This week, Council approved nearly 20 resolutions, only one resolution was on the original final passage calendar.
Among the resolutions approved this week were:
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Resolution #241097, introduced by Councilmember Cindy Bass (8th District), honoring the Simon Gratz High School Football Team for winning the 2024 Public League Championship and celebrating their resilience and excellence (part of the original passage calendar). The team was in the chambers and honored by members.
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Resolution #250126, introduced by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), authorizing the Committee on the Environment to conduct a hearing to evaluate progress on the implementation of the Philly Tree Plan, determine how to expedite progress and what, if any, additional policies might promote the City’s sustainable greening goals.
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Resolution #250130, introduced by Councilmember Kendra Brooks (At-Large), condemning the unconstitutional actions taken by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to dismantle the federal government.
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Resolution #250139, introduced by Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke (At-Large), that honors the public servants at the local, state, and federal level who made the unforgettable Eagles Super Bowl Parade possible and recognizing all public servants for their dedication to the communities they serve.
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Resolution #250141, introduced by Councilmember Mark Squilla (1st District) on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District), calling for the preservation of the University of the Arts’ Hamilton Hall and Furness Hall as vital spaces for the arts in the City of Philadelphia.
Councilmember Gauthier introduced Resolution #250125 condemning President Donald J. Trump for moving our nation closer to a constitutional crisis by likening himself to, and acting like, a king. This resolution could come up for a final passage vote as soon as the February 27th Council session.
Councilmember Bass did introduce Bill #250123 that would amend Section 6-503 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Licenses and Permits,” to provide for the suspension of licenses for businesses not in compliance with applicable state regulations and/or whose physical layout significantly differs from the originally approved floor plan. The bill will be assigned to a Council committee for a future hearing.
Council did not vote on Bills #240427 (Councilmember Jeffery Young, Jr., 5th District), #240304-A (Councilmembers Young, Squilla and Jim Harrity, At-Large) and #240665 (Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, 7th District) this week at the request of the sponsors. They are scheduled to come up for a final passage vote as soon as the February 27th Council session.
Bills that have been introduced since Council started its winter session have been assigned committee hearing dates. Look out for final passage votes on bills in the coming weeks.
IMPORTANT MID YEAR TRANSFER ORDINANCES VOTED OUT OF COMMITTEE
Council’s Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Councilmember Squilla, voted out three bills out of committee this week as part of the mid-year budget transfer process.
The bills are:
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Bill #250071 — An Ordinance to amend Bill #240182 (approved June 14, 2024), entitled “An Ordinance to adopt a Capital Program for the six Fiscal Years 2025-2030 inclusive,” by revising various appropriation amounts and totals to conform to amendments to the FY2025 Capital Budget Ordinance, all under certain terms and conditions.
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Bill #250072 — An Ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025 from the Grants Revenue Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, to the General Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions, and the Transportation Fund, certain or all City offices, departments, boards and commissions.
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Bill #250073 — An Ordinance to amend Bill #240181 (approved June 14, 2024), entitled “An Ordinance To adopt a Fiscal 2025 Capital Budget,” by revising various appropriation amounts and totals, all under certain terms and conditions.
All three bills could have a final passage vote as soon as the March 6th City Council session.
A “mid-year transfer” in city government refers to a budgetary adjustment that occurs halfway through a fiscal year, allowing the City of Philadelphia to reallocate funds between different departments or programs to address unexpected needs or changing priorities, essentially shifting money mid-way through the budget cycle.
COUNCILMEMBERS JOINED MAYOR CHERELLE L. PARKER FOR A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HOUSING IN PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia City Councilmembers and housing advocates joined Mayor Parker this week as she signed an executive order concerning her plan to build or preserve 30,000 units of housing. The initiative is called Housing Opportunities Made Easy (H.O.M.E.)
The executive order establishes an advisory group that will engage internal and external stakeholders who will inform the mayor’s housing plan. The advisory bord will give the mayor recommendations within the next 30 days.
Council President Johnson and Councilmembers Squilla, Gauthier, Curtis Jones (4th District), Lozada, Bass, Katherine Gilmore Richardson (At-Large), Rue Landau (At-Large) and O’Rourke (At-Large) attended the executive order signing.
“Each mayor will be defined by their legacy about what they prioritized during their tenure in office and for this mayor to say I want to address the issue of housing inequality here in the city of Philadelphia is something that should be noted,” President Johnson said. He continued “…This is an agenda that we in City Council can get our arms around and work with our mayor on. We are going to wrap our arms around it and go to war on behalf of those most vulnerable in our city.”
Parker plans to give more details about how the H.O.M.E. plan will be funded when she gives her Fiscal Year 2026 budget address to City Council on Thursday, March 13. She will also transmit a package of legislation to City Council this year focused on easing the production of new housing and increasing density. The mayor said housing will be a major priority of her administration this year.
COUNCIL HELD A HEARING THIS WEEK ON THE CITY’S VISION ZERO PROGRAM
Council’s Committee on Legislative Oversight, which is chaired by Councilmember Isaiah Thomas (At-Large), held a hearing this week to investigate the City of Philadelphia’s progress towards achieving its Vision Zero goals and examining opportunities to increase safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists.
Experts from University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, AARP, Mayor Parker’s administration and advocates delivered their testimony on how to achieve Vision Zero, identifying points of strength and areas of opportunity.
Vision Zero Philadelphia is a collaborative effort led by the City of Philadelphia to improve traffic safety on city streets.
According to Resolution #240700, cyclist and pedestrian safety is a critical issue for all Philadelphians and has a disproportionate impact on working-class communities and communities of color, who are more likely to rely on walking, biking, and public transit as primary modes of transportation.
Thomas indicated that the issue of increasing funding for Vision Zero will be points of discussion during the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 budget talks.
The Zero Action Plan 2025-2030 is being updated this year and is set to be completed by October 31. For more information on Vision Zero, visit visionzerophl.com
PHILADELPHIA WAS FANTASTIC DURING THE EAGLES SUPER BOWL VICTORY PARADE
More than one million people from throughout Philadelphia, the Greater Delaware Valley and beyond packed the streets in South Philadelphia, Center City and the area around the Philadelphia Museum of Art for the Philadelphia Eagles victory parade on February 14.
The victory parade was very peaceful and showed Philadelphia in a positive light to the entire nation. The Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs to win Super Brown 59.
Thanks to the Eagles, members of Philadelphia City Council and other elected officials rode the entire length of the parade and joined the Eagles at the Art Museum to listen to remarks by players and coaches.
The Eagles made NFL history by winning this year’s Super Bowl as one of just 16 teams in NFL history that have won multiple Super Bowls. The Eagles won Super Bowl 52 in 2018.
See more pictures here.
COUNCILMEMBER KATHERINE GILMORE RICHARDSON IS HOSTING “BEYOND OWNERSHIP: CREATING A LASTING LEGACY” EVENT ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, in cooperation with Councilmember Jones, is hosting an informative and empowering homeownership event on Saturday, February 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Saint Joseph’s University’s Campion Student Center Doyle Banquet Hall, 5600 City Avenue in the Overbrook section of Philadelphia.
The event is free of charge and the public can register for the event at the door. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and breakfast will be provided.
This event offers expert presentations, valuable resources, and insights into the homebuying process from more than 25 partners, including financial institutions, City and State agencies, community development corporations, property groups and realtors, title companies, and more. Learn about available grants, financial assistance, and tips to make your dream home a reality.
For more information, contact Gilmore Richardson’s office at 215-686-0454.
THE NEXT COUNCIL SESSION WILL BE ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2025
The next City Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 10 a.m. Eastern Time at Philadelphia City Council Chambers, Room 400 (Fourth Floor), Philadelphia City Hall.
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.
