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Proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter providing for a mandatory minimum staffing level for building and code inspectors within the Department of Licenses and Inspections; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, In FY17 each Building Inspector in the Department of Licenses and Inspections was responsible for inspecting 6,095 properties, while each Code Inspector was responsible for inspecting 7,720 properties, according to testimony from the Commissioner of Licenses and Inspections; and
WHEREAS, It is necessary to consider the impact of such a heavy caseload on each of our City’s Building and Code Inspectors to thoroughly complete their inspections; and
WHEREAS, The addition of eight hundred (800) building and code inspectors will allow each inspector to maintain a more manageable caseload; and
WHEREAS, These additional inspectors will allow the Department to ensure that each job site is following, and adhering to City construction and building guidelines, ensuring the safety of not only the workers on the jobsite, but the citizens of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, With additional inspectors across the City, they will be in a better position to respond to violations of both City and State construction code; and
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, be it
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:
ARTICLE II THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Council-It’s Election, Organization, Powers and Duties
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CHAPTER 3 LEGISLATION
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§2-300 The Annual Operating Budget Ordinance.
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(4) In every operating budget ordinance:
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(g) Council shall make appropriations in order to maintain a minimum of eight hundred (800) building and code inspectors, cumulative, within the Department of Licenses and Inspections.
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