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Ordinance directing the Allegheny County Board of Elections to place before the qualified voters of the City of Pittsburgh at the 2026 May Primary Election a referendum question, "Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter, Article Three, Legislative Branch, be amended by changing public hearing notice requirements to adjust the public hearing notice requirements in light of the loss of both newspapers of general circulation in the City?”
(Public Hearing Scheduled for 1/27/26)
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The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The Allegheny County Board of Elections is hereby directed to place before the qualified voters of the City of Pittsburgh at the 2025 May Primary Election a referendum question:
"Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter, Article Three, Legislative Branch, be amended by changing public hearing notice requirements to adjust the public hearing notice requirements in light of the loss of both newspapers of general circulation in the City?”
§ 319 - Legislation Requiring Prior Public Hearing.
Council shall not take final action on the following types of legislation without a public hearing which shall be held not less than ten days following public notice published in a newspaper [circulated generally in the City:] of general circulation or, if no such newspaper exists, via successor media that reasonably ensures public access, including the City's official website and a digital news publication(s) of general circulation:
a. Salary;
b. Appropriation or budget matter;
c. Land use control, such as zoning, subdivision or planning;
d. New taxes or increases in the rate of existing taxes;
e. Creation of an authority or quasi-public agency;
f. Increase in the amount making a sealed bid procedure unnecessary on contracts; or
g. Election of all council members at large or by district.