Okay. Seeing none, is there anyone here who would like to testify on Bill No. 260536? (No response.)
Being that there are no further witnesses, we'll now proceed with taking public comment. Is there anyone else here in chambers that wishes to testify before the committee today? (No response.)
Oh, I'm sorry. I apologize. Please come forward and state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony. (Witness approached witness table.)
Good afternoon, Chairperson Bass and members of City Council's Committee on Rules. My name is Garrett O'Dwyer, and I'm the Policy Director for the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations or PACDC. Thank you for the opportunity to offer testimony in support of bills 260516, 260517, 260518, 260519 and 260520, which will enhance Philadelphia's efforts at building transit-oriented communities. We thank the Parker Administration for its leadership to incentivize new units of housing close to transit opportunities, and Councilmember Gauthier for introducing this package of legislation. PACDC is the leading voice in nonprofit community development organizations in Philadelphia. Our 60 CDC members and 90 additional associate members are responsible for addressing key affordable housing, economic development and social service needs across the city. Our members know the value of SEPTA access for community residents and the synergies unleashed, by combining housing with nearby transit. By improving the incentives for developing housing opportunities near transit stations, we can generate both new units of housing and increase ridership on our chronically underfunded public transit system. The changes to the zoning code and the package of bills being considered this afternoon are sensible and relatively modest steps that will increase the benefits for building near transit and reduce the overall regulatory burden, which adds to housing price pressures across the city. While we support these measures, we also recognize that new housing isn't necessarily affordable housing. In fact, it usually isn't. The value of having transit in close proximity is even more important to our middle- and lower-income residents. And so, we should work proactively to ensure that the benefits unleashed by this legislation don't only extend to our wealthiest residents. In parallel to this legislation, the city should redouble efforts to ensure that affordable housing investments are targeted towards transit-rich areas. It should also carefully consider the disposition of the city-owned vacant land that is near transit. In rapidly gentrifying communities, we need intentional development that includes deep affordability, or else affordability could be foreclosed on for good. PACDC supports the transit-oriented communities legislative package and looks forward to working with the Parker Administration to build a more equitable Philadelphia. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your testimony today. Is there anyone else here who would like to testify and give public comment on any of the bills that we discussed here today? (No response.)
Okay. And seeing none, we'll now go into our public meeting. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
Okay. I do want to say for the record that as we're getting ready to proceed with voting on these bills that we are holding Bill No. 16 251030, we're also holding Bill No. 17 260516. As there's a number of questions from members of the committee, we'll be holding those two bills. Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on the amendment to Bill No. 24 260239.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I offer an amendment to Bill No. 260239. A copy of the amendment is circulated to all members of the committee. I move that the amendment to Bill No. 8 260239 be adopted. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 260239 be adopted. All of those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. The amendment to Bill No. 260239 has been adopted. Chair recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on the amendment to Bill No. 5 260422. COUNCILMAN SQUILLA Thank you, Madam Chair. I offer an amendment to Bill No. 260422. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of the committee. I move that the amendment to Bill No. 13 260422 be adopted. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 260422 be adopted. All those in favor of this motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries. And the amendment to Bill No. 6 260422 has been adopted. Chair now recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on the amendment to Bill No. 10 260534.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I offer an amendment to Bill No. 260534. A copy of the amendment has been circulated to all members of the committee. I move that the amendment to the Bill 18 No. 260534 be adopted. (Duly seconded.)
Thank you. It's been moved and properly seconded that the amendment to Bill No. 260534 be adopted. All of those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The motion carries and the amendment to Bill No. 11 260534 has been adopted. Chair now recognizes Councilmember Squilla for a motion on Bill Nos. 260165, 260211, 260239 as amended, 260241, 260381, 260422 as amended, 260517, 260518, 260519, 260520, 260523, 260530, 260534 as amended, and 260536.
Thank you, Madam Chair. I move that Bill Nos. 260165, 260211, 260239 as amended, 260241, 260381, 260422 as amended, 260517, 260518, 260519, 260520, 260523, 260530, 260534 as amended, and 260536, move the rules of Council be suspended to meet the first reading of this bill at the next session of Council.
Did I miss something -- move the bills be reported from the committee with a favorable recommendation and further move that the rules of Council be suspended as to permit the first reading of these bills at the next session of Council. (Duly seconded.)
It has been moved and properly seconded that the bills just read into the record be reported from this committee with a favorable recommendation, and further move that the rules of Council be suspended to permit first reading of these bills at the next session of Council. All those in favor of this motion will signify by saying aye. (Aye.)
The ayes have it and the motion carries. If there's no additional remarks from the committee or our guests, this concludes the business of the Committee on Rules for today. Thank you all very much for your attendance. (Committee on Rules concluded at 12:31 p.m.) C E R T I F I C A T I O N I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. ______________________________ TANEHA CARROLL