WHEREAS
,
Philadelphia is a vibrant metropolitan area that strives to create an environment conducive to unparalleled business success and job growth; and
WHEREAS
,
Both City Council and the Kenney Administration desire to advance a regulatory environment that is increasingly favorable to the lawful establishment and operation of local businesses; and
WHEREAS
,
Fundamental to the premise of such an environment are predictability in process and quality in customer service, as well as rules that protect against abuses to either; and
WHEREAS
,
Qualitative and quantitative measures exist for how cities can improve regulatory rules for starting a business, permitting, employing workers, taxes and other indices; and
WHEREAS
,
The utilization of such data can help to establish optimal levels of business service, inclusive of acceptable procedural times, while adequately considering social protections; and
WHEREAS
,
Studies have found that the best functioning economies boast uncomplicated rules that enable businesses of all sizes and origins to easily establish themselves, grow and hire; and
WHEREAS
,
The City of Philadelphia seeks to improve its standing amongst the Nation’s cities with regard to ease of doing business through the streamlining of processes and lowering of costs: and
WHEREAS
,
City Council created, empaneled and authorized the Special Committee on Regulatory Review & Reform with a mission to identify archaic, superfluous, and confusing provisions in the Philadelphia Code and in departmental regulations; and to recommend revisions that streamline, clarify and enhance the City’s regulatory environment, for the purpose of accelerating the growth of well-paying jobs in Philadelphia while ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents; and
WHEREAS
,
The Administration, through the Department of Commerce, is committed to ensuring respectful, efficient, and timely service for all business owners who interact with the city; and recently adopted the Business Owners Bill of Rights to that end; and
WHEREAS
,
Continuous consideration of ongoing improvements in service delivery - including those that dive into the processes specific industries must undertake - can yield more data, evidence and insight, thereby helping to ensure comprehensive results; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That City Council’s Committee on Commerce & Economic Development be authorized to hold hearings regarding comprehensive qualitative and quantitative efforts to improve the ease of doing business in city of Philadelphia.
End