Council's hearing on Parking Authority tickets and tows during the World Cup is set for Nov. 6

City Council's Committee on Streets and Services has scheduled its hearing into the Philadelphia Parking Authority for Friday, Nov. 6, at 10 a.m. in Room 400 of City Hall, according to the meeting listing. The hearing looks at how the PPA enforced parking during this summer's big events, starting with the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival at Lemon Hill.

If you got a ticket or had your car towed near the Fan Fest, this is the hearing about it. It's also a broader look at who the PPA answers to.

What happened this summer

The city's transportation plan required a separate temporary parking permit for the Lemon Hill area from June 11 to July 19, even for people who already had residential permits. Residents near the festival said their cars were ticketed or towed even though they had valid permits, FOX 29 reported. Some people inside the zone were ticketed while their permit applications were still pending, 5th District Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. told 6abc.

The PPA said it ran a daily check to cancel Fan Fest tickets written in error and refund fees, and that it would cancel violations for cars towed by mistake, FOX 29 and 6abc reported.

What the resolution asks

Council adopted Resolution 260735 on Sept. 17, the day it was introduced. It authorizes the committee to investigate the PPA's summer 2026 enforcement, its financial practices and its accountability to residents and city government, and to recommend reforms (text).

The resolution cites numbers from news coverage:

• The PPA acknowledged 181 erroneous tickets out of 3,169 written during the festival's first five days, as WHYY reported June 17.
• Axios reported 14,281 tickets and 1,023 tows inside the festival's special parking zone over the tournament.

It also points to how the PPA is governed. Under state law, its six-member board is picked through a state appointment process involving the governor and legislative leaders. The mayor and Council don't appoint the board. The resolution says that leaves city officials answerable to residents "without corresponding authority" over the agency.

What our records add

• Sponsors: Jeffery Young Jr. introduced it, joined by Curtis Jones Jr., Quetcy Lozada, Kendra Brooks, Jim Harrity and Nicolas O'Rourke.
• Wait: The hearing comes 50 days after the resolution was adopted.
• The committee's only agenda item: Resolution 260735 is the only matter listed for the Nov. 6 meeting.
• Related bill: Young's Bill 260853 would direct the PPA to run a parking-ticket amnesty from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2027. It was introduced Oct. 15 and has not been referred to a committee. Our story on the amnesty bill.
• Leadership: The PPA is choosing a new executive director. Democratic City Committee chair Bob Brady said 1st District Councilmember Mark Squilla is on the short list, the Inquirer reported. Squilla didn't rule it out. Our story on what that would mean for his seat.

What's next

Committee hearings are open to the public, and the city's Legistar calendar posts any changes. After the hearing, the committee can issue findings or recommend changes, but changes to the PPA's board structure would come from state law, as the resolution notes. Council also meets Nov. 12.