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Committee advances five Center City District board appointments after hearing
Summary
The Committee of the Whole held a public hearing on five resolutions to appoint and reappoint members to the Center City District board and voted to report the measures favorably and suspend rules for first reading at the next council session.
The Committee of the Whole of Philadelphia City Council on Wednesday reported five resolutions favorably after a public hearing on appointments to the Center City District board.
Paul Levy, chair of the Center City District board, testified in support of the five measures and described the slate of nominees and reappointments. "I'm very pleased to testify in favor of the past listed resolutions," Levy told the committee, and said the nominees include new and renewing board members representing commercial, hospitality, retail and cultural interests. Levy said the board would be roughly 28% minority and 38% women if the nominees are approved.
Levy identified the reappointments as Tina Biles Williams, operating officer at Thomas Jefferson University, and Jim Pearlstein, CEO of Pearl Properties. He said Allen Daum, CEO of Allen Daum Real Estate, was proposed to fill a seat that expires in December 2028 and that professional biographies were attached to his testimony.
Council members asked about board composition and accountability. Council Member Jeffrey J. Young asked whether the Center City District includes a seat for a city council member; Levy said, "Traditionally, there has not been a member of city council," and that the district's board is composed of property owners, businesses and designated representatives who are then approved by council. Council Member Dr. Anthony Phillips asked about the district's strategy for repurposing vacant office space; Levy outlined past conversions and said tougher-to-convert buildings will likely require new policy tools.
After testimony, Council Member Cindy Gilmore Richardson moved that resolutions 250403, 250404, 250405, 250406 and 250407 be reported from the committee with a favorable recommendation and that the rules of council be suspended to permit first reading at the next council session. The motion was seconded by Council Member Jamie Gauthier and carried by voice vote. The chair recorded that the measures will be reported with a favorable recommendation and that rules were suspended to permit consideration at the next council meeting.
The hearing record includes Paul Levy's testimony and the committee's motion and voice vote; the committee recessed after completing the business on the agenda.
