the “/ CTR, Center City Overlay District” (210362).

  • Revising certain provisions of Section 14-514, entitled “/FNE, Far Northeast Overlay District” (210425).

• Committee on Streets, 9:30 a.m. - The Committee on Streets will hear public testimony on eighteen (18) bills. The majority of these bills regulate parking throughout the City, but also include ordinances:

  • Prohibiting street vending on certain portions of East Passyunk Avenue (210332)

  • Authorizing bicycle lanes on Race Street from North 5th Street to North 4th Street (210393)

  • Addressing off-road vehicle use in the City (210423).

Wednesday, May 26th

• Committee of the Whole, 9:30 a.m. - The Committee of the Whole will meet to consider the Mayor’s FY2022 Budget. This budget hearing will cover TBA Department Callbacks in the morning and public testimony in the afternoon.

Friday, May 28th

• Committee on Public Property, 9:00 a.m. - The Committee on Streets will hear public testimony on twelve (12) bills. The majority of the bills to be heard by the Committee relate to the authorization of leases or easements on behalf of the City