N.J.S.A. 55:19-61 — Duties of Urban Coordinating Council

55:19-61. Duties of Urban Coordinating Council 46. The Urban Coordinating Council shall: a. Ensure that State agencies coordinate responses and provide assistance to projects and programs outlined in neighborhood empowerment plans developed pursuant to section 49 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-64), and projects and programs established by the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, and development initiatives proposed by municipal and county governments, including making available the resources of the departments of the State in implementing those programs; b. Supervise and control the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment created pursuant to section 48 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-63); c. Make available the resources of its member agencies to assist local sponsors in implementing neighborhood empowerment plans; d. Form interagency teams of State representatives. The membership of each interagency team shall be determined by the needs outlined in the neighborhood empowerment plan. Each interagency team shall serve as the primary link between the neighborhood and State government in responding to programming needs, shall be co-chaired by a case manager from the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment established pursuant to section 48 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-63); and by the community director, and shall include at least one representative of the council; e. Have authority to adopt, amend and repeal rules relating to the exercise by the council and the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment established pursuant to section 48 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-63), of their respective functions and duties pursuant to this act; f. Publish an annual report on the status of redevelopment activity which shall describe the progress toward achieving the goals of this act; and g. Assist in coordinating the activities of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, municipalities, counties, public or private county and municipal development agencies, district management corporations created pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1972, c.134 (C.40:56-68), and community action boards established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1991, c.51 (C.52:27D-398) that have developed neighborhood empowerment plans pursuant to section 49 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-64) or comprehensive community development plans. L.1996,c.62,s.46. 55:19-62. Office of Neighborhood Empowerment 47. a. There is established in, but not of, the Department of Community Affairs an Office of Neighborhood Empowerment. b. The Governor shall appoint an executive director of the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment who shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The executive director shall report solely to the Urban Coordinating Council, which shall supervise and control the office. c. The executive director of the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment may hire employees as may be required to carry out the purposes of this section, and to fix and pay their compensation from funds available, all without regard to the provisions of Title 11A, Civil Service, of the New Jersey Statutes. L.1996,c.62,s.47. 55:19-63. Duties of Office of Neighborhood Empowerment 48. The Office of Neighborhood Empowerment shall: a. Provide support for a community director who shall assist local sponsors in developing or implementing neighborhood empowerment plans; b. Provide case management services to qualified local sponsors of neighborhood empowerment plans; c. Assist neighborhoods in developing and implementing neighborhood empowerment plans; d. Ensure that communities receive technical assistance in neighborhood planning; e. Train and provide administrative support for interagency teams; f. Assist local sponsors in evaluating progress through mutually agreed upon measures; g. Provide assistance in obtaining private sector support for developing and implementing neighborhood empowerment plans; h. Maintain and make available a complete inventory of State programs, services and funding that are available to municipalities; and i. Enter into partnerships with qualified local sponsors. L.1996,c.62,s.48. 55:19-64. Development of neighborhood empowerment plan 49. a. In order to qualify to receive the services of the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment and of an interagency team, a community must first have developed a neighborhood empowerment plan which shall be submitted to the Urban Coordinating Council established pursuant to section 45 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-60). A neighborhood empowerment plan shall incorporate and address the needs of the neighborhood as identified by the community. It shall be comprehensive and shall take into consideration and show the relationship to the municipal master plan, other locally adopted plans (including, but not limited to urban enterprise zone plans, redevelopment plans and neighborhood social service plans), and the State Development and Redevelopment Plan, and shall outline how residents, municipal government, the private sector and neighborhood organizations will cooperate with the State and with each other during implementation. Neighborhood empowerment plans shall focus on neighborhood restoration. They may include, but need not be limited to, projects for infrastructure improvement and expansion, rehabilitation and construction of affordable housing, increased public safety, facility rehabilitation and construction, economic development, recreation and open space, environmental cleanup, employment and training, improvement of educational opportunities for youth, and efficient and humane provision of social services dedicated to strengthening the community's human capital. b. Neighborhood empowerment plans shall be developed by local sponsors with the guidance of a community director and under the direction of, and with the participation of, residents, community-based organizations, the private sector, and the municipal government. A local sponsor may be a municipality, county, public or private county and municipal development agency, district management corporation created pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1972, c.134 (C.40:56-68), community action board established pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1991, c.51 (C.52:27D-398), sponsors of neighborhood empowerment organizations, or an institution, such as a hospital, college or university, or a community-based organization. The entity that will implement the neighborhood empowerment plan shall be either a new or existing community development organization or a consortium of existing community-based organizations. L.1996,c.62,s.49. 55:19-65. Distribution of eligibility guidelines for participation in neighborhood empowerment program 50 Within one year of the effective date of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-20 et al.), the Urban Coordinating Council established pursuant to P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-20 et al.), shall distribute to the clerk of each qualified municipality eligibility guidelines for participation in the neighborhood empowerment program. The eligibility guidelines for participation in the neighborhood empowerment program shall be established by the Urban Coordinating Council established pursuant to section 46 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-61) in consultation and in conjunction with the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority. L.1996,c.62,s.50. 55:19-66. Preference accorded to certain neighborhood empowerment plans 51. In designating qualified municipalities for participation in the neighborhood empowerment program, the Urban Coordinating Council in consultation and in conjunction with the authority shall accord preference to neighborhood empowerment plans which: a. have the greatest potential for success in stimulating primarily new economic activity in the area; b. are designed to address the greatest degree of urban distress, as measured by existing levels of unemployment and poverty; c. demonstrate the most substantial and reliable commitments of resources by empowerment neighborhood businesses, associations, voluntary community organizations and other private entities to the successful redevelopment of the empowerment neighborhood; d. demonstrate the most substantial effort and commitment by the municipality to encourage economic activity in the area and to remove disincentives for job creation compatible with the fiscal condition of the municipality; and e. demonstrate most convincingly how the proposed plan will increase jobs for neighborhood residents and ratables in the neighborhood, thereby lessening the need for municipal tax increases. L.1996,c.62,s.51. 55:19-67. Additional considerations in evaluating neighborhood empowerment plan 52. In addition to the considerations set forth in section 51 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-66), the Urban Coordinating Council in consultation and in conjunction with the authority in evaluating a neighborhood empowerment plan for designation purposes shall consider: a. the likelihood of attracting other State or federal assistance or both to projects in the designated area; b. the adverse or beneficial effects of an empowerment neighborhood located at the proposed area upon economic development activities or projects of State or other public agencies which are in operation or are approved for operation in the qualified municipality; c. the degree of commitment made by public and private entities to utilize minority contractors and assure equal opportunities for employment in connection with any construction or reconstruction to be undertaken in the eligible area; d. the impact of the plan upon the social, educational, natural and historic environment of the proposed empowerment neighborhood; and e. the degree to which the implementation of the plan involves the relocation of residents from the proposed empowerment neighborhood and the adequacy of commitments and provisions with respect thereto. L.1996,c.62,s.52. 55:19-68. Review of applications by Urban Coordinating Council, authority 53. Upon receipt of an application from a qualified municipality, the Urban Coordinating Council in consultation and in conjunction with the authority shall review the application to determine whether or not it meets the eligibility guidelines established pursuant to section 50 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-65). The Urban Coordinating Council shall complete its review within 90 days of receiving an application, but may extend this time period by an additional 60 days if necessary. L.1996,c.62,s.53. 55:19-69. Public hearings on applications; determination 54. a. Once the Urban Coordinating Council in consultation and in conjunction with the authority has identified those qualified municipalities whose neighborhood empowerment plans fulfill the criteria for designation set forth in sections 51 and 52 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-66 and C.55:19-67), the Urban Coordinating Council may, at its discretion, hold public hearings for the purpose of receiving public comments on the applications. In the event that a hearing is to be conducted, at least one public hearing shall be held in a municipality which has applied for empowerment neighborhood designation. The Urban Coordinating Council shall give at least 30 days' public notice of each hearing in advertisements in at least two newspapers which circulate in the area served by the hearing and at least 30 days' notice to the governing body and planning board of each county and municipality in the area served by the hearing. b. Taking full account of the testimony presented at the public hearings, the Urban Coordinating Council in consultation and in conjunction with the authority shall make a determination regarding the designation of empowerment neighborhoods within 30 days of the final hearing. c. The Urban Coordinating Council in consultation and in conjunction with the authority shall designate as many empowerment neighborhoods as possible given available financial resources and the ability of the Urban Coordinating Council to oversee project implementation. The application process for each application cycle, including the public hearings, shall occur as set forth in this section. L.1996,c.62,s.54. 55:19-70. Eligibility for investments from New Jersey Redevelopment Investment Fund 55. a. Any municipality in which an empowerment neighborhood has been designated shall be eligible for investments by the authority from the New Jersey Redevelopment Investment Fund in infrastructure improvements and any other projects which the authority may choose to invest in. b. State programs shall give consideration to projects included in neighborhood empowerment plans developed pursuant to section 49 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-64), or community development plans, as far as practicable. L.1996,c.62,s.55. 55:19-71. Review of documents, remedial action workplans 57. a. Where a person who is performing a remediation on real property located in a qualified municipality, as defined by section 3 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-22) and who has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the department, subsequently submits to the department documents relating to the remediation of that property, the department shall: (1) review those documents in a timely fashion and provide approval, disapproval or conditional approval, as required by section 58 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-72), and (2) provide in writing to that person a document detailing the basis for any disapproval or conditional approval. b. Where a person who is performing a remediation on real property located in a qualified municipality, as defined by section 3 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-22) and who has entered into a memorandum of agreement with the department, subsequently submits to the department a remedial action workplan which proposes innovative technologies, the department shall: (1) review the remedial action workplan in a timely fashion and provide approval, disapproval or conditional approval, as required by section 58 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-72), and (2) provide in writing to that person a document detailing the basis for any disapproval or conditional approval. L.1996,c.62,s.57. 55:19-72. Urban Site Remediation Coordinator 58. a. The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall appoint an Urban Site Remediation Coordinator. The coordinator shall be responsible for the oversight and approval of site remediations conducted in areas designated as empowerment neighborhoods pursuant to sections 45 to 55 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-60 to C.55:19-70). The Commissioner of Environmental Protection shall vest in the coordinator sufficient authority to properly manage the timely approval of site remediation activities in empowerment neighborhoods. The coordinator shall report directly to the commissioner. The coordinator shall meet regularly with the commissioner to ensure the proper and efficient coordination of these projects. b. Upon the submittal of the administratively and technically complete and accurate results of a phase of a remediation required to be submitted that requires the department's review and approval in order to comply with the applicable laws and regulations concerning a site remediation conducted in an area designated as an empowerment neighborhood, the department shall review and approve, approve with conditions, or disapprove the submission or other documents within the following time frames: (1) preliminary assessment - 15 days; (2) site investigation - 15 days; (3) remedial investigation workplan - 30 days; (4) remedial investigation report - 60 days; (5) remedial action workplan - 90 days; (6) remedial action progress reports - 30 days; (7) remedial action final report - 45 days. L.1996,c.62,s.58. 55:19-73. Allocation of loans, loan guarantees 59. Beginning in the calendar year following the effective date of this act, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority shall allocate no less than 12-1/2 percent of the aggregate amount of loans and loan guarantees made by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in any fiscal year to projects consistent with the provisions of "The New Jersey Economic Development Authority Act," P.L.1974, c.80 (C.34:1B-1 et seq.) and that are located in municipalities designated as qualified municipalities pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-22). L.1996,c.62,s.59. 55:19-74. Funding of projects through issuance of tax exempt bonds 60. The New Jersey Redevelopment Authority shall fund such projects as may be practicable in any municipality eligible for designation as an empowerment zone or enterprise zone under federal law through the issuance of tax exempt bonds as provided in section 1394 of P.L.103-66; 107 Stat. 548, which bonds shall also be exempt from any tax levied pursuant to Title 54 of the Revised Statutes or Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes. L.1996,c.62,s.60. 55:19-75. Application for funding from "Water Supply Bond Act of 1981" 61. The authority may apply for funding from the "Water Supply Bond Act of 1981," P.L.1981, c.261. Consideration shall be given to funding such projects as may be practicable in a qualified municipality as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-22) or in an empowerment zone or enterprise community as designated under federal law, so long as those projects are consistent with the purposes of P.L.1981, c.261. L.1996,c.62,s.61. 55:19-76. Application for funding from P.L.1992, c.88 and P.L.1995, c.204 62. The authority may apply for funding from the "Green Acres, Clean Water, Farmland and Historic Preservation Bond Act of 1992," P.L.1992, c.88 and the "Green Acres, Farmland and Historic Preservation, and Blue Acres Bond Act of 1995," P.L.1995, c.204. Consideration shall be given to funding such projects as may be practicable in a qualified municipality as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-22) or in an empowerment zone or enterprise community as designated under federal law, so long as those projects are consistent with the purposes of P.L.1992, c.88 or P.L.1995, c.204, as the case may be. L.1996,c.62,s.62. 55:19-77. Application for funding from "1992 New Jersey Employment and Workforce Development Act" 63. The authority may apply for funding from the "1992 New Jersey Employment and Workforce Development Act," P.L.1992, c.43. Consideration shall be given to funding such projects as may be practicable in a qualified municipality as defined pursuant to section 3 of P.L.1996, c.62 (C.55:19-22) or in an empowerment zone or enterprise community as designated under federal law, so long as those projects are consistent with the purposes of P.L.1992, c.43. L.1996,c.62,s.63.

This is the verbatim text of N.J.S.A. 55:19-61, retrieved from the New Jersey Legislature's public statute corpus. Statutes are amended periodically — for the most current version, check the external source link above. Kyzer is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.