In other Council news:
* Councilman Mark Squilla has decided not to override Mayor Nutter's veto of a bill that would tack a $4 fee onto parking tickets. The money would have generated $4 million to be split between maintenance for recreation centers and operations of the Philadelphia Parking Authority's Taxicab and Limousine Division.
Nutter said the bill, approved by Council, 16-1, in June, was illegal because the Home Rule Charter and state law require that any parking revenues that exceed the base fine be directed to the school district. The Parking Authority has said that because it's a surcharge, the money would not have to go to schools.
Squilla consulted with private attorneys who said the bill could face legal challenges.
"We want to avoid any legal issues," Squilla said, adding he may introduce a similar bill "in a way that enables us to generate some extra funds."
* Councilman Jim Kenney acknowledged that a measure he sponsored in 2010 that would require police to ticket a vehicle before it could be towed from private property is not working. Kenney, who originally introduced the law in response to complaints about towers' behavior, said that in some cases it has taken three hours for police to arrive at the scene.
"Just making the guy stand there with the tow truck is not fair," Kenny said. "I know police are busy. It's time to retract."
Kenney will repeal that measure and introduce a bill requiring that towing companies take digital photos that show the vehicle's license plate, violation and the towing sign, provide them to the driver and keep them for 60 days.
Contact Jan Ransom at
ransomj@phillynews.com or 215-854-5218. Follow her on Twitter @Jan_Ransom. Read her blog at PhillyClout.com .
