Title
Nominating 25 individuals for consideration by the Mayor as appointees to the Commission on Parks and Recreation.
Body
WHEREAS, On November 4, 2008, the City of Philadelphia voters approved a Charter amendment to create a unified Department of Parks and Recreation, and a Commission on Parks and Recreation; and
WHEREAS, The Commission is composed of 15 members: nine appointed by the Mayor from a list of nominations submitted by Philadelphia City Council; and six ex officio members (the Commissioners of the Departments of Parks and Recreation, Water, Streets, and Public Property; the Council President; and the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission); and
WHEREAS, The Mayor's nine appointees serve for a term of four years, but the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with constituting the Commission on Parks and Recreation for many years; and
WHEREAS, In January 2026, Mayor Cherelle Parker requested that Council President Kenyatta Johnson initiate the process to solicit applicants to serve on the Commission on Parks and Recreation, and Council President honored that request; and
WHEREAS, Section 3-905 of the Charter requires that, after an application period of no less than 30 days, "the Council shall hold a public hearing on the proposed nominations"; and that "[n]o later than ninety days after the close of applications, the Council, by resolution, shall forward to the Mayor no fewer than 18 and no more than 25 nominations"; and
WHEREAS, On April 6, 2026, Council President Kenyatta Johnson publicly announced that the application period was open, and City Council publicized the application over the next 30 days; and
WHEREAS, In response to these announcements, more than 50 individuals submitted detailed applications; and
WHEREAS, On April 16, 2026, Council adopted Resolution No. 260346 authorizing Council's standing Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs ("the Committee") to hold the public hearing required by the Charter Amendmen...
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