City Hall Roll Call: October 14, 2021

Session Recap:

After a lengthy and passionate debate, City Council voted to pass Councilmember Thomas’ “Driving Equality” legislative package. Under the newly passed bills, local law enforcement will only be able to stop drivers for “primary” offenses - traditional moving violations, like speeding, failure to stop at a stop sign, or suspected inebriation. Under the law, officers would not be authorized to stop a driver based solely on one of seven “secondary” violations, including things like expired registration sticker or a broken headlight. The Police Department will also be required to collect and make public robust data around traffic stops conducted in the city.

Thomas has defended the legislation as an important tool to ending pretextual vehicle stops and contends that “this would not make Philly less safe, it would make us more equitable.” During today’s session, Councilmember Oh was a vocal opponent of the measures, stating that they allowing improperly registered vehicles on the road would impact the insurance coverage of the vehicles, thereby putting the public at risk. Prompted by a letter from State Representative Martina White, Councilmember Oh also raised questions regarding the legality of the measures, noting that the City was not authorized to enact legislation regarding topics covered by the state’s motor vehicle code. In response, Councilmember Thomas stated that he worked closely with both the City Solicitor and Philadelphia Police Department’s legal teams and was confident in the packages legality.

After multiple Councilmembers weighed in with concerns and questions, the Chief Clerk called both bills up for a final vote. Bill 210636-A which prohibits stops for certain secondary offenses passed 14-2, with Councilmembers Oh and O’Neill voting no. Bill 210635, which requires the Police Department collect data around vehicle stops, passed 15-1, with Councilmember Oh voting no. The data collection bill will be effective upon the Mayor’s signature, with the changes to traffic stops going into effect 120 days after the Mayor signs it into law.

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

• Bill revising lines and grades in the 3rd Councilmanic District. (Gauthier)

📛 Board / Commission Appointments

• Resolution confirming the reappointment of Brian McCormick to the Board of Ethics. (Clarke)

• Resolution approving the appointment of McCullough Williams, III to the Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board. (Clarke)

💸 Finance

• Bill authorizing issuance of bonds to provide funds to the City / Sinking fund commission. (Clarke)

🏗️  Zoning and Construction

• Bill amending Center City Overlay. (Squilla)

⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)

• Resolution authorizing the Committee on Housing to conduct hearings to identify barriers and solutions to permanently preserving community gardens. (Brooks)

• Resolution calling on the City to issue reward for info related to arrest of arson of a block Captain’s home in Harrowgate. (Oh)

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 - Amending Center City overlay.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd)

• Bill - Revising lines and grades in the 3rd Councilmanic District.

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

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

Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)

• Resolution - Confirming the reappointment of Brian McCormick to the Board of Ethics.

• Resolution - Approving the appointment of McCullough Williams, III to the Sewer and Storm Water Rate Board.

• Bill - Authorizing issuance of bonds to provide funds to the City / Sinking fund commission.

Councilmember Kendra Brooks (I-AL)

• Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Housing to conduct hearings to identify barriers and solutions to permanently preserving community gardens.

Councilmember David Oh (R-AL)

• Resolution - Calling on the City to issue reward for info related to arrest of arson of a block Captain’s home in Harrowgate.

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

Resolutions:

• 🏆 210809 (Parker): Recognizing October 18-24, 2021 as National Estate Planning Awareness Week.

• 🏆 210811 (Johnson): Recognizing the 7th Ward Tribute, an artistic installation project paying homage to the remarkable Black history of Philadelphia's 7th Ward, for its dedication to preserving Black history and culture in Philadelphia.

• 🏆 210812 (Johnson): Honoring Anne Ewers, on the occasion of her retirement as President and CEO of the Kimmel Center, Inc., for 14 years of outstanding service to the Philadelphia cultural community and to the entire City of Philadelphia.

• 🏆 210813 (Johnson): Also naming the 2000 block of Christian Street “Father John Van de Paer Way” to honor the life and legacy of Father John Van de Paer.

• 🏆 210814 (Johnson): Also naming the 2300 block of South 21st Street “Ronald R. Donatucci Sr. Way” to honor the life and legacy of Ronald R. Donatucci, Senior.

• 🏆 210816 (Thomas): Honoring and congratulating Champion of the Week, Northeast High School Boys Volleyball team, on their successful 2020-2021 season and their Philadelphia Public League Championship win.

• 🗺️ 210817 (Squilla): Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 2553 Kern Street located in the 1st Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code.

• 🏆 210818 (Squilla): Designating the week of Sunday, October 10 through Saturday, October 16, 2021 as “Italian American Heritage Week” in the City of Philadelphia and honoring Joe Piscopo as the Grand Marshall of the 2021 Philadelphia Italian American Parade.

• 🏆 210819 (Bass): Honoring Frances Piller for her dedicated service to the City of Philadelphia.

• 🗣️ 210820 (Oh): Calling on the U.S. Department of Education to resolve bureaucratic errors within the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program which have led to the exclusion of qualified veterans and other public servants.

• ⚖️ 210### (Brooks): Resolution authorizing the Committee on Housing to conduct hearings to identify barriers and solutions to permanently preserving community gardens.

Bills:

• 🚓 210636-A (Thomas): Amending the “Traffic Code,” to clarify the appropriate methods and circumstances of enforcement of traffic violations in order to provide for the fair and transparent administration of the traffic violations, prevent racial disparities, and protect public safety.

• 🚓 210635 (Thomas): Amending the “Traffic Code,” to require the maintenance and reporting of certain information related to vehicle stops.

• 💸 210681 (Clarke): Approving the 2021-2022 Neighborhood Preservation Initiative Program Statement and Budget, which addresses the expenditure of $100 million by various agencies in the first year of the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative Program, and approving a Substantial Amendment to the Annual Action Plan 2021-2022, the City’s consolidated housing and housing-related expenditures plan, to incorporate the Program Statement and Budget into the Action Plan.

• 🔏 210682 (Clarke): Authorizing the City Treasurer, on behalf of the City, to enter into an amendment to an agreement with Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania for provision of payroll banking services to the City.

• 💸 210684 (Green): Authorizing, generally, the continued issuance and sale by the City of Philadelphia of Gas Works Revenue Notes of the City.

📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings

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

Tuesday, October 19th

Committee on Rules, 10:00 AM - the Rules Committee will consider a bill creating a “Mixed Income Neighborhoods Overlay District.” (210633)

Wednesday, October 20th

Committee on Housing, 10:00 AM - the Housing Committee will hold a hearing to discuss the impact of tangled titles in Philadelphia.

Committee on Intergenerational Affairs & Aging, 2:00 PM - the Committee on Intergenerational Affairs will hold a hearing examining solutions to the ongoing housing crisis impacting senior Philadelphians.

Tuesday, October 26th

Committee on Rules, 10:00 AM - the Rules Committee will consider eleven (11) bills amending zoning maps throughout the city, creating new overlays and amending parking requirements in historical districts.