City Hall Roll Call: September 23, 2021

Session Recap:

Today’s City Council Session was a relatively routine affair. The Public Safety Committee reported out of committee a bill that would change the enforcement of certain minor traffic violations in order to address racial disparities in traffic stop enforcement. (Bill No. 210636) Sponsored by Councilmember Thomas, the bill provides that law enforcement would 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 eight “secondary” violations, including things like expired registration sticker or a broken headlight.

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.” The bill will be eligible for a final vote at next week’s Council Stated Meeting.

Councilmember Derek Green introduced a resolution authorizing hearings to explore the implications of bringing Ranked Choice Voting to Philadelphia elections. Green stated that the hearing would be in conjunction with the work of Senator Anthony Williams, who introduced enabling legislation at the state level necessary to implement this election code change in the city.

Lastly, a bill was introduced on behalf of the Kenney Administration that would create a new class of construction license required for mechanical systems contractors.

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 parking in 2nd District. (Johnson)

• Bill regulating parking in 1st District. (Squilla)

🗺️ Land Acquisition / Disposition

• Resolution authorizing conveyance of land to Land Bank in 1st District. (Squilla)

• Resolution authorizing disposal of land by Land Bank in 1st District. (Squilla)

🏗️  Zoning and Construction

• Bill creating license requirements for mechanical system contractors. (Clarke on behalf of Administration).

• Bill changing zoning in area located at 20th and Arch. (Clarke)

• Bill amending height regulations along Benjamin Franklin Parkway. (Clarke)

• Bill amending zoning in area located at Germania and Arendelle Streets. (Henon)

🚓 Public Safety

• Resolution - Authorizing conveyance of land to Land Bank.

• Resolution - Authorizing disposal of land by Land Bank.

⚖️ Privileged Resolutions (Authorizing Hearings / Urging Action)

• Resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to explore the creation of necessary curriculum in local HBCUs to create a feeder program of applicants to the Philadelphia Police Department. (Jones)

• Resolution authorizing the Committee on the Environment to hold hearings on flooding in Eastwick and other vulnerable communities. (Johnson)

• Resolution authorizing the Committee on Law and Government to hold hearings to examine the implications of bringing Ranked Choice Voting to Philadelphia. (Green)

• Resolution authorizing the Committee on Children to hold hearings on funding and programming for out of school activities, to promote the safety and health of children. (Thomas)

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 - Parking regulation in 1st District.

• Resolution - Authorizing conveyance of land to Land Bank.

• Resolution - Authorizing disposal of land by Land Bank.

Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (D-2nd)

• Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on the Environment to hold hearings on flooding in Eastwick and other vulnerable communities.

• Bill - Parking regulation in 2nd District.

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

• Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to explore the creation of necessary curriculum in local HBCUs to create a feeder program of applicants to the Philadelphia Police Department.

Council President Darrell Clarke (D-5th)

• Bill - Creating license requirements for mechanical system contractors. (Administration bill).

• Bill - Zoning change in area located at 20th and Arch.

• Bill - Amending height regulations along Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Councilmember Bobby Henon (D-6th)

• Bill - Amending zoning in area located at Germania and Arendelle Streets.

Councilmember Derek Green (D-AL)

• Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Law and Government to hold hearings to examine the implications of bringing Ranked Choice Voting to Philadelphia.

Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (D-AL)

• Resolution - Authorizing the Committee on Children to hold hearings on funding and programming for out of school activities, to promote the safety and health of children.

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

Resolutions:

• 🏆 210694 (Parker): Recognizing Joseph T. Ashdale, Jr., Chairman, and Karen M. Wrigley O.D. upon their retirement from the Board of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

• 🗣️ 210696 (Gilmore-Richardson): Calling on Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act to provide resources to Philadelphia and cities like it to combat climate change while creating jobs and fostering local economic development.

• 🗣️ 210697 (Gym): Denouncing attacks on efforts to address systemic racism in the United States and urging the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to reject House Bill 1532.

• 🏆 210699 (Henon): Honoring Gregory Bucceroni for his dedication to community safety.

• 🏆 210701 (Henon): Recognizing September 2021 as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

• 🏆 210704 (Jones): Supporting the National Minority Business Development Agency and recognizing October 4 through October 8, 2021 as Philadelphia Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week.

• 🔏 210706 (Green): Initiating action to continue a business improvement district encompassing certain existing and future hotel properties within the boundaries of the City of Philadelphia (the “City”), known as the Philadelphia Hospitality Improvement Levy District (the “District”).

• 🗣️ 210707 (Green): Calling upon the Congress of the United States to enact the ABLE Age Adjustment Act, offered by Senator Bob Casey, which would increase from 26 to 46 the age threshold at which individuals with disabilities could save into tax-favored accounts to pay for disability-related expenses.

• 🏆 210708 (Green): Honoring and congratulating Philly Counts for their indispensable contribution to the 2020 Census and their service to the residents and City of Philadelphia.

• 🗣️ 210709 (Brooks): Urging the U.S. Congress to pass Joint Resolution 21, known as the “Abolition Amendment,” to strike the “Slavery Clause” from the 13th Amendment.

• 🏆 210710 (Gauthier): Honoring the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary.

• 🏆 210711 (Thomas): Honoring and congratulating the Champion of the Week Imhotep Charter Girls’ basketball teams for winning their Philadelphia Public League Championship title games for the 2020-2021 season.

• 🏆 210712 (Squilla): Recognizing and honoring the 9-11 DelVal (Delaware Valley Youth Athletic Association) girls on the occasion of them winning the Pennsylvania Little League State Championships in Williamsport, PA.

• 🏆 210713 (Squilla): Recognizing and honoring the long-standing tradition of the Ss. Neumann Goretti vs Southern Thanksgiving Day game which has been a Thanksgiving Day staple in South Philadelphia for over 80 years.

• 🏆 201714 (Bass): Observing the Twentieth Anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001.

• 🏆 201715 (Bass): Observing Diaper Need Awareness Week from September 27, 2021 to October 3, 2021.

• 🏆 210716 (Bass): Also naming the 1100 Block of Chelten Avenue “George James Way”, to recognize and honor the impact that George James, a local boxing trainer, had on his community.

• 🏆 210718 (Bass): Rededicating Allen Lane in West Mt. Airy to the memory of Richard Allen, in honor of his contributions to racial justice in Philadelphia and beyond.

• 🏆 210720 (Oh): Recognizing September 2021 as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in Philadelphia in honor of childhood cancer patients, care givers, survivors, and those children who have succumbed to the disease.

• 🏆 210721 (Oh): Recognizing October 2021 as Filipino American History Month in the City of Philadelphia.

• 🏆 210722 (Oh): Recognizing and honoring the 211th Anniversary of Mexico's Independence Day.

• 🏆 210723 (Oh): Recognizing September as National Recovery Month in Philadelphia and celebrating the 20th Annual PRO-ACT Recovery Walks!.

• 🏆 210724 (Oh): Recognizing, honoring, and celebrating the Philadelphia Second Alarmers on the occasion of their 100th Anniversary.

• ⚖️ 210### (Jones): Resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold hearings to explore the creation of necessary curriculum in local HBCUs to create a feeder program of applicants to the Philadelphia Police Department.

• ⚖️ 210### (Johnson): Resolution authorizing the Committee on the Environment to hold hearings on flooding in Eastwick and other vulnerable communities.

• ⚖️ 210### (Green): Resolution authorizing the Committee on Law and Government to hold hearings to examine the implications of bringing Ranked Choice Voting to Philadelphia.

• ⚖️ 210### (Thomas): Resolution authorizing the Committee on Children to hold hearings on funding and programming for out of school activities, to promote the safety and health of children.

📆 Upcoming City Council Public Hearings

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

Wednesday, September 29th

• Committee on Fiscal Stability and Intergovernmental Cooperation, 10:00 a.m. - The quarterly hearing including monthly reporting requirements, to discuss the fiscal position and overarching social impact goals of the City, including and as related to the Five-Year Plan and the reporting requirements set forth in the Quarterly City Manager’s Report (“QCMR”) and as submitted to the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (“PICA”).