WHEREAS, Frank Rizzo was elected Philadelphia Councilman At-Large in 1995, and was re-elected in 1999, 2003, and 2007, and has served as Minority Whip; and
WHEREAS, Constituent service has been a hallmark of Frank Rizzo's tenure in City Council, handling over 41,000 issues; and
WHEREAS, Further, Councilman Rizzo has served on the following City Council Committees: Appropriations; Disabled and the Handicapped; Education; Environment; Ethics; Public Property and Public Works; Public Safety; Rules; Technology and Information Services; and the Committee of the Whole; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Rizzo authored the Property Tax Deferral Ordinance to provide relief to homeowners; helped address problems with Police and Fire Emergency Radio; introduced Red Light Camera legislation to make intersections safer; initiated a Rotational Towing System to improve safety by regulating tow truck operators; successfully advocated that the Commonwealth patrol State highways in the City of Philadelphia; advocated Early Childhood Education initiatives; authored the Zoning Variance Criteria Ordinance requiring that applicants for variances be current on their taxes; and introduced reform Ethics legislation that would have involved regulating Lobbyists, Gifts, Nepotism, Outside Employment, and refined Campaign Finance Laws; and
WHEREAS, Rizzo has been very active in the community, having served on the Boards of the African-American Museum in Philadelphia; the Community and Police Inter-Racial Task Force; the Philadelphia Cultural Fund; Self-Help Movement, Inc.; the DePaul Catholic School (Advisory Board); Art in City Hall; and the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust, among others; Rizzo is a Past Vice President of the Philadelphia Cultural Fund; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Rizzo contributed greatly to Philadelphia's governance through his vision, leadership, and commitment—and we look forward to his future contributions to the People of the City of Philadelphia; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and thanks Frank Rizzo on his retirement after sixteen years of dedicated and excellent service as a Councilman At-Large to the people of Philadelphia.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Frank Rizzo, further evidencing the admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.
End