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Ordinance supplementing the Pittsburgh Code Title One, Administrative; Article XI, Personnel; by creating Chapter 196, Limitations on Use of Franking and adding language to regulate and limit the use of franking in City government.
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Now therefore be it resolved that the City Council enacts as follows:
Section 1. The Pittsburgh City Code is hereby amended by creating Title One: Administrative, Article XI: Personnel, Chapter 196: Limitations on Use of Franking, which shall read:
CHAPTER 196 - Limitations on the use of Franking
196.1 Purpose
To ensure that public funds at the discretion of an elected official are used for the benefit of the elected official's constituents and not primarily for the political or personal benefit of any elected official in the City of Pittsburgh.
196.2 Definitions
The following definitions shall apply to all parts of this chapter:
(a) Elected Official. Any elected officeholder in the City of Pittsburgh who holds the office of Mayor, Controller, member of City Council, or any other office that may be elected in a similar manner.
(b) Franking. Any use of public funds to send a mass physical mailing within a certain political jurisdiction that includes any of an Elected Official's name, title, website, contact information, or picture, or invites a person or persons to attend an event or meeting where an Elected Official will officially participate.
(c) Mass Physical Mailing. Any mailing that is sent to more than fifty (50) registered voters or more than fifty (50) households, where each mail piece is identical or nearly identical in its content, and where all pieces of mail in the mailing can reasonably be expected to be delivered to all recipients within a time-span of one week. All Mass Physical Mailings must include the sentence, “Paid for with Taxpayer Money,” on the mailing.
(d) Political Message. Any message that (1) asks a person to vote for or against any candidate or ballot measure, (...
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