Title
Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to create the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson as set forth in a Resolution approved by Council; fixing the date of a special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot question to be voted on; and, authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.
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THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. There shall be submitted for the approval or disapproval of the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia at the election to be held on May 20, 2025, the proposed amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter contained in Resolution No. 240030 approved by City Council on ____________________, 2024, and filed in the Office of the Clerk of City Council.
SECTION 2. There shall be placed on the ballot the following question to be answered “Yes” or “No” by the qualified electors participating in the election:
Should The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson to assist residents experiencing homelessness, help provide fair access to essential resources, improve quality of life in the shelter system, investigate client complaints, and provide oversight and recommendations to the City’s providers of homeless services?
SECTION 3. The Clerk of City Council is hereby directed to: (i) certify to the Board of Elections, within five (5) days of this Ordinance becoming law, a copy of this Ordinance and Resolution No. 240030; and (ii) to have printed in pamphlet form, in sufficient number for general distribution, the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter as set forth in Resolution No. 240030, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. The Clerk of City Council is hereby directed to cause to be published one time each, during the three (3) weeks preceding the election on May 20, 2025, in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City of Philadelphia and in The Legal Intelligencer, the proposed amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance; and further, at such other times and in such other manner as the Clerk may consider desirable.
SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to issue a proclamation giving at least thirty (30) days’ notice of such election. The Clerk of City Council shall cause a copy of the proclamation to be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the City of Philadelphia, and in The Legal Intelligencer, once a week for three consecutive weeks during the period of thirty (30) days prior to the election. One such publication may be combined with the publication of the notice required by Section 4 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. The appropriate officers are authorized and directed to take such action as may be required for the holding of an election on the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance as provided for by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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