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- ·' T MINUTES GRANT REVIEW BOARD DECEMBER 31, 1968 The City of Atlanta Grant Review Board met in the office of the Director of Governmental Liaison at 9: 30 a. m. on December 31, 1968, to review the Atlanta Model Cities Program application to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Supplemental Funds. In attendance were: Dan Sweat, Director of Governmental Liaison, Chairman, Grant Review Board Collier Gladin, Planning Director, Member, Grant Review Board George Berry, Deputy Comptroller, Member, Grant Review Board Johnny Johnson, Director of Model Cities George Aldridge, City Planner Carl Paul, Deputy Director of Personnel Jay Fountain, Senior Accountant The Grunt Review Board discussed with Mr. Johnson several major points of concern, primarily procedures for approval by responsible City departments and agencies; administrative organization; and personnel requirements. In view of the complexities of the Model Cities Program and the need for full understanding by all responsible City officials, the following concensus of the Grant Review Board membership is hereby presented: The Model Cities Program as established by the President and Congress of the United States is perhaps the most comprehensive and optimistic grant-in-aid program ever offered to America I s cities. · The concept and intent of the Model Cities Program is good . It provides for the legally responsible local governing authority to e xer cise its authority and influence in d emonstr ating bold new techniques of urban planning and development . It provides maximum opportunity for real involvement and participation by citizens of neighborhoods in the planning and execution of programs which effect their daily lives. �-. ~I I ' Page Two And it promotes coordination among local, state and national agencies and departments of the limited resources which are available. The successful planning and execution of a Model Cities Program can be a valuable experience for any city in its search for orderly and timely solutions to its multitude of urban problems. Atlanta's City Demonstration Agency has attempted to meet the challenge and intent of the Model Cities legislation. Citizens of all six neighborhood areas encompassed by Atlanta's Model Cities Program were actively involved in organizing and planning for Model Cities more than a year in advance of the beginning of the City's formal planning stage. Local, state and federal public agencies and numerous private groups participated in the preparation of the required planning grant application. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen endorsed and supported the planning effort. The Model Cities planning staff worked long and hard to prepare the documents necessary for successful funding of the first year program. The final documents detail a bold and innovative plan of attack on the major problem areas in the Model Cities neighborhood. The Model Cities staff has m .c1.tle an admira ble attempt to live up to the concept of the Model Cities program. To a great e x tent the y have met both the needs and wishes of the citi zens of the ar ea and the r equirements of planning and administration of the City and federal governments. The Model Cities Program also places on all City departments and agencies the requirement for cooperation, coordination and approval of program compone nts. The r e are i ndications tha t thi s r e quirement h as not b een met. Where it has not done so, each d e p a rtment and agency is obligated to r evi ew and pas s on the specific components of the program which assigns execution res ponsibility to that departme nt. Each committee of the Board of A lde rmen should review and approve/disapprove each p rogram component which falls within the responsibility and autho rity of the committee. The Planning and Development Committee should exercise its responsibility for overall planning of the city by reviewing the Model Cities plan and making �Page Three the determin ation as to the compatibility of the Model Cities Program with overall city plans. The Finance Committee should dete rmine the fin a ncial feasibility of the program and the capability of th e City to m e et the requirements placed upon it by the program. The full Board of Aldermen should carefully consider the priorities involved in the Model Cities e x ecution, its impact on the area served and the entire city as well. The Grant Review Board believ e s these a pprovals should be given before Aldermanic' sanction is granted. I I We feel that if the provisions of the Model Cities application are und e rstood and accepted before final approval is granted a much stronger progr a m w ill result. It should be understood that this is not intended as criticism of the planning grant document or the w ork of the Model Cities staff, but is an effort to gain full understanding and support of the strongest program in the b e st interest of all citizens of Atlanta. It is the refore recorrune n d ed that the Mayor and Board of Alderme n require written accepta nce or de n ial of each cornpone nt of the Model Cities plan by the dep a rtments and agen cie s responsible for the execution of each component before final approval of the grant application is given . ~;J:tDan S w eat Chai r man DS :fy ~1 . KMen:~~ Px G ~?fi~t,:y, ~t~C)~~c~ C o llie r Gladin, Memb e r f. IJ. .~ ~ { . M- O-Ge E . H. Underw ood, Member �