City Hall Roll Call: October 21, 2021

Session Recap:

Today’s Council session wrapped up in record time, with no reports from committee and a very short final passage calendar consisting only of honorary resolutions. The speed and volume of council business is expected to tick up considerably the next few weeks as it heads into its final six sessions before the winter recess.

After weeks of languishing without a committee assignment, Councilman Domb’s bills to make permanent the City’s pandemic-inspired streeteries were assigned to the Streets Committee. The bills, alongside the alternative temporary extension offered by the Council President, are tentatively scheduled for a hearing on November 9th.

City restaurants have been circulating an online petition, “Save Outdoor Dining,” to garner support for the Domb measures. However, the Council President has voiced concerns about the bills, which would delegate approval authority to city agencies, rather than City Council. The next few weeks should prove pivotal in determining the future of outdoor dining in Philadelphia and which bills have the nine votes needed to pass the body.

While little official business was on today’s calendar, the Council session was dominated by somber and emotional speeches about the city’s raging gun violence epidemic. Councilmembers shared their frustration and sadness, calling for an “all hands on deck” approach to addressing the issues, including a bigger role by the Philadelphia School District. Councilmember Cindy Bass expressed her bewilderment about the lack of safety felt by many in the city, asking a police captain overseeing a part of her council district “Who is in charge in this city? It feels as if people can do anything and get away with it." With lots of frustration and no new solutions to the raging epidemic emerging, Council stands adjourned until Thursday, October 28th 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 establishing parking regulation in 4th District. (Jones)

• Bill establishing parking regulation in 6th District. (Henon)

🔏 Contract Authorization

• Resolution approving redevelopment contract for urban renewal area in 5th District. (Clarke)

🗺️ Land Disposition / Acquisition

• Resolution authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of property located in the 1st Councilmanic District. (Squilla)

⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)

• Resolution authorizing the Committees on Public Health and Children to hold hearings to examine the systemic failures that resulted in three girls being returned to their abusive father. (Johnson)

• Resolution urging Congress to not cut $5 billion in targeted anti-violence dollars from the Build Back Better Act. (Johnson)

• Resolution - Authorizing the Committees on Transportation and Public Safety to hold hearings on the safety at SEPTA stations and facilities. (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)

• Resolution - Authorizing the Land Bank to dispose of property located in the 1st Councilmanic District.

Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)

• Resolution - Authorizing the Committees on Public Health and Children to hold hearings to examine the systemic failures that resulted in three girls being returned to their abusive father. (Resolution was later withdrawn).

• Resolution - Urging Congress to not cut $5 billion in targeted anti-violence dollars from the Build Back Better Act.

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

• Bill - Establishing parking regulation in 4th District.

Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)

• Resolution - Approving redevelopment contract for urban renewal area in 5th District.

Councilmember Bobby Henon (D-6th)

• Bill - Establishing parking regulation in 6th District.

Councilmember David Oh (R-AL)

• Resolution - Authorizing the Committees on Transportation and Public Safety to hold hearings on ongoing issues of public safety at SEPTA stations and aboard SEPTA vehicles.

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

Resolutions:

• 🏆 210832 (Clarke): Honoring and congratulating Dawn Staley for coaching the 2021 Olympic Gold Medal Winning U.S. Women’s Basketball Team.

• 🏆 210833 (Gilmore-Richardson): Recognizing October 21, 2021 as Conflict Resolution Day.

• 🏆 210834 (Gilmore-Richardson): Recognizing and congratulating Shervon Thompson for her historic appointment as the first Alumna Principal of The Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical Education High School.

• 🏆 210835 (Gym): Honoring and congratulating Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor for being named a 2021 MacArthur “Genius” Fellow for her innovative scholarship on Black social movements and racial inequality in the United States and her critical examination of race, exploitation, and redlining in American housing policies and practices.

• 🏆 210836 (Jones): Recognizing and thanking the many faith-based organizations across the City-synagogues, churches, and mosques-for their activism and service to the public throughout the pandemic in providing the citizens of Philadelphia with food, personal protective equipment and COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

• 🏆 210837 (Green): Recognizing and congratulating Richard Schuettler upon the occasion of his retirement from the Pennsylvania Municipal League after 20 years, and even longer dedication to efficient, effective, decent governance across the Commonwealth.

• 🏆 210839 (Domb): Honoring Angelo Cataldi, on the occasion of the announcement of his retirement as co-host of the WIP Morning Show and for invigorating the passionate fan culture of Philadelphia throughout his illustrious career in Philadelphia sports radio.

• 🗣️ 210840 (Oh): Calling on the City of Philadelphia to issue a reward for information leading to an arrest in the arson case which victimized Sonja Brigham, an outspoken anti-drug and anti-violence block captain in the Harrowgate section of Northeast Philadelphia.

• ⚖️ 210### (Oh): Resolution authorizing the Committees on Transportation and Public Safety to hold hearings on ongoing issues of public safety at SEPTA stations and aboard SEPTA vehicles.

📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings

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

Wednesday, October 21st

Committee on Commerce & Economic Development, 9:00 AM - the committee will hear two bills related to M/W/DSBE participation standards (210632) and the provision of information regarding tangled title (210671) and a resolution on the economic impact of the film industry in Philadelphia.

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.

Friday, October 29th

Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless, 9:00 AM - the committee will conduct hearings to identify barriers and solutions to permanently preserving community gardens and open spaces in the City of Philadelphia.

Monday, November 1st

Committee on Public Safety, 1:00 PM - the committee will consider a bill authorizing Public Safety Officers to authorize the removal of abandoned vehicles. (210838)