WHEREAS, Building safety encompasses a multitude of building and property code enforcement issues, as well as environmental concerns and public safety issues, including fires in abandoned and vacant structures; and
WHEREAS, The International Code Council (ICC) regularly researches and revises its model codes with the latest technological and safety advancements in the building industry. City Council has urged the General Assembly to adopt the most recent International Code Council Standards as these Codes are vital to the public safety of Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, On June 5, 2013, the demolition of a building on 22nd and Market Streets caused the structure to collapse onto the adjacent building, causing the death of six people and injuring 13 more; and
WHEREAS, City Council immediately conducted investigative hearings to reform demolition policies and procedures. More than 70 recommendations for changes to the City's policies were made and legislation to implement most of the recommendations was enacted; and
WHEREAS, Since the accident on June 5th, at least eight more buildings have collapsed in Philadelphia, injuring more than 21 people and causing one death related to a fire escape collapse in January 2014; and
WHEREAS, City Council again acted swiftly to hold public hearings on the need for improved fire escapes inspection policies and procedures and introduced legislative reforms to eliminate hazardous conditions and to require regular safety inspections of fire escapes; and
WHEREAS, City Council recently enacted legislation to create a land bank in Philadelphia. The land bank will expedite the process of repurposing vacant properties and ensure that property maintenance, structural integrity of vacant buildings and other important public safety concerns are addressed until the properties are repurposed and developed; and
WHEREAS, City Council has proposed significant budgetary increases to at the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) to double its building inspector staff and to fund additional safety training of personnel; and
WHEREAS, The Department of L&I has also executed major changes to operating procedures to significantly enhance building safety, to improve transparency and incentivize developer compliance with building safety laws and regulations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That May 2014 shall be designated Building Safety Month to encourage all property owners, developers and residents to learn about the necessities of building safety and to comply with new and improved City policies to preserve building safety and to protect public safety in Philadelphia.
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