Sec. 2-326. - Established.

The department heretofore known as the department of planning and development shall hereafter be known as the planning department. The planning department shall be responsible for the analysis of community governmental needs, the preparation of strategies for using available city resources to address priority needs and the maintenance of the city's comprehensive plan.

(Code 1968, § 50-1; Ord. No. 92-053(sub 1), § 37(a), 7-2-92; Ord. No. 93-023, § 1, 5-13-93)

Sec. 2-327. - Functions generally.

The planning department shall have the power and its duties shall be to perform the following functions:

(1)

Community liaison. The planning department shall act as the principal contact between the city administration and the community and neighborhood organizations in the city. It shall be responsible for assisting the NPCs in the identification of community needs, determination of governmental priorities and design of governmental programs.

The citizens of the respective neighborhoods within each councilmanic district may join together to establish a neighborhood planning council ("NPC") for that district, the boundaries of which shall be identical to that of the councilmanic district. The neighborhood planning councils shall be permitted to cooperate and plan across neighborhood planning council boundaries. The NPCs shall provide advisory information to various departments in the city, the mayor and city council in the areas of housing, licenses and inspections, public works, public safety, social and community development, cultural and economic development, zoning, land use planning, and other areas. The NPCs shall not take the place of local neighborhood associations. Instead, they shall act as planning and coordination organizations. The designated NPCs shall ensure that their organization has no less than 11 members to 25 members, or more if deemed necessary. All members of each NPC shall be residents, property owners, or business owners within the city council district in which that NPC is located.

The planning department shall assist the designated NPCs in preparing comprehensive and special purpose plans and strategies for the growth, improvement and development of their respective neighborhoods that have been endorsed by the general membership of the district NPC and adopted by resolution of the NPC board.

When feasible, the city may provide funding through its capital improvements program for the implementation of projects that are designed to implement these comprehensive and special purpose plans, and to that end, the neighborhood planning council capital budget program grant guidelines and application process has been established to carry out that program.

Planning staff shall work actively with each NPC to assure timely review and funding for projects that have been approved by resolution of the district NPC membership as a whole and signed by the president thereof, and which also meet the established criteria for such funding as outlined in the grant guidelines. Projects which do not meet the criteria, or for which inadequate or incomplete information has been provided, will not be considered or funded in that budget cycle.

Planning staff shall act as the liaison between and among the city administration, the city council and the NPCs, working to strengthen the lines of communication and dialogue between city government and the community. Funding for training and technical assistance, when available, shall be provided to the NPCs, and staff will also assist in helping the NPCs carry out other responsibilities that may occur from time to time.

Each NPC shall hold at least biannual elections of its own officers; adopt by-laws and make them available for reasonable public inspection; and maintain a record of its activities and transactions, including meeting minutes. They shall work cooperatively with the neighborhood associations and the district councilmember in their respective areas to adopt effective neighborhood plans.

The planning department shall also work with the NPCs to prepare an annual report to the mayor, the city council and the general public, particularly residents in their neighborhood.

When funds are available, the planning department shall also work with the NPCs in establishing an annual operating budget to be funded by the city and which shall be submitted to the city council's finance committee for its review and to the city council for its approval.

(2)

Physical development. Be responsible for preparation and maintenance of the city's comprehensive plan for land use and development, including annual housing plans and reports; provide staff support to the city planning commission, design review commission and zoning board of adjustment; analyze physical infrastructure needs and prepare the long range capital improvement plan and the annual capital budget; and identify, coordinate, prepare, apply for and monitor the execution of federally funded programs that support the maintenance or improvement of the city's infrastructure and its housing stock.

(3)

Economic development. Be responsible for the preparation and coordination of a comprehensive economic development strategy for the city. To this end it shall identify, apply for and monitor the execution of programs funded by federal grants and loans designed to support economic development activities and shall coordinate its work with the real estate and housing department and the department of commerce to assure that plans include appropriate land assembly for commercial and industrial development and that infrastructure plans meet development needs.

(4)

Social and human development. Regularly study, review and analyze social and economic conditions, including housing, employment and criminal justice, that have an impact on the quality of human life within the city; and coordinate and cooperate with other city departments and governmental and private agencies to establish goals, objectives, policies and strategies relating to social and human development and to make appropriate recommendations to the mayor and city council. It shall further implement and execute such social and human development programs as are vested with it from time to time.

(Code 1968, § 50-2; Ord. No. 92-053(sub 1), § 37(a), 7-2-92; Ord. No. 93-023, § 1, 5-13-93; Ord. No. 98-073(sub 2), § 1, 8-6-98; Ord. No. 09-066(sub 1), § 1, 12-17-09)

Sec. 2-328. - Director; appointment.

The chief administrative official of the planning department shall be known as the director of planning, who shall be appointed by the mayor and serve at the mayor's pleasure.

(Code 1968, § 50-3; Ord. No. 92-053(sub 1), § 37(a), 7-2-92; Ord. No. 93-023, § 1, 5-13-93)

Charter reference— Duties of department heads, § 3-101; appointment of department heads, § 3-205.

Sec. 2-329. - Annual housing report.

The planning department shall prepare an annual housing report stating the city's housing goals and strategies for attaining those goals. This annual housing report shall be submitted to the mayor and shall be presented by the mayor to the city council for its endorsement by resolution not later than March 1 of each year. The heads of the various departments involved in the city's real estate and housing program shall meet periodically with the administrative assistant to monitor the progress of the city in attaining the goals of the annual housing report.

(Code 1968, § 50-4; Ord. No. 92-053(sub 1), § 37(a), 7-2-92; Ord. No. 93-023, § 1, 5-13-93)

Secs. 2-330—2-335. - Reserved.