City of Philadelphia - File #: 130712

• File #: 130712
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 10/3/2013
• In control: Committee of the Whole
• Final action: 12/5/2013
• Title: Calling on the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections to strengthen oversight and enforcement of the construction and demolition industry through effective use of technology by reporting on technology improvement opportunities and further reporting annually on the status of 71 recommendations proposed by the Special Investigating Committee on Demolition Practices in Philadelphia.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Blackwell

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/5/2013	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
11/21/2013	0	CITY COUNCIL	ORDERED PLACED ON FINAL PASSAGE CALENDAR FOR NEXT MEETING.	Pass
11/18/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING NOTICES SENT
11/18/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING HELD
11/18/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	REPORTED FAVORABLY
11/14/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING NOTICES SENT
11/14/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING HELD
11/14/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	RECESSED
11/12/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING NOTICES SENT
11/12/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	HEARING HELD
11/12/2013	0	Committee of the Whole	RECESSED
10/10/2013	0	CITY COUNCIL	READ
10/10/2013	0	CITY COUNCIL	Referred
10/3/2013	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed On Next Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass

Title
Calling on the Philadelphia Department of Licenses & Inspections to strengthen oversight and enforcement of the construction and demolition industry through effective use of technology by reporting on technology improvement opportunities and further reporting annually on the status of 71 recommendations proposed by the Special Investigating Committee on Demolition Practices in Philadelphia.
Body

WHEREAS, The collapse at 2136 Market Street on Monday, June 5, 2013, took six lives and injured thirteen others, and was followed by the collapse of a support beam at a structure under construction on 12th and Berks Streets on Thursday, July 11, 2013, injuring one worker and trapping five others, and a subsequent collapse at 36th Street and Fairmount Avenue on Thursday, August 8, 2013, causing several nearby residents to become displaced from their homes; and

WHEREAS, Public safety hazard incidents in rapid succession at demolition and construction sites have contributed to widespread public anger over the apparent lack of oversight and enforcement over the construction and demolition practices and project sites by the Department of Licenses & Inspections (L&I); and

WHEREAS, L&I is responsible for permitting and inspecting buildings and regulating contractors in the construction and demolition industries to insure public safety is maintained during the performance of inherently dangerous work; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 130546 authorized the Special Investigating Committee on Demolition Practices in Philadelphia to investigate demolition policies and propose recommendations and reforms necessary to enhance public safety through greater transparency, accountability, and enforcement of best practices in demolition; and

WHEREAS, Utilization of technology is a best practice in the building permitting industry for submission permit application materials, including project site photographs which reduce delays in processing, decrease the number of inspector ...