HomeMy Public PortalAbout2964-1974 - Creation of the Department of Community DevelopmentORDINANCE N0.2964-1974
AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE RICHMOND DEPARTMENT OF
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
WHEREAS, ever increasing responsibilities are being placed
upon cities in meeting the challenge of serving the needs
of its people, and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Block Grant approach as
developed by the federal government seeks to return greater
flexibility, policy and priority setting authority to cities
in dealing with their responsibilities, and
WHEREAS, cities face the ongoing problem of working with
federal, state and local programs where duplications
and possible conflict of efforts can take place, and
WHEREAS, there exists a need for coordination of these
efforts, and
WHEREAS, on August 22, 1974, the President of the United
States approved the Housing and Community Development Act
of 1974 (Public Law 93-383), and
WHEREAS, the primary objectivesof Title I of this Act, namely
Community Development, are the development of viable urban
communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living
environment and expanding opportunities, principally for
persons of low and moderate income. Consistent with this
primary objective, the federal assistance provided in
this title is for the support of community development
activities which are directed toward the following specific
objectives:
1. the elimination of slums and blight and the prevention
of blighting influences and the deterioration of
property and neighborhood and community facilities
of importance to the welfare of the community,
principally persons of low and moderate income;
2. the elimination of conditions which are detrimental
to health, safety, and public welfare, through
code enforcement, demolition, interim rehabilitation
assistance, and related activities;
3. the conservation and expansion of the Nation's housing
stock in order to provide a decent home and a suitable
living environment for all persons, but principally
those of low and moderate income;
4. the expansion and improvement of the quantity and
quality of community services, principally for persons
of low and moderate income, which are essential
for sound community development and for the
development of viable urban communities;
S. a more rational utilization of land and other natural
resources and the better arrangement of residential,
commercial, industrial, recreational, and other
needed activity centers;
6. the reduction of the isolation of income groups within
communities and geographical areas and the promotion of
an increase in the diversity and vitality of
neighborhoods through the spatial deconcentration
of housing opportunities for persons of lower income
and the revitalization of deteriorating or
deteriorated neighborhoods to attract persons of
higher income;
the restoration and preservation of properties of
special value for historic, architectural, or
esthetic reasons, and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of Congress that the federal
assistance made available under this title not be utilized
to reduce substantially the amount of local financial support
for community development activities below the level of
such support prior to the availability of such assistance, and
WHEREAS, it is also the purpose of this title to further
the development of a natural urban growth policy by con-
solidating a number of complex and overlapping programs
of financial assistance to communities of varying sizes
and needs into a consistent system of federal aid which:
provides assistance on an annual basis, with
maximum certainty and minimum delay, upon which
communities can rely in their planning;
2. encourages community development activities which
are consistent with comprehensive local and area -
wide development planning;
furthers achievement of the national housing goal
of a decent home and a suitable living environment
for every American farnily;
fosters the undertaking of housing and community
development activities in a coordinated and
mutually supportive manner, and
WHEREAS, certain offices, departments, agencies and officials
currently exist in the Government of the City of Richmond,
Indiana, performing certain of the duties and functions above
described, all of which are authorized pursuant to
applicable Indiana statutes, including I.C. 1971, 18-7-5-1
(Burns Ann. Stat. Section 53-701) et. seq.; I.C. 1971,
18-7-7-1 (Burns Ann. Stat. Section 48-8541) et. seq.;
I.C. 1971, 18-7-8-1 (Burns Ann. Stat. Section 48-8501) et. seq.;
I.C. 19719 18-5-5-1 (Burns Ann. Stat. Section 48-6144) et, seq.;
I.C. 1971, 18-1-1.5-1 (Burn Ann. Stat. Section 48-1451)
et. seq.; I.C. 1971, 18-7-5-3 (Burns Ann. Stat. Section
Section 53-703) et. seq.; I.C. 1971, 18-2-1-1 (Burns Ann.
Stat. Section 48-1201) et. seq.;all as amended; and other
Indiana Statutes dealing with cities and municipal corporations;
and also pursuant to applicable City Ordinances including No.
2064-1964; No. 1700-1958; No. 2325-1968; No. 2231-1966;
No. 1800-1960; all as amended; and other City Ordinances.
That the powers of cities in the State of Indiana are set
forth in the aforementioned statutes, and
WHEREAS, cities in the State of Indiana have full power and
right to exercise all governmental authority for the effective
operation and conduct of government with respect to their
municipal and internal affairs;
NOW THEREFORE, Be it Ordained by the Common Council of
the City of Richmond, Indiana, that:
Section 1. The Richmond Department of Community
Development is hereby created.
Section 2. There shall be a Director of such
Department, who shall be appointed by the Mayor of the
City of Richmond. Said Department may be staffed by such
personnel as may from time to time be necessary to provide
the administrative, technical, enforcement and other
functions to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance.
Section 3. The authority, powers and responsibilities
of said Department shall be the administration, coordination,
implementation, enforcement and evaluation of efforts
with regard to:
1. the elimination of slums and blight and the prevention
of blighting influences and the deterioration of
property and neighborhood and community facilities
of importance to the welfare of the community,
principally persons of low and moderate income;
2. the elimination of conditions which are detrimental
to health, safety, and public welfare, through
code enforcement, demolition, interim rehabilitation
assistance, and related activities;
3. the conservation and expansion of the Nation's housing
stock in order to provide a decent home and a suitable
living environment for all persons, but principally
those of low and moderate income; and develop and
administer a housing assistance plan;
4. the expansion and improvement of the quantity and
quality of community services, principally for persons
of low and moderate income, which are essential for
sound community development and for the development
of viable urban communities;
5. a more rational utilization of land and other natural
resources and the better arrangement of residential,
commercial, industrial, recreational, and other
needed activity centers;
6. the reduction of the isolation of income groups within
communities and geographical areas and the promotion of
an increase in the diversity and vitality of
neighborhoods through the spatial deconcentration
of housing opportunities for persons of lower income
and the revitalization of deteriorating or
deteriorated neighborhoods to attract persons of
higher income;
7. the restoration and preservation of properties of
special value for historic, architectural, or
esthetic reasons;
8. the comprehensive planning for capital improvements,
land use and zoning administration;
9. the preparation and submission of applications
for community development funds in accordance
with federal and state laws and from all available
gifts, grants and other sources of such funds; and
10. the performance of all necessary staff and related
work for existing and future boards and commissions
involved in community development activities with the
City of Richmond.
Section 4. The objective of the Richmond Department of
Community Development is to effectuate a comprehensive
approach to the solution of physical and social problems
of the community through better planning and coordination
of public and quasi -public agency resources, and through
increased management of local resources.
Section S. In the event any part of this ordinance is
ruled invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent
jurisdiction, the other parts hereof shall remain in
full force and effect.
Section 6. This ordinance shall be in full force and
effect from and after the date of its passage and approval
by the Mayor as by law required.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Coon Counc of theA City of
Richmond, Indiana, this �m� day of ,o� o._ 1�.ow 197`f .
resi ent.o e Common Council
ATTEST:
City Per
PRESENTED to the May�'�j of the City of Richmond, Indiana,
this day of �7`p�� , 197.
R.A.Mm—�K"2=0'T. IM R _.
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APPROVED,py the May of thg City of Richmond, Indiana,
this LZ day of 197y.
Mayor
ATTEST:
CitYClerk