Philadelphia City Council in 2019
Council Dominates with Zoning, Planning Bills in '19
The year in summary
In 2019, City Council legislative activity focused on zoning and planning issues, with a total of 361 bills introduced, down slightly from the previous year. The top issue areas for Council were zoning (114), planning (77), housing (55), land-use (52), parking (51), and infrastructure (50). This is in contrast to the prior year, where public-safety concerns dominated the agenda, but saw a significant decline by 2019 with -16 fewer bills. Neighborhood issues also gained traction, increasing by +10 from last year.
Contested votes offer insight into Council's priorities. The most notable dissent came on bills addressing consumer bag fees, city budget allocations, and market street vendors, where one or more council members opposed measures that passed 15-2 to 16-1. This data reveals a Council focused on economic development, public safety, and community issues.
AI-generated analysis grounded in 361 bills from official Philadelphia City Council records.
What council worked on in 2019
Rising vs 2018: neighborhood (+10), public health (+7), historic preservation (+6), taxation (+5). Declining: public safety (-16), government (-15), zoning (-13), transportation (-8).
Highest-impact bills of 2019
Philadelphia homeowners can expect to pay more on their property tax bills with the city's new record-breaking capital budget, which will fund major infrastructure upgrades and development projects.
$1 Million Boost in Homelessness Funding to Be Tied to Performance Metrics in Mayor's Proposed Budget Amendment A new City Council proposal would link a significant increase in homelessness funding to progress reports, requiring the Streets Department to demonstrate specific outcomes within six months of receiving the extra money.
Philly's 25,000 small businesses are bracing for change as proposed legislation would slap landlords with fines and revoke licenses if they fail to report suspected human trafficking on their premises, sparking debate over responsibility.
City Council transfers $1.4 million to hire more police officers and allocates $600,000 for additional inspectors at Licenses and Inspections amid concerns over building safety and enforcement.
Thousands of Philadelphians working in city-owned offices and facilities will soon be safer thanks to a new requirement for life-saving AED devices, with installation costs to be split between the city and building owners.
Most contested votes of 2019
Most council roll calls are unanimous — these are the bills that split the chamber.
Most active sponsors in 2019
- Council President Clarke70 bills
- Councilmember Squilla58 bills
- Councilmember Blackwell53 bills
- Councilmember Johnson33 bills
- Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez27 bills