Authorizing the Committee on Licenses and Inspections to hold hearings on ways to provide better coordination and access to records amongst City agencies and ways in which the Department of Licenses and Inspections can be more proactive for citizens through the increased use of the Internet.

WHEREAS, The Department of Licenses and Inspections is responsible for the enforcement of standards that protect the life and safety of our neighborhoods as well as the economic vitality of those neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, he Department also plays a major role in the licensing of businesses, as well as the processing of violations and fines and various applications; and

WHEREAS, In order to enforce those standards, information from other agencies is often required to maintain accurate records and to adequately enforce existing laws; and

WHEREAS, In many cases updated information that is given to one department is not necessarily available to another department; and

WHEREAS, A recent article in the

Philadelphia Inquirer

highlighted major deficiencies in the City of Philadelphia's web page, including the ability to download forms but not to submit them; and

WHEREAS, Internet submission of forms could lead to faster access to reliable data, a faster system of updating changes in information and faster access to processing of forms for taxpayers; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Licenses and Inspections hold hearings on agency efforts to coordinate information necessary for enforcement of the laws of the City of Philadelphia; and be it further

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Committee hear testimony on ways in which the Department can provide better services to constituents online, as well as possible remedies including a pilot program within the department to both provide information and take complaints, forms and licenses online.

End