October 3, 2006
Sapporo City Ordinance No.41 (TentativeTranslation)
Gyoseishoshi Lawyer Konno Yasushi Office 2007
Translated by Yasushi Konno
October 3,
2006
Sapporo City Ordinance
No.41 (TentativeTranslation)
Gyoseishoshi Lawyer Konno Yasushi Office 2007
Translated by Yasushi Konno
CONTENTS
Preamble
Chapter 1 General Provisions
Chapter 2 Citizens
Section 1 Citizens' Rights
Section 2 Citizens' Duties
Chapter 3 City Council and Its Members
Chapter 4 Mayor and Staff
Chapter 5 Basics of Administrative Management
Chapter 6 Promoting Community Development by Basic Principles
Section 1 Promoting the participation of citizens
Section 2 Promotion of Information Sharing
Section 3 Promoting Community Development in Familiar Districts
Chapter 7 Coordination and Cooperation with Other Local Governments,
Etc.
Chapter 8 Evaluation of Measures, Etc. Concerning Community Development
Based on Citizens' Autonomy and Review of This
Ordinance
Supplementary Provision
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Preamble
Our city Sapporo, while, in this northern land, both the people who have lived here with natural blessings and the people who have come from various parts of Japan, spinning and nurturing each other’s traditions and cultures as well as adopting the wisdom of advanced nations, has been developed in leaps and bounds as a hub city in northern regions.
The Sapporo Citizens Charter begins with “We are the citizens of Sapporo where the Bell of the Clock Tower peals. ” It was formulated in 1963 as the citizens’ collective will, taking pride in the history, climate and natural environment of Sapporo, and since then, it has long played the role of a guide for the heart of the people of Sapporo.
We bear a responsibility for handing down to future generations the city our predecessors have built by making it better, while upholding this lofty Sapporo Citizens Charter as the heart of Sapporo.
We hope that the dream for Sapporo held by each one of us that Sapporo be a place where every citizen can achieve self-realization living in tranquility, while loving peace, respecting one another and acknowledging various values, will resonate with the ideals held by the people of the world. By becoming fully aware of our own rights and duties, cherishing bonds with various people and ties to the community, thereby joining forces, as well as by choosing and acting independently for community development, we aim to realize a Sapporo where the ideas and voices held by each one of us are well used in harmony despite a big city, and the citizens’ autonomy can actually be felt.
For that purpose, we have established herein the Sapporo City Autonomy
Basic Ordinance as the supreme norms for community development so that
we may build our city with the help of each and every one of us by clarifying
the roles of and relations among the citizens, the council and the executive
organs that are the pillars of community development.
Chapter 1 General Provisions
（Purpose)
Article 1. This ordinance aims to realize community development based on
the citizens' autonomy by making clear the basic concepts and principles
with regard to community development in this city, as well as by providing
for the citizens' rights and duties, the roles and responsibilities of
the council, its members, the mayor and other executive organs (hereinafter
referred to as "the mayor, etc.") and the basic matters for community
development.
(Definition)
Article 2. As used in this ordinance, a "citizen" means a person
who lives, works, or studies in this city and a person or organization
who conducts business activities in this city.
2. As used in this ordinance, "community development" means the
aggregate of activities to realize an easy-to-live city, such as ensuring
a pleasant living environment and promoting peace of mind and security
in the community.
3. As used in this ordinance, "city administration" means the
responsibilities borne by the city (this refers to the city council, the
mayor and other executive organs. hereinafter referred to as the same)
in community development.
(Position of this ordinance)
Article 3. The city and the citizens shall respect to the full the spirit
of this ordinance as the supreme norms for community development.
2. The city shall ensure consistency with the matters provided for in this
ordinance when it forms a comprehensive plan and other plans concerning
community development, as well as when it enacts, revises or repeals city
ordinances and regulations concerning community development.
(Basic concepts)
Article 4. The citizens are the main driving force in community development.
2. The city administration shall be based on the trust of the citizens.
In this case, the city council and the mayor shall proceed with the city
administration, maintaining an appropriate tension between them.
3. The citizens, the council members, as well as the mayor and the city
government staff shall cope with community development, recognizing each
other's roles and responsibilities, making constant efforts and coordinating
with each other.
(Basic principles in community development)
Article 5. Community development shall be carried out with the participation
of the citizens.
2. The city and the citizens shall share the information necessary to proceed
with community development.
3. The city shall bear the responsibility to run the city administration
fairly and sincerely. In this case, the city shall promote the citizens'
participation in the city administration and respect their will.
Chapter 2 Citizens
Section 1 Citizens' Rights
(Right to participate in community development)
Article 6. All citizens may participate in community development.
(Right to know information on city administration)
Article 7. All citizens may demand the publication or provision of information
on the city administration.
Section 2 Citizens' Duties
(Duties of the citizens)
Article 8. The citizens shall promote community development based on mutual
understanding and cooperation, while respecting each other's right to participate
in community development.
2. The citizens shall recognize that they are the core of community development,
and shall make an effort to participate in community development.
3. The citizens shall take responsibility for their statements and actions
when they participate in community development.
(Duties of the businesses)
Article 9. The businesses shall make an effort to contribute to the realization
of an easy-to-live community, while recognizing their social responsibility
as the members of the community and harmonizing themselves with the community.
Chapter 3 City Council and Its Members
(Roles and responsibilities of the city council)
Article 10. The city council shall make an effort to improve and strengthen
its functions, while performing its roles as the decision-making body and
the watch-dog body of the executive organs.
2. The city council shall grasp the wishes of the citizens and reflect
them in their formation of policies in order to promote community development
based on the citizens' autonomy.
3. The city council shall actively conduct inquiry and research and make
an effort to utilize the opinions of experts in various fields under the
expert system, etc. in order to improve its function of policy formation.
(City council open to the citizens)
Article 11. The city council shall clarify the points of contention in
the city administration through sufficient debate, and make an effort to
run the council that is open to the citizens.
2. The city council shall actively provide information concerning the contents
of its activities to the citizens, and set up opportunities to widely listen
to the voices of citizens.
(Roles and responsibilities of the council members)
Article 12. The council members shall have a comprehensive point of view,
and carry out their duties with justice and sincerity in order to perform
the roles and responsibilities of the council as they are provided for
in this ordinance.
2. The council members shall clarify their own ideas about commmunity development
to the citizens, listen widely to the voices of citizens, and make an effort
to reflect these in their policy formation and council management.
3. The council members shall make an effort to improve their deliberation
at the council and policy planning activities through inquiry, research,
etc.
Chapter 4 Mayor and Staff
(Mayor's roles and responsibilities)
Article 13. The mayor shall, as the representative of this city, manage
and execute his/her work, direct and supervise his/her staff who are his/her
auxiliary organs, run the internal organization, etc. with justice and
sincerity.
2. The mayor shall grasp the wishes of citizens, and reflect them in his/her
management of the city administration in order to promote community development
based on the citizens' autonomy. In this case, the mayor shall clarify
his/her own ideas about community development, and make an effort to widely
listen to the voices of citizens.
(Staff's responsibilities)
Article 14. The staff shall, as the servants for all, perform their responsibilities
fairly and efficiently. In this case, the staff shall perform their duties
from the citizens' vewpoint, and make an effort to improve their abilities
necessary to promote community development based on the citizens' autonomy.
(Training of the staff)
Article 15. The mayor and other persons with appointive power shall make
an effort to train the staff who promote community development based on
the citizens' autonomy, for example, by putting or appointing the right
person in the right post and through the development of occupational abilities.
Chapter 5 Basics of Administrative Management
(Basics of administrative management)
Article 16. The mayor, etc. shall conduct an efficient, fair and highly
transparent administrative management based on the participation of citizens
and sharing of information.
2. The mayor, etc. shall make an effort to conduct a comprehensive and
systematic administrative management, for example, by mutually linking
the systems of planning, financing, evaluation, etc. and conducting an
organizational management which corresponds to these.
3. The mayor, etc. shall appropriately conduct the drafting of ordinances
and the enactment, revision and repeal of regulations that are necessary
to promote community development, while they shall properly interpret and
apply laws and ordinances.
4. The mayor, etc. shall, with regard to the organizations in which this
city has invested heavily, conduct necessary guidance and adjustment from
the viewpoint of proper management, etc. in line with their establishment
purposes.
(General plan, etc.)
Article 17. The city shall decide on a general plan in order to conduct
a comprehensive and systematic administrative management.
2. The city shall, when deciding on a general plan, provide information
about the plan to the citizens in advance, and obtain the broad participation
of citizens in order to reflect their opinions in the plan.
3. The mayor, etc. shall, with regard to the general plan, provide information
on its content and how far it has progressed to the citizens in an easy-to-understand
manner, for example, by using indexes.
4. The provisions in the preceding two paragraphs shall apply mutatis mutandis
to important plans on community development (excluding a general plan).
(Financial management)
Article 18. The city shall, under a medium-range financial outlook, prepare
a budget based on the results of a general plan and administrative evaluation,
and make an effort to conduct a systematic and healthy financial management.
2. The mayor shall publicize information on the annual budget, account
settlement and other financial conditions of this city to the citizens
in an easy-to-understand manner.
(Administrative evaluation)
Article 19. The mayor, etc. shall set up a system concerning administrative evaluation and implement it in order to realize an efficient and effective administrative management. In this case, the mayor, etc. shall adopt an external evaluation made from the citizens' viewpoint.
2. The mayor, etc. shall publicize the result of an administrative evaluation
to the citizens in an easy-to-understand manner, and carry out necessary
revisions based on the result of the administrative evaluation and on the
citizens' opinions of this.
(Securing a fair and reliable administrative management)
Article 20. The city shall proceed with the establishment of necessary
systems, such as an audit committee system and external audit system, in
order to secure a fair and reliable administrative management.
2. The city shall install ombudsmen, as provided for in a separate ordinance,
in order to protect citizens' rights and interests in administrative management,
as well as to monitor and improve the administration.
3. The city shall clarify common matters with regard to administrative
procedures, such as dispositions and administrative guidance, as provided
for in a separate ordinance in order to secure justice and improve transparency
in administrative management.
Chapter 6 Promoting Community Development by Basic Principles
Section 1 Promoting the participation of citizens
(Promoting the participation of citizens in the city administration)
Article 21. The city shall ensure the participation of citizens in the
city administration, and make an effort to improve the system therefor.
2. The city shall promote the participation of citizens in the city administration
at each stage of policy planning, enforcement and evaluation, and make
an effort to have the opinions of citizens reflected appropriately.
3. The city shall pay attention to the following matters when it sets up
an opportunity for the citizens to participate in the city administration:
(1) That the timing of the implementation is appropriate;
(2) That the method is effective and efficient;
(3) That the citizens concerned with the matter in question, or the citizens
related to the community concerned with the matter in question may participate;
(4) That people shall not be treated unfairly because of sex, age, presence
or absence of disability, economic condition, cultural background, nationality,
etc.
4. The mayor shall, with respect to attached organs or others similar to
these, make an effort to realize wide-ranging participation of citizens
according to their purposes of establishment, etc., for example, by inviting
applications for part of the committee from the public.
5. The city shall set up a system to collect opinions from the public with
respect to important policy proposals in order to enlarge opportunities
for the citizens to participate in decision-making processes for this city's
important policies.
6. The city shall prepare a system to adopt proposals given by citizens
with respect to the city administration.
7. The city shall prepare necessary ordinances, etc. to promote citizens'
participation.
(Referendum)
Article 22. The city may hold referendums pursuant to the provision of
an ordinance set up separately in order to ascertain the wishes of the
residents (persons who reside in this city, excluding juridical persons)
concerning impoprtant matters on the city administration.
2. The city shall respect the result of a referendum.
(Promoting the activities of community development by citizens)
Article 23. The city shall provide appropriate support to citizens' community
development activities in order to move forward community development in
collaboration with citizens , while paying respect to their initiative
and independency. In this case, the city shall prepare necessary ordinances,
etc.
2. The city shall make an effort to build an environment where citizens
can learn and think by themselves about community development.
(Participation in community development by young people and children)
Article 24. The city and the citizens shall make efforts to give necessary
attention so that young people and children may participate in community
development.
Section 2 Promotion of Information Sharing
(Disclosure of information)
Article 25. The city shall, with respect to the city administration, disclose
its public documents properly in order to perform its responsibility to
give explanation to the citizens, as provided for in a separate city ordinance.
(Providing information)
Article 26. The mayor, etc. shall make an effort to provide information
necessary for community development promptly and in an easy-to-understand
manner. In this case, the mayor, etc. shall make an effort to gather information
necessary for community development and to manage it appropriately.
2. The mayor, etc. shall provide information to the citizens actively at
each stage of policy planning, enforcement and evaluation through appropriate
information transmission vehicles.
(Protection of private information)
Article 27. The city shall handle private information held by the city
appropriately, as provided for in a separate city ordinance, in order to
contribute to the protection of an individual's rights and interests and
to the proper operation of the city administration.
Section 3 Promoting Community Development in Familiar
Districts
(Community development in each district with the community development
center as a base)
Article 28. The city shall promote community development based on the characteristics
of each district in collaboration with its residents, using the community
development center as a base.
2. Each community development center shall provide the following supports
appropriately to the district organizations, such as neighborhood associations
and residents' associations, or to the organizations that conduct the activities
of community development in the district (excluding the district organizations),
or it shall provide the supports appropriately to the community development
council consisting of these organizations, etc. or to other organizations,
for their activities of community development, while paying respect to
their initiative and independency:
(1) Support as to improving the places and opportunities for the activities
of community development;
(2) Support as to information sharing conducive to the activities of community
development;
(3) Support as to promoting coordination among the organizations that conduct
the activities of community development;
(4) Support as to the efforts conducive to the activities of community
development besides those supports specified in the preceding three items.
(Community development in each ward)
Article 29. The city shall, in collaboration with the people of each ward,
move ahead with community development based on the challenges and characteristics
of the ward.
2. The city shall, with respect to the challenges of each ward, not only
grasp the wishes of the people of the ward but also conduct support activities,
such as preparing the place for opinion coordination to form the consensus
of the people of the ward, and shall make an effort to reflect the opinion
agreed to in the city administration.
3. The city shall, with respect to the challenges relating to more than
one ward, provide necessary supports so that coordination among the people
of the wards concerned may be secured.
Chapter 7 Coordination and Cooperation with Other Local
Governments, Etc.
(Coordination and cooperation with other local governments, etc.)
Article 30. The city shall, with respect to the challenges of community
development wich are in common with those of other local governments, secure
coordination with the relevant local governments and make an effort to
resolve them.
2. The city shall, with respect to the challenges of community development,
coordinate and cooperate with Hokkaido Prefectural Government, National
Government, etc. when necessary, and make proposals on preparing relevant
systems, etc.
3. The city shall deepen coordination and cooperation with overseas local
governments, organizations, etc. and utilize the information and wisdom
gained for community development in Sapporo.
Chapter 8 Evaluation of Measures, Etc. Concerning Community
Development
Based on Citizens' Autonomy and Review of This
Ordinance
(Evaluation of measures, etc. concerning community development based on
citizens' autonomy)
Article 31. The city shall establish a mechanism to evaluate whether the
measures or systems concerning community development based on the citizens'
autonomy have been prepared or utilized in line with the aim of this Ordinance,
and to carry out a necessary review.
2. The city shall make efforts so that citizens' opinions may be properly
reflected when making the evaluation as it is specified in the preceding
Paragraph.
(Review of this Ordinance)
Article 32. The city shall, at intervals of not more than five years, review
the provisions of this Ordinance upon hearing the opinions of citizens
and take necessary measures, such as amendments, based on the result.
Supplementary Provision
This Ordinance shall come into force as from April 1, 2007