[1]
Editor's Note: For additional information regarding the adoption of ordinances, resolutions and motions, see Charter § 1.4-405.
County Council shall take official action by ordinance, resolution or motion. All actions shall be taken by an affirmative vote by at least a majority of the seated members.
A. 
Every proposed ordinance and resolution shall be submitted to the County Clerk in the form required in the Rules of Council.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: The Rules of Council are on file in the Office of the Chief Clerk.
B. 
No ordinance or resolution shall contain more than one subject.
C. 
The title of every ordinance and resolution shall clearly express the subject.
A. 
Any member of County Council may introduce ordinances and resolutions by placing them on the agenda as provided in the Administrative Code in accordance with the adopted Rules of Council.
B. 
The Chief Executive may submit ordinances and resolutions by placing them on the agenda as provided in this Administrative Code.
C. 
The registered voters may propose ordinances as provided for in Article XI of this Administrative Code.
D. 
The County Council Clerk shall distribute copies of proposed ordinances and resolutions to each County Council member and to the Chief Executive, and shall make a copy available in the Office of the County Council for public inspection.
A. 
No ordinance or resolution shall be voted on until it has been read by title and summary at two County Council meetings separated by at least seven days and the public has been given the opportunity to comment on the ordinance or resolution.
B. 
County Council may act on a proposed ordinance or resolution at the same meeting as the second reading. Except for ordinances levying taxes, the requirement of a second reading may be waived by an affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of the seated members. County Council shall act on all Ordinances and Resolutions in either the affirmative or negative within 90 days of submittal unless otherwise provided in the Charter or this Administrative Code, or unless tabled by a 2/3 majority of the seated members of Council.
The County Council Clerk shall post by title each proposed ordinance and resolution in a conspicuous place in the County Courthouse and on the Internet at an appropriate County-controlled Web site. The notice shall indicate a site at which the ordinances and resolutions are available to the public.
In the event of a public emergency declared by the Chief Executive affecting life, health, safety or property, County Council may adopt by an affirmative vote of at least a majority of the seated members one or more emergency ordinances or resolutions. Such emergency ordinances or resolutions may be adopted without prior notice and may be effective immediately. An emergency ordinance or resolution shall be introduced in the form prescribed for ordinances and resolutions generally, except that it shall be plainly designated as an emergency ordinance or resolution and shall contain, after the enacting clause, a declaration stating that an emergency exists and describing the emergency in clear and specific terms. After its adoption the ordinance or resolution shall be published as prescribed for other such ordinances or resolutions. All emergency ordinances and resolutions shall expire after 30 days unless reenacted by County Council.
A. 
Except as provided in Article VIII of this Administrative Code (relating to the adoption or amendment of the balanced annual operating budget and balanced annual capital budget), all adopted ordinances and resolutions shall be signed by the President of County Council or presiding officer and delivered by the County Council Clerk to the Chief Executive within three business days of adoption. The County Council Clerk shall make an official record of the date and time of the delivery of any adopted ordinance or resolution to the Chief Executive.
B. 
If the Chief Executive approves the ordinance or resolution, then the Chief Executive shall sign the ordinance or resolution and return it to the County Council Clerk within seven days after receiving it. The County Council Clerk shall make an official record of the Chief Executive's approval of the ordinance or resolution and distribute a copy of the adopted ordinance or resolution to the Law Department. Upon the signature of the Chief Executive the ordinance or resolution shall become effective according to the terms of the ordinance or resolution.
C. 
If the Chief Executive disapproves the adopted ordinance or resolution, then the Chief Executive shall veto it by returning it unsigned to County Council Clerk within seven days after receiving it with any and all written objections. The objections shall be part of County Council proceedings. The County Council Clerk shall make an official record of the Chief Executive's veto and return of the ordinance or resolution.
D. 
County Council, by an affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of the seated members, may override any veto by the Chief Executive. With the exception of vetoes of any budget line item as provided in Article VIII of this Administrative Code, the override vote must occur within 30 days of the veto.
E. 
Any ordinance or resolution not returned by the Chief Executive with his signature or veto within seven days after receiving the ordinance or resolution from the County Council Clerk shall be effective in the same manner as if the Chief Executive had signed it. The County Council Clerk shall distribute a copy of the adopted ordinance or resolution to the Law Department. The ordinance or resolution shall become effective according to the terms of the ordinance or resolution.
F. 
Emergency ordinances and resolutions shall be signed by the President or presiding officer and delivered by the County Council Clerk to the Chief Executive immediately upon adoption. The County Council Clerk shall make an official record of the date and time of delivery of any adopted emergency ordinance or resolution to the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive shall sign and return the ordinance or resolution or veto the ordinance or resolution by returning it unsigned to County Council Clerk within 24 hours. Any emergency ordinance or resolution not returned within 24 hours shall be effective in the same manner as if the Chief Executive had signed it. The County Council Clerk shall distribute a copy of the adopted ordinance or resolution to the Law Department. The ordinance or resolution shall become effective according to the terms of the ordinance or resolution.
G. 
Pursuant to Article XII of the Charter, any ordinances adopted by voter referendum shall become effective in accordance with the terms of the Ordinance and shall not be subject to veto by the Chief Executive and shall not be amended or repealed by County Council for two years following approval.
H. 
The County Council Clerk shall distribute a copy of each approved ordinance or resolution to the County Controller within three days of the ordinance or resolution becoming effective.
[Added 5-21-2003 by Ord. No. 20-03]
A. 
County officers, County officials, administrative officers, agencies, authorities and whoever else may be charged with the implementation of enacted ordinances and resolutions shall provide a written report to County Council and the Chief Executive 90 days following the law's enactment date. Such report shall include a statement as to whether a law has been fully implemented, partially implemented or not implemented. It shall also include information on steps taken to date, outstanding actions or issues and, if appropriate, a timeline for when implementation will be complete.
B. 
If the status of the law's implementation is partially implemented or not implemented, the individual reporting on the implementation shall be required to provide a written report to County Council and the Chief Executive every 90 days hence until the law is fully implemented.
C. 
Upon written request of the County Council or Chief Executive, the County officer, County official, administrative officer, agency, authority or whoever else may be charged with the implementation, shall appear before the requesting body at a time and place designated in the request. Such request may be made to request further information, question the written report or to provide feedback to the individual reporting on the implementation.
D. 
County Council staff shall be responsible for keeping track of laws that have been implemented, the person or entity responsible for implementation and the ninety-day threshold for the written report. Any violations of this section shall be provided in written form to County Council and the Chief Executive for appropriate action.
[Added 9-11-2007 by Ord. No. 34-07]
To the extent permissible by applicable state or federal law or the Home Rule Charter of Allegheny County, any bill creating, setting, or in any fashion altering any fee charged or collected by the County shall only be approved upon an affirmative vote by two thirds (2/3) of the seated members of the Allegheny County Council.
[1]
Editor's Note: For the authority of the County Council to establish fees, see Charter Art. IV, § 1.4-402. See also the Appendix to this Code for specific fees adopted by the County Countil.