Councilwoman Bass Makes A Closing Argument
for Her Restaurant Licensing Bill 12-14-2017

 

New licensing requirements for “stop-n-go” establishments. The presence and proliferation of stop-n-go’s has been a chronic and long-standing problem in our neighborhoods. These establishments pose as restaurants but flagrantly violate the requirements of their state-issued restaurant liquor license. Changes in the Philadelphia Health Code will now allow the City to hold these businesses accountable. The Department of Licenses & Inspections will divide establishments that prepare and serve food into two categories: Small Establishments and Large Establishments. Large Establishments must have seating for 30 available for customers' regular use and at least one restroom regularly accessible and available for customers. Small Establishments must accommodate 29 seats or less and cannot serve alcohol. Additionally, the Department has until January 1, 2021 to create and announce regulations on the use or removal of physical barriers between food service and customers in any Large Establishment. This law is an important step to ensure that the City’s restaurants serve as an asset and not a nuisance to our communities. 

 Holding nuisance businesses accountable. To reduce chronic nuisance behaviors and support neighborhoods and commercial districts, business owners are now being held responsible for nuisances on or near their properties. Nuisance behaviors include excessive noise, illegal consumption of alcoholic beverages, illegal drug activity, unlawful street or sidewalk obstruction, gambling, loitering, public urination, and littering. The law mandates that the commercial activity license of a business be revoked if it receives three nuisance citations in 60 days, or seven such citations during the course of any 12-month period. This law is critically important for improving the quality of life in our communities and the health, safety and welfare of our residents.

 

Prompt payment for subcontractors. Allows subcontractors to be paid a significant portion of the invoice submitted rather than waiting until the completion of a construction project to get paid. This law provides an important and critical remedy for the many subcontractors in City contracts who are disproportionately minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses.  An important test of participation and inclusion is the timely flow of funds into this disadvantaged business community for services performed and goods supplied. The financial success of these subcontractors means economic development for our city and its neighborhoods.

Revitalization of historic YWCA. Through the approval of a redevelopment contract between the City and KBK Enterprises, renovations to the Germantown YWCA will soon be underway. The project will encompass 12 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units (affordable and market-rate), commercial and office space.  The anticipated project completion is summer of 2019.

Wells Fargo removed as City depository. Due to its long history of unethical business practices, Wells Fargo will no longer serve as the financial depository for the City of Philadelphia’s payroll services. The bank’s fraudulent actions resulted in thousands of customers nationwide having credit lines and other accounts established in their name without their authorization while at the same time engaging in predatory lending practices with vulnerable customers. It is imperative that we carefully evaluate the performance of every financial institution with which the City does business. 

All-inclusive parks and playgrounds. With the goal of making outdoor recreational spaces more inclusive, all City-owned parks and playgrounds are now required to provide equipment and play or fitness opportunities to accommodate children and adults with special needs. As the City is poised to borrow millions for vital improvements to parks, playgrounds and rec centers, it is critical that we not forget about our many residents with disabilities and special needs, both children and adults alike. 

Family-friendly accommodations in city-owned facilities. City buildings and facilities with bathrooms open to the public (i.e. City Hall, recreation centers, libraries, pools) will now be required to install baby diaper changing stations in both women’s and men’s restrooms to address the logistically difficulties for many fathers and male caregivers. As parenting responsibilities are now more equally shared—and to align modern amenities to modern families—public buildings in Philadelphia are starting to catch up.

Smoking disclosure in apartment buildings. Requires that tenants of certain multi-family buildings be provided with a written disclosure of the building policy on smoking in individual dwelling units. This law helps potential tenants to be more informed about the risk of secondhand smoke exposure in an apartment they are considering. For parents of a child with asthma, adults with chronic lung or heart disease, and anyone concerned about the health problems caused by secondhand smoke, disclosures will provide information with tremendous value.

Expanding Medicaid funding to hospitals and health centers. Under this measure, Philadelphia hospitals will now have the ability to access $50 million annually in additional Medicaid funding and $8 million per year for the city’s health centers. These funds will significantly increase the ability of local hospitals to serve low-income patients, particularly since more than 600,000 Philadelphians rely on the Medicaid program—nearly half the city’s population.

Public posting of rec center hours and activities. Starting this winter, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation will begin posting the hours of operation and programming schedules on the outside of the City’s 150 recreation centers. As the City begins to renovate and build new recreation centers through the Rebuild initiative, we anticipate a greater demand for information on services and programs for both residents and non-residents alike.

Upgrades to Nicetown Park. Allows for the City to acquire property to undergo renovations to Nicetown Park, specifically for new play equipment and safety matting. The project was approved for capital funding by Councilwoman Bass.

Expansion of lead paint disclosure requirements. In recognition of the continuing threat of lead to the health and safety of our young people—especially in low-income communities—the current Lead Paint Disclosure law, which requires disclosure of lead risks to renters and purchasers of properties older than 1978, was expanded to include the required disclosure of lead water service lines. This new law is part of an overall effort by the City to establish strong municipal standards towards mitigating this health risk in our communities.

Leveraging registration fees for traffic safety interventions. Acknowledging the growing consensus on the problem of traffic violence, Philadelphia County now levies a $5 vehicle registration fee on motorists to fund safety interventions, including traffic calming. Such measures have included lane narrowing; installation of bollards and hitposts to separate cars, bike and pedestrian traffic; narrowing crosswalks with curb bump outs; and, re-engineering problematic intersections like those on North Broad Street which have claimed the lives of several Philadelphians over the past few years.

Regulation of donation bins. As part of the overall effort to eradicate blight and illegal dumping in our neighborhoods, donation bins are now subject to maintenance requirements set forth by the City. Specifically, the law holds that owners of properties where bins are placed as well as the owners and operators of the bins themselves, be held accountable for the proper design, placement, and maintenance of the bins. Fines will be issued for code violations under the City’s property maintenance code.

Reauthorization of the Mount Airy Business Improvement District. Last fall, the city reauthorized the 10-year charter of the Mount Airy Business Improvement District (BID). Partnering with local organizations, mobilizing volunteers, and seeking grant funding, the BID provides regular litter removal, beautification projects, and improvement to pocket parks located along Germantown Avenue. The creation of BIDs is consistent with the City’s efforts to re-establish neighborhood commercial corridors as central places to work, shop, and meet neighbors.

Development of the Cresheim Valley Trail. This measure authorizes the City to acquire land which will allow for the development of the Cresheim Valley Trail, which will connect Stenton Avenue and the neighborhood of Mount Airy to the extensive trail system in the Wissahickon Valley Park. Philadelphia Parks and Recreation estimates that the trail will receive thousands of pedestrians and cyclists per year and provide ready access to the park’s more heavily used trails.  

Designated food vendor district at LaSalle University. In order to improve parking for the immediate neighborhood and provide structure for current and future food truck operators, a special street and sidewalk vending district has been designated on the University’s campus. The district will be located on North 20^th Street between West Clarkson Avenue and Belfield Avenue and allow for up to 10 food truck and sidewalk vendors.