Authorizing Council's Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings for applicants seeking nomination to serve on the Police Advisory Commission, and further authorizing the Committee to provide a report to the Committee of the Whole setting forth its recommended list of nominations for submission to the Mayor.

WHEREAS, Executive Order 8-93, issued by then-Mayor Ed Rendell after negotiation and consultation with City Council, established the Police Advisory Commission as the official civilian oversight agency for the Philadelphia Police Department; and

WHEREAS, The Commission is an integral part of the City's justice system, and a provider of a valuable service to the Police Department and the citizens of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The Executive Order provides that the Commission consists of 15 members and 4 alternates. Seven of the members and 2 of the alternates are appointed by the Mayor from a list of 21 nominees submitted by Council; the remaining 8 members and 2 alternates are appointed directly by the Mayor; and

WHEREAS, There are currently multiple vacancies on the Commission and the terms of the remaining members have recently expired, with those members graciously agreeing to continue serving until they are replaced or reappointed; and

WHEREAS, Mayor Nutter and Council mutually desire to appoint a full complement of Commission members; and

WHEREAS, With respect to the nominees to be submitted by Council, the Executive Order provides that “City Council shall forward such nominations to the Mayor by resolution after public hearing held by the Committee of the Whole”; and

WHEREAS, The Council's standing Committee on Public Safety is authorized by the Rules of Council to consider all matters pertaining to the Police Department; and

WHEREAS, It is intended by this Resolution to charge the Committee on Public Safety with the responsibility to (1) conduct public hearings at which applicants will receive an opportunity to speak, and (2) develop a list of recommended nominees for consideration by the Committee of the Whole; all while preserving to Council the final authority to determine the list of nominees submitted to the Mayor; now therefore,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

THAT Council's Committee on Public Safety is hereby authorized to hold public hearings at which applicants seeking Council's nomination to serve on the Police Advisory Commission may be heard.

RESOLVED FURTHER THAT The Committee on Public Safety shall, as expeditiously as possible after the hearing, provide a report to the Committee of the Whole setting forth its recommended list of nominations for submission to the Mayor.

End