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 efficien...
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