(A) There exist in the city blighted areas of a nature defined in this chapter, which areas constitute a serious and growing problem injurious and inimical to the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the residents thereof. The existence of such areas:
(1) Contributes substantially and increasingly to 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, execution 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;
(2) Constitutes an economic and social liability; and
(3) Substantially impairs and arrests the sound growth of the community.
(B) This problem is beyond remedy and control solely by regulatory processes and the ordinary operation of private enterprise without the aids provided in this chapter. The elimination in whole or in part of blighted areas, the acquisition and preparation of land in, or necessary to, the redevelopment of those areas and its sale, lease or other disposition for development or redevelopment in accordance with the redevelopment plans of the city, and any assistance which may be given in connection therewith, are public uses and purposes for which public money may be expended and private property acquired by purchase, by donation and by eminent domain and are governmental functions of concern to the city.
(C) The necessity, in the public interest and general welfare, for this chapter is hereby declared to be a matter of legislative determination.
(`82 Code, § 1232.01) (Ord. 86-77, passed 10-7-86; Am. Ord. 94-79, passed 8-16-94)