Document 11
Draft Petition Policy
Policy
Statement
The City of Ottawa
is committed to citizen engagement and supports petitions as one tool for
citizens to have input into Council’s decision making process.
A petition can be
most effective when the information contained in it is accurate and verifiable,
and when the petition is recognized and accepted by decision makers.
Purpose
This policy outlines
the City of Ottawa’s procedure for receipt and recognition of public petitions.
Application
This policy applies
to all petitions submitted to the City of Ottawa, with the exception of those
governed by another Act (such as
drainage and local improvement petitions).
Policy Requirements
Petition Requirements
·
The petition must be addressed to the City of Ottawa/
Ottawa City Council and request a particular action within the authority of
Council.
·
Petitions must be legible, typewritten or printed in
ink (no pencil)
·
The text of the petition must be listed at the top of
each page for multiple-page petitions. Pages should be numbered and total
number of pages indicated.
·
The petition must be appropriate and respectful in
tone, and must not contain any improper or offensive language or information.
·
Each petitioner must print and sign his or her own
name. A paper petition must contain
original signatures only, written directly on the petition.
·
Each petitioner must provide his or her full address.
·
For electronic petitions, petitioners must provide
name, address and a valid e-mail address.
·
The petition must clearly
disclose on each page that it will be considered a public document at
the City of Ottawa and that information contained in it may be subject to the
scrutiny of the City and other members of the general public.
Submission of Petitions
·
Petitions containing original signatures should be
sent to the attention of the City Clerk by mail or delivered in person to
Ottawa City Hall or and City of Ottawa Client Service Centre.
·
Petitions may also be submitted to the Mayor or any
member of City Council.
·
Electronic Petitions may be submitted electronically
the attention of the City Clerk at petitions@ottawa.ca.
·
All petitions that meet the above standards will be
presented to Council at its next regular meeting, or the meeting at which the
subject of the petition is to be discussed.
·
Standing Committees cannot formally accept petitions.
Petitions received at Standing Committees will be forwarded to the Clerk and
presented to full Council at its next regular meeting, or the meeting at which
the subject of the petition is to be discussed
·
Council has the discretion to accept the petition, and
Council’s decision is final.
Responsibilities
The City Clerk is
responsible for receiving all petitions and submitting them to the attention of
Council.
City Council members
are responsible for forwarding all petitions received by their offices to the
attention of the Clerk.
Monitoring/ Contraventions
The
City Clerk will evaluate all petitions to ensure that the requirements of the
policy are met.
Petitions deemed to
be in non-compliance will not be formally accepted by Council.
However they will be
listed as “other correspondence received” on the appropriate Standing Committee
or Council agenda, if applicable.
Retention and Disclosure
All petitions
submitted to the City will be retained by the City Clerk’s office. Petitions meeting the requirements of this
policy and therefore presented to and received by Council will be kept on file
at the Office of the City Clerk and will be available for public viewing upon
request.
Definitions
For the purposes of
this policy, a petition is a formal written request made to the City of Ottawa,
Council or one of its Standing Committees.
Enquiries
City Clerk and
Solicitor Department
Legislative Services
Branch
Deputy City Clerk
Draft Petition
Template
PETITION
To: the Council of the City of
Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1
Whereas:
(brief description of issue/problem/
grievance in question)
I/We the undersigned, petition the Council of
the City of Ottawa as
follows:
Petition Text:
Name |
Address |
Signature |
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By signing this
petition, I hereby acknowledge that this petition will become a public document
at the City of Ottawa and that all information contained in it will be subject
to the scrutiny of the City, and will be publicly available. Questions about the collection and disclosure
of personal information contained in this petition should be directed to the
City Clerk, 110 Laurier Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 1J1.