Explanation
BACKGROUND: In order to improve the efficiency with which the Department of Development delivers community services and to create economies of scale in an effort to reduce costs, the department is being reorganized to consolidate divisions and realign offices.
This realignment includes moving the Historic Preservation Office into the Planning Division in an effort to bolster the staff needed to handle the workload of overseeing development and redevelopment in the city's older neighborhoods in a timely manner. The code enforcement functions will become part of the Building Services Division in an effort to create an area that handles the entire lifespan of any building project, with the remaining functions of the Neighborhood Services Division being consolidated into the Office of the Director for more direct oversight and management. The consolidation of the Downtown Development Office and the Economic Development Division will allow for one central, coordinated point for all economic development needs throughout the entire city and brings together all the best efforts of these two areas to focus on growing our economic base and improving the quality of one of our strongest assets.
This structure will not only improve coordination between divisions and reduce redundancies, thereby reducing costs and improving service delivery, but as envisioned, these changes will better align the Department of Development to handle not only the current economic crisis, but place it in a position to lead and best capitalize on our strengths when the crisis fades.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To amend multiple sections in Chapter 215 of the Columbus City Codes, concerning the organization of the Department of Development, in order to consolidate divisions and offices in an effort to improve efficiencies and reduce redundancies in the delivery of services.
Body
WHEREAS, in order to improve the efficiency with which the Department of Development delivers community services and to create economies of scale in an effort to reduce costs, the department is being reorganized to consolidate divisions and realign offices; and
WHEREAS, this realignment includes moving the Historic Preservation Office into the Planning Division in an effort to bolster the staff needed to handle the workload of overseeing development and redevelopment in the city's older neighborhoods in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, the code enforcement functions will become part of the Building Services Division in an effort to create an area that handles the entire lifespan of any building project, with the remaining functions of the Neighborhood Services Division being consolidated into the Office of the Director for more direct oversight and management; and
WHEREAS, the consolidation of the Downtown Development Office and the Economic Development Division will allow for one central, coordinated point for all economic development needs throughout the entire city and brings together all the best efforts of these two areas to focus on growing our economic base and improving the quality of one of our strongest assets; and
WHEREAS, this structure will not only improve coordination between divisions and reduce redundancies, thereby reducing costs and improving service delivery, but as envisioned, these changes will better align the Department of Development to handle not only the current economic crisis, but place it in a position to lead and best capitalize on our strengths when the crisis fades; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the existing Section 215.01 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
215.01 Department of development established.
There is established a department of development. The department of development shall consist of a director, one (1) department deputy director and the following divisions; economic development, planning, housing, neighborhood services and building services. Within the director's office there shall be a land redevelopment office, a downtown development office and an administrative office. The department of development shall have as its primary duty the coordination, regulation, management, implementation and promotion of programs to encourage: business expansion and attraction, planned growth, creation of housing opportunities, a lively downtown, healthy, safe and revitalized neighborhoods. The department of development shall perform all other lawful functions as directed by the mayor or ordinance of council.
Section 2. That Section 215.03 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby repealed.
215.03 Division of neighborhood services.
The division of neighborhood services is established as a division of the department of development. The administrative head of the division shall be the neighborhood services administrator. The division shall have as its primary duties the promotion of healthy neighborhoods through code enforcement, historic preservation, the city's consolidated plan and a neighborhood liaison communication program and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council.
Section 3. That the existing Section 215.04 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
215.04 Division of housing.
The division of housing is established as a division of the department of development. The administrative head of the division shall be the housing administrator. The division shall have as its primary duties the enhancement of neighborhoods through the creation of housing opportunities through finance, lead abatement, relocation, rehabilitation and community assistance programs and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council.
Section 4. That the existing Section 215.05 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
215.05 Division of economic development.
The division of economic development is established as a division of the department of development. The administrative head of the division shall be the economic development administrator. The division shall have as its primary duties the facilitation of economic and technology development through business and commercial strip incentives and financing infrastructure improvements, promoting a lively downtown, international trade and business development and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council.
Section 5. That the existing Section 215.06 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
215.06 Division of planning.
The division of planning is established as a division of the department of development. The administrative head of the division shall be the planning administrator. The division shall have as its primary duties the promotion of guided growth of the city through sound urban, regional and neighborhood planning practices, oversight of historic preservation, and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council.
Section 6. That the existing Section 215.07 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
215.07 Division of building services.
The division of building services is established as a division of the department of development. The administrative head of the division shall be the building services administrator. The division shall have as its primary duties the facilitation of sound growth and safeness of the city through appropriate building inspections and plans review, permitting, and zoning, code enforcement, and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council.
Section 7. That Section 215.08 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby repealed.
215.08 Office of downtown development.
The office of downtown development is established as an office of the department of development within the directors office. The office shall have as its primary duties the promotion of a lively downtown by encouraging specific economic development and housing opportunities and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council.
Section 8. That the existing Section 215.10 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
215.10 Office of administration.
The office of administration is established as an office of the department of development within the director's directors office. The office shall have as its primary duties the facilitation of human resources, public information, fiscal, legislative, and contracts management, neighborhood liaison communication program, and other employee support functions of the department as needed and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council.
Section 9. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period provided by law.