168.01 LEGISLATIVE FINDING.

   It is hereby found and determined by the Council of the City of Fairfield, a charter governed home rule Municipality of the State of Ohio, that there exist within the City blighted and deteriorating areas of the nature defined in this chapter which constitute a serious and growing menace injurious and inimical to the public health, safety, morals, economic well- being and general welfare of the residents thereof and of the entire City of Fairfield and its citizens; that the existence of such areas:

   (a)    Substantially impairs and arrests the sound growth of the community by causing the obsolescence of urban neighborhoods and facilities, and by impeding and retarding the sound private development of property and creation and preservation of housing and employment opportunities; that both properties improved with structures and vacant properties contribute to the above conditions; that this menace is beyond remedy and control solely by regulatory processes and exercise of the police power, and cannot be dealt with effectively by the ordinary operation of private enterprise without the aids herein provided; that the elimination by the City, in whole or in part, of blighted and deteriorating areas by urban renewal as defined herein is necessary for the public welfare and is a public use and purpose for which public money may be expended and private property acquired through negotiation or the exercise of the power of eminent domain;

   (b)    Constitutes an economic and social liability;

   (c)    Substantially increases the risk of the spread of disease, economic decay and crime, and of losses by fire and accident, necessitating excessive and disproportionate expenditures of public funds for the preservation of the public health and safety, for crime prevention, correction, prosecution and punishment, for the treatment of juvenile delinquency, for the maintenance of adequate police, fire and accident protection and for other public services and facilities; and

   (d)    In many instances requires for the public welfare the acquisition by the City of properties which do and which do not contribute to the qualification of the areas blighted.

      (Ord. 195-99. Passed 10-25-99; Ord. 217-99. Passed 12-13-99.)