City Hall Roll Call: May 6, 2021

Session Recap:

Today’s Council session was a quick one, with most bills and resolutions introduced by members related to streets regulation and the movement of property in and out of the Philadelphia Land Bank.

One exception was legislation introduced by Councilmember Allan Domb designed to help the City get a handle on the ATV and street bike issue that has raised the ire of many city residents. This legislation comes on the heels of a public emergency meeting held last night.  Residents are frustrated with the Police’s lack of enforcement of traffic laws related to the vehicles which often disregard traffic and other safety measures. However, the Police note that they are not permitted to pursue riders unless a serious crime has committed, lest it create an even more dangerous road chase situation. Councilmember Domb’s bill would bring the City’s seizure authority for dirt bikes and dune buggies, in line with existing laws regarding ATVs.

City Council also heard from the co-founders of the Philly Truce App, which allows “residents to anonymously share information about brewing neighborhood beefs they think could boil over into gun violence.” As reported by WHYY,

The app’s home screen has two options: The “Get Help” button directs users to a form that prompts them to provide their cell phone number and describe the dispute. The “Mediator” button allows vetted and trained volunteers, as well as professional violence interrupters, to connect with residents who have reached out for help.

City Council will continue consideration of the Mayor’s FY22 budget proposal, with the Managing Director’s Office and School District scheduled to testify before the body next week. For a full list of Council’s budget and committee calendar, see the “Upcoming City Council Public Hearings” section at the end of this post.

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 Safety

• B - Addressing off road vehicle use in City of Philadelphia (Domb)

• R- Calling on City to implement minimum Force training for all Police Officers (Oh)

👷‍♀️ Labor

• B - Creating new covered class of airport employees to receive prevailing wages (Johnson)

🚦 Streets

• B - No truck parking regulation (Parker)

• B - No truck parking regulation (Parker)

• B - No parking regulation (Parker)

• B - No truck parking regulation (Parker)

• B - Parking regulation (Parker)

• B - Modifying parking remedies and enforcement charges (Parker)

• B - Regulating traffic and parking in an area in the 7th District (Sanchez)

• B - Revision of lines and grades (Johnson)

🗺️ Land Acquisition / Disposition

• R - Authorizing conveyance of 5th district land to Land Bank (Clarke)

• B - Conveyance of City land to Commonwealth of PA near I-95 (Henon)

• B - Grant to PennDot a construction easement near I-95 (Henon)

• R - Authorizing Land Bank to dispose of a number of properties located in the  7th District (Sanchez)

⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)

• R - Urging PA General Assembly to reject House Bill 972 intended to prohibit transgender athletes from participating in High School or College sports. (Gilmore-Richardson)

• R- Calling on City to implement minimum Force training for all Police Officers (Oh)

🔏 Contract Authorizations

• B - Authorizing lease at 1101 Market (Squilla)

🏗️ Zoning and Construction

• B- Amending Far Northeast Overlay District (O’Neill)

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 - Authorizing lease at 1101 Market

Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)

• B - Revision of lines and grades

• B - Creating new covered class of airport employees to receive prevailing wages.

• R - Conveyance of land to Land Bank.

Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)

• R - Authorizing conveyance of 5th district land to Land Bank

Councilmember Bobby Henon (D-6th)

• B - Conveyance of City land to Commonwealth of PA near I-95

• B - Grant to PennDot a construction easement near I-95

Councilmember Maria Quinones-Sanchez (D-7th)

• B - Regulating traffic and parking in an area in the 7th District

• R - Authorizing Land Bank to dispose of a number of properties located in the  7th District

Councilmember Cherelle Parker (D-9th)

• B - No truck parking regulation

• B - No truck parking regulation

• B - No parking regulation

• B - No truck parking regulation

• B - Parking regulation

• B - Modifying parking remedies and enforcement charges

Councilmember Brian O’Neill (R-10th)

• B- Amending Far Northeast Overlay District

Councilmember Allan Domb (D-AL)

• B - Addressing off road vehicle use in City of Philadelphia

Councilmember Katherine Gilmore-Richardson (D-AL)

• R - Urging PA General Assembly to reject House Bill 972 intended to prohibit transgender athletes from participating in High School or College sports.

Councilmember David Oh (R-AL)

• R- Calling on City to implement minimum Force training for all Police Officers.

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

Resolutions:

• 🗣️ 210395 (Parker): Urging the United States House of Representatives to pass H.R. 2553, also known as the Real Estate Valuation Fairness and Improvement Act of 2021.

• 🗺️ 210397 (Clarke): Authorizing the transfer of certain city-owned lots located in the Fifth District to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🏆 210398 (Gilmore-Richardson): Honoring and congratulating the Philadelphia High School for Girls Principal Lisa Mesi on winning a 2021 Lindback Award for Distinguished Principals.

• 🏆 210399 (Gilmore-Richardson): Recognizing May 2021 as National Bike Month in the City of Philadelphia.

• 🏆 210400 (Thomas): Honoring Coach Willie “Billy” Void for an impactful life and coaching career of more than 35 years mentoring hundreds of student athletes all across Philadelphia as owner and coach for Positive Image Youth Organization.

• 🏆 210401 (Thomas): Honoring Coach Paul Gripper for a life lived as an outstanding coach and mentor as a pillar of Philadelphia’s basketball community.

• 🗺️  210402 (Squilla): Authorizing the transfer of certain city-owned lots in the 1st Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🗺️ 210403 (Squilla): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2013 E. Hazzard Street.

• 🗺️ 210404 (Bass): Authorizing the transfer of certain city-owned lots in the 8th Councilmanic District to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🏆 210405 (Oh): Proclaiming May 2021 as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Philadelphia to pay tribute to the rich history and significant contributions made by generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to our country, state, and city.

• 🏆 210406 (Gym): Recognizing and honoring Eileen Duffey-Bernt as the 2021 Pennsylvania School Nurse of the Year by the National Association of School Nurses and for a quarter century of serving and relentlessly advocating on behalf of student health and education justice for Philadelphia children.

• 🏆 210### (Johnson): Recognizing Philly Truce App for its work and committment to ending gun violence.

• 🏆 210### (Oh): Recognizing Highway Patrol Officer Andy Chan.

Bills:

• 💸 210139-AA (Green):Amending Chapter 19-500 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Taxes and Rents -General,” by adding required conditions and information for reporting adjustments to taxable income.

📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings

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

Friday, May 7th

• Committee on Global Opportunities & Creative / Innovative Economy, 9:00 a.m. - The Committee will hold public hearings on plans, procedures, and global best practices for restarting the economy in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic. (200339).

• Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, 1:00 PM - The Committee will hold hearings on the City of Philadelphia’s Landmarks and Monuments Review process to propose changes to any landmarks or monuments in Philadelphia that are reminders or symbols of racism or bigotry and consider the proposed renaming of the Winter Street Dog Park, the Rob Stuart Dog Park. (210308 / 210360)

Monday, May 10th

• 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 the Managing Directors Office (operations) and Law Department including: Streets Department, OTIS, Licenses & Inspection, Office of Emergency Management, SEPTA, Fleet, Public Property, Mural Arts, Law Department, Chief Administrative Office, Innovation and Technology, Human Resources, Procurement and the Civil Service Commission.

Tuesday, May 11th

• 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 the School District of Philadelphia and the Community College of Philadelphia. The Committee will also hear public testimony in the afternoon.

Wednesday, May 12th

• 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 the Public Safety and Housing including: the Fire Department, Police Department, Prisons Department, Planning and Development, Zoning and DHCD.

Friday, May 14th

• Committee on Public Health and Human Services, 10:00. a.m. - The Committee will consider an ordinance establishing reporting and employment requirements related to changes in ownership or of the license holder of long-term care facilities and hospitals (210331)

Wednesday, May 19th

• 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 the Independently Elected Row Offices including: the Sheriff’s Office, First Judicial District, District Attorney, and the Office of the Public Defender.

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).

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.