When city voters go to the polls next Tuesday, they will find two ballot questions in addition to the candidates.

Question 1: Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to revise the city’s contracting procedures to allow for bid preferences and set-asides for small businesses; modify the threshold and standards for contracts that can be set aside for small and local businesses; and grant the Procurement Department and the City Solicitor discretion on bond requirements for certain construction projects?

What it means: A “yes” vote would amend the charter so the city can give contracting preferences to small businesses and expand them for local businesses for city-funded projects.

The Committee of Seventy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group established in 1904 to combat corruption in Philadelphia, says the measure would allow the city to contract with local and small businesses on contracts between $75,000 and $500,000 even if those companies do not make the lowest bid. Philadelphia’s contracting processes were challenged in federal court, alleging that the way that Philadelphia prioritized women and minority owned businesses in its contracting procedures violated federal law. The city settled the case and agreed to rewrite those rules so now, it’s considering the size and location of companies in contracting rather than race or gender.

Question 2: Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish and define the functions of Creative Philadelphia, an office headed by the chief cultural officer to promote the city’s arts, culture, and creative economy sector?

What it means: The city operates an office focused on arts and culture called Creative Philadelphia. Its purpose is to increase public access to arts and culture, support creative communities, and celebrate Philadelphia’s cultural resources. A ‘yes” vote would approve of making Creative Philadelphia a formal part of the government.

According to the Committee of Seventy, this measure would make the role of chief cultural officer a required part of city government and consolidate art-related city programs into one central office. Currently this office exists through an executive order, meaning a mayor could eliminate it. The Committee of Seventy notes that Philadelphia’s arts community has a large economic impact but public support for the arts is fairly low, and that the city has been criticized for its low funding for the arts.