City Council approves package of zoning, utility and regulatory bills, including single‑use bag ordinance
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Summary
On Oct. 30 Philadelphia City Council voted on a broad second‑reading calendar and approved multiple ordinances and resolutions covering zoning changes, utility meters, parking and a single‑use bag fee. Most measures passed unanimously or near‑unanimously; the single‑use bag bill (250773) drew debate and passed with recorded opposition.
Philadelphia City Council on Oct. 30 considered and finally passed a series of bills and resolutions on its second‑reading calendar, including zoning map amendments, utility‑meter restrictions, amendments to the traffic and zoning codes, and a single‑use bag fee ordinance.
Key items passed on final reading or by recorded roll call included:
• Bill 250572 — Amendments to titles covering weights, measures and amusement‑device licensing: the clerk announced the ayes were 14 and nays 0; the bill passed. (Roll call recorded.)
• Bill 250577 — Repeal of the Arena Services District Authority ordinance (repeal of Bill 240964‑A‑02): passed by roll call (ayes recorded as 15, nays 0).
• Bill 250722 — New chapter prohibiting second utility meters at residential properties without evidence of a valid rental license: passed by roll call (ayes 15, nays 0 on the recorded vote reported by the clerk).
• Bill 250767 — Repeal and zoning map amendment related to an area bounded by Island Ave., the Delaware Expressway and Bartram Ave.: passed with ayes 15, nays 0.
• Bill 250773 — Single‑use bag ordinance (amending chapter 9‑44 to require a fee for bags and signage): the council debated the timing and equity concerns; Councilmember Anthony Phillips said he supported the policy but voted nay because of concerns about SNAP recipients amid a federal funding pause. The clerk recorded the roll call as ayes 9, nays 6; the bill passed.
• Additional zoning and technical code amendments (bills 250800, 250802, 250803, 250808, 250810, 250811 and others listed on the second‑reading calendar) were called and passed; many of these passed unanimously (ayes 15, nays 0 on the record where the clerk announced counts).
Council members who spoke during debate on the single‑use bag bill urged caution about adding costs while federal food benefits were in flux; other members stressed the bill’s environmental aim and said the policy has been implemented in other jurisdictions. Several members noted programs and partnerships to distribute reusable bags in low‑income communities.
The clerk recorded roll calls for each bill on the final passage calendar and the journal will include the full voting record. The council adjourned at the end of the session and the clerk confirmed multiple passed bills will be entered into the journal and implemented per their effective dates.