City Council: Gym Introduces Residency Bill; Thomas Calls for Education Hearing

Gym Introduces Residence Requirement Bill

Councilmember Helen Gym introduced a bill changing the residence requirements for city employees.

Currently, potential civil service employees must establish residence in the city for at least one year prior to an appointment. Gym’s bill would change the requirement so that employees would have to be permanent city residents within six months of an appointment.

Gym said while the bill would not solve all of the city’s hiring issues, it was a step in the right direction.

“We need to take stock of where we are right now, and consider making key adjustments to our eligibility requirements for city employment so we aren’t unnecessarily excluding those who are willing to commit to live in our city and devote themselves public service to meet our city’s massive and growing needs for public workers.”

Gym cited the attrition among city workers as the impetus for the bill.

“Right now, the city of Philadelphia currently has over 4000 vacancies,” Gym said. “Nearly 15% of the municipal workforce, with some departments significantly higher (than 15%).”

Gym Offers Resolution to Support Philadelphia Transit Plan

Councilmember Gym also introduced a resolution supporting the Philadelphia Transit Plan.

The Plan, introduced in 2021, is “the city’s guide for improving public transit.” In the preface of the plan document, Mayor Jim Kenney identifies the following as goals of the plan:

-Address the systemic racial disparities among our residents

-Make real progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions

-Keep Philadelphia moving to jobs and schools in an inclusive manner as we recover from the current economic crisis

Gym’s resolution call the plan a “Bold vision for a city connected by transit that addresses both immediate needs and long-term solutions through transformational infrastructure investment and actionable policy, and embracing its dedication to increasing equity and enhancing the quality of life by lining people with opportunity, catalyzing the economy, and sustaining the environment.”

Thomas Calls for Education Committee Hearing

Councilmember Isaiah Thomas introduced a resolution calling on the Committee on Education to “hold hearings to understand Pennsylvania Act 158’s changes to state graduation requirements and their impact on Philadelphia students and to learn more about the School District of Philadelphia’s plan to implement and support schools and students with these new requirements.”

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, “Act 158 of 2018 (Act 158), signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on October 24, 2018, provides alternatives to Pennsylvania’s statewide requirement of attaining proficiency on the three end-of-course Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology) for a student to achieve statewide graduation requirements.”

The resolution cites information from Research for Action, which concludes 70% of Black students and 75% of Hispanic students would not meet the requirements spelled out in Act 158. Further research from The Philadelphia Education Research Consortium shows more than “55% of students will need significant support” in meeting ACT 158 requirements.

Gilmore Richardson Amends Curfew Bill

Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson offered an amendment to her curfew legislation.

The proposed language on the bill changes mentions of “parents” to “parents, guardians, custodian of the minor,” when addressing exceptions to minors being out past curfew.

The proposed amendment also includes a section regarding reporting, requiring the Police Department and the Department of Human Services to provide a quarterly report to City council. The Police Department will report the number of curfew violations, and the Department of Human Services will report on the number of minors served in city community resource centers.

Other Legislation Passed by City Council:

To amend Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by revising certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled “Overlay Zoning Districts,” by creating the “/NBO, Nelson Brown People’s Village Overlay District,” all under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

To amend Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by revising certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled “Overlay Zoning Districts,” by creating the “/NHO, Nehemiah Homes Overlay District,” all under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

To amend Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by revising certain provisions of Chapter 14-500, entitled “Overlay Zoning Districts,” by creating the “/YOD, Yorktown Neighborhood Overlay District,” all under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Amending Title 14 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled “Zoning and Planning,” by revising and clarifying certain provisions and making technical changes, all under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Authorizing Animal Husbandry Use on a certain location within an area bounded by Reservoir Drive, Fountain Green Drive, Kelly Drive, Girard Avenue, and 33rd Street, all under certain terms and conditions. Click here for more information.

Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1600-40 N. 9th Street located in the 5th Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code. Click here to learn more.

Amending Chapter 12-2900 of The Philadelphia Code (“Contractor Parking”) to revise the requirements and limitations related to contractor parking permits, all under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: S. 17th street and Carpenter street; S. 24th street and Christian street; League street and S. 23rd street; Carpenter street to S. 18th street; Naudain street to S. 21st street; Kimball street to S. 24th street; Webster street to S. 16th street; Montrose street to S. 18th street. Click here to learn more.

Authorizing the vacating of Krewstown Road from Norwalk Road to its terminus southwestwardly therefrom, under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of Woodbine Avenue between 76th Street and 77th Street. Click here to learn more.

Establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of Columbia Avenue between 59th Street and 60th Street. Click here to learn more.

Establishing a no truck parking regulation on Morrell Avenue. Click here to learn more.

Establishing no truck parking restrictions near various locations, including: recreation centers, libraries, parks, and schools in the 4th Council District; all under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 120 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Sharswood Street and Harlan Street, each from Twenty-Second Street to Twenty-Third Street; and reserving and placing on the City Plan rights-of-way for sewer and drainage purposes and gas main purposes, such as may be necessary, within the lines of the said streets being stricken, and authorizing acceptance of the grant to the City of the said rights-of-way, all under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Authorizing the plotting upon City Plan No. 388 of a right-of-way for various public utility purposes in the vicinity of the intersection of West Crown Avenue and Morrell Avenue, under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Authorizing the striking from City Plan No. 45-S and abandonment of a certain right-of-way reserved for water main and gas main purposes extending from Seventeenth Street to Eighteenth Street, north of Hartranft Street, under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 308 by striking from the City Plan and vacating Naudain Street from Fifteenth Street to its terminus eastwardly therefrom and striking from the City Plan and abandoning a right-of-way for drainage, water main, and gas main purposes which extends eastwardly from the said terminus of Naudain Street, under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of N. 75th Street between Brookhaven Road and Brentwood Road. Click here to learn more.

Regulating the direction of movement of traffic on Gorgas Lane between Ridge Avenue and Lawnton Street, all under certain terms and conditions. Click to learn more.

Establishing a no truck parking regulation on Pine Road from Bloomfield Avenue to Shady Lane. Click to learn more.

Establishing a no truck parking regulation on Philmont Avenue from Byberry Road to Bustleton Avenue. Click here to learn more.

Authorizing the owner of 3542 Calumet Street, Philadelphia, PA 19129, to install, own, and maintain various encroachments at such property, under certain terms and conditions. Click here to learn more.

Establishing a no truck parking regulation on both sides of Marlyn Road between Jefferson Street and Lebanon Avenue. Click here for more information.

Establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: N. 2nd street and Master street; N. 2nd street and Thompson street; Palethorp street and Girard avenue; Mascher street and Girard avenue; Eyre street and Belgrade street; Palmer street and Thompson street; Hancock street and Girard avenue; Lawrence street and Girard avenue. Click here for more information.

Establishing parking regulations in the vicinity of: Page street and N. 18th street; Monument street and N. 17th street; Diamond street and N. 17th street; N. 16th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue; Bouvier Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue; Bouvier street and Montgomery avenue; N. 18th Street and Cecil B. Moore avenue. Click here for more information.

Establishing a neighborhood improvement district, to be known as the North Broad Business Improvement District (“District”), in an area that generally includes both sides of North Broad Street from the north side of Spring Garden Street to the south side of Indiana Avenue (excluding the 2700-2900 blocks on the west side of the street), beginning with 510 North Broad Street, and continuing to 2929 North Broad Street; it also includes 1300 Fairmount Avenue, 1406 Ridge Avenue, 1408 Ridge Avenue, 1363 W. Seltzer Street, 1361 W. Silver Street, and 1362 W. Silver Street; designating North Broad Renaissance (the legal name of which is Avenue North Renaissance, Inc.), which has organized itself as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, as the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District; approving a plan for and report concerning the District; authorizing the Director of Commerce, on behalf of the City, to execute an agreement with North Broad Renaissance relating … Click here for more information.

Authorizing the Philadelphia Land Bank to dispose of 1952 S. Redfield Street located in the 2nd Councilmanic District in accordance with the terms of Chapter 16-700 of The Philadelphia Code. Click here for more information.

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