City Hall Roll Call: May 27, 2021

Session Recap:

With only three Council Stated Meetings left before their summer recess, City Council introduced a flurry of bills at today’s meeting.

Setting her sights on creating a more diverse and inclusive City workforce, Council Majority Leader Cherelle Parker proposed a Home Rule Charter amendment that would reform the City’s much-maligned “Rule of Two.” As explained by reporter Tom Ferrick,

The Rule of Two was inserted into the City Charter when it was written in the early 1950s. It's an essential part of the city's civil service system and it states, to oversimplify, that all applicants for jobs and promotions must take a civil service examination and that the position must be filled from a list of the top two scorers.

The Rule of Two was envisioned as a merit based system created in response to the political patronage machine that ran City government prior to the reform movement of the 1950s. Seventy years later, the Rule of Two is cited as a major reason why more Black, Latinx and Women candidates are underrepresented in management positions with the City. Councilmember Parker hopes to pass this legislation prior to summer recess so that voters will have the opportunity to approve it in November.

Councilmember Gilmore-Richardson also had reform on her agenda with the introduction of legislation that would update the existing Minor Curfew laws.

The changes include simplifying the curfew times to make them easier to understand, removing all punitive fines, and changing the requirements that young people must be taken to a police district. Councilmember Gilmore Richardson has been working closely with the Office of Children and Families, the Department of Human Services, and the Philadelphia Police Department to reform curfew requirements and establish evening resource centers, safe spaces where minors who violate curfew can be taken to be connected to support services.

With the gun violence epidemic showing no signs of abating, Councilmember Gilmore-Richardson expressed hope that the reforms could help save lives noting, “This bill and the new evening resource centers will help us connect more children and families to resources early and keep them off the street.“

In other public safety news, City Council officially eliminated the “Police Advisory Board” and replaced it with the “Citizens Police Oversight Commission” with hopes of greater Police accountability. This bill passed 16-1, with Councilman O’Neill the sole no vote on the measure.

Tax reform advocates, mark your calendars! City Council has scheduled the five tax reform bills introduced this session, along with all budget related ordinances, for a public hearing on June 2nd. Council will vet the Mayor’s proposed reductions to the BIRT and Wage Tax, as well as the more aggressive proposals introduced by Councilmember Domb.

Council’s last scheduled Stated Meeting of the Fiscal Year is scheduled for June 24th, with no meeting scheduled for this upcoming Thursday due to the Memorial Day holiday. This means that June 10th will be the last possible session day for the introduction of new bills that could be passed before the summer recess. With a full Rules Committee agenda scheduled for a hearing on June 15th, it appears likely that Council will go through the full calendar to the 24th, even if the budget is resolved early.

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 authorizing Citizen’s Bank to provide payroll services to the City. (Green)

👷 Labor / Business

• Bill amending the provisions of the City’s Prevailing Wage Ordinance. (Parker)

• Bill amending the Home Rule Charter related to hiring and the selection from lists (“Rule of Two”) as provided by the Civil Service system. (Parker)

• Resolution amending the Home Rule Charter related to hiring and the selection from lists (“Rule of Two”) as provided by the Civil Service system .(Parker)

🏥 Public Health

• Bill offering gift certificates for Philadelphians who have been vaccinated against Covid-19. (Clarke)

• Bill offering vouchers for city gas and water charges for Philadelphians who have been vaccinated against Covid-19. (Clarke)

🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition

• Resolution authorizing Land Bank disposition in the 1st Councilmanic District. (Squilla)

• Resolution authorizing Public Property to convey land to the Redevelopment Authority in the 7th Councilmanic District. (Sanchez)

• Resolution authorizing Public Property to convey land to the Redevelopment Authority in the 7th Councilmanic District. (Sanchez)

• Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of land in the 7th Councilmanic District. (Sanchez)

• Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of land in the 7th Councilmanic District. (Sanchez)

🚦 Streets

• Bill establishing parking regulations in Southwest Philadelphia. (Johnson)

• Bill revising lines and grades in the 4th Councilmanic District. (Jones)

• Bill authorizing installation of bicycle lanes on North 13th Street. (Clarke)

• Bill creating a new portion of the traffic code to regulate personal delivery devices. (Green)

⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)

• Resolution urging the PA General Assembly to pass Senate Bill 670 and House Bill 696 to fund violence intervention programs in the Commonwealth (Johnson)

• Resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to appropriate the full $350 million in aid from the federal homeowners fund. (Parker)

• Resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reject the “coerce to work” bill that would eliminate federal Covid and unemployment benefits for Pennsylvania residents. (Brooks)

• Resolution calling on the federal government to enact police training reforms related to interacting with people with disabilities. (Green)

• Resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to allow political subdivisions to restrict firearms on their own property. (Green)

• Resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to end racial and wealth disparities in schools and to use the State’s fair funding formula to provide fair and adequate funding to schools. (Gym)

🔏 Contract Authorizations

• Bill authorizing the Philadelphia International Airport to amend its concession agreement. (Johnson / on behalf of the Administration)

• Resolution approving Redevelopment Authority redevelopment agreement in the 5th Councilmanic District. (Clarke)

🏗️ Zoning, Housing and Construction

• Bill amending the Home Rule Charter to require mandatory appropriation to the City’s Housing Trust Fund. (Green)

• Resolution amending the Home Rule Charter to require mandatory appropriation to the City’s Housing Trust Fund. (Green)

📛 Board or Commission Appointments

• Resolution re-appointing board member to the City Avenue Special Services District. (Jones)

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 Land Bank disposition in the 1st Councilmanic District.

Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)

• Bill authorizing the Philadelphia International Airport to amend its concession agreement. (on behalf of the Administration)

• Bill establishing parking regulations in Southwest Philadelphia.

• Resolution urging the PA General Assembly to pass Senate Bill 670 and House Bill 696 to fund violence intervention programs in the Commonwealth.

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

• Bill revising lines and grades in the 4th Councilmanic District.

• Resolution re-appointing board member to the City Avenue Special Services District.

Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)

• Bill authorizing installation of bicycle lanes on North 13th Street.

• Resolution approving Redevelopment Authority redevelopment agreement in the 5th Councilmanic District.

• Bill offering gift certificates for Philadelphians who have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

• Bill offering vouchers for city gas and water charges for Philadelphians who have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez (D-7th)

• Resolution authorizing Public Property to convey land to the Redevelopment Authority in the 7th Councilmanic District.

• Resolution authorizing Public Property to convey land to the Redevelopment Authority in the 7th Councilmanic District.

• Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of land in the 7th Councilmanic District.

• Resolution authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of land in the 7th Councilmanic District.

Councilmember Cherelle Parker (D-9th)

• Bill amending the provisions of the City’s Prevailing Wage Ordinance

• Bill amending the Home Rule Charter related to hiring and the selection from lists (“Rule of Two”) as provided by the Civil Service system

• Resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to appropriate the full $350 million in aid from the federal homeowners fund

• Resolution amending the Home Rule Charter related to hiring and the selection from lists (“Rule of Two”) as provided by the Civil Service system

Councilmember Kendra Brooks (I-AL)

• Resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reject the “coerce to work” bill that would eliminate federal Covid and unemployment benefits for Pennsylvania residents.

Councilmember Katherine Gilmore-Richardson (D-AL)

• Bill revising evening curfew hours for minors

Councilmember Derek Green (D-AL)

• Bill amending the Home Rule Charter to require mandatory appropriation to the City’s Housing Trust Fund

• Bill authorizing Citizen’s Bank to provide payroll services to the City.

• Bill creating a new portion of the traffic code to regulate personal delivery devices.

• Resolution calling on the federal government to enact police training reforms related to interacting with people with disabilities.

• Resolution amending the Home Rule Charter to require mandatory appropriation to the City’s Housing Trust Fund.

• Resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to allow political subdivisions to restrict firearms on their own property.

Councilmember Helen Gym (D-AL)

• Resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to end racial and wealth disparities in schools and to use the State’s fair funding formula to provide fair and adequate funding to schools.

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

Resolutions:

• 🏆 210485 (Parker): Recognizing and congratulating Duane H. Bumb on his retirement and 25 years of distinguished service to the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce.

• 🏆 210486 (Parker): Honoring the life and legacy of James V. Nixon, Jr. and recognizing his impact on the Philadelphia arts and culture community.

• 📛 210487 (Clarke): Confirming the reappointment of Barbara Adams as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term ending January 1, 2025.

• 📛 210488 (Clarke): Confirming the appointment of Natalia Dominguez as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term ending January 1, 2027.

• 📛 210489 (Clarke): Confirming the reappointment of Barbara Moore as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term ending January 1, 2024.

• 📛 210490 (Clarke): Confirming the reappointment of E. Mitchell Swann as a member of the Board of the Philadelphia Energy Authority, to serve in the term ending January 1, 2026.

• 🗣️ 210491 (Gilmore-Richardson): Urging support for Pennsylvania House Bills 1204, 1206, 806, and 244 focused on addressing disparities in education, strengthening career and technical education, and creating workforce development opportunities.

• 🏆 210492 (Bass): Supporting the All Faiths Vaccination Campaign’s (AFVC) efforts to achieve vaccination equity by hosting vaccination clinics in Philadelphia’s underserved Black and Brown neighborhoods.

• 📛 210098 (Squilla): Appointing Chris Barnes to the Board of Directors for the South Street Headhouse District.

• 📛 210099 (Squilla): Appointing Katrina Johnston-Zimmerman to the Board of Directors for the South Street Headhouse District.

• 📛 210100 (Squilla): Appointing Adam Zaken to the Board of Directors for the South Street Headhouse District.

• 📛 210101 (Squilla): Appointing Allison Harvey Hindman to the Board of Directors for the South Street Headhouse District.

• 📛 210102 (Squilla): Appointing Monica Thompson to the Board of Directors for the South Street Headhouse District.

• 📛 210103 (Squilla): Appointing Adam Shapiro to the Board of Directors for the South Street Headhouse District.

Bills:

• 🚓 210074 (Jones): Repealing Chapter 21-1200 of the Philadelphia Code, entitled “Police Advisory Board,” and replacing it with a new Chapter 21-1200 that reconstitutes and renames the board as the “Citizens Police Oversight Commission,” and provides for the Commission’s appointment, the powers and duties of the Commission and the manner in which the Commission and other officers, employees, and agencies shall fulfill their respective responsibilities.

• 🏥 210331 (Thomas): Amending Title 6 of The Philadelphia Code, the “Health Code,” to add a section establishing reporting and employment requirements related to changes in ownership or of the license holder of long-term care facilities and hospitals; 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, 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

Tuesday, June 2nd

• Committee of the Whole, 9:30 a.m. - The Committee of the Whole will meet to consider a variety of budget and finance related bills, including the multiple tax reduction measures introduced by Council and those proposed by the Administration.

  • Councilmember Domb’s tax reduction bills: Amending the manner of imposition of the BIRT (210283), reducing the BIRT (210284) and reducing the Wage Tax (210285).

  • Budget bills: FY2022-2027 Capital Program (210320), FY2022 Capital Budget (201321), FY2022 Operating Budget (210322), Adopting a revised Five Year Plan (210336)

  • Parking Tax reduction: Revising parking tax rates (210442)

  • Mayoral tax reduction proposals: Reducing BIRT (210323) and reducing Wage Tax (210324).

• Wednesday, June 3rd

  • Joint Committee on Finance & Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention, 9:30 a.m. - This joint committee will hold hearings on the connection between poverty, gun violence, and systemic racism in Philadelphia. (210169)

• 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.