TITLE
Resolution authorizing the City Clerk, Director of City Planning and the Director of Finance, on behalf of City Council, to enter into agreement/agreements and/or contract or contracts with the County of Allegheny, the School District of Pittsburgh and the School District Reapportionment Commission for School Districts of the First Class A for the purpose of a joint purchasing agreement with the ESRI Corporation and/or the Caliper Corporation for software and technical assistance related to redistricting. Cost not to exceed forty thousand dollars ($40,000).
BODY
Whereas, City Council is mandated by the state's Municipal Reapportionment Law to redefine the boundaries of its 9 Council Districts to conform with population changes and shifts pursuant to the 2010 Census; and,
Whereas, the state's Public School Code mandates that the city's school district, a School District of the First Class A, redefine the boundaries of its 9 Director districts to conform to population shifts and changes pursuant to the 2010 Census; and,
Whereas, cities like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Los Angeles, California have opted to open the traditionally "backroom" process of redistricting to the public using technology and the Internet; and,
Whereas, City Council has a legitimate desire to ensure that these processes are as apolitical as possible; and,
Whereas, there is a clear public benefit in making this process as open and transparent as possible for the County's residents; and,
Whereas, City Council intends to make these tools available for the use of the respective Reapportionment Commission(s); and,
Whereas, a joint purchasing agreement will allow all four entities to work separately while minimizing the costs to each.
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1: The City Clerk, Director of City Planning and the Director of Finance are hereby authorized to enter into agreement/agreements and/or contract or contracts with the County of Allegheny, the School District of Pittsburgh and the School District Reapportionment Commission for School Districts of the First Class A for the purpose of a joint purchasing agreement with the ESRI Corporation and/or the Caliper Corporation for software and technical assistance related to redistricting. Cost not to exceed forty thousand dollars ($40,000), chargeable to and payable from Fund 1000, Organization 101200, Sub Class 150, BY 2010, Account 526100, City Clerk.
Section 2: Any agreements or contracts executed under the authority of this Resolution shall stipulate that the use or import of any election results or political data into the hosted solution(s) procured for these purposes is expressly prohibited.
Section 3: The President of Council, as per Rule XVI of the Rules of Council and the Director of City Planning their designee(s) shall have the responsibility for oversight of implementation until both the City Council Reapportionment Advisory Committee and the School District Reapportionment Commission for School Districts of the First Class A, by majority vote, assume jurisdiction of their respective process(es) at which point the Director of City Planning shall provide any necessary technical assistance the Commissions may require.
Section 4: The City Controller shall encumber funds for the annual contract, subject to the amount of funds to be appropriated by City Council in respective budget years from the following chart accounts:
Bud Yr Fund Org Sub-Class Account Amount
2010 1000 101200 150 526100 $40,000.00