Authorizing Council's Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings for applicants seeking nomination to serve on the Commission on Parks and Recreation and further authorizing the Committee to recommend for Council's consideration nominations to be forwarded to the mayor.

Authorizing Council’s Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings for applicants seeking nomination to serve on the Commission on Parks and Recreation and further authorizing the Committee to recommend for Council’s consideration nominations to be forwarded to the mayor. WHEREAS, On November 4, 2008, the voters of Philadelphia approved a Charter amendment to create a new unified Department of Parks and Recreation, and a new 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 Council; and six ex officio members (the Commissioners of the Department 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 “The Council, by resolution, shall forward to th…