PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia City Council resumes meetings Friday after a three-month summer break.
The meetings will once again be virtual, despite earlier hopes for in-person sessions. They chose to meet on Microsoft Teams until the delta variant is under control.
Several council members already have bills and resolutions lined up for introduction.
One big item on the agenda is the budget for the first year of the Neighborhood Preservation Initiative. It would put $100 million a year over four years into a dozen programs to improve neighborhoods while keeping them affordable.
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"We’re going to spend this money quickly and we’re going to do more. This is just a continuum of very aggressive steps that council has taken." said Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez earlier this week.
Also among them, Councilwoman Kathy Gilmore Richardson says she plans to tackle the issue of tangled titles. They can deprive residents of a legal claim to the home they live in and think they own.
"Over 10,000 families and individuals are living in Philadelphia with tangled titles and deeds, so we’re going to introduce a resolution calling hearings," said Gilmore Richardson.
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Another one of those measures include a bill calling for funeral homes to make sure survivors get needed information "about how you insure that a deed to a property that is owned by your loved one does not become a tangled title," she said.
Councilman Curtis Jones is proposing expanded notice before buildings are torn down, in response to the surprise demolition this summer of a beloved, historic church in his district by a charter school.
Council President Darrell Clarke wants to overhaul the Zoning Board of Adjustment, with a charter change that would increase the number of members, specify their professional qualifications and require council approval for nominees.
Clarke charged that the current board is condescending and dismissive to neighbors who are impacted by gentrifying development. He said the current board flouts its duty not to grant variances, unless developers show hardships.
Councilman Derek Greene plans to propose creation of a building safety advisory group to make sure school buildings are free of asbestos, mold and other hazards.
The first Council meeting has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday.
