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A Resolution containing recommendation to Intergovernmental Cooperative Authority.
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WHEREAS, an Intergovernmental Cooperative Authority for Cities of the Second Class ("Authority") has been formed to study and make recommendations to improve, inter alia, the managerial accountability and the fiscal and budgeting practices of the City of Pittsburgh ("City') in order to ensure that the City can continue to provide essential services in the wake of the fiscal emergency the City is facing;
WHEREAS, the stigma of this fiscal emergency tarnishes not only the City of Pittsburgh, but Allegheny County as well;
WHEREAS, the citizens of Allegheny County recently abolished an inefficient and antiquated form of government and replaced it with a new form of government that includes, as its legislative branch, a part-time County Council consisting of district representatives and two at-large members;
WHEREAS, the creation of this new county form of government has reduced the cost and expense associated with Allegheny County's legislative branch, yet has increased the involvement of citizens, through their council representatives, in county government;
WHEREAS, we believe the City of Pittsburgh would derive a substantial fiscal benefit from a change in its form of government which would both increase citizen involvement and result in cost savings;
WHEREAS, we believe all possible measures should be taken to assist the City in overcoming its pressing financial dilemma, for the benefit of both the City and the County;
WHEREAS, the Authority is empowered to make findings and recommendations to the City concerning its affairs;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
SECTION 1.
1. The Allegheny County Council recommends to the Authority that it adopt as one of its findings that the City change its legislative branch to a form that has been effective in many other municipalities and one that is similar to the newly-created County Council: a part-time citizen/representative City Council consisting of nine members elected by district, plus two additional at-large members who are not members of the same party, with the following compensation, staff and allowed expenses:
a. City Council Members shall not receive a salary but may receive per-meeting stipends not to exceed in the aggregate $9,000 annually per Member. The aggregate stipend may by ordinance be increased by up to five percent every five years.
b. City Council may hire a Council staff subject to the personnel system.
c. City Council Members shall not be entitled to receive any City funding for personal staff, local district offices or fringe benefits including, but not limited to, health and life insurance, pensions and personal motor vehicles.
d. City Council Members may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The reimbursement of the expenses of City Council Members shall not exceed $3,000 per City Council Member per year. The expense limit may by ordinance be increased by up to five percent every five years.
e. The appropriation in each annual operating budget for City Council's per-meeting stipends, expenses, total staff compensation and office expenses shall not exceed four-tenths of one percent of the City's annual locally levied tax revenues as detailed in the most recent audited financial report of the City.
SECTION 2. If any provision of this Resolution shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Resolution which shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Resolution is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Resolution.