City Hall Roll Call: November 18th, 2021

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.

Session Recap:

Today’s City Council session was the first after a federal jury convicted Councilmember Bobby Henon (D-6th) on ten of eighteen criminal charges. As reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Prosecutors argued Dougherty controlled Henon through a $70,000 a year salary for a no-show Local 98 job. In exchange, prosecutors said Henon would use his power in City Hall to bully Dougherty’s enemies and do his bidding.”

Under the law, Councilman Henon is not required to resign from the seat until he is sentenced, which is scheduled for February. Henon told reporters that his intention was to “continue to serve” until a transition plan could be put in place for his successor. In the meantime, in a memo circulated to Councilmembers, Council President Clarke announced that Henon had given up his committee assignments. Henon previously served as Chair of the Licenses and Inspection and Public Property committees, and Vice-Chair of the Finance and Public Health and Human Services committees.

The next City Council elections will take place in spring of 2023, so it is likely that the Council President will call for a special election in order to have someone serve out Henon’s remaining term. In Philadelphia, Democratic and Republican City Committee leadership will chose the respective nominees. Typically, when a special election is held for a district seat, it is the Ward Leaders within that district that will handpick the party nominee.

In terms of regular business, today’s Council session proceed as usual. Councilmember Parker introduced a bill that could impact commercial landlords, by requiring them to make certain disclosures to tenants in order to notify them of their rights. Councilmember Gym also introduced a measure related to the city’s nationally recognized Tenant Eviction Program.

Council stands adjourned until December 2nd at 10 a.m.

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.

🚦Streets

• Bill regulating traffic flow. (Parker)

• Bill regulating traffic flow. (Parker)

• Bill authorizing encroachment in 4th District. (Jones)

• Bill authorizing a bike lane on Chestnut Street starting at 63rd Street. (Gauthier)

• Bill revising contractor parking permit system. (Clarke / Admin.)

• Bill regulating parking in the 5th District. (Clarke)

• Bill amending Bill No. 200423 regarding a building ramp encroachment. (Squilla)

• Bill amending Bill No. 200092 regarding building ramp encroachment. (Squilla)

• Bill aauthorizing encroachments on N. Broad Street. (Squilla)

🏠 Housing

• Bill - Amending eviction diversion program.

🏗️ Construction / Zoning

• Bill amending zoning designation in NE Philadelphia. (Henon)

• Bill amending zoning designation in 4th District. (Jones)

• Bill amending zoning maps in South Philly. (Squilla)

💼 Business Regulation

• Bill requiring commercial lessors to make certain disclosures and provide protections to tenants. (Parker)

• Bill prohibiting casino style or skill games not otherwise authorized by state of PA. (Jones)

🔏 Contract Authorization

• Bill authorizing the procurement commissioner to enter into concession agreement. (Clarke / Admin).

• Bill authorizing procurement commissioner to purchase electricity and motor fuel. (Johnson)

🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition

• Resolution transferring land to PRA in 5th District. (Clarke)

⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)

• Resolution calling on PA General Assembly to adopt a host of resolutions and bills related to environmental justice. (Gilmore-Richardson)

• Resolution urging US Congress to pass to HB 5768. (Johnson)

• Resolution recognizing and determining that Bill 210778 remains under active consideration by council. (Gauthier)

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 - Revising contractor parking permit system. (Clarke / Admin.)

• Bill - Regulating parking in the 5th District. (Clarke)

• Bill - Amending Bill No. 200423 regarding a building ramp encroachment.

• Bill - Amending Bill No. 200092 regarding building ramp encroachment.

• Bill - Authorizing encroachments on N. Broad Street.

• Bill - Amending zoning maps in South Philly.

Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)

• Bill - Authorizing the procurement commissioner to enter into concession agreement. (Clarke / Admin).

• Bill - Authorizing procurement commissioner to purchase electricity and motor fuel.

• Resolution - Urging US Congress to pass to HB 5768.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)

• Bill - Authorizing a bike lane on Chestnut Street starting at 63rd Street.

• Resolution - Recognizing and determining that Bill 210778 remains under active consideration by council.

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

• Bill - Authorizing encroachment in 4th District.

• Bill - Amending zoning designation in 4th District.

• Bill - Prohibiting casino style or skill games not otherwise authorized by state of PA.

Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)

• Resolution - Transferring land to PRA in 5th District.

Councilmember Bobby Henon (D-6th)

• Bill - Amending zoning designation in NE Philadelphia.

Councilmember Cherelle Parker (D-9th)

• Bill - Requiring commercial lessors to make certain disclosures and provide protections to tenants.

• Bill - Regulating traffic flow.

• Bill - Regulating traffic flow.

Councilmember Katharine Gilmore-RIchardson (D-AL)

• Resolution - Calling on PA General Assembly to adopt a host of resolutions and bills related to environmental justice.

Councilmember Helen Gym (D-AL)

• Bill - Amending eviction diversion program.

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

Resolutions:

• 🏆 210849 (Gilmore-Richardson): Recognizing, honoring, and congratulating Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Omega Omega Chapter on its 95th Anniversary.

• 🏆 210904 (Parker): Declaring each Friday in December of 2021 as “Shop Black Business Friday” in the City of Philadelphia.

• 🏆 210905 (Gilmore-Richardson): Recognizing November 15 through November 21, 2021 as National Apprenticeship Week and honoring ApprenticeshipPHL for its continued commitment to connecting Philadelphians to family-supporting careers.

• 🏆 210906 (Gym): Honoring and recognizing Stephen F. Gold, Esq. for his pathbreaking achievements in civil rights litigation.

• 🗺️ 210907 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Authorizing Public Property to convey title to 303-07 W. Berks Street and 1925 N. 5th Street to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🗺️ 210908 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2003 N. Orkney Street, 2039 E. Fletcher Street and 2913 N. Orkney Street located in the 7th Councilmanic District.

• 🗺️ 210909 (Quiñones-Sánchez): Authorizing Public Property to convey title to 167 E. Lippincott Street, 508 E. Cambria Street and 3217 Shelbourne Street to the Philadelphia Land Bank.

• 🏆 210910 (Domb): Recognizing the week of November 8, 2021 as Global Entrepreneurship Week (“GEW”) and celebrating the small business community and the impact of the entrepreneurial spirit on Philadelphia’s economy.

• 🏆 210911 (Domb): Honoring Villanova University basketball coach Jay Wright upon his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and his many contributions to the Philadelphia region’s dynamic sports scene.

• 🏆 210915 (Oh): Honoring, recognizing, and celebrating William W. Bodine High School for International Affairs on the occasion of its 40th Anniversary.

• 🏆 210### (Brooks): Rec'g work of attorney and grassroots community activist Leon A. Williams, Esq.

📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings

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

Monday, November 22nd

Committee on Rules, 10:00 AM - the Committee will consider eight bills related to the revision of zoning maps and overlays and a bill to continue the Philadelphia Hospitality Improvement Levy District.

Tuesday, November 23rd

Committee on Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation, 9:30 AM - the Committee will hold its quarterly hearing to discuss the fiscal position and overarching social impact goals of the City. (200406)

Wednesday, November 24th

Committee on Global Opportunities & Creative/Innovative Economy, 2:00 PM - the Committee will receive the report of the Arts and Culture task force, to learn about its findings and the actions thus far taken, and to review the impact of this work on the vital arts and culture sector in the City of Philadelphia (210881)