About Philadelphia City Council 2020

The functions of City Council influence a wide range of public affairs in Philadelphia that directly impact the quality of life for its citizenry and visitors.

The 1951 Home Rule Charter established Council as the legislative arm of Philadelphia municipal government, consisting of seventeen members. Ten Councilmembers are elected by district and seven from the City-at-large. Each is elected for a term of four years with no limitations as to the number of terms that may be served. It executes its functions by enacting and amending ordinances (laws) that deal with a wide scope of city matters such as public health, public safety, zoning, budgeting, housing and the regulation of business, trades and professions.

The Council also conducts investigations and inquires into an array of matters requiring its attention. These investigations assist the body in making informed decisions regarding municipal policy and must first be approved by a majority of Council via Resolution.

Every proposed ordinance is in the form of a bill introduced by a Councilmember. Before a bill can be enacted by Council, it must be referred by the President of Council to an appropriate standing

committee of Council, considered at a public hearing and public meeting, reported out by the committee, printed as reported by the committee, distributed to the members of Council, and made available to the public. Passage of a bill requires the favorable vote of a majority of all members of Council. A bill becomes law upon the approval of the Mayor. If the Mayor vetoes a bill, Council may override the veto by a two-thirds vote.

Under the rules of Council, regular public sessions of Council are held weekly, usually on Thursday morning at 10:00 AM., in Room 400, City Hall. All City Council offices are open to the public weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Watch meetings live on Xfinity Channel 64, Fios Channel 40 and stream at PHLCouncil.com/watch Listen to Meetings live on WURD Radio 96.1 FM at 9:00 AM

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bit.ly/FindMyCouncilmember

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DISTRICT COUNCILMEMBERS

1ST District

2ND District

3RD District

4TH District

5TH District

Mark Squilla

Kenyatta Johnson

Jamie Gauthier

Curtis Jones, Jr.

Darrell L. Clarke

6TH District

7TH District

8TH District

9TH District

10TH District

Deputy Majority Whip

Bobby Henon

María D. Quiñones Sánchez

Majority Whip

Cindy Bass

Cherelle Parker Majority Leader

Council President

Brian J. O’Neill

AT-LARGE COUNCILMEMBERS

Council Members At-Large

Council Members At-Large

Council Members At-Large

Council Members At-Large

Allan Domb

Katherine Gilmore Richardson

Derek Green

Helen Gym

Council Members At-Large

Council Members At-Large

Council Members At-Large

Isaiah Thomas

David Oh

Kendra Brooks

SEATING ORDER 5TH District

Darrell L. Clarke Council President

Council Members At-Large

Derek Green

9TH District

Cherelle Parker Majority Leader

7 District

Council Members At-Large

TH

María D. Quiñones Sánchez

Katherine Gilmore Richardson

2ND District

Council Members At-Large

Kenyatta Johnson Council Members At-Large

David Oh

Helen Gym

4TH District

Curtis Jones, Jr.

8TH District

Council Members At-Large

Kendra Brooks

6TH District

Bobby Henon

Council Members At-Large

Majority Whip

Cindy Bass

Allan Domb

1ST District

3TH District

Mark Squilla

Jamie Gauthier

Deputy Majority Whip

10TH District

Brian J. O’Neill

Council Members At-Large

Isaiah Thomas

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW IN PHILADELPHIA COUNCIL MEMBER

• Law is an idea.

• Councilmember writes Legislation.

• Legislation is introduced to Council as a Bill.

CITY COUNCIL

• Council hears Bill and sends it to the appropriate Committee.

• The Committee holds a Hearing and takes comments from the public.

• The Committee votes to apprive the Bill* then sends it back to Council.

• Council hears the Bill. They may ammend or vote on the Bill.* • If approved, the Bill is sent to the Mayor.

MAYOR’S OFFICE

• Mayor can VETO the Bill. It is sent back to City Council for reconsiderations.** OR • Mayor sings the Bill or leaves it unsigned. *Majority vote required. ** 2/3 Vote can override a VETO

PUBLIC TESTIMONY HOW TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION At each meeting of Council, opportunity shall be provided for residents and taxpayers to comment on bills and resolutions that are listed either on the final passage calendar or the second reading/final passage calendar for that meeting of Council.

1 STEP ONE

Sign up on the list located by the exit.

2 STEP TWO

When your name is called, go to the podium located in the middle of Council chambers.

On the podium, there is a device.

3 STEP THREE

When the light turns GREEN on the device, it will be your time to speak. *You will have three minutes.

4 STEP FOUR

When the light turns YELLOW on the device, you will have 30 seconds to complete your remarks.

5 STEP FIVE

When the light turns RED on the device, we ask that you please adhere to our guidelines and conclude your remarks. *Subject to change

DIRECTORY PHILADELPHIA 19107-3290

PRESIDENT

PHONE

FAX

(215) 686-2070

(215) 686-1946

Room 402, City Hall

(215) 686-3410/11

(215) 686-1910

ROOM

PHONE

FAX

Kendra Brooks

Room 408, City Hall

(215) 686-0461/62

(215) 686-1933

Allan Domb

Room 316, City Hall

(215) 686-3414/15

(215) 686-1928

Katherine Gilmore Richardson

Room 581, City Hall

(215) 686-0454/55

(215) 686-1926

(215) 686-3450/51

(215) 686-2013

(215) 686-3420/21

(215) 686-1930

Darrell L. Clarke

ROOM

Room 494, City Hall

CHIEF CLERK Michael A. Decker

AT-LARGE

Derek S. Green Helen Gym

Room 594, City Hall Room 592, City Hall

David Oh

Room 319, City Hall

(215) 686-3452/53

(215) 686-1925

Isaiah Thomas

Room 330, City Hall

(215) 686-3446/47

(215) 686-1927

Bringing you the latest news from Philadelphia City Council straight from the source

Listen and subscribe to Inside PHL Council by visiting our website phlcouncil.com or on your favorite podcast app.

1ST DISTRICT Mark Squilla

ROOM

PHONE

FAX

Room 332, City Hall

(215) 686-3458/59

(215) 686-1931

Room 580, City Hall

(215) 686-3412/13

(215) 686-1932

Room 586, City Hall

(215) 686-0459/60

(215) 686-1929

Room 404, City Hall

(215) 686-3416/17

(215) 686-1934

Room 313, City Hall

(215) 686-3442/43

(215) 686-1901

Room 484, City Hall

(215) 686-3444/45

(215) 686-1935

Room 508, City Hall

(215) 686-3448/49

(215) 686-1936

Room 312, City Hall

(215) 686-3424/25

(215) 686-1937

Room 577, City Hall

(215) 686-3454/55

(215) 686-1938

Room 562, City Hall

(215) 686-3422/23

(215) 686-1939

2ND DISTRICT Kenyatta Johnson

3RD DISTRICT Jamie Gauthier

4TH DISTRICT Curtis Jones, Jr.

5TH DISTRICT Darrell L. Clarke

6TH DISTRICT Bobby Henon

7TH DISTRICT María D. Quiñones Sánchez

8TH DISTRICT Cindy Bass

9TH DISTRICT Cherelle L. Parker

10TH DISTRICT Brian J. O’Neill

Keep up to date your city councilmember!

PHLCouncil.com PHLCouncil

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PHLCouncil

PhillyCityCouncil

Adopted When Council votes in favor of a resolution, the Council President will announce that the resolution has been “adopted.” Similarly, if Council (or a committee of Council) approves an amendment to a bill, the Council President (or the Chair of the committee) will state that the amendment has been “adopted.”

Amendment After a bill is introduced in Council, it is referred to one of Council’s committees, which can then hold a public hearing on the bill. After the hearing, if the committee wants to change part of the bill, it can adopt an “amendment” containing the new language.

Later, the full Council can also amend the bill.

Bill At each session of Council, any Councilmember may introduce a “bill” – a proposal to change the laws of Philadelphia, either by adding a new law or changing an existing one. Each bill contains a title; the phrase “The Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby ordains;” and the proposed new language.

Favorable Recomendation After a committee holds a public hearing on a bill, it decides what action to take on the bill. It may decide (by majority vote) that it supports the bill. If so, it will vote to “report” the bill out to the full Council with a “favorable recommendation.”

This recommendation is not binding on the full Council.

Final Passage Calendar When a bill is first reported out of committee to the full Council, Council cannot vote on the bill. Council must wait at least one additional session. The bill’s title will be printed on the “Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar” for that later session. If the bill’s sponsor gives the go-ahead, Council will then vote the bill up or down.

First and Second Reading A bill must receive a “First Reading” and “Second Reading” before Council can vote on it. The First Reading happens either when a bill is first reported out of committee to Council, or at the next Council session after that. The “Second Reading” happens one session later unless the bill’s sponsor “holds” the bill. Once the Second Reading occurs, Council can vote on the bill.

Ordinance Once a bill is finally enacted into law, it is referred to as an “Ordinance.” To be finally enacted, a bill must first be passed by Council. At least 9 Councilmembers must vote in favor of the bill. Then, if the Mayor vetoes the bill, Council must “override” that veto by a 2/3 vote (at least 12 members).

Privileged Resolution A “Privileged Resolution” is a special kind of resolution. Privileged resolutions congratulate or honor someone, or authorize a committee of Council to hold hearings. “Privileged” signifies that Council can vote on the resolution the same day that it is introduced. All other resolutions are “Non-privileged,” and must usually be held over until the next session of Council.

Resolution Most legislation enacted by Council takes the form of an ordinance. Council also approves certain matters by adopting “Resolutions.” Examples include: Rules for Council; redevelopment contracts and other matters that state law says may be approved by resolution; proposed amendments to the Home Rule Charter (these require voter approval); and certain “Privileged Resolutions.”

Quorum For Council to take official action, there must be a “Quorum” present. A quorum is the minimum number of members who must be present to take action. For Council, the quorum is a majority of all the members of Council – or 9 members. For a committee of Council, a quorum is a majority of all the committee’s members.

Suspend the Rules Council adopts Rules to govern its procedures. Council may, however, vote to “suspend” – disregard – certain of its Rules. Example: when a bill is reported out of Committee, the Rules state that “First Reading” should happen at the next session of Council. If Council “suspends” that Rule, the bill is “deemed” to receive its First Reading at the same session when it was reported out.

Sponsor Each bill must have the signature of at least one Councilmember on it to be introduced. The “sponsor” of a bill is the first member of Council to sign on to a bill, and is often responsible for preparing the bill.

Other Councilmembers who wish to show their support for the bill can sign on as “co-sponsors.”

Veto Once Council passes a bill, the bill goes to the Mayor, who can: (1) sign the bill into law; (2) not sign it and not return it to Council, so that it becomes law; or (3) “Veto” the bill by returning it to Council as “disapproved.” Council can “override” the veto (at least 12 votes are required). If that happens, the bill becomes law.

NOTES

Jared Piper Khara Garcia

Council Photographer/Media Aide Graphic Designer