Proposing an amendment to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to provide for an Executive Director of the City Planning Commission who shall be a member of the Mayor's Cabinet; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Edmund N. Bacon was the Executive Director of the City’s Planning Commission from 1949 through 1970; and

WHEREAS, During that time, and throughout his legendary career as a visionary urban planner, Mr. Bacon advocated and demonstrated the critical importance of planned design to the health and vibrancy of a city; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Bacon’s recent death reminds us not only of his enormous personal impact on Philadelphia, but also of the ongoing importance to the City’s development of imaginative and deliberate consideration of City planning; and

WHEREAS, Broad-scaled planning and economic development initiatives, such as the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, have been cornerstones of the work undertaken by the Administration of Mayor John F. Street; and

WHEREAS, Under the Street Administration, the Executive Director of the City Planning Commission has served a critical function in developing and advancing the City’s planning and development initiatives; and

WHEREAS, The Executive Director of the Planning Commission has been treated like a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet throughout the Street Administration; and

WHEREAS, It is appropriate to legally recognize the importance of this position in the governance of the City by making the Executive Director of the Planning Commission a formal member of the Mayor’s Cabinet; 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 Articles III and IV of 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 III

EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE

BRANCH - ORGANIZATION

CHAPTER 1

OFFICERS, DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS,

COMMISSIONS AND OTHER AGENCIES

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§3-102.

The Mayor’s Cabinet.

The Mayor’s Cabinet shall consist of the Mayor, the Managing Director, the Director of Finance, the City Solicitor

, the Executive Director of the Planning Commission,

and the City Representative.

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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

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CHAPTER 6 CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

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§4-605.

Executive Director.

The City Planning Commission shall appoint an Executive Director who shall exercise such powers and duties as are vested in him or her by the Commission.

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Explanation:

Italics

indicate new matter added.

End