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 Amendment and to submit a report to Council setting forth the Committee’s recommended list of nominations for submission to the Mayor; and
WHEREAS, On May 11, 2026, the Committee held a public hearing at which applicants presented their credentials; and
WHEREAS, On May 26, 2026, the Committee held a public meeting and voted to approve a recommended list of 25 nominees for consideration by the Council (Attachment “A” hereto); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Pursuant to Section 3-905 of the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, and upon recommendation of the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Resolution No. 260346, the 25 individuals whose names are listed in Attachment “A” hereto are hereby nominated for consideration by the Mayor as potential appointees to the Commission on Parks and Recreation.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Chief Clerk of City Council is hereby directed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to the Mayor.
ATTACHMENT A
1. Anthony Meadows
2. Dustin Dove
3. Elaine Smith Holton
4. Elizabeth Class-Maldonado
5. Gregory Allen
6. James Williams
7. Jim Marino
8. Joseph Meiman
9. Josephys Dafils
10. Kadafi El-Kardah
11. Khalil Salaam
12. Kiasha Huling
13. Krystal Dillard
14. Leroy Fisher
15. Melissa Young
16. Michael Shipp
17. Nadiyya McGill
18. Nafissa Bizo
19. Olivia Scanlon
20. Pamia Coleman
21. Quentin Ellison
22. Rebecca Cordes Chan
23. Saphangela Hill
24. Sara Stevenson
25. Shannon Wink
End