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                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                     

logo

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.