Philadelphia City Council: Initiatives & Accomplishments

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Initiatives &Accomplishments Term Report April 2015

Contents 1 2 4

About City Council Letter From City Council Creating Affordable Neighborhoods and Preserving Homeownership

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Enhancing Commerce And Economic Opportunity

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Enhancing The Overall Quality Of Life

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Promoting a Safe and Healthy City

Refining Our Educational Environment Finding New Revenue Sources and Improving Government Efficiency Engaging The Community Philadelphia City Council Standing Committees Councilmember Contacts District Map

Cover photo: B. Krist for VISIT PHILADELPHIA

About City Council favorable vote of a majority of all members of Council.

A bill becomes law once approved and signed by the Mayor. The Mayor may allow a bill to become law without his signature as a sign of disapproval. Or, the Mayor can veto a bill.

Council may override the veto by a two-thirds vote.

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

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The rules require Council to hold weekly public sessions, usually on

Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m., in Room 400, City Hall. 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

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The 1951 Home Rule Charter established Council as the legislative arm of Philadelphia municipal government, consisting of 17 members.

Ten members are elected by district and seven are elected from the City-atlarge. Each is elected for a term of four years with no limitations as to the number of terms that can be served. Members elect one of their number to serve as Council President.

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Letter From City Council

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Philadelphia City Council

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he 2012 Term City Council embraced a strategy with the ultimate goal of ensuring Philadelphia meets its projected destiny as America’s next great city. This means safe streets, abundant housing options, thriving commerce, first class schools and access to quality amenities like well-maintained parks and recreation facilities. No neighborhood can be left behind.

Fully understanding disparities that exist in our city across several demographics, Council is aggressively addressing the issue of income-equality.

Examples include ensuring residents can earn a living wage, ensuring all who want to live here can afford to do so, allowing workers the opportunity to earn paid sick leave and finding sustainable funding for the Philadelphia School District.

With this goal in mind, Council has been more proactive than ever before. As a legislative body, we have turned out an unprecedented level of work since 2012 with over 750 bills and resolutions enacted. T his document highlights many of these efforts.

In addition, Council has consistently reduced wage and business taxes, enacted measures to build small businesses and create jobs, improved public safety and found alternative methods, beyond taxes, to generate revenue for the City’s general fund.

Philadelphia City Council In order to make the great American democracy experiment really work for generations to come, we in City government must behave as if we truly believe our greatest days lie ahead of us.

Darrell L. Clarke Council President 5th District

Mark Squilla 1st District

Curtis Jones, Jr. Majority Leader 4th District

Bobby Henon 6th District

Marian B. Tasco 9th District

Brian J. O’Neill Minority Leader 10th District

Ed Neilson At-Large Councilman

Dennis O’Brien At-Large Councilman

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With citizens, the private sector, and government working collaboratively toward a healthier and more prosperous future, we can achieve our goal.

Kenyatta Johnson 2nd District

Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez 7th District

Jannie Blackwell 3rd District

Cindy Bass 8th District

W. Wilson Goode, Jr. At-Large Councilman

William K. Greenlee Majority Deputy Whip Atw -Large Councilman

David Oh Minority Whip At-Large Councilman

Blondell Reynolds Brown Majority Whip At-Large Councilwoman

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Philadelphia City Council

Creating Affordable Neighborhoods and Preserving Homeownership ACHIEVEMENTS Property Tax Relief When homeowners received drastically higher property tax bills for 2014, Council also sent notice of a bevy of tax relief programs to help them out.The new Actual Value Initiative (AVI), which reassessed real estate properties in Philadelphia at their full value, caused the jump in property taxes.

The change from the old system of partial value assessments was potentially devastating for the 40 percent of City homeowners earning less than $35,000 a year.

To protect residents, Council quickly pushed through a package of tax breaks and payment programs to offset some of the hike.

Key AVI Tax Relief Programs ■ The Homestead Exemption reduces property assessments by $30,000 for qualifying Philadelphia homeowners, shaving up to $402 off their yearly tax bill. Some 218,425 homeowners qualified for the tax break in 2014. Philadelphia homeowners were previously barred from this exemption by state law. Council worked with state legislators to make the exemption available to Philadelphians for the first time ever.

■ The Longtime Owner-Occupied Relief Program (LOOP) saved 17,486 homeowners an average of $700 off their 2014 property taxes. LOOP reduces assessments for qualifying owners who have lived in their homes for more than 10 years and meet financial eligibility requirements.

■ An Installment Payment Option is available to elderly and lowincome homeowners who may be able to pay their yearly property taxes in full.The plan which required a change in state law, will be especially helpful for the estimated 40 percent of city homeowners who do not have mortgages and who may be unable to pay their yearly property taxes in full. Some 17,100 homeowners opted for the installment payment plan in 2014.

The 2,000 New Affordable Housing Units Initiative Council put a plan in place to increase housing affordability and encourage a greater supply of new housing in Philadelphia.The program encourages and supports development of 1,000 rental and 1,000 homeownership units affordable for households earning between 80 to 120 percent of

Area Median Income, also known as “workforce housing”, on Cityowned land in blighted and gentrifying areas.

The plan takes advantage of the thousands of publicly owned real estate parcels and the City’s ability to access untapped federal resources and creates Neighborhood Opportunity Zones in areas with high volumes of such land. The zones are then targeted for subsidies thus making

Philadelphia City Council

AVI Tax Relief Programs

By The Numbers * Total Number of

Owner-Occupied Households:

Total Homestead Exemption Enrollees: Total LOOP Enrollees: *U.S. Census Bureau

them attractive for development.

Council estimates the addition of these housing units in these zones will add roughly $179 million in value to the property tax base and generate $36.6 million in economic activity during the

308,921 218,425 17,486

construction phase.

For more information on Council’s 2,000 New Affordable Housing Units Initiative visit phlcouncil.com (continued on next page)

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Councilman Mark Squilla 1st District

Elected in 2011, Councilman Mark Squilla represents City Council’s 1st Council District, a diverse and growing area that includes portions of South Philadelphia, Center City, Chinatown, Northern Liberties, Fishtown, Kensington and Port Richmond.

The populous district is home to several exciting new development projects such as demolition of an entire block between Market to Chestnut and 11th and 12th streets to make way for a mixed-use development. The nearby Gallery Mall also is closing for a two-year renovation, and a luxury hotel is planned at Broad and Spruce Streets. These projects will heavily impact adjacent neighborhoods.

Councilman Squilla acts as intermediary between the developers, nearby residents and businesses.

A prolific legislator, Councilman Squilla has introduced at least 270 pieces of legislation since 2012.

He spent considerable time and money informing constituents about the tax relief measures Council put in place to mitigate the impact of the Actual Valuation Initiative.

His office also educated constituents on how to appeal their property assessments before the Board of Revision of Taxes. Additionally, he sponsored legislation to allow property owners appealing their new assessments to delay paying their 2013 property tax bill until their appeal was decided.

Councilman Mark Squilla supported property tax relief legislation.

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Philadelphia City Council

Darrell L. Clarke Council President & 5th District

Councilman Clarke does double-duty as representative for the 5th Council District and Council President. As Council President, the forward-thinking lawmaker has advanced a progressive legislative agenda that includes promoting economic and neighborhood development, ensuring the availability of affordable “workforce” housing and improving the overall quality of life of all Philadelphians among its top priorities.

Council President Clarke fervently believes Philadelphia’s ability to grow and prosper in the 21st Century requires that every neighborhood within the City be safe, stable, sustainable communities that current and prospective residents would choose. Toward this end he has launched the Community Sustainability Initiative (CSI), the 2,000 Affordable Housing Units Initiative and School Based Family Service Centers.

Together these three programs address some of the City’s most critical issues – a severe shortage of affordable housing and workforce homeownership opportunities, the need for more jobs that pay a living wage, and the need to grow the tax base.

The Community Sustainability Initiative City Council fervently believes Philadelphia’s ability to grow and prosper in the 21st century requires that every neighborhood become a Community of Choice; safe, stable, sustainable communities where current and prospective residents would choose to live. To that end, City Council created the Community Sustainability Initiative (CSI) – an unprecedented and comprehensive strategic framework to guide the work of City Council in making every neighborhood in Philadelphia “A Choice Community.”

This initiative tracks information on school

“While Philadelphia emerged from the Great Recession intact, we still have a ways to go in moving our City forward,” said Council President Clarke. “As elected leaders, tackling income-based inequality in Philadelphia is a mandate.”

The 5th District includes much of North Philadelphia and a portion of Center City.

performance, mortgage foreclosures, tax delinquency,

crime, shifts in population, location of amenities such as libraries, parks, retail shopping, and more. The comprehensive “data snapshot” will regularly be compared against certain goals in each category creating a context to measure legislative efforts and an evaluation tool to assure that Council’s actions move the City closer to its goals.

The Philadelphia Land Bank Council created this land repository to streamline the process of turning often-vacant city-owned real estate into productive developments.The Philadelphia Land Bank is starting with 8,000 City-owned parcels and began soliciting proposals from developers in January 2015.“This Land Bank will finally give Philadelphia the tools needed to reclaim our neighborhoods from blight, abandonment, and tax delinquency, and to get properties back into productive reuse,” said Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez, who wrote the bill.

The Land Bank has the authority to acquire vacant and taxdelinquent properties through Sheriff’s Sale to build its inventory.

The Land Bank opened for business in January 2015 with the transfer

Philadelphia City Council

Maria quinonessanchez 7th District

The first Puerto Rican to be elected to a District Council seat and the first Latina to join the legislative body, Councilwoman Quiñones-Sánchez made history when she was elected by a landslide vote of 80 percent in 2007. As a Council member, her focus has been on creating and preserving family-sustaining jobs, business tax reform, and keeping owners in their homes.

Her business tax reform changes help local businesses by reducing their liability on sales made outside the city. She helped mitigate the burden of the Actual Value Initiative’s (AVI) property tax hike for just under 10,000 small businesses by providing a $2,000 tax-exemption for the Use and Occupancy Tax. Councilwoman Quiñones-Sánchez was instrumental in expanding access to property tax relief programs for low-income homeowners.

of 17 parcels in the 1600 block of Bodine Street in North Philadelphia. Those parcels were chosen as the Land Bank’s first because they are in an area with new development, Councilwoman Quiñones-Sánchez said.The land is envisioned as rental or owneroccupied housing. Furhter land deposits are expected in the near future. For more information go to

“This Land Bank will finally give Philadelphia the tools needed to reclaim our neighborhoods from blight, abandonment, and tax delinquency, and to get properties back into productive reuse,” said Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez, who wrote the bill.

philadelphialandbank.org Call 215-686-9200 for more information on these programs.

The councilwoman is spearheading the City’s efforts to secure diverse hiring and language access policies as well as providing access to municipal identification for residents, making sure that all Philadelphians have access to city jobs and services. She also sponsored an amendment to the City Charter to ensure language access is provided by all city agencies.

In addition, she introduced a bill reforming the process for collecting delinquent taxes, making payment plans truly accessible and affordable to lowincome homeowners, and led the effort creating the Philadelphia Land Bank.

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Philadelphia City Council

Promoting a Safe and Healthy City ACHIEVEMENTS Public Safety Video Cameras Council made the City’s 162 playgrounds safer with a $3.6 million initiative to install surveillance cameras and

Cameras help keep playgrounds safe.

nighttime anti-loitering systems.

Councilwoman Cindy Bass led the initiative. Councilwoman Bass’ vision is to improve and elevate City recreation facilities and create more opportunities for young people after school and in the summer.

Protecting Immigrants from Scams Immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship in Philadelphia now have more protection from exploitation by con artists and frauds under a new law

approved by Council. Effective June 19, 2015, the so-called Notario Fraud bill drafted by Councilman At-Large Dennis M. O’Brien and cosponsored by Councilwoman Quiñones-Sánchez, defines standards and practices for immigrationassistance services and sets penalties for violators. It also requires immigration service providers to register with the City and provide a $500,000 performance bond. This new regulation of immigration assistance services is a first for Philadelphia.“There are many good providers who are serving immigrants well,” said Councilman O’Brien.

“Unfortunately, exploitative and fraudulent providers are known to leave immigrants in financial ruin and their families and businesses in disarray. Unqualified providers, regardless of intent, can do the same.”

ATV Control Philadelphia police officers confiscated numerous all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes which violate a City law banning operation of the vehicles on public property, including parks,

recreation centers and public sidewalks. Council passed the law in 2013, to crack down on reckless use of ATVs. Under the law, police can impose a $2,000 fine or confiscate the offending ATV and dispose of it in a way that ensures it won’t return to Philadelphia’s streets. Councilwoman Reynolds Brown sponsored the legislation as a first step toward reducing the number of injuries and deaths resulting from reckless ATV use.

“The next step is to convene a

ATVs cause auto accidents on city streets.

task force to bring in ATV riders, the Parks Department and others to figure out how we can find appropriate venues for this emerging sport,” she said.

Preventing Youth Gun Violence Council approved a number of actions aimed at reducing gun violence, especially among youth.

In 2014, 2nd District Councilman

Philadelphia City Council

Kenyatta Johnson 2nd District

Councilman Johnson’s 2nd District is one of the City’s most rapidly changing areas.

This presents exciting opportunities for new development, but also challenges to ensure that the character and history of an area is maintained.

Councilman Kenyatta Johnson leads community protest against youth gun violence.

Kenyatta Johnson addressed the issue of youth gun violence with legislation banning the sale of realistic toy guns to minors and boosting fines imposed for the sale of pellet guns to minors.

Making Vacant Property Safer Following a 2012 fire on York Street that killed two firefighters, Councilman O’Brien successfully pushed through legislation establishing protocols to inventory, inspect, secure, and track large vacant commercial and industrial properties.The legislation created a new inventory of empty buildings and lots in the city, as well as a task force to monitor them. He also proposed a mandate for regular inspections of such properties. The legislation provides a comprehensive strategy on vacant land safety.

Councilman Johnson called for a Council hearing to investigate the traumatic effects of gun violence on Philadelphians and the City’s plan to reduce violent crime.

Improving Building Demolition Practices A deadly building collapse in Center City caused Council President Clarke to call for a Special Investigating Committee on Demolition Practices. Eight people were killed when a contractor demolishing a building (continued on next page)

At the start of the term,

A strong advocate for public education, Councilman Johnson supported legislation to provide $80 million in additional public school funding. And, he introduced legislation to provide a wage tax credit to working families who enroll their children in quality early childhood education.

In 2014, he addressed the issue of youth gun violence with the passage of legislation banning the sale of realistic toy guns to minors and boosting fines imposed for the sale of pellet guns to minors.

HEARINGS Reducing Violent Crime

The first-term Councilman worked to help long-time residents stay in their homes and promote equitable development that creates strong, safe and diverse communities. He played an integral role in implementing tax-breaks to offset the financial impact of higher property assessments under the Actual Value Initiative. In addition, he was the first District Councilmember to work with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority to use publicly owned land as a subsidy to support construction of affordable housing in gentrifying neighborhoods.

Councilman Henon (left), and Councilman Kenney during investigative hearings on demolition safety.

He also has worked with the Community Life Improvement Program to clean over 3,000 lots since 2012.

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Philadelphia City Council

Councilman At-Large Dennis o’brien

Councilman O’Brien joined Council in 2012 after serving as a State Representative for 35 years, including a term as Speaker of the House. In Council, he is a tireless advocate for public safety, justice and individuals with disabilities.

Some of his first-term achievements include: • Following a 2012 fire on York Street that killed two firefighters, Councilman O’Brien successfully pushed through legislation establishing protocols to inventory, inspect, secure, and track large vacant commercial and industrial properties. This proven approach will save lives and neighborhoods.

• His legislative package boosting constitutional protections for the rights of abused and neglected children and lowincome defendants in the criminal justice system was enacted into law.

at 22nd and Market caused a wall to collapse on a neighboring property. The hearings produced 71 recommendations for the Department of Licenses and Inspections to strengthen oversight and enforcement of the construction and demolition industry.

the accident, the rail company moved up planned improvements to the bridge, and committed to increasing track inspections on the bridge and other main rail routes where crude oil trains operate.

Council Questions Safety of CSX Rails Following a train derailment that left two tank cars loaded with crude oil hanging over the edge of the 25th Street Bridge, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson introduced a resolution authorizing Joint Committees on Transportation and Public Utilities and Public Safety to look into the cause of the accident and the safety of the transportation infrastructure owned by CSX in the City. Although CSX testified that the bridge was structurally safe and was not the cause of

Councilwoman Quiñones-Sánchez addresses hearing.

• Council also passed Councilman O’Brien’s ordinance removing the words “mental retardation” from The Philadelphia Code, replacing them with the more appropriate term of “intellectual disability”.

• He worked with the Philadelphia Autism Project to establish a task force that created a strategic plan to streamline connections to critical services for individuals with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families.

CSX train derailment over Schuylkill River prompted Council hearing.

Philadelphia City Council

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Councilwoman Cindy Bass 8th District

Councilman Dennis O’Brien fought for laws protecing immigrants and children with disabilities.

Councilwoman Bass represents the 8th Council District, which includes Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, Germantown, Nicetown, Tioga, Logan, and parts of North Philadelphia.

Councilwoman Bass is a hardworking legislator, who has introduced 58 successful bills and resolutions since 2012. As Chair of Council’s Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, she works tirelessly to improve and elevate City recreation facilities and create more opportunities for young people after school and in the summer. In her first term, Councilwoman Bass spearheaded a $3.6 million initiative to install surveillance cameras and nighttime anti-loitering systems in Philadelphia’s 162 city playgrounds, In her district, she has committed $2.2 million to stabilize the vacant Germantown YWCA, and secured funding to renovate Vernon Park and Pleasant Playground. She also plans to bring equipment for adult fitness and children with developmental disabilities to these parks and other areas around the district.

Acting on her campaign promise, Councilwoman Bass opened an office in the heart of the 8th District. For the first time in over a decade, constituents don’t have to come downtown to meet directly with constituent services staff. The office, which maintains hours on evenings and the weekend, also allows residents to meet with representatives from the District Attorney’s office.

Councilwoman Cindy Bass led the fight for park improvements.

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Philadelphia City Council

Supporting Commerce And Economic Opportunity ACHIEVEMENTS The Sub-Contractor Minimum Wage and Benefits Ordinance As part of its effort to reduce wage inequality, Council expanded the

and businesses subsidized by the City to give first consideration to job applicants registered with Philadelphia Works Inc., the City’s workforce development program.

Under the program, contractors and businesses doing more than

Councilman Goode pushed through higher minimum wage for workers on City contracts.

required minimum wage for direct City contractors to include subcontractors. Councilman W. Wilson Goode Jr. sponsored the bill. The required minimum wage for all employees on City contracts is now $12 an hour. “ People working for the minimum wage are often being exploited, so public money shouldn’t be invested in poverty wages,” said Goode.

First Source Jobs Policy One of the first bills Council passed at the start of the new term in 2012 requires contractors

$25,000 in City work must inform the City of new entry-level jobs and the minimum requirements for those positions. Businesses must spend 10 days interviewing qualified candidates from the list for any open positions and report their hiring decisions to the City, before beginning to recruit candidates beyond the list.

Business Tax Reform To benefit local and small businesses, Councilwoman Quiñones-Sánchez and Councilman Bill Green led a

successful reform of Philadelphia’s Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT). The measure reduces the net income tax rate and shifts the balance of BIRT toward the gross receipts tax thereby lowering the burden on local businesses. The legislation also creates a Single Sales Factor Tax Credit allowing businesses to exempt 100% of their sales outside of Philadelphia, supporting local manufacturing.

Philadelphia City Council Further, the new policy gives small businesses a $100,000 tax exemption which, upon full implementation, will give 60% of such businesses $0 tax liability.

Promoting Healthy Families and Workplaces Thousands of Philadelphia workers are now eligible to earn paid sick leave from their employers. A new law approved

by Council will help more than 200,000 Philadelphians who previously did not get paid sick leave, according to federal labor statistics. These workers are those often forced to choose between staying home to care for themselves and sick kids and losing a day’s pay, said Councilman

Greenlee.“Now, they no longer have to choose.” The new law applies to businesses with five or more employees. Workers can now earn at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked to accrue a maximum of 56 hours.

Pushing for More Diversity at the Top Council passed a bill requiring contractors bidding on City contracts to disclose gender, race and demographic data on the makeup of their boards and executive staff. The bill aims specifically at disclosing the representation of women and minorities in these (continued on next page)

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Councilman At-Large w.wilson goode, jr

An At-Large Councilmember since 2000, Councilman Goode is the primary sponsor of over 135 ordinances, 78 of them introduced in the last four years.

Councilman Goode is recognized as one of the city’s leading authorities on urban economic development. He kicked off the current term with a bill providing business tax credits for job creation to enhance Philadelphia’s existing employment stimulus program.

He has since introduced numerous other bills that have become law. They include: budget appropriations, revenue increases for public education, civil service preference for local residents, a living wage and benefits standard for City-supported employees, a labor peace requirement for Philadelphia International Airport and City-supported hotels, annual economic disparity analyses, enforcement of diversity goals for city contracting, fair lending plans and community reinvestment goals from banks holding City deposits, contract enforcement of economic diversity goals, reduction of the business gross receipts tax, and investment in neighborhood economic development. In addition, he established the only campaign contribution limits for municipal elections in Pennsylvania.

Councilman Goode is a recipient of a National Achievement Award from the National Community Reinvestment Coalition.

Workers packed Council chambers to show support for the earned paid sick leave bill sponsored by Councilman William K. Greenlee, seated front row left.

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Philadelphia City Council

Councilman At-Large william greenlee MAJOrity Deputy Whip Councilman Greenlee is a champion for Philadelphia’s low-wage workers and victims of domestic violence and has been since first taking office in 2006. During the 2012-2015 term he successfully spearheaded legislation providing earned paid sick leave for as many as 200,000 Philadelphians beginning in May 2015.

In 2013, Greenlee also was the proud sponsor of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act requiring employers to provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant women, such as extra work breaks. Greenlee said while most businesses were receptive, the hammer of legislation and fines were necessary in order to help pregnant women. New York City previously passed similar legislation.

Councilman Greenlee worked with Councilman Kenyatta Johnson to secure $3 million in funding for the City to open a second shelter for victims of domestic violence. The facility opened in October 2014. Councilman Greenlee previously sponsored bills protecting domestic violence victims from eviction or punishment from employers. The 100-bed shelter, named Carol’s Place, doubled the amount of shelter space available for women and children affected by domestic violence.

positions. In introducing the bill, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown noted that 41 percent of boards in Philadelphia have not one woman sitting at the table. Worse yet, women of color represent less than one percent of the board seats in the City, she added. While the bill does not set specific quotas as a qualifying condition, companies must provide goals for inclusion of females in executive positions and full boards, along with a plan on how to achieve those goals. Council’s hope is that mixed gender boards will lead toward greater diversity in terms of contracting. The bill was based on findings resulting from public hearings held in 2012.

Decriminalizing Marijuana The possession of a small amount of marijuana is no longer a crime that will get you arrested and jailed in Philadelphia. The new law passed by Council in 2014, lowers

the penalty for possession of less than 30 grams of marijuana to a $25 fine. The bill’s chief sponsor, then Councilman Jim Kenney, said 83 percent of the people arrested each year for possession of small amounts of marijuana are black or Latino, most with no previous criminal record. An arrest record for marijuana possession can prevent these individuals from getting a job, obtaining financial aid for college or joining the military, Councilman Kenney observed.

HEARINGS The Economics of Gender Discrimination The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development took up the issue of Women’s Economic Health and Gender Inequality in a public hearing pursuant to a resolution sponsored by Councilman Greenlee.

Councilman Greenlee is Council Majority Deputy Whip, chair of the Rules and Law and Government Committees and the Vice-Chair of the Public Property and Transportation Committees.

Councilmen Johnson and Greenlee celebrate the opening of Carol’s Place, a shelter for abused women and their children.

Philadelphia City Council

Minority Hiring by Casino Licensees

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Councilman At-Large David Oh

Council’s Commerce and Economic Development Committee held hearings to examine the minority participation goals and strategies for the hiring of minorities by applicants for casino licenses in Philadelphia.

Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. sponsored the resolution.

Minority Whip

As the first Asian American member of Philadelphia City Council and the only current member who is a military veteran, Councilman Oh, has become the advocate for those communities. His broad interest in stimulating job creation through international trade and investment, as well as creative and innovative economies, made him the natural choice to Chair Council’s Committee on Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy. He also serves as Council’s Minority Whip.

Increased Minimum Wage for Philadelphia?

Chronically low wages hurt the City’s economy, so Council continues to explore the possibility of an increased minimum wage for all Philadelphians. Councilman Johnson sponsored a hearing to explore the option before the Committee on Commerce and Economic Development.

Councilman Oh speaks with a board of directors.

Councilman Oh provides a bold vision for Philadelphia as a world-class city with a thriving creative sector and a globally competitive workforce. To accomplish this vision, he has sponsored legislation establishing an International Trade and Investment Authority.

Councilman Oh also: • Added budget reduction amendments to the City operating budget: $48 million for the 2013 budget year and $74 million for the 2014 budget year, as well as a delinquent tax collection bill.

• Launched the widely acclaimed PHL Live Center Stage initiative that provided performance opportunities for local emerging artists and demonstrating the job creation potential of the music industry.

• Sponsored a new law creating a business tax credit for employers who hire returning military veterans.

Councilwoman Reynolds Brown pushed for gender equality.

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Philadelphia City Council

Enhancing the Overall Quality Of Life ACHIEVEMENTS Bad Neighbor Initiative Property maintenance issues and illegal activity cause property values to drop, the quality of our neighborhoods to decline

been fighting blight and property maintenance problems for years, but their budgets have been slashed significantly in recent years even as the challenges facing our communities continue to grow.

To meet this challenge

with basic community standards.

The Initiative targets the “worst of the worst� property owners and makes them accountable.

Councilman Henon also has taken direct action on vacant property through education campaigns,

Councilman Henon developed the Bad Neighbor Initiative to help neighborhoods fight blight and property maintenance problems.

and community pride to fade.

City government agencies like the Department of Licenses and Inspections and CLIP (Community the City’s Community Life Improvement Program) have

6th Dist. Councilman Bobby Henon developed the Bad Neighbor Initiative. It is a comprehensive and focused effort to target bad neighbors and landlords and to bring them into compliance

legislation and efforts like the Problem Properties Advisory Committee.

Philadelphia City Council

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Councilman Bobby Henon 6 th District

Councilman Henon was elected in 2011 to represent the 6th Council District in Northeast Philadelphia, which includes Mayfair, Tacony, Holmesburg, Bridesburg, Port Richmond, East Torresdale, Wissinoming and Rhawnhurst.

Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr. commemorates the Venice Island project completion with Kay Sykora, Manayunk Development Corporation’s founding executive.

Supporting Improvement Districts Improvement Districts are an important economic development tool because they provide a way for property owners and businesses to cooperate to keep their commercial and residential areas competitive.

Council has approved a number of such districts over the years to raise the quality of life in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia and from time to time the law requires their authorization to be extended.

Since 2012 Council has extended the lifespan of Neighborhood Improvement Districts (NID) in Mt. Airy, Port Richmond, Roxborough, and the Aramingo Avenue Shopping District ensuring these vibrant retail areas would continue promoting economic

and general welfare of their communities. The Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District (BID) was continued as well.

In addition, Council approved new or amended plans for Special Service Districts (SSD) in Manayunk, Old City, Germantown and Old City.

Improvements and services within these districts are funded either by an agreed upon fee, or by voluntary contributions made by property owners, institutions, or businesses within the defined area.

Guns Banned From City Parks and Recreation Centers Council made it illegal for unauthorized persons to carry firearms and deadly weapons in or around City-owned or City-occupied facilities.The bill (continued on next page)

Since taking office, he has focused on issues surrounding quality of life, job creation and public health, while making his office more accessible. This includes the development of the first-of-its-kind City Hall iPhone app and opening a 6th District Office at 6730 Torresdale Ave. Highlights of his first term include: • C reation of the Bad Neighbor Initiative, to hold the ‘worst of the worst’ property owners accountable.

• P assing legislation to toughen regulation on bandit signs, streamline the zoning notification process, tighten demolition and construction licensing, allow residents to set trash out early and the first re-write of the property maintenance code in decades.

• L aunching Philly Play, aimed at reducing childhood obesity across Philadelphia through play-themed events and activities.

More than 3,400 kids participated in 2014.

• S erving as co-chair of the Manufacturing Task Force, composed of business, civic and educational leaders from across the region, and helping to secure an expansion of the Dietz and Watson plant in Tacony, which added hundreds of jobs.

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Philadelphia City Council

Councilman At-Large ED Neilson

Since taking office in August of 2014, Councilman Neilson has built a reputation as a hard-working, issues-oriented elected official who stays on top of constituent service. Prior to his election to an AtLarge Council set, he served as a state representative for the 169th Pennsylvania House District.

Councilman Nielson and his team hit the ground running, assisting almost 7,000 constituents with issues in his first 6 months in office.

As a member of Council, the former state representative has focused on jobs and economic issues that will benefit Philadelphians. He has won approval of legislation to:

introduced by Council President Clarke is aimed at reducing the incidence of gun violence at the City’s parks and recreation facilities.

Improved Property Tax Freeze for Older Homeowners Council, at Councilman Brian O’Neill’s behest, amended the City’s Senior Citizens Property Tax Freeze Program, to make the “freeze” impervious to increases in the tax rate or property assessment. The amendment allows elderly homeowners enrolled in the program to automatically benefit from any reduction in the assessed value or the tax rate. The change

• Provide a wage tax refund to U.S. military veterans who serve the City of Philadelphia as police officers, firefighters, paramedics or correctional officers.

• Create a special committee of City Council to identify the causes of income disparities in Philadelphia, analyze the economic trends impacting the sources of household and business income under changing economic circumstances, and offer datainformed recommendations. The special committee would submit a full report including its findings and recommendations to the Council and the mayor.

eliminated the need for enrollees to reapply for the benefit.

Protecting Community Gardens Council approved the transfer of three community gardens in Washington Square West to the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR). Council and DPR want to protect the community gardens that have been in place for decades from the possibility of private development. DPR plans to take other community gardens under its protection.

Fine-Tuning the New Zoning Code Maintaining the integrity of residential neighborhoods is an important quality of life issue. Councilman O’Neill won approval of a bill prohibiting businesses with employees and customers from operating out of single-family homes in residential areas without obtaining a zoning variance, in addition to 14 other ordinances to improve the City’s new Zoning Code.

HEARINGS Restored Funding for HEMAP

• Combat human sex trafficking by preventing hotels from renting by the hour and maintain a room registry. Hotels also must train employees to identify human sex trafficking activities and victims.

City Council added its voice to others across the Commonwealth in demanding the governor Councilman Neilson, left, tours industrial site.

Philadelphia City Council

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restore funding for the state’s Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP) in 2012.The mortgage aid program was defunded in 2011 leaving many desperate homeowners with no place to turn. A resolution sponsored by Councilwoman Tasco asked the governor to restore funding using the state’s $55 million share in a state-federal settlement with the nation’s five largest mortgage loan servicers. The governor agreed and HEMAP was back in business by the summer of 2012. HEMAP helps homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage through no fault of their own.

An investigative hearing, also sponsored by Councilwoman

Tasco, found that 7,500 Philadelphia homeowners had received aid from HEMAP since it opened in 1973.

Reducing Juvenile Recidivism Council’s Committee on Public Safety held an investigative hearing in June 2012 to judge how Youth Courts, or Teen Courts as they are called in Philadelphia, could reduce juvenile recidivism rates, violence in schools, bullying, and ultimately reduce the cost of incarceration. Councilman Jones, who proposed the hearings, said he believed the Teen Courts operating in seven Philadelphia public high schools should be expanded.

Councilman O’Neill, right, is responsible for 15 bills amending the new Zoning Code.

Councilman brian j. o’neill Minority leader 10th District

Councilman O’Neill is best known for providing a high level of constituent services to residents in the 10th Council District, which includes Parkwood, West Torresdale, Somerton, Normandy, Millbrook, Morrell Park, Bustleton, Fox Chase, Burholme, and Rhawnhurst in Northeast Philadelphia.

Councilman O’Neill emphasizes accessibility to his constituents. He maintains weekly District Office meetings on Monday nights where citizens meet with him personally.

Some additional services provided to his district during this term are: • T he opening of a second neighborhood office in 2012 at FOP Lodge #5 Headquarters at 11630 Caroline Road (215-437-9167) and a third in Fox Chase at 432 Rhawn Street (215-685-6431) in January 2015.

•O pening the new Junod Playground and sprayground on Dunksferry Road in Parkwood and the new Champions Park Playground at Verree Road and Susquehanna Road, the first and only playground in the City designed for children with physical and intellectual disabilities.

Councilman O’Neill works to maintain the integrity of the district’s family-oriented neighborhoods. He passed legislation prohibiting businesses with employees and customers from operating out of singlefamily homes in residential areas without obtaining a zoning variance, in addition to 14 other ordinances to improve the City’s new zoning code.

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Philadelphia City Council

Refining Our Educational Environment Local School Revenue Increases 2012-2015

ACHIEVEMENTS Funding for Schools

■ Fiscal Year 2012 – Property Tax increase generated $60 million; City Grant raised $10.3 million; parking revenue increases yielded $6.2 million

Over the last four years, Council has provided more than $4.1 billion to the School District of Philadelphia’s General Fund, an increase of $327 million, at a time when the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s contribution has decreased its annual funding by

■ Fiscal Year 2013 – $20 million property tax increase through City Grant; $20 million from

Local And State Funding Comparison Philadelphia School District 2000 to 2014 $550,000,000 $500,000,000 $450,000,000 $400,000,000 $350,000,000 $300,000,000 $250,000,000 $200,000,000 $150,000,000 $100,000,000 $50,000,000

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

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2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Growth in Local Funding Growth in State Funding

approximately $150 million to $4.9 billion. Council continues to search for sustainable funding to support the City’s public schools.

authorizing the School District to impose a Use and Occupancy Tax on any building in the City

■ Fiscal Year 2014 – Expanded tax collection efforts—revenue neutral real estate tax rate increase in first year of the Actual Value Initiative; increased collection of delinquent taxes by $14.7 million ■ Fiscal Year 2015 – Sales Tax increase generated $120 million; Cigarette Tax of approximately $49 million for partial year; an additional $30 million City Grant; and improved collection of $13.6

Philadelphia City Council million in property taxes.

School Based Family Service Centers Council is moving forward on a plan to establish a citywide system of School-Based Family Service Centers that will be in or near public schools. The Service Centers will assist students who need far more than books, desks and pencils to thrive academically.

Roughly 40 percent of schoolaged children in Philadelphia live in poverty. About 30 percent live with chronic ailments like asthma and often lack such essentials as adequate food and healthcare.

The Service Centers will act as intake points to ensure students and their families have access to a comprehensive range of medical,

behavioral health and social services to fit their needs.

SUPER: School-University Partnerships and Education Resources Instead of pressing for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT), Council President Clarke has proposed a formal program to further encourage all colleges and universities located in Philadelphia to become involved in initiatives helpful to neighboring communities.

Colleges and universities could use institutional resources such as student involvement, purchasing power, educational expertise and employment in ways that benefit the wider community. (continued on next page)

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Councilwoman Jannie blackwell 3rd district

Councilwoman Blackwell wants to see the City of Philadelphia regain local control of its public schools. To that end, she introduced a bill to appear on the May 19, 2015, primary ballot to abolish the School Reform Commission and return the School District of Philadelphia to local board control. She also introduced a second ballot issue amending the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for an independent commission on universal pre-kindergarten.

The five-term councilwoman works non-stop to move her West Philadelphia community forward. The district is home to several major universities and hospitals, making it an integral part of the City’s economy. Using the tools of public policy, legislation and public involvement, the councilwoman has supported construction of numerous projects. A partial list includes the Spectrum Health Center, the Juvenile Justice Center, the 4601 Market Street Public Safety Services campus, and The Porch at 30th Street Station, Councilwoman Blackwell also is committed to improving West Philadelphia parks and recreation centers. She supported funding that brought new restrooms at Friends of Malcolm X Memorial Park, new floors at Christy Recreation Center and new plans for the former Conestoga Recreation Center.

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Philadelphia City Council

Councilwoman At-Large Blondell Reynolds Brown

The benefits of such partnerships include strengthening small businesses, establishing amenity retail, and improvements to the physical environment through

cuts in staffing, after-school programs and school closings in 2012, Council unanimously supported Councilwoman Blackwell’s call for public hearings

Majority Whip Councilwoman Brown is serving her fourth term and is the only woman to win an AtLarge Council seat since 1999.

As Majority Whip, she is a powerful member of Council’s leadership. Since 2012, she has passed meaningful legislation and supported valuable community programming that positively impacts her core issues: children and youth, women, arts and culture, education, small business development, the environment and sustainability. She currently chairs the Committee on the Environment and is vice chair of the Education Committee.

Here are just a few of her recent legislative accomplishments: • A bill enacted to require contractors seeking to do business with the City to disclose demographic information, including the gender, race and geographic data of their board members and executive staff.

• Legislation authorizing the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID) to borrow an additional $30 million for the School District of Philadelphia.

• Amending the Philadelphia Code to provide additional penalties for criminal conduct motivated by hatred regarding sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

• A law restricting the use of off-road vehicles on public sidewalks or private properties unless authorized by law, and allowing vehicle confiscation and fines.

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown sponsored a bill providing an additional $30 million in school funding.

capital investments, community educational programs and housing reinvestment subsidies.These School-University Partnerships should involve the City Commerce, Managing Director and Planning departments, working alongside district councilmembers. Visit phlcouncil.com to learn more about this initiative.

HEARINGS Council Studies Up on Public School Issues Investigative hearings are Council’s version of homework and there was lots of studying to do. So, when the School District of Philadelphia proposed massive

on the changes and their impact on the adjacent neighborhoods.

The Committee on Education also heard testimony on the School District’s zero tolerance discipline policies.

In March 2013, Councilwoman Blackwell called for a Committee on Education hearing to review the findings of the Boston Consulting Group report for the School Reform Commission.The consultants advised the SRC to immediately close 50 schools, plus another 20 over the next five years. Council also scrutinized the School District’s budget plan through 2017.

Philadelphia City Council That was followed by fall hearings on whether Philadelphia should have a locally elected Board of Education. Also in 2013, Council’s Committees on Education and Global Opportunities and the Creative/Innovative Economy heard testimony on several

resolutions looking into best practices in public education at home and abroad, and whether those practices can be implemented to create a worldclass public school system here.

Councilman Oh proposed the hearings.

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Councilman Curtis Jones, jr majority leader 4th District

Since 2008, Councilman Jones has proudly served the 4th District, which stretches from Manayunk to Overbrook Farms and from East Falls to Wynnefield. The district includes quaint neighborhoods, bustling commercial corridors and generous stretches of Fairmount Park.

Councilman Jones’ achievements during his second term reflect the diverse demographics of the district. He has introduced more than 219 bills and resolutions since 2012.

On the community front, Councilman Jones was instrumental in the commitment of over $5 million to repurpose and improve existing playgrounds and recreation centers.

New spray parks and play equipment at McDevitt Recreation Center in East Falls and the transformation of a once vacant lot in Wynnefield renamed Triangle Park are just two examples of the completed projects. Similar makeovers are underway at Shepard Recreation Center in Haddington, Papa Playground in Overbrook and Rose Playground in Overbrook Park.

In addition, work is slated to start this spring to give aging facilities at Granahan Playground at 65th and Callowhill Streets, a major overhaul. Councilman Jones has invested $500,000 to build a skateboard park with new play equipment, benches, a sprayground and many other amenities.

Councilwoman Blackwell called for Council hearings to investigate how the state funds public schools.

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Philadelphia City Council

Finding New Revenue Sources and Improving Government Efficiency ACHIEVEMENTS Municipal Marketing Based on a 2014 plan proposed

by Council President Clarke, the City initiated a marketing program, hiring two firms to sell advertising space on municipal property – buildings, vehicles, street furniture, etc. Council believes the Municipal Marketing Program has the potential to bring in millions of dollars to support much-needed public services and projects. It’s money that doesn’t

need to be taken from taxpayers’ pockets or borrowed from Wall Street, the Council President noted.

Other major cities like New York, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco are generating millions from successful municipal marketing programs.

Sale of Surplus Schools Nets $53M The City netted $53 million from the sale of 22 vacant School District of Philadelphia’s buildings as of April 2015. The District

Council’s idea to have the City’s real estate arm sell surplus school netted $53 million in less than two years.

handed over the sale of 60 surplus properties to the City in 2013 in exchange for an upfront payment of $50 million in emergency funding. Council President Darrell Clarke proposed the deal, which allowed the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID), the City’s real estate arm, to handle the sales. Councilmembers helped bring many interested buyers to the table, speeding the return of the vacant buildings to the tax rolls.

Philadelphia City Council

25

Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco 9th District

This is the seventh and final Council term for Councilwoman Tasco, who is widely recognized as one of Philadelphia’s most influential, politically savvy, and pro-active public officials. She represents close to 155,000 residents in an area that includes sections of Northeast and Northwest Philadelphia.

Some highlights from the current term are:

As chair of the Finance Committee, Councilwoman Marian B. Tasco led the investigation into the City’s efforts to collect delinquent taxes.

• A Community Zoning Meeting was held on August 13, 2014, at The Masjidullah Center for Human Excellence. The meeting provided a forum for West Oak Lane residents to voice their opposition to building plans for a retail store in their community.

• The grand reopening of the newly rebuilt Sturgis Playground in 2014 was long overdue. However, the new facility lived up to the community’s expectations. The 5.7-acre facility and playground were redesigned to enhance play areas with the addition of a sprayground, a newly constructed recreation center and a new soccer/football field with more outdoor lighting.

• The new Lawncrest Community Action Center opened its doors on Dec. 17, 2014. The new office is located next door to the Lawncrest Recreation Center at 6000 Rising Sun Ave. Staff from the District Attorney’s Office and Councilwoman Tasco’s office provide services to the community from this site.

Selling ad space on public property will bring in more revenue.

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Philadelphia City Council

Councilman At-Large William J. Green iV

Although he left Council mid-way through his second term to head the School Reform Commission, Councilman Green left his mark.

In his last two years on Council, he successfully pushed through business tax reforms and ethics reforms like the registration of lobbyists. He also joined Councilwoman Sánchez in reintroducing the Philadelphia Land Bank Bill, which was later approved by Council and enacted into law.

His business tax reforms, in part, included bills requiring non-profits pay Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) on commercial activities that are not directly connected with the corporation’s charitable purpose. A second bill requires non-profits that own tax-exempt properties to certify annually that the property is still being used for its tax-exempt purpose.

Public-Private Partnerships Philadelphia City Council has been actively involved in the national discussion about public-private partnerships. City assets, such as the Philadelphia Water Department and Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), have enormous potential to partner with private capital on new projects that protect consumers, preserve existing jobs, and allow taxpayers to retain long-term ownership. A special committee was created in 2014 to investigate ways to achieve Council’s objective of making Philadelphia an energy hub. Enhancing the financial and operational performance of PGW is also a top priority.

Collecting Delinquent Taxes In 2013, Council approved a top-to-bottom overhaul of the city’s property tax collection system. Changes are designed to encourage payments from delinquent taxpayers and bring Philadelphia’s revenue collection efforts up to contemporary standards. The new collection procedures have been modestly successful, but tons of money is still being left on the table. Council President Clarke introduced a bill to expand the City’s ability to sell commercial tax liens. The bill would allow the sale of some $79 million in commercial property tax liens to outside collection agencies in exchange for up-front revenue that could be used to fund public schools.

Expanding the Tax Base Development initiatives have the potential to generate a significant amount of recurring revenue in the form of property taxes and, in the case of rentals, wage and business taxes from property management.

Councilman Green also introduced legislation calling for the development of an annual information technology strategic plan that evaluates the current state of the City’s telecommunications and information technology infrastructure and details – as well as analyzes the costs and benefits of – the City’s plans for the acquisition, management, and use of telecommunications and information technology over the next five fiscal years.

Councilmembers gather in a sidebar discussion during Council’s weekely meeting.

Philadelphia City Council The City gained 1,404 real estate accounts from 2015 to 2016. These accounts added a total market value of $1.3 billion, of which $756.3 million is immediately available.

27

Councilman At-large James Kenney

Making Government More Efficient Council passed several bills pushing the City to acquire the technology to improve government efficiency and delivery of services. As a result, citizens and businesses can apply for most City licenses, permits and programs online at www.phila.gov. The same goes for payments of bills, taxes, fees and fines, or obtaining documents. Councilman Bill Green passed a bill requiring the Finance Director to submit an annual information technology strategic plan along with the Mayor’s proposed annual operating budget beginning with the Fiscal Year 2016. In addition to increasing efficiency and service, paperless electronic transactions reduce transactional costs.

Informed Decision Making Council established a mechanism to help it make more informed decisions. The Finance Director must now submit a report on the cost and effectiveness of the functions funded with the annual Operating Budget. The Finance Director and City Controller also must provide Council with information on the fiscal impact of pending legislation.

Defining Ethics for City Employees Council strengthened the ethics rule that bars City officers and employees from receiving gifts from anyone seeking business or official action. The bill, which amends the Philadelphia City Code, prohibits employees from accepting any form of cash or substantial non-cash gifts.

Before resigning his At-Large Council seat on Jan. 29, 2015, to run for Mayor of Philadelphia, Councilman Kenney won passage of bills decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana and providing for equal treatment of all persons regardless of gender identity under the Philadelphia Code.

Under the law that took effect in October 2014, the possession of less than an ounce of marijuana is a civil rather than a criminal offense. Instead of the mandatory arrests of over 4,000 people a year for this minimal offense, police will confiscate the marijuana, and issue a citation of up to $100 to the individual.

Councilman Kenney changed the Philadelphia Code to provide for equal treatment of all persons in the City of Philadelphia regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. In addition to redefining the terms “Life Partnership” and “Life Partner”, to include and protect the rights of same-sex partners, the bill authorized a tax credit to encourage employers to expand certain health benefits and require all City forms and online websites to be gender neutral.

In introducing the bill, Councilman Kenny said it was the right thing to do, adding: “This is not special rights, it’s equal rights.”

Council President Clarke

28

Philadelphia City Council

Engaging The Community ACHIEVEMENTS Neighborhood Budget Hearings Council is making it even easier for members of the public to participate in public hearings,

where citizens can access timely information on the pending City budget.The site includes documents, transcripts and video of City budget hearings. Follow on phlcouncil.com/budgetcenter.

From left, Councilwoman Bass, CFO Folasade Olanipekun-Lewis, Council President Clarke and Councilmembers Tasco, Henon and Greenlee listen during neighborhood budget hearing.

especially those related to budget issues. Starting in 2012, at least two budget hearings a year are held at neighborhood locations during evening hours. T he goal is to open the process to people who are unable to make the trek to City Hall for hearings during business hours.

Budget Center The City Council Budget Center, Budget Central, is an online hub

Veterans Advisory Commission Office Moves Council’s Veteran’s Advisory Commission (VAC) has opened a new office in a more visible and accessible location on the first floor of City Hall in Room 127, adjacent to the courtyard. Contact the office at 215-686-3256 or 215-686-3257.

Philadelphia City Council

New District Council Offices and New Media Residents can now, more than ever, access their local government.

New convenient district offices have been opened throughout the city. In addition, Councilmembers can be reached via social media like

Facebook and Twitter, links to which are provided on Council’s revamped website phlcouncil.com.

Those who do venture to City Hall can also take advantage of free WIFI on the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors of Council, which include Council’s Chambers and Caucus Room.

For further convenience Council’s weekly sessions and public hearings are broadcast live on Channel 64, which also runs Council’s new issues and answers program Inside Philadelphia City Council. Council encourages all to get to know your city government!

Councilwoman Bass’ newest District Office is at 4439 Germantown Avenue is just feet from Wayne Junction Station

From left, Councilmembers Oh, Clarke and Blackwell join other City officials to celebrate the opening of the Veteran’s Advisory Commission’s new office.

29

Councilman O’Brien believes that investing in kids pays big dividends.

30

Philadelphia City Council

Councilmembers Squilla, left, and Neilson, fourth from left, greet constituents in local pub.

Councilwoman Blackwell celebrates her birthday by feeding the homeless.

Councilmen Goode and Oh

Philadelphia City Council

Play pals help Councilman O’Neill cut the ribbon at opening of new recreation facility in Northeast Philadelphia.

Councilwoman Tasco visiting with Teresa Rollins and a young friend from Need in Deed

Councilman Mark Squilla Council President Clarke, left, and Councilmen Oh, right, and Jones, rear, toured Hyundai Rotem railcar plant in South Philadelphia.

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Philadelphia City Council

Philadelphia City Council Standing Committees Committee of the Whole (The entire Council)

Appropriations (All matters relating to the appropriation of funds)

Commerce and Economic Development (All matters relating to the Department of Commerce)

Disabled and Special Needs (All issues regarding the City’s disabled population)

Education (All matters relating to education in the public schools of Philadelphia)

The Environment (All matters relating to air and water quality; environmental initiative)

Ethics (Investigations of individual members of the Council)

Finance (All matters relating to finance, taxation and the indebtedness of the City)

Fiscal Stability & Intergovernmental Cooperation (Investigations of individual members of the Council) Global Opportunities & Global/Creative Economy (All matters relating to finance, taxation and the indebtedness of the City) Labor and Civil Service (All matters relating to labor relations, the Civil Service Commission, the Personnel Director, and the Board of Pensions and Retirement) Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs (All matters relating to the Department of Parks and Recreation) Legislative Oversight (All matters relating to City property and buildings) Rules (Designed to improve and expedite the business and procedure of Council) Transportation and Public Utilities (All matters relating to transportation facilities of any kind and the charges, regulations and their operations)

Housing (All matters relating to the creation and maintenance of housing within the City, as well as all matters relating to the alleviation of homelessness and services provided to homeless individuals within the City) Law and Government (All matters within the scope of the Law Department) Licenses and Inspections (All matters relating to licenses and inspections) Public Health and Human Services (All matters relating to the public health, and the Air Pollution Control Board) Streets and Services (All matters relating to the Department of Streets and its departmental boards) Technology and Information Services (All matters relating to City information technology)

Philadelphia City Council

Councilmember Contacts district council Members

council Members at-large

Mark Squilla District 1

Bobby Henon District 6

Kenyatta Johnson District 2

Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez District 7

City Hall, Room 332 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3458, (215)686-3459 FAX: (215) 686-1931

City Hall, Room 580 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3412, (215)686-3413 FAX: (215)686-1932

City Hall, Room 484 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3444, (215) 686-3445 FAX: (215) 686-1935

City Hall, Room 592 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3448, (215) 686-3449 FAX: (215) 686-1936

W. Wilson Goode, Jr.

City Hall, Room 316 Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 686-3414, (215) 686-3415 FAX: (215) 686-1928

William K. Greenlee Majority Deputy Whip

City Hall, Room 508 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3446, (215) 686-3447 FAX: (215) 686-1927

Ed Neilson

Jannie Blackwell District 3

City Hall, Room 408 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3418, (215) 686-3419 FAX: (215) 686-1933

Curtis Jones, Jr. Majority Leader District 4

City Hall Room 404 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3416, (215) 686-3417 FAX: (215) 686-1934

Darrell L. Clarke (Council President) District 5

City Hall, Room 313 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3442, (215) 686-3443 FAX: (215) 686-1901

Cindy Bass District 8

City Hall, Room 594 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3424, (215) 686-3425 FAX: (215) 686-1937

Marian B. Tasco District 9

City Hall, Room 577 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3454, (215) 686-3455 FAX: (215) 686-1938

Brian J. O’Neil Minority Leader District 10

City Hall, Room 562 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3422, (215) 686-3423 FAX: (215) 686-1939

City Hall, Room 312 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3420, (215) 686-3421 FAX: (215) 686-1930

Dennis O’Brien

City Hall, Room 582 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3440, (215) 686-3441 FAX: (215) 686-1929

David Oh Minority Whip

City Hall, Room 319 Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 (215) 686-3452 (215) 686-3453 Fax: (215) 686-1925

Blondell Reynolds Brown Majority Whip

City Hall, Room 581 Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 686-3438, (215) 686-3439 FAX: (215) 686-1926

*James Kenney

resigned from Council 2015

*William J. Green IV

resigned from Council 2014

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Philadelphia City Council

Legislative Summary 1/2012–2/2015 Total Bills and Resolutions

2,331

Total Bills Introduced

1,045

Bills Enacted

764

Bills Vetoed and Sustained

3

Bills Withdrawn

3

Total Resolutions Introduced

1,286

Resolutions Adopted

1,238

Resolutions in Committee

31

Resolutions Withdrawn

8

Philadelphia City Council

By District Mark Squilla District 1 Kenyatta Johnson District 2 Jannie Blackwell District 3 Curtis Jones, Jr. District 4 Darrell L. Clarke District 5 Bobby Henon District 6 Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez District 7 Cindy Bass District 8 Marian B. Tasco District 9 Brian J. O’Neil District 10 At-Large Council Members W. Wilson Goode, Jr. William K. Greenlee Ed Neilson Dennis O’Brien David Oh Blondell Reynolds Brown *James Kenney **Bill Green * resigned from Council in 2015 ** resigned from Council in 2014

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