City Hall this week: a museum hearing, 16 zoning bills, jail health care and a Thursday session

It's a full week at City Hall. Council has four committee hearings and a stated meeting on its calendar, and the deadline to apply for a mail ballot falls in the middle. Here is what's scheduled, using the meeting records on our site, with links to our earlier reporting.

Monday, Oct. 26

2 p.m. – Committee on Legislative Oversight (meeting page). The hearing on the closing of the Academy of Natural Sciences museum, under Resolution 260737. Council adopted the resolution Sept. 17 with eight sponsors, led by 5th District Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr., and gave the committee subpoena power. The hearing was first set for Oct. 7. Our preview covers what the resolution asks.

Tuesday, Oct. 27

10 a.m. – Committee on Rules (meeting page). Sixteen zoning bills, including Driscoll's self-storage limits, Landau's change to the adult cabaret definition, and a new Southwest Center City conservation overlay. Our guide goes through them.

5 p.m. – Mail ballot application deadline. Applications must reach the county by then, Billy Penn reported. Two charter questions are on the ballot; see our explainers on Question 1, city contracting and Question 2, Creative Philadelphia.

Wednesday, Oct. 28

10 a.m. – Committee on Licenses and Inspections (meeting page). One bill: Bill 260702, Driscoll's limits on amplified sound from boats, with fines up to $2,000. It has been in committee since Sept. 17. Our story.

2 p.m. – Committee on Legislative Oversight (meeting page). The hearing on medical care in city jails under Resolution 260778, led by at-large Councilmember Nicolas O'Rourke with nine sponsors in all. Our preview.

Thursday, Oct. 29

10 a.m. – Stated meeting of City Council (meeting page). Our record does not yet show the agenda. These items are listed as "In Council" with no final action logged:

• Resolution 260872, Phillips's call for the School District to review school meals, on the final passage calendar since Oct. 15. Our story.
• Resolution 260907, supporting Hilton Garden Inn workers, with 14 sponsors. Our story.
• Five Land Bank sale resolutions from Oct. 22: Gauthier's 260903, 260904 and 260905, Jones's 260906 and Young's 260908. Our story.
• Bill 260892, O'Rourke's scaled-back Transit Access Fund, with 14 sponsors. Our story.
• Bill 260853, Young's parking ticket amnesty. Our story.
• Property bills from Oct. 22: Gauthier's 260890 to acquire land on the west bank of the Schuylkill for park, recreation and transportation use; Jones's 260891 for land along the Schuylkill and Wissahickon; Driscoll's 260893 for land along the Delaware in Tacony-Holmesburg and 260894 for a lease at 9300 Ashton Road; and Squilla's 260895 and 260896 on the Old City Special Services District plan and Old City zoning.

The land bills follow a pattern in our records. Similar riverfront acquisition bills passed in 2024 (240423, 240431, 241029) and 2025 (250801).

Also on the clock

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker's Oct. 20 request for a public hearing on the city's opening offer to the police union, Communication 260886, asked Council to act within 30 days. That window ends Nov. 19. No hearing is on our calendar yet. Our story.