Sec. 684.101. - Findings and legislative intent.

(a) The Council hereby finds and declares that among the many causes of deterioration in the business and residential neighborhoods of the City are the following: proliferation of crime, automobile traffic flow strangled by outmoded street patterns, unsuitable topography, faulty lot layouts, fragmentation of land uses and parking areas necessitating frequent automobile movement, lack of separation of vehicle traffic lanes and railroad traffic, and excessive noise levels from automobile traffic. (b) The Council finds and declares that safe neighborhoods are the product of planning and implementation of appropriate environmental design concepts, comprehensive crime prevention programs, land use recommendations, and beautification techniques. (c) The Council further finds and declares that the provisions of F.S. Ch. 163, Pt. IV and the powers granted to local governments, property owner's associations, and special dependent districts are desirable to guide and accomplish the coordinated, balanced and harmonious development of safe neighborhoods; to promote the health, safety and general welfare of these areas and their inhabitants, visitors, property owners and workers; to establish, maintain, and preserve property values and preserve and foster the development of attractive neighborhood and business environments; to prevent overcrowding and congestion; to improve or redirect automobile traffic and provide pedestrian safety; to reduce crime rates and the opportunities for commission of crime; and to provide environmental security in neighborhoods so they are defensible against crime. (d) It is the intent of the Council to exercise the powers granted to local governments by the Safe Neighborhood Act (F.S. Ch. 163, Pt. IV) to implement effective crime prevention techniques to establish safe neighborhoods within the City. The Council declares that the development, redevelopment, preservation, and revitalization of neighborhoods in the City are public purposes for which public money may be borrowed, expended, loaned and granted. (Ord. 91-347-234, § 1)