Philadelphia City Council in 2009
Council Cracks Down on City Issues in 2009 Legislative Year
The year in summary
Philadelphia City Council had a busy year, introducing 337 bills with many focused on zoning and planning. The median number of days from introduction to becoming law was 56. In contrast to the prior year, neighborhood issues saw a significant increase (+16) while infrastructure concerns declined (-19). Contested votes highlight disagreements among council members, such as Bill 090074's eco-friendly checkout bags, which passed 6-10 after dissenting votes from five council members.
The city council also prioritized major plans and proposals, with bills like the $2.5 billion capital spending plan and the ambitious seven billion dollar infrastructure revitalization plan dominating headlines. These high-impact bills show a focus on addressing aging infrastructure and making significant investments in the city's future.
AI-generated analysis grounded in 337 bills from official Philadelphia City Council records.
What council worked on in 2009
Rising vs 2008: neighborhood (+16), business (+14), procurement (+12), environment (+9). Declining: infrastructure (-19), public safety (-15), civil service (-14), planning (-14).
Highest-impact bills of 2009
Philadelphia's Proposed Wage Tax Increase Would Hit Low-Income Workers Hardest; City Council has introduced legislation to hike the wage tax by 1%, affecting thousands of residents and commuters. Aldermanic Proposal Seeks to Ban Smoking in Public Housing; The bill would prohibit smoking in common areas of public housing complexes, citing health concerns for tenants.
Philadelphia's Homeowners Could Face Higher Water Bills Under New Council Proposal to Fund Aging Sewer System Upgrades. The plan would hike water rates by up to 27% over five years to pay for $1.4 billion in sewer system repairs, affecting around 350,000 Philadelphia households.
A record-breaking $4 billion operating budget for FY 2010 was approved by City Council today, with millions set aside for schools, police, and sanitation services, but questions linger about long-term fiscal sustainability.
Low-Income Families May Lose Subsidies Under New City Council Bill, Which Would Cut Funding for Philly's Property Tax Relief Program Philadelphia homeowners relying on the city's property tax relief program could see significant reductions or even lose their subsidies altogether under new proposals.
Low-Income Families May See Rent Hikes as City Council Considers Bill to Cap Inclusive Housing Benefits The proposed legislation aims to limit the number of affordable apartments that landlords can reserve for government-subsidized tenants, sparking concerns among advocates who say it will displace vulnerable populations.
Most contested votes of 2009
Most council roll calls are unanimous — these are the bills that split the chamber.
Most active sponsors in 2009
- Councilmember DiCicco73 bills
- Councilmember Clarke48 bills
- Councilmember Tasco43 bills
- Councilmember Krajewski30 bills
- Councilmember Jones28 bills