December 13, 2024
A total of 23 bills and resolutions from the December 12 final passage calendar were approved. The most notable bills and resolutions approved by Council was:
- Resolution #241120, introduced by Councilmember Jefferey Young, 5th District, for Council President Kenyatta Johnson, 2nd District, thanking Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro for flexing $153 million in federal highway funds to SEPTA.
- Resolution #241121 (Young) calling on the Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections to halt any potential demolition plans to the iconic Joe Frazier’s Gym on North Broad Street; and calling on the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and all other associated parties to identify alternative uses for Joe Frazier’s Gym.
- Resolution #241123, introduced by Councilmember Kendra Brooks, At-Large, for President Johnson, calling on the Pennsylvania Attorney General to investigate building code requirements affecting community-based housing and to provide strategies to ensure equitable, inclusive, and accessible housing for people with disabilities.
- Resolution #241125, introduced by Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke for President Johnson, urging Pennsylvania State Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats to write and pass bipartisan legislation that will provide necessary funding for SEPTA.
- Bill #241055, introduced by Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson for Council President Johnson, that amends the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Packer Avenue, Seventh Street, Pattison Avenue, and Darien Street. To amend Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code by adding Section 14-541 entitled “/PAK, Packer Avenue Overlay District” and making other related changes.
- Bill #241063, introduced by Councilmember Mark Squilla, 1st District, amending Title 12 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Traffic Code,” to create smart loading zones and a camera-based enforcement systems for designated parking violations, revise the procedures for identifying and handling stolen vehicles prior to towing, amend the parking violations subject to towing, and make related technical changes.
Bill #240664, introduced by Councilmember Quetcy Lozada (7th District), which will amending Title 10 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Regulation of Individual Conduct and Activity,” by adding prohibitions and penalties related to litter near mobile providers of goods, was held by the sponsor and could come up for a final passage vote on December 19. in terms and conditions.
The other resolutions and bills that were approved on final passage on December 12 were #241117 (introduced by Councilmember Curtis Jones, 4th District); #241126 (introduced by Councilmember Mike Driscoll, 6th District, for President Johnson); #240612 (introduced by Squilla and Lozada); #240871 (introduced by Councilmember Anthony Phillips, 9th District); #241054 (Phillips); #241058 (Lozada); #241059 (Young); #241025 (introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, 3rd District); #241029 (Gauthier); #241031 (introduced by Councilmember Cindy Bass, 8th District, for Squilla); #241050 (Lozada for President Johnson); #241051 (Young); #241052 (Young); #241053 (Young); #241061 (introduced by Councilmember Brian O’Neill, 10th District); #240430 (Driscoll for President Johnson); and #240932 (Gilmore Richardson for Squilla).
COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE VOTES OUT 12 SIXERA ARENA BILLS THIS WEEK
Years after the concept of a Sixers Arena in Center City was first announced and after weeks of public hearings in City Council on the proposal, Council’s Committee of the Whole, made up of all 17 members of Council and chaired by President Johnson, voted out of committee eight critical pieces of Sixers Arena legislation that makes the proposed $1.3 Billion one major step closer to reality.
The Committee of the Whole voted out of committee on December 12 Bills #240966, #240967, #240968, #240969, #240970, #240971, #240972 and #240973 each by a vote of 12-4 with Minority Leader Kendra Brooks was absent. The four no votes were Councilmembers Gauthier, Rue Landau (At-Large), Young and O’Rourke. All the other members in attendance voted yes.
The crowd at the packed Committee hearing was raucous from the start with anti-arena supporters stomping their feet, chanting and playing musical instruments. Supporters of the arena burst into applause following the vote and members building trades unions cheering.
Since mid-November through December 3rd, Council’s Committee of the Whole held eight days of hearings concerning the proposed Sixers Arena to be located in Councilmember Squilla’s 1st District.
Since December 3rd, Councilmembers have been in negotiations with Sixers officials to address concerns expressed during the hearings by Councilmembers and the public and it lead up to the committee vote this week.
“We’re the largest poor city in America, and this [proposed arena] is an opportunity for us to revitalize Center City,” Johnson said this week. “We also had opportunity to balance the interests of all parties who are concerned regarding this proposal before us.”
In the final days of negotiations, Johnson pushed for the Sixers to increase how much they paid into the project’s Community Benefits Agreement. The team initially offered $50 Million and now the final agreement is now $60 Million much of which will be used to aid the Chinatown community that will be impacted by the construction and operation of the arena.
Apart from the CBA, Mayor Cherelle Parker also pledged to invest $20 million in city resources to support affordable housing in Chinatown as part of the deal. The pledge came in a letter sent to Councilmembers Jessie Lawrence, Director of the City’s Department of Planning and Development.
In a written statement, Parker praised the Council committee vote and President Johnson and Squilla.
“They’ve been accessible and willing to communicate at all times, and I thank them for all of their intergovernmental collaboration,” she said. “Council President Johnson’s stewardship and management of this complex process was beyond reproach.” The mayor also thanked every member who voted for the legislation by name.
After the vote, Councilmembers Gauthier and Landau issued a joint statement saying “….it is deplorable to learn the 76ers and their billionaire owners think our communities are worth only $60 million over 30 years. They recently gave a single athlete (Joel Embiid) $193 million over 3 years. “The final deal does not do enough to offset the harm the arena will inflict on Chinatown, Washington Square West, the Gayborhood, and communities across our city.”
Gauthier and Landau said “the only silver lining in this process has been Council President Johnson and Councilmember Squilla’s around-the-clockwork to bring the 76ers to the table. We are grateful for their leadership and our vote should not be mistaken for a lack of trust or confidence in them.”
Brooks (At-Large) and O’Rourke (At-Large) said in a joint statement that “the fight is not over…over the next week, we will explore every option at our disposal to continue making the case to all of Philadelphia that this is a bad deal for the city.”
Squilla introduced 13 pieces of legislation on October 24 to start the arena discussion process. The legislation are Bills #240963, #240964, #240965, #240966, #240967, #240968, #240969, #240970, #240971, #240972, #240973 and Resolutions #240999 and #241000.
During the arena deliberation process, Bills #240963 (the Tax Increment Finance bill), and #240964 (the Arena Services District Authority bill) and #240965 (Philadelphia Chinatown Overlay District) were scheduled for a final passage vote on December 12. All three bills were amended by Squilla this week and all Sixers arena related bills are now scheduled for final passage vote during a special session of Council on December 19.
MAJORITY LEADER GILMORE RICHARDSON ANNOUNCES FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF CITY COUNCIL’S NON-PROFIT PROVIDER TASK FORCE
Majority Leader Gilmore-Richardson stood alongside Councilmembers, Parker Administration officials and representatives from Philadelphia’s non-profit community this week to release a long-anticipated report from City Council’s Non-Profit Provider Task Force (Task Force).
The Task Force was established following legislation (Resolution No. 240614) introduced by Gilmore Richardson seeking to significantly improve the way the City of Philadelphia does business with non-profit service providers.
Made up of members from the non-profit sector and various City departments, this Task Force was responsible for reviewing the City’s contract and procurement processes with non-profit providers in addition to proposing recommendations for improved business practices.
“Although we are concluding the important work of the Non-Profit Provider Task Force, I am more committed than ever to continuing to work collaboratively with Mayor Parker and her Administration, my colleagues in City Council, as well as our non-profit partners to ensure that we address the issues non-profit vendors have faced for decades as they seek to do business with the City of Philadelphia,” Gilmore Richardson said. “This includes addressing the findings outlined in the Task Force’s report both legislatively and budgetarily.
Philadelphia’s diverse non-profit community plays a vital role in assisting City government in addressing some of our most pressing issues. By working together, we will be one step closer to improving procurement and business services not only for our non-profit partners, but for all vendors who compete for contracts with the City.”
The Non-Profit Task Force report is available here.
COUNCILMEMBERS HELP THE SALVATION ARMY OF PHILADELPHIA AS PART OF THE ORGANIZATION’S RED KETTLE BELL RINGER CAMPAIGN
Philadelphia City Councilmember Lozada (7th District) has been among the Councilmembers outside of City Hall this holiday season helping raise money for the Salvation Army. The Red Kettle campaign continues nationwide until Christmas Eve (December 24).
The Salvation Army, which started in Philadelphia in 1879, raised over $143,000 last year in the Greater Philadelphia area and the funding helps provide housing and supportive services to low-income senior citizens and adults overcoming substance abuse issues, serious and persistent mental health issues, and physical disabilities. The funding also benefits survivors of human trafficking, as well as families experiencing homelessness.
The donations in 2023 helped provide nearly one million meals, more than 190,000 nights of lodging, and distribute nearly 13,000 toys to children in the Philadelphia region during the holiday season. This year, The Salvation Army says it can double their red kettle raising income if they have enough volunteers to ring the bell at the 60-80 locations throughout Philadelphia.
The public can still place money inside the Red Kettle, but now you can also give digital donations called “tip tap.” There is a large white sign attached to the red kettle, and it has three little boxes attached to it. People can utilize their credit card, their debit card, or their phone to donate at the red kettle in that way.
Individuals, families, churches, organizations and others looking to participate in the bell ringing tradition in Philadelphia can still register by going here.
Councilmembers Driscoll and Brooks are scheduled to staff the kettle outside City hall sometime next week.
THE NEXT COUNCIL SESSION WILL BE ON DECEMBER 19
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall. It is a special session of Council and will be the final session of Council for 2024.
Tune in by watching Xfinity Channel 64 and Fios Channel 40 if you have cable TV in Philadelphia, stream online at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch or listen to WURD Radio (900 AM/96.1 FM) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Source: phlcouncil.com…