(A) Establishment of Department. There is established within the executive branch of the city the Department of Development with such duties and responsibilities as are hereinafter set forth.
(B) Position of Development Director established. The head of the Department of Development shall be the Development Director. The Development Director shall be appointed by the Mayor and shall serve at his pleasure. The Director shall be responsible for the administration of the Department and shall be responsible for the efficient operation thereof.
(C) Duties of the Department of Development. The Department of Development shall be responsible for the following governmental functions of the city:
(1) Coordination, implementation, and supervision of all city programs in the area of economic and community planning and development.
(a) Identify and pursue available state, federal, and private grants in the name of the city or other eligible entities.
(b) With the prior consent of the Common Council, the Department may make application for such available loan funds as may be appropriate. Working in conjunction with other city departments where appropriate, the Department may act as recipient or administrator of such state, federal, or private financial assistance.
(2) The Department is authorized to provide technical and administrative services to other eligible community groups.
(a) Should such services be provided, the Department is authorized to charge a reasonable fee for its services, which funds shall revert to the General Fund of the city.
(b) No such fees shall be charged without prior approval, by resolution, of the Common Council of the city.
(3) The Department shall have primary responsibility for all public relation efforts undertaken by the city.
(4) The Department shall be the primary city contact for all community economic development efforts requiring or requesting the participation of local government. By way of illustration and not limitation, such efforts would include community revolving loan funds; urban enterprise associations; tax abatement programs; flood mitigation programs.
(5) The Department shall liaise with private and public economic development entities. By way of illustration and not limitation, such entities would include the Chamber of Commerce; the Kokomo-Howard County Development Corporation; the Economic Development Commission; and the Indiana State Department of Commerce.
(6) The Department shall be the lead city agency in any municipal effort to attract or retain businesses to or in the city metropolitan area.
(7) Within the areas of responsibility herein described, the Department shall be responsible for compliance with all applicable state, federal or local laws, rules, regulations, or ordinances.
(8) The Department shall carry out all such other duties as assigned by the Mayor.
(Ord. 6073, passed 12-8-97)
Cross-reference:
Department of Engineering, Traffic, and Inspection Services, see § 30.15