Box 15, Folder 4, Document 11

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Box 15, Folder 4, Document 11

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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; 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's cities. :

The concept and intent of the Model Cities Program is good. It provides for the
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 which 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 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 made an admirable attempt to live up to the concept of the Model Cities
program. To a great extent 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 governments.

The Model Cities Program also places on all City departments and agencies
the requirement for cooperation, coordination and approval of program
components,

There are indications that this requirement has not been met,

Where it has not done so, each department and agency is obligated to review
and pass on the specific components of the program which assigns execution
responsibility to that department.

Each committee of the Board of Aldermen should review and approve/disapprove
each program component which falls within the responsibility and authority 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
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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 weil.

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 departments and agencies responsible for the execution of each component
before final approval of the grant application is given.

Respectfully,

lu’

Dan Sweat
Chairman

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George‘Berry, Member =

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Collier Gladin, Member

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E. H. Underwood, Member

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