Title
Amending Title 21 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Miscellaneous," by adding a new Chapter, entitled "Open Government Policy," requiring the development and implementation of plans to increase public access to certain City records; to require the creation of a World Wide Web address through which City data in open data formats are accessible by the public through commonly used Web search applications and commonly used open format software; and to require periodic reports on progress toward achieving the goals of an Open Government Policy, all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
WHEREAS, Open government policies are a hallmark of transparency and accountability in government and such policies are being enacted nationally and internationally, including by the United States and Canadian governments; Maryland and Washington states; and cities including San Francisco, California, Baltimore, Maryland, Austin, Texas, and London, England; and
WHEREAS, For example, in 2009, new guidelines were issued pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act to require federal agencies to presume their records are open and to publish agency information in electronic, open formats that can be retrieved, downloaded, indexed, and searched by commonly used web search applications; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly of Pennsylvania recently enacted Act 18 of 2011, the "Pennsylvania Web Accountability and Transparency (PennWATCH) Act," establishing an open government policy by creating a searchable database that provides public access to state government financial information and fiscal operations, and details taxpayer expenditures; and
WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania "Open Records Law," Act 3 of 2008, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101 et seq., commonly known as the "Right to Know Law" creates a strong presumption in favor of transparency and public access to governmental documents; and
WHEREAS, Under § 5-1104 of the Home Rule Charter, the City of Philadelphia is required to pro...
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