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From YouTube: Committee on Licenses and Inspections 6-9-2016
Description
The Committee on Licenses and Inspections of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Thursday, June 9, 2016 to hear testimony on the following items:
160462
An Ordinance amending Subcode "A" (The Philadelphia Administrative Code), Subcode "F" (The Philadelphia Fire Code) and Subcode "PM" (The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code) of Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, by adding certain provisions related to maintenance and inspection of fire escapes; all under
certain terms and conditions.
160472
An Ordinance amending Subcode "PM" of The Philadelphia Code ("The Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code"), by adding certain provisions related to drinking facilities in schools; all under certain terms and conditions.
Chair: Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez (7th District)
Vice Chair: Allan Domb (At Large)
B
A
C
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
First
of
all,
I
want
to
thank
this
committee
and
I
want
to
thank
the
Department
of
licenses
inspections,
as
well
as
the
School
District
of
Philadelphia,
for
working
together
to
ensure
that
articles
have
water
access
and
that
this
small
modification
of
the
plumbing
code
will
do
a
significant
effort
towards
that.
So
we're
excited
to
work
together.
We're
excited
to
work
with
L&I
and
with
the
school
district,
ensure
water
access
in
schools,
and
thank
you
to
the
committee
for
for
taking
that
on
Thank.
A
D
Morning,
chairwoman,
kunis
Sanchez
and
members
of
the
committee
on
licenses
and
inspections.
My
name
is
Rebecca
Swanson
I'm,
the
Planning
Director
for
the
Department
of
licenses
and
inspections.
Today,
I
am
here
to
provide
testimony
on
bill
number
160
472,
which,
if
enacted,
will
amend
the
philadelphia
property
maintenance
code
to
add
requirements
for
drinking
fountains
in
schools.
The
bill
would
add
a
requirement
that
buildings
or
portions
of
buildings
that
are
used
for
educational
occupancy
must
be
equipped
with
one
drinking
fountain
for
every
100
students
and
at
least
one
found
on
on
each
floor
of
the
building.
D
The
bills.
Definition
of
drinking
fountain
is
a
plumbing
fixture
that
we
all
know
as
a
traditional
water
fountain,
the
one
fountain
/
100
student
ratio
is
consistent
with
the
minimum
fixture
requirement
for
schools
set
forth
in
the
Philadelphia
plumbing
code
facilities
would
be
permitted
to
substitute
water
dispensers
for
up
to
fifty
percent
of
the
required
number
of
drinking
fountains.
The
bill
defines
water
dispenser
as
a
plumbing
fixture
or
freestanding
apparatus
that
dispenses
water
into
a
cup
or
other
vessel.
The
department
supports
this
bill
and
should
become
law.
D
We
are
prepared
to
enforce
its
provide
for
our
annual
school
building
inspection
program.
Lni
inspectors
visit
all
public
and
charter
schools
on
an
annual
basis,
typically
each
summer,
and
thoroughly
inspect
for
all
property
maintenance
and
fire
code
issues.
The
drinking
fountain
requirement
will
be
part
of
this
inspection
going
forward.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
provide
the
department's
testimony
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
D
D
Course
we
we
do
coordinate
with
the
district.
We
use
a
summer
because
it's
easier
to
do
when
the
students
aren't
there.
Obviously
we
go
through
each
building.
Typically,
with
a
representative
of
the
district
or
of
that
school,
we
go
through
very
thoroughly
floor
by
floor.
We
point
out
any
issues
and
then
notices
of
violation
are
issued
just
to
explain
the
violations.
D
Most
of
them
typically
are
minor
and
we
just
ask
for
a
correction.
If
there's
any
serious
violation,
we
obviously
go
back
and
ensure
that
that
violation
has
been
complied
and
we
partner
with
the
school
district
to
make
sure
all
the
issues
in
each
building
has
been
addressed.
But
typically
we
try
to
complete
that
before
school
starts
again
in
September.
D
D
D
A
B
Number
16
out
of
46
to
an
ordinance
amending
sub-code,
a
the
Philadelphia
administrator
sup
cured
after
part,
Philadelphia
fire
occurred
and
sub-code
m
p.m.
the
philadelphia
property
maintenance
code
of
title
for
the
Philadelphia
code
by
adding
certain
provisions
related
to
the
maintenance
and
inspection
of
fire
escapes
all
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
A
F
You,
madam
chair
and
members
of
this
committee,
all
too
often
the
big-ticket
items
are
what
the
newspapers
report
on,
and
you
know
that's
the
remeasured
by
that
work.
It
is
the
small
ball
everyday
quality
of
life,
things
that
actually
matter
as
much
when
we
start
talking
about
public
safety.
We
touch
start
talking
about
when
this
city
was
built,
and
my
colleague
knows
more
in
one
finger
about
real
estate
and
I
will
ever
know
in
my
entire
body,
but
but
as
someone
who
has
lived
in
developments
that
were
designed,
one
way
then
matured
a
different
way.
F
Sometimes
those
speculations
aren't
always
up
to
date,
fire
escapes
being
one
as
we
get
a
new
urban
hipper
group
of
folks
moving
into
and
discovering
our
inner-city
lifestyles
those
kind
of
infrastructures,
including
fire
escapes
weren't,
always
built
to
be
a
party
location,
one
always
called
upon
to
bear
the
kind
of
loads
that
they
sometimes
find
themselves
in.
We
as
government
have
to
step
in
to
also
evolve
with
the
times
evolve
in
a
way
that
keeps
our
citizens
safe,
even
sometimes
from
themselves,
and
then
to
do
that.
F
A
You
councilman
Jones
for
the
record.
There
was
testimony
written
testimony
that
has
been
submitted
by
the
Pennsylvania
Apartment
Association,
where
they
support
the
bill
and
make
some
additional
recommendations
that
in
the
implementation
of
this
bill,
I'll
and
I
will
consider
and
if
any
further
tweaking
is
necessary,
they
come
back
to
the
drawing
board.
So
with
that
Rebecca,
would
you
want
to
testify
on
behalf
Ellen,
Illinois
sure,
good.
D
Morning,
chairwoman,
kunis
Sanchez
and
members
of
the
committee
on
licenses
and
inspections.
My
name
is
Rebecca
Swanson
I
am
the
planning
director
for
Ellen
I.
Today,
I
am
here
to
provide
testimony
on
bill
number
160
462,
which,
if
enacted,
will
amend
the
Philadelphia,
Fire,
property,
maintenance
and
administrative
codes
to
add
requirements
for
the
maintenance
and
inspection
of
fire
escapes.
The
department
supports
this
bill
and
is
prepared
to
enforce
its
provisions.
Should
it
become
law
exterior
fire
escapes
which
are
a
common
feature.
D
An
older
multi-unit
residential
construction
in
some
city,
neighborhoods
are
designed
to
be
a
life-saving
means
of
egress,
and
it
is
imperative
that
they
are
in
safe
condition
for
use
by
building
residents.
In
the
event,
an
emergency
escape
from
the
building
is
needed.
This
bill
would
help
ensure
that
fire
escapes
and
their
landings,
balconies
stairs
and
ladders
are
consistently
kept
in
a
safe
condition
by
requiring
owners
of
properties
that
have
exterior
fire
escapes
to
implement
a
rigorous
fire
escape
inspection
program.
D
Specifically,
the
fire
code
would
require
property
owners
to
retain
a
professional
structural
engineer
to
physically
inspect
the
condition
of
the
building's
fire
escapes
every
five
years.
As
part
of
his
or
her
inspection,
the
engineer
would
be
required
to
conduct
the
appropriate
tests
on
all
components
of
the
fire
escape
in
order
to
detect
any
structural
defects
or
deterioration,
including
a
load
test
or
analysis
to
determine
whether
the
fire
escape
needs
meets
load
requirements.
In
addition
to
the
physical
inspection
engineer
would
also
be
required
to
review
all
relevant.
D
It's
related
to
the
maintenance
of
the
fire
escape
including
records
of
previous
repairs
or
inspections.
At
the
conclusion
of
the
inspection
process,
the
engineer
is
to
determine
whether
the
fire
escape
is
safe,
safe
with
a
repair
and
maintenance
program
or
unsafe.
The
engineer
is
to
issue
a
detailed
written
report
to
the
building
owner
and
to
L&I,
with
this
finding
and
any
recommendations.
D
Owners
of
buildings
with
exterior
fire
escapes
would
be
required
to
submit
their
first
inspection
report
to
the
department
no
later
than
July.
First
2017
and
then
submit
subsequent
reports
every
five
years
from
the
date
of
the
initial
report,
as
it
does
with
other
self-reported
inspections.
The
department
will
monitor
the
submission
of
the
reports
to
ensure
that
building
owners
remain
compliant
and
will
take
appropriate
enforcement
action.
D
Action
against
building
owners
who
fail
to
adhere
to
the
requirement,
in
addition
to
adding
the
inspection
and
reporting
requirement
to
the
fire
code,
the
bill
also
amends
the
property
maintenance
code
to
require
that
building
owners
perform
regular
maintenance
of
fire
escapes,
including
snow
and
ice
removal,
and
conduct
periodic
inspections
of
structural
conditions
in
between
the
required
engineer
inspections
altogether.
The
requirements
of
this
bill
will
hold
property
owners
accountable
for
the
maintenance
of
fire
escapes,
just
as
they
are
responsible
for
the
maintenance
of
all
other
components
of
their
buildings.
D
The
Department
believes
that
requiring
this
level
of
inspection
and
reporting
will
help
keep
residents
of
buildings
with
fire
escape
safe.
In
the
event,
they
must
use
the
fire
escape
as
a
means
of
egress.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
provide
the
department's
testimony
happy
to
answer.
Any
questions
are.
A
A
G
G
Albert
was
killed
in
the
fall.
All
three
of
us
were
rushed
to
the
emergency
room
and
I
never
saw
him
again.
He
was
not
yet
23
years
old
when
this
happened.
He
was
less
than
a
year
out
of
college
and
had
started
working
for
JPMorgan
and
was
certainly
poised
for
a
bright
career
with
his
whole
life
ahead
of
him,
Laura
and
I,
respectively,
24
and
26
years
of
age.
At
the
time
of
the
accident,
both
sustained
serious
injuries
in
the
fall
we
both
broke
our
backs
and
both
underwent
spinal
fusion
and
other
surgical
procedures.
G
I
had
a
severe
pelvic
fracture
that
necessitated
the
insertion
of
a
metal
screw
in
my
hip,
while
I'm
very
fortunate
to
have
my
full
mental
capacity
and
know
debilitating
handicap
of
my
body.
My
injuries
will
certainly
affect
me.
The
rest
of
my
life,
including
my
ability
to
successfully
have
children
and
have
my
own
family,
which
I
certainly
hope
to
do
one
day
I'm
here,
because
the
fire
escape
collapse
was
a
tragic
accident
that
none
of
us
could
have
reasonably
expected
to
occur.
G
The
fire
escape
collapse
is
connected
in
essence
to
other
recent
tragedies,
including
a
similar
collapse
of
the
fire
escape
of
the
building
where
monks
restaurant
is
located
at
15th
and
locus
that
killed
one
man
in
august,
two
thousand
nine
and
the
collapse
of
the
Salvation
Army,
building
at
twenty
second
and
market
streets
that
killed
six
and
injured
many
others
in
June
of
2013.
These
tragedies
each
occurred
because
of
fatally
inadequate
oversight.
Our
cities,
building
inspection
codes,
fire
code
enforcement
and
legal
requirements
for
landlords
are
not
up
to
standard
I
hope.
G
You
will
see
that
this
bill
is
one
step
among
many
nessa
necessary
reforms
that
must
be
made
in
order
to
make
sure
that
Philadelphians
and
their
families,
not
to
mention
firefighters
and
other
emergency
rescue
personnel
in
the
event
of
fighting
a
fire
like
the
recent
four-alarm
blaze
at
21,
25
Locust
Street,
which
happens
to
be
across
the
street
from
my
old
apartment,
are
not
at
the
risk
of
experiencing
these.
Needless
tragedies,
landlords
should
be
regulated
by
law
to
maintain
crucial
safety
features
of
their
properties,
including
their
fire
escapes.
G
If
there
continues
to
be
no
legal
requirement
for
fire,
escape
maintenance
and
insufficient
oversight,
landlords
will
not
will
either
not
be
aware
of
this
vital
responsibility
or
neglect
this
responsibility
as
part
of
an
inclination
to
maximize
their
profit.
The
department
of
licenses
and
inspections
in
collaboration
with
the
Philadelphia
Fire
Department,
should
be
responsible
for
conducting
regular
inspections
of
fire
escapes
within
its
role
of
upholding
essential
standards
of
safe
buildings
in
our
city.
G
I
sincerely
hope
that
you
will
not
only
pass
this
particular
bill,
but
also
make
it
a
priority
to
bring
about
broader
reforms
that
will
make
our
city
a
safer
and
better
place
to
live.
Some
of
these
essential
reforms
have
been
outlined
by
the
building
safety
oversight
board,
chaired
by
Michael
nadal
and
Edward
Dunham
appointed
by
Mayor
Nutter
and
continuing
under
mayor
Kenny
as
I
understand.
Thank
you
for
your
time
and
all
you
do
for
the
people.
Philadelphia.
G
F
We
can't
go
back
in
time
and
change
your
experience,
but
we
can
go
forward
in
time
to
make
sure
that
no
one
else
has
to
go
through
this
tragedy.
There
will
always
be
accidents,
but
every
time
we
see
something
that
we
as
a
municipality
can
correct.
It
is
incumbent
upon
us
to
take
the
steps
to
make
the
moves
to
make
the
laws
that
make
a
difference,
and
thank
you
for
coming
forth
and
testify
and
emphasizing
that
we
should
do
our
jobs.
Thank
you.
A
I
wish
you
well
in
your
recovery.
I
know
that
this
is
kind
of
a
life
situation
for
you
in
terms
of
your
injuries
and
we're
very,
very
sorry,
and
we
take
public
safety
very
seriously
here.
Thank
you.
This
concludes
anyone
else
here
to
testify.
This
concludes
the
public
hearing
of
the
committee
on
licenses
and
inspection.
The
committee
will
now
go
into
its
public
meeting
I'm
having
established
quorum.
I
am
going
to
ask
vice-chair
councilman
Dom
for
a
motion
on
bill,
1604,
62
and
1604
72.