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Back to search resultsResolution 230115-A

Proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to establish the Office of the Chief Public Safety Director of the City of Philadelphia; providing for the method of appointment of the Chief Public Safety Director and defining their powers, duties, and areas of responsibility; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia.

AI summary

City Council adopted a resolution proposing a Philadelphia Home Rule Charter amendment that would create an Office of the Chief Public Safety Director. The director would be appointed by the mayor with City Council approval and would coordinate resources, policies, security, and public safety work across several city departments; the proposed amendment would be submitted to Philadelphia voters.

File details

Status
ADOPTED
Introduced
February 16, 2023
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Full text

WHEREAS, The safety of Philadelphians is of the utmost importance, and strategically reorienting the resources at our disposal is an innovative approach to public safety. Increased collaboration amongst our safety-oriented City agencies can improve the services and security of Philadelphians; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the country, municipalities have established Public Safety Directors that oversee public safety departments such as Police, Fire, Prisons, Recreation, Emergency Services, and Jobs & Training Agencies and violence prevention agencies. These Directors have oversight over public safety-oriented departments to increase cooperation, efficiency, and the effectiveness of their individual work. They work closely with department heads to create a collaborative environment in which each department can operate at its full potential; and

WHEREAS, Cities such as Chicago, Newark, and Columbus have established Public Safety Directors in efforts to facilitate collaboration between safety-oriented City agencies. Directors typically oversee the budget, operations, plans, and development of City departments, providing guidance and approval. They increase efficiency, communication, and equity amongst these related departments; and

WHEREAS, Under Section 6 of the First Class City Home Rule Act (Act of April 21, 1949, P.L. 665, §6, 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.

Note

:

Italics

indicates matter added by this amendment.

Strikethrough

indicates matter deleted by this amendment.

ARTICLE III

EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH - ORGANIZATION

_______________

CHAPTER 1

OFFICERS, DEPARTMENTS, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND OTHER AGENCIES

§ 3-100. Executive and Administrative Officers, Departments, Boards, Commissions and Agencies Designated.

The executive and administrative work of the City shall be performed by:

(a) The following elected or appointed officers:

Mayor;

Managing Director;

Director of Finance;

Chief Public Safety Director;

§ 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 Chief Public Safety Director,

the Director of Planning and Development, the Director of Commerce, the Director of Labor and the City Representative.

CHAPTER 2

ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT

§ 3-203. City Solicitor

and Chief Public Safety Director

.

The Mayor, with the advice and consent of a majority of all the members of the Council, shall appoint the City Solicitor

and the Chief Public Safety Director

.

CHAPTER 3

QUALIFICATIONS

§ 3-307. Chief Public Safety Director.

Qualifications for the Chief Public Safety Director shall include but not be limited to:

1.

The Chief Public Safety Director shall have five years of senior leadership experience in a law enforcement agency, legal entity, or other public safety position.

CHAPTER 6

COMPENSATION

§ 3-600. The Mayor and Other Officers.

Until the Council shall otherwise ordain, annual salaries shall be payable in equal semi-monthly installments as follows:

Director of Aviation, $265,000.

Chief Public Safety Director, $265,000.

ARTICLE IV

EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH - POWERS AND DUTIES

The Mayor, The City Representative and Departments, Boards, Commissions and Offices under the Mayor

__________

CHAPTER 28

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR

§ 4-2800. Functions.

The Chief Public Safety Director shall have the power and their duty shall be to perform the following functions:

(a) Ensure public safety by coordinating the deployment of resources (personnel and employment; property; plant and equipment) within the departments of Police, Fire, Prisons, Parks and Recreation, Emergency Management, and all other relevant departments and agencies.

(b) Operational Guidance. With consistency, the Director shall provide relevant City agency leaders with guidance and initial approvals of operational policies, work programs, violence-prevention programs

and budgetary policies. The Director shall provide consultation on the budgets of safety-related departments and agencies.

(c) Evaluations. The Director shall prepare reports regarding public safety measures as directed by the Mayor. When necessary, they shall undertake studies related to public safety functions, evaluating the effectiveness of work programs and procedures of safety-related City departments and agencies.

(d) City Facility Security. The planning and implementation of security in all City-owned facilities (i.e., all municipal offices and facilities, including recreation spaces) shall be coordinated by the Director. Additionally, all City contracts for security services and equipment are to be developed and overseen by the Director.

(e) Relationship Maintenance. The Director shall establish and maintain cooperative relations with civic and business organizations, violence-prevention agencies,

schools, court offices, emergency services in other jurisdictions, and others interested in the maintenance of public safety.

(f) Any other powers, duties, and responsibilities as established by ordinance.

ARTICLE VIII

PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

CHAPTER 4

EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH

§ 8-400. Certain General Provisions to Apply to Certain Officers.

All of the provisions of this charter which apply generally to department heads or departments, boards and commissions shall apply to the Mayor, the Managing Director, the Director of Finance, the City Treasurer, the City Representative, the Insurance Public Advocate, the Public School and Child Advocate, the Handicapped and Disabled Advocate, the Victim Advocate

, the Chief Public Safety Director

and the Personnel Director and to their offices.

End

File history

Sometimes city council's record keeping is not complete. This timeline reflects the information on the council's legistar website.
  1. CITY COUNCIL

    Details not published

    No details have been published for this item. Legistar notes that this meeting's minutes have not been finalized.
  2. Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Ordered placed on final passage calendar for next meeting.

  3. Council actionCommittee on Law and Government

    Reported favorably, rule suspension requested

    Council actionCommittee on Law and Government

    Amended

    Council actionCommittee on Law and Government

    Hearing held

    Council actionCommittee on Law and Government

    Hearing notices sent

  4. Council actionCITY COUNCIL

    Introduced and Referred