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Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in a Resolution approved by Council proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter relating to the Philadelphia Land Bank’s ability to acquire vacant, tax delinquent property and to return such property to productive use while revitalizing neighborhoods fairly and equitably, and to Council’s authority to enact legislation with respect to how the City exercises its powers and duties with respect to the Land Bank, and making conforming changes to the powers of the Law Department to collect all debts, taxes and accounts due the City; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election; all under certain terms and conditions.
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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 November 6, 2018, the amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter contained in Resolution No. 180040 approved by Council on ________, 20__, and filed in the Office of the Clerk of 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:
Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to further enable the Philadelphia Land Bank to acquire vacant, tax delinquent properties and to return such properties to productive use while revitalizing neighborhoods fairly and equitably, by authorizing City Council to enact legislation relating to City tax liens on such properties and to the Land Bank’s ability to acquire such properties at sheriff’s sale?
SECTION 3. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to (i) certify to the Board of Elections, within five days of this Ordinance becoming law, a copy of this Ordinance and Resolution No. 180040; 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. 180040 together with the ballot question set forth in Section 2 of this Ordinance.
SECTION 4. The Clerk of Council is hereby directed to cause to be published one time, during the three (3) weeks preceding the election on November 6, 2018, in three (3) newspapers of general circulation in the City 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 time 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 Council shall cause a copy of the proclamation to be published in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the City, and in The Legal Intelligencer, once a week for three consecutive weeks during the period of thirty 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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