Council committee reports favorable recommendations for three Special Services District appointments

Philadelphia’s Committee of the Whole voted to report favorably three appointment resolutions for business improvement districts along City Avenue and in Old City.

Councilmember Curtis Jones moved that resolutions 250,612 and 250,613, which appoint and reappoint directors to the City Avenue Special Services District, be reported from the committee with a favorable recommendation; the motion passed by voice vote. A separate motion to report resolution 250,820 for an appointment to the Old City Special Services District also received a favorable recommendation and a second. A council member later asked to be recorded as ‘aye’ on a vote he missed and the clerk noted the request.

Brian Finstemacher, president and CEO of the City Avenue Special Services District of Philadelphia and Lower Merion, testified in support of the City Avenue nominees and described district priorities including traffic calming, retail studies to match commercial uses with neighborhood demand, and safety coordination with nearby institutions. Joe Itzkowitz, executive director of the Old City Special Services District, testified in support of the Old City nominee and described near-term public‑space improvements related to Market East construction.

Councilmembers and speakers highlighted efforts to diversify board membership and urged the districts to include more community representation. The committee recorded the favorable recommendations and directed the resolutions to the next council session for first reading.

Next steps: the reported resolutions move to first reading in a future City Council session.