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File #: 140244    Version: Name:
Type: Resolution Status: ADOPTED
File created: 3/27/2014 In control: Committee on Law and Government
On agenda: Final action: 2/26/2015
Title: Proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the creation, appointment, powers and duties of a Commission for Women; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
Sponsors: Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Tasco, Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember O'Brien, Councilmember Kenney, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Henon, Councilmember Bass
Attachments: 1. Resolution No. 14024401, As Amended.pdf, 2. Signature14024401.pdf
Title
Proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for the creation, appointment, powers and duties of a Commission for Women; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
 
Body
WHEREAS, Under Section 6 of the First Class City Home Rule Act (53 P.S. § 13106), an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter may be proposed by a resolution of the Council of the City of Philadelphia adopted with the concurrence of two-thirds of its elected members; now, therefore
 
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the following amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter is hereby proposed and shall be submitted to the electors of the City on an election date designated by ordinance:
 
Strikethrough indicates matter deleted by these amendments.
Bold italics indicate matter added by these amendments.
 
ARTICLE III
EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH - ORGANIZATION
 
CHAPTER 1
OFFICERS, DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND OTHER AGENCIES
 
§ 3-100.  Executive and Administrative Officers, Departments, Boards, Commissions and Agencies Designated.
 
      The executive and administrative work of the City shall be performed by:
 
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  1. The following independent boards and commissions, which, except for the Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia, are hereby created:
 
            City Planning Commission;
            Commission on Human Relations;
            Board of Trustees of the Free Library of Philadelphia;
            Board of Pensions and Retirement;
            Civil Service Commission;
            Philadelphia Tax Reform Commission and its Advisory Committee;
            Board of Ethics;
            Youth Commission;
            Zoning Code Commission; and
            Jobs Commission.  Commission; and
            Commission for Women.
 
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CHAPTER 8
INDEPENDENT BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
 
*      *      *
 
§ 3-810.  Commission for Women.
 
      (a)   Composition.  The Commission for Women shall be composed of twenty-seven  (27) members.  The Mayor shall appoint ten (10) members, and each member of Council shall appoint one (1) member, provided that Council may from time to time provide, by ordinance, for a different composition or method of appointment. The members of the Commission shall be representative of the diverse composition of the City, shall have an understanding of or experience with women's issues and shall be residents of the City.
 
      (b)   Appointments and Terms of Service. Initial Appointments to the Commission shall be made within ninety (90) days after the organization of Council on the first Monday of January, 2016, and Commission members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities.  Members shall serve until their successors have been appointed.
 
      (c)   Vacancies. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled within thirty (30) days by the appointing authority who originally appointed the member whose seat has become vacant.
 
      (d)   Compensation. Members of the Commission shall not be compensated.
 
      (e)   To assist in the initial organization of the Commission, the Mayor may appoint an interim executive director at any time after January 5, 2016, who shall serve until an executive director is appointed by the Commission.  The Mayor shall determine the compensation  of the interim executive director.
 
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ARTICLE IV
EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH - POWERS AND DUTIES
 
The Mayor, The City Representative and
Departments, Boards and Commissions under the Mayor
 
*      *      *
 
CHAPTER 18
COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
 
§ 4-1800.  Powers and Duties.
 
(a)   The Commission for Women shall convene its first meeting no later than April 30, 2016 on a date designated by the Mayor.  Thereafter, the Commission shall meet regularly, at such times and places as it may designate, and shall meet no less than six (6) times per year.
 
      (b)   The purpose of the Commission is to advance women to full equality by promoting equal opportunities in areas such as education, employment, compensation and professional development.  To achieve this purpose, the Commission shall advise the Mayor and City Council on: (i) issues of public policy that impact women; (ii) methods of promoting and protecting the rights of women in the City; (iii) ways to ensure that women employed in City government are treated equally with men in all matters of employment; and (iv) policies and programs that would improve the status of women in departments and agencies of City government.  The Commission shall also be responsible for engaging the corporate sector to work with the Commission, the Mayor and City Council in developing initiatives that address women's issues.
 
      (c)   The Commission shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, appoint and fix the compensation of an executive director and such other staff or consultants as may be required for the proper conduct of its work (provided that the appointment of an executive director shall require a vote of two-thirds of all members of the Commission).
 
      (d)   All departments, boards, commissions and other City agencies shall cooperate with the Commission in the performance of its duties to the fullest extent permitted by law.
 
      (e)  The Commission shall provide an annual report, summarizing its activities and accomplishments, to the Mayor and the Chief Clerk of Council no later than March 31st of each year, beginning with the year 2017.
 
      (f)  The Commission shall exercise such other advisory powers and duties, not inconsistent with this Section and the Charter, that Council may from time to time vest in it, by ordinance.
 
 
 
End