COUNCIL CONTINUES NEGOTIATIONS TOWARDS A FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET AGREEMENT
This week, Philadelphia City Council approved Bill #240005 (introduced by Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, At-Large) a ballot question to amend The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson.
Bill #24005 could be on this November’s general election ballot for consideration.
Additional Approved Ordinances/Bills:
- Bill #240187 (introduced by Councilmember Kendra Brooks, At-Large, on behalf of Council President Kenyatta Johnson, 2nd District) allows interested parties to require open bidding when the Philadelphia Land Bank seeks to exercise special authority to acquire property at a Sheriff’s sale and allow prior owners to redeem property when such special authority is exercised.
- Bill #240383 (introduced by Councilmember Quetcy Lozada, 7th District, on behalf of Council President Johnson) authorizes the City’s Chief Innovation Officer to enter into a cable television franchise renewal agreement with Verizon Pennsylvania renewing the cable television franchise granted by the City to Verizon for Franchise Areas I, II, III and IV of Philadelphia.
- Bill #240245 (Brooks) modifies requirements and authorizations related to the City’s residential eviction diversion program, which includes associated changes to the landlord and tenant relationship. The legislation makes the Eviction Diversion Program permanent in Philadelphia. The program, hailed as a national model for keeping people in their homes, connects landlords and tenants to mediation and financial support before an eviction is filed in court.
- Bill #240431 (introduced by Councilmember Mike Driscoll, 6th District)
- Bill #240220-A (introduced by Councilmember Brian O’Neill, 10th District)
- Bill #240241 (introduced by Councilmember Curtis Jones, Jr., 4th District)
- Bill #240336 (introduced by Councilmember Cindy Bass, 8th District)
- Bill #240435 (Bass)
- Bill #240303 (Lozada)
- Bill #240423 (Jones)
- Bill #240425 (Lozada)
Council also approved the following resolutions:
- Resolution #240510 (Lozada) authorizing The Special Committee on Kensington to convene, investigate, and address the barriers to accessing treatment beds in the Kensington area.
- Resolution #240518 (introduced by Councilmember Nina Ahmad, At-Large on behalf of Council President Johnson) urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to allocate full funding for School-Based Health Centers and to give the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable children an opportunity to thrive by providing complete mental and physical health in their schools.
- Resolution #240030 (Gilmore Richardson)
- Resolution #240516 (Bass)
Bills approved this week will go to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker for her approval or veto. Council only has two Stated Meetings left until summer recess starts in mid-June.
Visit to Council’s Legislative Information Center for more information on Council bills and resolutions.
COUNCIL LEADERSHIP AND MAYOR CHERELLE PARKER ARE COMING INTO THE HOME STRETCH IN REACHING A FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET AGREEMENT
Philadelphia City Council leadership and Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration continued finalizing the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY ‘25) Operating and Capital Budgets.
In March, Mayor Parker proposed a $6.29 billion FY ‘25 Operating Budget that calls for no new tax increases, adds resources for law enforcement, and increases funding for priorities such as commercial corridor cleaning.
From April through mid-May, Council’s Committee of the Whole heard six weeks of budget testimony from various City Departments and held various public hearings and neighborhood town hall meetings for taxpayers to provide input.
“Council and the Parker Administration continue working together to come up with a budget that is fiscally sound and equitable for all of the residents of Philadelphia,” Johnson said this week. He continued, “I feel good about the progress we’re making.”
Council’s final Stated Meeting before the annual summer recess begins is Thursday, June 13. In order for the FY ’25 budget to come up for a final passage vote on June 13, it must be voted out of the Committee of the Whole and have the bill’s first reading by the June 6 Council session.
The final FY ‘25 budget must be approved by June 30. FY ‘25 starts on July 1.
Check out Mayor Parker’s budget address, Operating and Capital Budgets, proposed FY ‘25-30 Five Year Plan and other information at City Council’s FY’25 Budget Center.
Earlier in the week, Councilmembers Kendra Brooks (At-Large), Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), Nicolas O’Rourke (At-Large) and Rue Landau (At-Large) held a press conference in support of four shared FY’25 budget priorities:
- $2.6 Million for the City’s Office of Worker Protections
- $5 Million for Built to Last, the Philadelphia Energy Authority’s home repair program; and
- $14 Million for affordable housing on the former site of the UC Townhomes in West Philadelphia, and $50 Million in rental assistance
COUNCIL PRESIDENT KENYATTA JOHNSON, COUNCILMEMBER MIKE DRISCOLL KICK OFF 2024 ODUNDE FESTIVAL WEEK
The 49th Annual ODUNDE Festival, the largest African American street festival in North America, will return to 23rd and South Street. A full week of live events will happen from June 2-8 culminating in the actual festival on Sunday, June 9.
The ODUNDE Festival (meaning “Happy New Year” in Yoruba) draws hundreds of thousands of people from throughout the Philadelphia area, the Mid-Atlantic region, and across the world. With an estimated $30 Million economic impact on Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and a $28 Million economic impact on the city of Philadelphia.
Council President Johnson (the festival takes place in his Second Council District), Councilmember Mike Driscoll, 6th District, City Representative Jazelle Jones, and ODUNDE Board member/ former City Councilmember Jannie Blackwell attended the press conference in the Mayor’s Reception Room. Students from the Fruitful Children Foundation performed an African dance routine.
For more information on ODUNDE, visit www.odundefestival.org.
COUNCILMEMBERS MARK SQUILLA, BRIAN O’NEILL HELD GROUNDBREAKINGS AND RIBBONCUTTINGS FOR REBUILD PROJECTS
Councilmember Mark Squilla (1st District) celebrated the groundbreaking of Cohocksink Recreation Center site in Port Richmond.
The recreation center site is set to undergo $4.45 million in renovations and is part of the city’s Rebuild initiative, a historic investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in 72 neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries across Philadelphia
“It’s been a long time coming, but we are finally here to break ground on a much-improved renovation of the Cohox Recreation Center!” Squilla said in a release. He continued, “We collaborated with the community to ensure their voices were heard while we planned the redesign of the playground.”
The renovation will include exterior site signage, new playground safety surface and equipment, exterior lighting and security cameras, sports field upgrades, basketball court relocation, perimeter fencing improvements, sidewalk improvements, and new trees.
Councilmember Brian O’Neill (10th District) and community members attended the ribbon cutting at the Pelbano Recreation Center in Northeast Philadelphia
The $1.3 Million project features a new interactive playground, refreshed multi-sport courts, and upgraded equipment for all to enjoy.
“I strongly believe in supplying our communities with high-quality recreational spaces,” O’Neill said in a press release. “Because of the Rebuild program, the Rhawnhurst neighborhood has a safe, accessible, and enjoyable outdoor space to utilize this summer and beyond.”
Rebuild is the City of Philadelphia’s historic investment of over $500 million in neighborhood parks, recreation centers, and libraries across Philadelphia. Funded by the Beverage Tax under Mayor Jim Kenney, it continues under Mayor Parker’s Administration within the newly created Capital Program Office.
The next Meeting of City Council is scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 10 a.m. The meeting will take place in person in Council’s Chambers on the 4th floor of Council. It will also air on Xfinity Ch. 64, Fios Channel 40, and stream at www.PHLCouncil.com/watch.
