City Council honors community leaders, adopts array of ceremonial resolutions and introduces zoning and code bills

Philadelphia City Council spent a substantial portion of its April 9 session on ceremonial recognitions, presentations and introductions of legislation. The body adopted a series of privileged resolutions honoring individuals and organizations, and received mayoral communications listing proposed ordinances and recently signed bills.

Highlights included a resolution honoring the public-service legacy of Joseph R. Cernnik and his work on the Schuylkill River corridor; a recognition of Angelo Perryman and Perryman Construction for decades of local construction work and workforce development; and an honor for actress and activist Cheryl Lee Ralph, who was named by Time Magazine as one of the 2026 most influential women. “This city is resilience,” Ralph told the chamber.

The mayor’s message (read into the record by the chief clerk) transmitted several proposed ordinances including multi-year technology and service agreements for city systems; amendments to the Philadelphia Code concerning dumping and debris; and zoning and transit-bonus revisions. Committee reports were filed: the Committee on Law and Government reported favorably on a repeal bill (bill 260263) and the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless returned two bills with favorable recommendations strengthening property-licensing requirements and tenant protections.

Council also introduced a bill to add a chapter to the Philadelphia Code establishing a standardized process for U and T visa certifications, sponsoring both confidentiality timelines and grant/denial guidelines for agencies. Multiple zoning-map amendments and land-use bills were referred to committee. On the final-passage calendar, council adopted street-naming and land-bank disposition resolutions by voice vote.

Members closed the session with brief announcements about community events and cleanup efforts. The council adjourned to its next scheduled session on April 16, 2026.