WEEKLY REPORT – COUNCIL APPROVES BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS DURING THE MARCH 20 COUNCIL SESSION

Philadelphia City Council approved three bills and nine resolutions at this week’s Council session

The following bills were approved:

• Bill #240427-AA, introduced by Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. (5th District) that will amend Section 14-305 of the Philadelphia Code entitled “Nonconformities,” by providing further provisions on changes from non-conforming uses. The bill was approved 15-2 with Councilmembers Anthony Phillips (9th District) and Rue Landau (At-Large) voting no. The bill only applies to properties in the 5th, 8th and 10th Councilmanic Districts. Other district councilmembers removed their parts of the city from the bill.
• Bill #250100, introduced by Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District), that authorized encroachments in a sidewalk café in the 4th District.
• Bill #250147, introduced by Councilmember Anthony Phillips (9th District), authorizing a church in the 9th District to install, own and maintain an encroachment.
• Bill #250066, introduced by Councilmember Jim Harrity (At-Large), that would change Chapter 11-200 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Openings and Excavations in the Streets,” to impose additional penalties on violators of underground permitting requirements, was amended on the floor and will not be eligible for a final passage vote during the March 27 City Council session.

Bills #240427-AA, #250100 and #250147 now go to Mayor Cherelle Parker for either her signature or veto.

Some of the resolutions approved this week were:

• Resolution #250221, sponsored by Landau (At-Large), condemning the President Donald Trump Administration for its reprehensible actions to drastically defund the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development which will have a devastating effect on the enforcement of fair housing laws, damage communities, and escalate the affordable housing crisis.
• Resolution #250248, sponsored by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (At-Large), that authorizes the Committee on Legislative Oversight to hold hearings on the status, conditions, operations, and economic factors at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to ensure the future of this City cornerstone as we prepare to welcome the world in 2026.

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LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO REPEAL BILLS APPROVED LAST YEAR FOR A POTENTIAL SIXERS ARENA IN CENTER CITY

Councilmember Mark Squilla (1st District) introduced Bills #250242, #250243 and #250244 that will start the process of repealing all the legislation approved last December allowing the Philadelphia Sixers to build an arena in Center City along East Market Street.

Just a few weeks later in January of this year, Mayor Parker and City officials announced that the Sixers has reached an agreement with Comcast Spectacor to build a new arena in the Sports Complex in South Philadelphia.

The Sixers play at the Wells Fargo Center (WFC), owned by Comcast Spectacor, which is located in the Sports Complex.

Council hold a Committee hearing on the repeal bills, vote them out of committee and have the full Council vote on the three bills before they go to Mayor Parker’s desk for her expected signature. Final passage of the repeal bills are expected to happen as soon as possible.

Council must approve new legislation for the South Philadelphia arena, which will now be located in Council President Johnson’s Second District.

After the Council session, Johnson said he has no timetable when the new Sixers legislation for a South Philadelphia arena will be introduced.

Councilmember Brian O’ Neill (10th District) introduced Bill #250246, which would amend Chapter 12-900 (“Рarking Regulations and Penalties”) and Chapter 12-2800 (“Administrative Adjudication of Parking Violations”) of The Philadelphia Code by revising penalties related to parking certain large vehicles, including boats, motor homes, house coaches, house trailers, truck campers, recreational cargo trailers, and recreational trailers, under certain terms. This bill will be sent to a Council committee for a hearing.

For a complete rundown of all resolutions and bills introduced or approved this week, go to City Council’s Legislative Information Center.

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CITY COUNCIL HELD FOUR COMMITTEE HEARINGS THIS WEEK

The Joint City Council Committees on Public Safety and Public Health and Human Services started the hearing schedule this week discussing Resolution #240703, which investigated the effectiveness and potential expansion of mobile mental health units administered by the City’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services.

Councilmembers Curtis Jones, Jr. (4th District) and Dr. Nina Ahmad (At-Large) are the chairs of the Public Safety and the Public Health Committees, respectively.

The Joint Council Committees on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless and Licenses and Inspections (L&I) on March 18 heard testimony about Resolution #240267 examining the conditions of rental housing, rental code enforcement, and the need for rental repairs throughout Philadelphia.

Councilmembers Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) and Mike Driscoll (6th District) are the chairs of the Housing and L and I Committees, respectively.

City Council’s final two Committee hearings for the week happened on March 19. The Committee on Technology and Information Services, chaired by Landau (At-Large), discussed Resolution #250059 regarding the operation of the Philadelphia 311 non-emergency hotline and its engagement with City departments.

The Rules Committee, chaired by Majority Deputy Whip Cindy Bass (8th District) voted out Bill #240333, which would amend Section 14-533 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “/MIN, Mixed Income Neighborhoods Overlay District,” to update the illustrative maps to reflect recent redistricting changes. Bill #240333 had a first reading at the March 20 City Council session and can come up for a final passage vote as soon as the March 27 session.

Council’s Committee on Public Property and Public Works cancelled its hearing that was scheduled for March 17. The Committee was scheduled to hear testimony on Bills #250067, #250068 and #250149. No word yet when a new hearing date for the committee will be scheduled.

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FISCAL YEAR 2026 BUDGET HEARINGS TO START NEXT WEEK

Council will soon begin Fiscal Year 2026 (FY 2026) budget hearings in City Hall. The hearings will be in-person at City Council Chambers. All budget hearings are held before the Committee of the Whole, which is made up of all seventeen councilmembers and chaired by Council President Johnson.

The first budget hearing will start on Tuesday, March 25 at 10 a.m. and will feature officials from Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration discussing her proposed Five-Year financial plan and Capital Program for the City. The 17 days of hearings are scheduled to end on May 14. The final FY 2026 budget must be approved by June 30. FY 2026 starts on July 1.

To learn more about Mayor Parker’s budget address, Operating and Capital Budgets, proposed FY25-30 Five Year Plan and other information, visit City Council’s FY 2026 budget page. The FY 2026 Budget Hearing Schedule is subject to change so check back often for updates.

Council will also hold several FY 2026 Neighborhood Budget Town Hall in various neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia so that all constituents have an opportunity to participate in the budget process or relay budget-related testimony. The first Budget Town Hall is Tuesday, April 1 at 6pm at The Common Place, located at 5736 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.

Additional Town Halls will take place in April and May.

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COUNCIL PRESIDENT JOHNSON, COUNCILMEMBER JEFFERY YOUNG, JR. HOSTED WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH EVENTS AT CITY HALL

More than 100 people packed City Council chambers this week for “Women on the Move!”, an annual Women’s History Month luncheon hosted by Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District).

The program honored 35 women representing a variety of industries — education, non-profit, community organizing, science, politics, and business — who have contributed significantly to the success of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

Among this year’s honorees was Mrs. Inez Turner, who turned 100 years old in February of this year. She grew up on Saint Albans Place Street in the Second Council District in South Philadelphia. At the time, her family was one of the first Black homeowners in the neighborhood. Turner dedicated 36 years to the School District of Philadelphia and has been an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for over 70 years.  Mrs. Turner is a competitive bridge player who competed nationally and remains one of the top 200 players in the country.

Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr. (5th District) commemorated Women’s History Month by honoring women veterans during a special roundtable discussion in partnership with the National Alliance of Women Veterans. Young brought together community leaders, advocates, and veterans for a meaningful discussion on the unique challenges faced by women veterans.

Over two million women veterans currently live in the United States and women make up about 10% of the total veteran population, and that number is steadily increasing, according to the Women Veterans Alliance website.

Trailblazing women have played a pivotal role in Philadelphia’s history since its founding in 1682. What began as a local educational initiative in Sonoma, California nearly 50 years ago, Women’s History Month in the United States is now a month-long celebration of the vital role of women our nation.

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POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE DAY AT PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL THIS WEEK

It was Police Athletic League Day (PAL Day) at City Hal this week, the one day each year where a group of local students get to work directly alongside City Hall employees.

PAL Day at City Hall is a tradition that is now in its 55th year. Students from the PAL visit City Hall and learn more about city government by shadowing a City employee for the day.

Council President Johnson was shadowed all day by PAL Council President for the Day Lionel Archer, a student at Central High School and representing the Grays Ferry PAL center in South Philadelphia. Councilmember Jones, Jr (4th District) was joined by Fourth District PAL Councilmember Janiya Green, a student at The City School and representing the Wynnefield PAL, and Councilmember Quetcy Lozada (7th District) was followed by Seventh District PAL Councilmember Nevaeh Hendricks, a student at Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts.

In the morning, the students were greeted by the Mayor, Councilmembers and other City officials before joining their coworkers for the day and get a ‘behind the scenes’ sneak peek at the daily operations of one of the nation’s largest cities.

This year’s PAL Day at City Hall was another huge success and Councilmembers are looking forward to next year’s event.

PAL is a youth development organization offering educational, athletic, recreational, character-building, and cultural programs to Philadelphia’s youth, ages 6-18. All PAL programs are fun, safe, and free. PAL operates 15 Community Based Sites throughout Philadelphia, each supervised by an on-duty Police Officer. During the school year, PAL also operates three School Based Sites, each overseen by a School Resource Officer.

For more information on PAL, visit https://phillypal.org/

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TWO SESSIONS OF CITY COUNCIL NEXT WEEK—MONDAY, MARCH 24 AND THURSDAY, MARCH 27

City Council will hold a Special Session on Monday, March 24, at 10 a.m. at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall, to hear from Mayor Cherelle Parker about her new Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.) Initiative. The Special Session will just be remarks from Mayor Parker only.

The next Regular Stated City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 27 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall.

Tune in live on March 24 and 27 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.