(A) The powers and duties of a Redevelopment Commission are as stipulated in I.C. 36-7-14, as amended.
(B) The Department of Redevelopment and the Redevelopment Commission are subject to oversight by the Town Council including review of their respective annual budgets.
(C) Duties. The duties of the Commission include but are not limited to, the following:
(1) To investigate study , and survey areas needing redevelopment within the corporate boundaries of the Town.
(2) To investigate, study, determine, and, to the extent possible, combat the causes of areas needing redevelopment.
(3) To promote the use of land in the manner that best serves the interests of the unit and its inhabitants.
(4) To cooperate with departments, agencies, public instrumentalities, and public corporate bodies created by state law.
(5) To make findings and reports on their activities under this section, and keep those reports open to inspection by the public at the offices of the department;
(6) To select and acquire the areas needing redevelopment to be redeveloped under this chapter; and
(7) To plan and dispose of the areas needing redevelopment in the manner that best serves the social and economic interests of the unit and its inhabitants
(D) Powers. The Commission’s powers include but are not limited to the following:
(1) Acquire, purchase, exchange, gift, grant, condemnation, or lease, or any combination of methods, any personal property or interest in real property needed for the redevelopment of areas needing redevelopment that are located within the corporate boundaries of the unit.
(2) Hold, use, sell (by conveyance by deed, land sale contract, or other instrument), exchange, lease rent or otherwise dispose of property acquired for use in the redevelopment of areas needing redevelopment on the terms and conditions that the Commission considers best for the unit and its inhabitants.
(3) Sell, lease or grant interests in all or part of the real property acquired for redevelopment purposes to any other department of the unit or to any other governmental agency for public ways, levees, sewerage, parks, playgrounds, schools and other public purposes on any terms that maybe agreed on,
(4) Clear real property acquired for redevelopment purposes.
(5) Enter on or into, inspect, investigate, and assess real property and structures acquired or to be acquired for redevelopment purposes to determine the existence, source, nature, and extent of any environmental contamination, including hazardous substances, petroleum and other pollutants.
(6) Remediate environmental contamination, including hazardous substances, petroleum, and other pollutants, found on any real property or structures acquired for redevelopment purposes.
(7) Repair and maintain structures acquired for redevelopment purposes.
(8) Remodel, rebuild, enlarge, or make major structural improvements on structures acquired for redevelopment purposes.
(9) Survey or examine any land to determine whether it should be included within an area needing redevelopment to be acquired for redevelopment purposes and to determine the value of that land.
(10) Appear before any other department or agency of the Town, or before any other governmental age in respect to an matter affecting: (1) real property acquired or being acquired for redevelopment purposes; or (2) any area needing redevelopment within the jurisdiction of the Commissioners.
(11) Institute or defend in the name of the Town any civil action.
(12) Use any legal or equitable remedy that is necessary or considered proper to protect and enforce the rights of and perform the duties of the Redevelopment Authority.
(13) Appoint an executive director, appraisers, real estate experts, engineers, architects, surveyors, and attorneys.
(14) Appoint clerks, guards, laborers, and other employees the commission considers advisable, except that those appointments must be made in accordance with the merit system of the unit if such a system exists.
(15) Prescribe the duties and regulate the compensation of employees of the Redevelopment Authority.
(16) Expend, on behalf of the special taxing district, all or any part of the money of the special taxing district.
(17) Contract for the construction of local public improvements or structures that are necessary for redevelopment or enhancement of economic development within the corporate boundaries of the unit.
(18) Accept loans, grants, and other forms of financial assistance from the federal government, the state government, a municipal corporation, a special taxing district, a foundation, or any other source.
(19) Provide financial assistance (including grants and loans) to neighborhood development corporations to permit them to provide financial assistances the purposes described in subdivision (24) or to construct rehabilitate or repair commercial property within the district.
(20) All additional powers as described in I.C. 36-7-14-12.2.
(E) All powers that may be exercised under this chapter by the Commission ma be exercised by the Commission in carrying out its duties and purposes under I.C. 36-7-14.5 governing the Redevelopment Authority. However, if a power pertains to issuing bonds or incurring an obligation under this subsection, the exercise of power must first be specifically approved by the Town Council.
(F) The Commission may not exercise the power of eminent domain.
(`92 Code, § 2-139) (Ord. 91-32, passed 12-26-91; Am. Ord. 2016-24, passed 10-13-16)