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Home My WebLink AboutOrdinance 18320-09-2008ORDINANCE NO. 18320-09-2008 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE N, CHAPTER 2 (ADMINISTRATION) OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH (1986), AS AMENDED, BY PROVH)ING FOR THE CREATION AND OPERATION OF A HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT; DELETING DIVISION 1-A (ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT) THEREOF; CHANGING THE TITLE OF DIVISION 6 THEREOF FROM "DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING" TO "HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT"; PROVIDING THAT THE DEPARTMENT SHALL BE SUPERVISED BY A DH2ECTOR; ESTABLISHING THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTOR AND THE DEPARTMENT; AND FURTHER PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE IS CUMULATNE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, Chapter VII, Section 1 of the City Charter authorizes the City Council to establish by ordinance such departments, divisions, and offices as it deems necessary for the operation of the City's business (in addition to those departments required by the City Charter); and WHEREAS, Chapter VII, Section 1 of the City Charter authorizes the City Council to discontinue any department or office established by ordinance and to prescribe, combine, consolidate, distribute, or abolish the functions and duties of departments, divisions, or offices; and WHEREAS, the Economic and Community Development Department and the Department of Housing were previously established by ordinances adopted by the City Council, as codified in Article IV, Chapter 2, Divisions 1-A and 6, respectively; and WHEREAS, the City Council now wishes to combine the duties and functions of such deparhnents under one department and to add additional duties and functions to such department; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS THAT: SECTION 1. Division 1-A of Article IV, Chapter 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Worth (1986), as previously amended (collectively, the "City Code"), is hereby deleted in its entirety. Sections 2- 100 through 2-110 of the City Code are hereby reserved for future use. SECTION 2. D1Vi51o11 6 of Article IV, Chapter 2 of the City Code is hereby amended to read as follows: DIVISION 6. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Sec. 2-164. Establishment and Supervision of Department. A Housing and Economic Development Department ("Department") is hereby established. The Department shall be supervised by a director ("Director"), who will be subject to appointment and removal by the City Manager. The Director's salary shall be set by the City Manager in accordance with the City's compensation plan. Sec. 2-165. Department Employees. The Director shall have the authority to appoint, employ and remove assistants, employees and other personnel as the Director deems necessary for the efficient administration of the Department's affairs and the execution of the Department's duties and obligations. The Director shall prescribe the duties of and compensation to such assistants, employees and other personnel in accordance with the City's compensation plan. Sec. 2-166. Department Duties. (1) The Department shall provide for the administration of programs and the expenditure of funds for housing and neighborhood revitalization with both public funds, public and private grants, and private donations. (2) The Department shall be responsible for the lease, sale, and acquisition of real property interests, the management of tax foreclosed properties, and other real property issues related to the City; provided, however, that the Department shall not be responsible for the acquisition and release of utility easements and rights-of--way or the lease and sale of City-owned property surrounding Lake Worth. (3) The Department shall oversee projects designed to increase investment in all areas of the City of Fort Worth, with emphasis on the central city area and other established sections of the City of Fort Worth, in order to expand the City's economy and tax base and to increase local employment. (4) The Department shall endeavor to provide a positive business environment in which local businesses can grow, flourish and create high-paying jobs with benefits for citizens of the City of Fort Worth. 2 (5) The Department shall use incentives as allowed by law to encourage new investment and business expansion in target areas of the City of Fort Worth as designated from time to time by the City Council. (6) The Department shall coordinate the implementation of community development projects endorsed by the City Council. (7) The Department shall provide skills development, technical advice, and financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurs in the City of Fort Worth. (8) The Department shall promote international trade from and to the City of Fort Worth and employ various initiatives to increase local awareness of global economic issues and opportunities. (9) The Department shall conduct and participate in activities that promote job opportunities for citizens of the City of Fort Worth. (10) The Department shall encourage close cooperation with other local jurisdictions, chambers of commerce, and organizations interested in promoting the economic well being of areas within the City of Fort Worth. SECTION 2. Sections 2-167 through 2-170 of the City Code are hereby reserved for future use. SECTION 3. The second sentence of Section 2-13(b)(2) of the Code of the City of Fort Worth (1986), as previously amended, is hereby amended to replace the reference to the "real property management division of the engineering department" with a reference to the "housing and economic development department", as follows: Provided, the housing and economic development department may in extraordinary circumstances recommend a higher or lower purchase price, but in no case shall the property be conveyed for less than the total of the costs and expenses incurred on the property. SECTION 4. Section 2-13(e) of the Code of the City of Fort Worth (1986), as previously amended, is hereby amended to replace the references to the "real property management division of the 3 engineering department and the housing department" with a reference to the "housing and economic development department", as follows: (e) P~•ocedure of sale. The housing and economic development department may develop procedures to implement this section. SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall be cumulative of all ordinances of the City, except where the provisions of this Ordinance are in direct conflict with the provisions of such other ordinances, in which case the conflicting provisions of such other ordinances are hereby repealed. SECTION 6. The sections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses and phrases of this Ordinance are severable. If any portion of this Ordinance is declared illegal or unconstitutional by the valid final judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, such illegality or unconstitutionality shall not affect the legality and enforceability of any of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. SECTION 7. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect following its adoption. AND IT IS SO ORDAINED. ADOPTED AND EFFCTNE: 9/30/2008 APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: By: ..~it.~/2/~ .r-- Peter Vaky Assistant City Attorney M&C:G-16305 4 sty ®f ®r~ Vti®i~, T'exa~ ayor and Council Communication COUNCIL ACTION: Approved on 9/30/2008 -Ord. No. 18320-09-2008 DATE: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 LOG NAME: 02HOUSING ECD REFERENCE NO.: G-16305 SUBJECT: Adopt Ordinance Combining the Department of Housing and the Economic and Community Development Department as the Housing and Economic Development Department RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the .City Council adopt the attached ordinance combining the Department of Housing and the Economic and Community Development Department as the Housing and Economic Development Department. DISCUSSION: The attached ordinance amends Article IV, Chapter 2 of the City Code by combining the current Economic and Community Development Department and the Department of Housing under a single department known as the Housing and Economic Development Department (Department). This action is consistent with the City Manager's reorganization plan presented to the City Council earlier this year. The new Department will oversee most of the economic development and housing projects that were previously overseen by the two separate departments. In addition, the new Department will aversee the sale and development of tax- foreclosed properties. The Department's specific duties and responsibilities are more specifically outlined in the attached ordinance. FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION: The Financial Management Services Director certifies that this action will have no material affect on City funds. TO Fund/Account/Centers FROM Fund/Account/Centers Submitted for City Manager's Office b~ Joe Paniagua (8476) Originating Department Head: Joe Paniagua (8476) Additional Information Contact: Tom Higgins (6192) Peter Vaky (7601) :~ Logname: OZHOUSING ECD Page 1 of 1