Philadelphia City Council Moves to Hold Property Owners Liable for Hazardous Streets Across the City

Official:Providing for the submission to the qualified electors of the City of Philadelphia of the proposal set forth in the Resolution approved by City Council proposing an amendment to The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to extend the functions of the Department of Streets by amending "Section 5-500" of "ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH - POWERS AND DUTIES Managing Director and Departments, Boards and Commissions under his Supervision" "CHAPTER 5 - DEPARTMENT OF STREETS AND ITS DEPARTMENTAL BOARD," to impose an obligation on the Department of Streets for streets not owned, controlled, or operated by the City to cause the owner to remediate streets that pose peril to persons or property or to itself remediate the peril to persons or property and to recover the costs of doing so from the owners; and providing for the submission of the amendment to the electors of Philadelphia; fixing the date for the special election for such purpose; prescribing the form of ballot question to be voted on; and authorizing the appropriate officers to publish notice and to make arrangements for the special election.