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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 Grant Review Board discussed with Mr. Johnson several major points of . concern, primarily procedures for approval by responsible City departments and agencies; administrative organization; .a nd 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 Mod e l 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's cities. The concept and intent of the Model Cities Program is good. It provides for th e legally responsible local governing authority to exercise its authority and influence in demonstrating 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 whic h effect their daily lives. �. . - 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 e x ecution 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 Ald e rmen 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 made an admirable attempt to live up to the concep!: of the 1v!or:! ,,.l Cities . program. To a great e x t e nt they have met both the needs and wishes of the citizens of the area and the requirements of planning and administration of the City and federal gov ernments. l l ~ f l I I The Model Cities Program also places on all City depa rtments and agen cie s the requirement for cooperation, coordination and approval of program c ompone nts. The r e a r e indicatio n s that t h is requi rement has not been m e t . Wher e it h as n o t do n e so , each departme n t a n d age n c y i s obligate d to revi ew a nd pass on t he specific compon ents of the p r og r am w hich assig n s e x ec u t i on re s pons ibilit y to tha t d e p art ment . j . I t ! 1 iI Each committee of th e B o a r d of A ldermen s h oul d r e v i ew a nd a p prove / di s approve each progr a m component whi ch falls w i th i n t h e r e spon s ib ility a n d a uthority of the committee. I The Planning a n d Development Committee should e x erci s e its re s ponsibility for overall plann ing of the cit y by reviewing the Model Cities plan and making u ~----- - i �Page Three the determination as to the compatibility of the Model Cities Program with overall city plans. The Finance Committee should determine the financial feasibility of the program and the capability of the City to meet the requirements placed upon it by the program. The full Board of Aldermen should carefully consider the priorities involved in the Model Cities execution, its impact on the area served and the entire city as well. The Grant Review Board believes these approvals should be given before _Aldermanic sanction is granted. We feel that if the provisions of the Model Cities application are understood and accepted before final approval is granted a much stronger program will result. It should be understood that this is not intended as criticism of the planning grant document or the work of the Model Cities staff, but is an effort to gain full understanding and support of the strongest program in the best interest of all citizens of Atlanta. It is therefore recommended that the Mayor and Board of Aldermen require written acceptance or denial of each component of the Model Cities plan by the d epartments and agencies responsible for the exe cution of each component befor e final approval of the grant application is given. DS :fy f. 1J. ~ ~~-c-rf! E. H. Underwood, Member �