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AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE II, CHAPTER II, ARTICLE V OF THE REVISED GENERAL ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, 2000, AS AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTED, TO ESTABLISH THE NEWARK EQUITABLE GROWTH ADVISORY COMMISSION, IN THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR, COMPRISED OF A CROSS-SECTION OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE COMMUNITY, ACADEMIA, BUSINESS AND NON-PROFIT SECTORS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING THAT DEVELOPMENT POLICIES AND PROJECTS IN THE CITY OF NEWARK, STATE OF NEW JERSEY, FOLLOW PRINCIPLES OF EQUITY AND ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF INCLUSION AND OPPPORTUNITY FOR ITS CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS.
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WHEREAS, the City of Newark (the “City”) is benefitting from economic and real estate development that will transform City neighborhoods and bring greater resources to all Newark residents; and
WHEREAS, the City faces a longstanding crisis of affordability in housing and research has shown that growing cities with affordability crises tend to displace the most vulnerable residents; and
WHEREAS, lack of adequate public and private investment in new or renovated affordable housing has contributed to this crisis; and
WHEREAS, high rates of foreclosure have increased the renter population while providing grist for a speculative market of investor landlords; and
WHEREAS, the City is committed to an overall policy of equitable growth to ensure that the benefits of new development extend to all Newark residents of limited economic means; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes that the majority of its residents are renters and face significant challenges in terms of income, wealth, and health as housing costs continue to rise in the City; and
WHEREAS, the City further recognizes the contributions to sound equitable policies that non-governmental stakeholders and experts can make when given the formal responsibility of an advisory commission.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, THAT:
Note: Additions are shown in Bold and Underlined.
Section 1. Title II, Chapter II, Article V of the Revised General Ordinances, of the City of Newark, New Jersey, 2000, amended and supplemented, is hereby amended to reflect the following:
2:2-101. Equitable Growth Advisory Commission.
2:2-101.1 PURPOSE. The City hereby establishes the Newark Equitable Growth Advisory Commission (the “Commission”), comprised of a cross-section of stakeholder experts drawn from community, academia, business and non-profit sectors for the purpose of ensuring that development policies and projects in Newark follow principles of equity and achieve the maximum amount of inclusion and opportunity for its current and future residents.
2:2-101.2 POWERS. To effectuate this purpose, the Commission shall have the authority to conduct research, convene meetings with City officials, experts, private individuals and entities, hear concerns from members of the public, and make inquiries in response to such concerns, issue findings and make recommendations and provide advice to the City on issues involving the following:
a. Planning and land use laws and policies;
b. Housing law and policy;
c. Public financing for housing, real estate and infrastructure development;
d. Public health matters implicated by any of the above areas affecting public life in Newark;
e. Bidding, supplier diversity, procurement and business development.
2:2-101.3 APPOINTMENT, COMPOSITION AND MEETINGS. The Mayor shall appoint up to fifteen (15) members to the Commission with the advice and consent of the Municipal Council to serve two-year terms to commence on the first day of October. Any Commissioner whose term is not completed shall be replaced by a new (alternate) Commissioner who shall serve out the remainder of the term. No Commissioner shall serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms. The Manager of the Office of Affordability and Sustainability shall serve as the Chairperson of the Commission.
2:2-101.4 BY-LAWS AND OTHER RULES OF PROCEDURE.
(a). The Commission may promulgate by-laws or other regulations governing the procedure of the Commission. No provision of the by- laws or procedural regulation shall be contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance or other applicable law.
(b). Amendments to the by-laws may be recommended at any time by any member of the Commission, provided, however, that any such amendment shall be clearly set forth on the agenda and the membership has been notified in writing.
(c). Enactment of the by-laws and other regulations and passage of any amendment to the same shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the voting members of the Commission.
Section 2. Severability
If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person(s) or circumstance is judged invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity shall not affect other provisions or application of the ordinance that can be given effect without the invalidated provision or application and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are declared severable.
Section 3. Effective Date
This ordinance shall take effect upon final passage and publication in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey.
STATEMENT
Ordinance Amends Title II, Chapter II, Article V of the Revised General Ordinances of the City Of Newark, New Jersey, 2000, as amended and supplemented, to establish the Newark Equitable Growth Advisory Commission comprised of a cross-section of stakeholder experts drawn from the community, academia, business and non-profit sectors, for the purpose of ensuring that development policies and projects in Newark follow principles of equity and achieve maximum equitable outcomes.