(a) Establishment and Incidents of Office. There is hereby established the office of Community and Economic Development Director. The Director shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 288.04
et seq., which provide for appointment, term of office, removal from office and vacancy in office.
The Community and Economic Development Director shall be appointed, and may be removed from office with or without cause, by the City Manager. The Director shall receive such compensation as is set forth in the Salary Schedule provided in Chapter 290, and the Director shall be subject to all rules and regulations set forth in Chapter 290.
Commencing August 1, 2017 and thereafter, any person newly appointed to serve as the Community Development Director shall reside within the corporate limits of the City within six months of the date of his/her appointment
(b) Duties. The Community and Economic Development Director shall:
(1) Develop, analyze, recommend, implement and administer the City’s transportation programs.
(2) Supervise all matters relating to building and housing administration and to the enforcement of building standards, including the authority to institute necessary litigation proceedings;
(3) Serve as Zoning Administrator, in charge of administration and enforcement of the Zoning Code and representing the City at proceedings of the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals.
(4) Assess the needs of existing businesses for retention and expansion opportunities. Advise businesses of various market development, financing, workforce training, and business planning resources. Coordinate with local, State, and regional resources as well as the community college to assist in business expansion and entrepreneurial development.
(5) Provide technical assistance to local development groups applying for grants to aid business expansion. Facilitate work sessions to assure their ideas are being heard and projects are being addressed.
(6) Encourage business expansion and new business start-ups to create and retain jobs in the City of Freeport, through provision of information and financial incentives. Focus on businesses that can provide significant economic impact.
(7) Study market trends and apply expert judgment to opportunities and threats facing the local economy.
(8) Market City programs to appropriate agencies, businesses, and others.
(9) Establish and implement short and long-range plans and objectives for the Community and Economic Development Department.
(10) Advise the City Manager and Council on emerging and existing economic development issues.
(11) Write City policy governing how tax and other incentives will be awarded to businesses and administer development incentive programs, including City enterprise zones and tax increment financing districts.
(12) Maintain inventory of available properties for businesses to occupy, including retail space, industrial space and open land.
(13) Search for monies and prepare Federal, State, and other grant applications and reports.
(14) Administer State, Federal, and other grant funding.
(15) Collect and maintain required data, file systems, and case management for grant monitoring, administration, and continued funding.
(16) Plan, organize, coordinate and participates in various community work teams.
(17) Assist other department heads in the development and implementation of the annual budget as it pertains to grants.
(18) Attend City Council meetings.
(19) Perform other duties as assigned or required by the City Manager.
(Ord. 94-81. Passed 9-19-94; Ord. 97-21. Passed 7-21-97; Ord. 2007-40. Passed 6-18-07; Ord. 2013-10. Passed 3-4-13; Ord. 2013-47. Passed 10-7-13; Ord. 2017-52. Passed 7-3-17; Ord. 2017-56. Passed 7-17-17.)