§ 21-100. Purpose.

(a)

Purpose. The City of Dublin recognizes the existence of real property that is maintained in a blighted condition. Such properties increase the need for governmental services, including, but not limited to, social services, public safety services, and code enforcement services. The City of Dublin finds the rehabilitation of blighted properties decreases the need for such government services and the costs to the city's taxpayers.

In furtherance of the city's objective to eradicate conditions of slum and blight within the city, the mayor and council, in the exercise of the powers granted to municipal corporations in Chapter 61, Urban Redevelopment, of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, has designated and continues to designate those areas of the city where conditions of slum and blight are found or are likely to spread.

In recognition of the need for enhanced governmental services and in order to encourage private property owners to maintain their real property and the buildings, structures and improvement thereon in good condition and repair, and as an incentive to encourage community redevelopment, a community redevelopment tax incentive program is hereby established as authorized by Article IX, Section II, Paragraph VII(d) of the 1983 Constitution of the State of Georgia.

(b)

Definitions. The following terms, when used in this section, shall have the meaning set out below:

(1)

Blighted property , blighted , or blight means any urbanized or developed property that:

a.

Presents two (2) or more of the following conditions:

1.

Uninhabitable, unsafe, or abandoned structures;

2.

Inadequate provisions for ventilation, light, air, or sanitation;

3.

An imminent harm to life or other property caused by fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, earthquake, storm, or other natural catastrophe that the Governor has declared a state of emergency under the state law or has certified the need for disaster assistance under federal law; provided, however, this division shall not apply to the property unless the relevant public agency has given notice in writing to the property owner regarding specific harm caused by the property and the owner has failed to take reasonable measures to remedy the harm;

4.

A site identified by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency as a superfund site pursuant to 42 USC 9601, et. seq. or environmental contamination to the extent that requires remedial investigation or a feasibility study;

5.

Repeated illegal activity on the individual property of which the property owner knew or should have known; or

6.

The maintenance of the property is below state, county, or municipal codes for at least one (1) year after written notice of the code violation to its owner; and

b.

Is conducive to ill health, transmission of disease, infant mortality or crime in the immediate proximity of the property;

c.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no property shall be deemed blighted solely because of aesthetic conditions.

(2)

Building inspector means a certified inspector possessing the requisite qualifications to determine minimal code compliance.

(3)

Community redevelopment means any activity, project, or service necessary or incidental to achieving the redevelopment or revitalization of a redevelopment area or portion thereof designated for redevelopment through an urban redevelopment plan or through local ordinances relating to the repair, closing, and demolition of building sand structures unfit for human habitation.

(4)

Governing authority means the mayor and council of the City of Dublin, a Georgia Municipal Corporation.

(5)

Millage or millage rate means the levy, in mills, that is established by the governing authority for purposes of financing, in whole or in part, the levying jurisdiction's general fund expenses for the fiscal year.

(6)

Person means such individual(s), partnership, corporations, business entities and associations which return real property for ad valorem taxation or who are chargeable by law for the taxes on the property.

(7)

Public officer means the city manager or such officer or employee of the city as designated by the city manager to perform the duties and responsibilities hereafter set forth in this article.

(Ord. No. 16-15, 12-1-2016)