[Adopted 12-17-2018 by Ord. No. MC-5171]
The governing body of the City of Camden hereby finds that (1) the Downtown District as described by lot and block numbers and by street addresses in Schedules A and B attached hereto and incorporated by reference[1] would benefit from being designated as a special improvement district; (2) that a district management corporation would provide administrative and other services to benefit the businesses, employees, residents and consumers in the Downtown District; (3) upon implementation, a special assessment shall be imposed and collected by the City of Camden with the regular property tax payment or payment in lieu of taxes or otherwise, and that all or a portion of these payments shall be transferred to the district management corporation to effectuate the purposes of N.J.S.A. 40:56-65 et seq. and to exercise the powers given to it by municipal ordinance; and (4) that it is in the best interests of the City of Camden and the public to create a special improvement district and to designate a district management corporation; except that no district management corporation shall be designated to receive any funds or to exercise any powers pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40:56-65 et seq. unless the Board of Directors of that corporation shall include at least one member of the governing body of the City of Camden.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said schedules are on file in the City offices.
The governing body of the City of Camden hereby designates the special improvement district as described in Schedules A and B attached hereto and incorporated by reference.[1] This special improvement district is comprised of Downtown including Linden, 7th Street, Elm Street from 7th to Delaware Avenue, 10th Street, Ed's and Meds, Waterfront, and the Gateway.
[1]
Editor's Note: Said schedules are on file in the City offices.
A. 
The governing body of the City of Camden hereby designates the Camden Special Services District, Inc. a nonprofit corporation, as the district management corporation for the Downtown District.
B. 
The district management corporation, in addition to acting in an advisory capacity to the governing body, shall be governed by and also have all powers necessary and requisite to effectuate the purposes of this article, as specified in N.J.S.A. 40:56-65 et seq. including but not limited to:
(1) 
Adoption of bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the conduct of its business and prescribe rules, regulations and policies for the performance of its functions and duties;
(2) 
Prepare and administer annual budgets and funding requests for City Council approval;
(3) 
Employ such persons as may be required and fix and pay their compensation from funds available to the corporation;
(4) 
Apply for, accept administer and comply with requirements respecting an appropriation of funds or a gift, grant or donation of property or money;
(5) 
Make and execute agreements which may be necessary or convenient to the exercise of the power and function of the corporation, including contract with any person, firm, corporation, government agency or entity;
(6) 
Administer and manage its own funds and accounts and pay its own obligations;
(7) 
Borrow money from private lenders and government entities;
(8) 
Fund the improvement of exterior appearance of properties in the District through grants and loans;
(9) 
Enforce the conditions of any loan, grant, sale or lease made by the corporation;
(10) 
Provide clean and safe services in the District supplemental to those normally supplied by the City of Camden;
(11) 
Undertake improvement designed to increase safety and attractiveness of the District to businesses which may locate there or visitors to the District, including but not limited to litter cleanup and control, graffiti, handbills, landscaping, signage, parking areas and facilities, recreational and rest areas and facilities, and those improvements generally permitted for a pedestrian mall, under N.J.S.A. 40:56-65 et seq. and pursuant to pertinent regulations of the governing body;
(12) 
Publicize, promote, and plan for the District and the businesses included within the District boundaries;
(13) 
Organize and assist with special events and activities in the District;
(14) 
Provide special parking plans and arrangements for the District;
(15) 
Provide temporary decorative improvements in the District;
(16) 
Act as the City of Camden's destination management organization (DMO);
(17) 
Recruit new businesses to fill vacancies in, and to balance the business mix of, the District;
(18) 
Regulate vending to supplement activities supplied by the City of Camden;
(19) 
Design and enforce environmental and building design criteria to supplement activities supplied the City of Camden pursuant to pertinent regulations of the governing body and applicable state law;
(20) 
Provide temporary decorative lighting in the District;
(21) 
Accept, purchase, rehabilitate, sell, lease, or manage property in the District in accordance with all applicable laws;
A. 
The Governing Body hereby designates the special improvement district as a downtown business improvement zone in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40:56-71.2.
B. 
The district management corporation may apply for loans under the State of New Jersey Downtown Business Improvement Zone Loan Fund. The Downtown Business Improvement Loan Fund shall be used for the purpose of undertaking public improvements to the Districts. In any instance in which the City of Camden or the district management corporation receives a loan from the Downtown Business Improvement Loan Fund, the City of Camden shall establish assessments in the manner in which costs may be assessed pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56-71.5 et seq. within the special improvement district in which the downtown business improvement zone is located in an amount sufficient to produce revenues on an annual basis to repay the loan in accordance with the repayment schedule for the loan established by the Department of Community Affairs.
A. 
The Board of Directors of CSSD, Inc., the designated district management corporation, shall be comprised of 13 members. The Board shall consist of one member from the governing body of the City of Camden, nine members who are representatives of businesses or other entities in the special improvement district, two Camden residents selected by the Mayor of the City of Camden and one member from Cooper's Ferry Partnership.
B. 
The term of Board of Directors along with other rules and regulations governing CSSD, Inc. shall be set forth in the adoption of its bylaws.
Notwithstanding the creation of the special improvement district, the City expressly retains all its police powers and other rights and powers and authority over the area designated as the "special improvement district."
Any ordinance or part of an ordinance inconsistent with any part of this article is hereby repealed as to the inconsistent provisions.
If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this article is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate and distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof.
Any portion of this article not herein amended and supplemented shall remain in full force and effect.
This article shall take effect 20 days after final passage and publications as provided by law.