§53-5  Powers and duties of agency.  Thepowers and duties of the redevelopment agency shall be as follows:

(1)  To undertake and carry out urban renewal projectsand related activities authorized by this chapter; to make and executecontracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to exercise its powersunder this chapter; to sue and be sued; to have a seal; and, subject to anylimitations in this chapter contained, to exercise all powers necessary,incidental, or convenient to carry out and effectuate the purposes andprovisions of this chapter.

(2)  To make, amend, and repeal rules and regulationsnot inconsistent with this part to carry into effect the powers and purposesthereof, which rules and regulations shall be subject to chapter 91.

(3)  To appoint a manager and a deputy manager whoshall have such qualifications as the agency deems necessary and who shall holdtheir respective offices at the pleasure of the agency.  The manager shall beexempt from the requirements of chapter 76 and shall receive such salary as theagency may provide.  The deputy manager shall be exempt from the requirementsof chapter 76 but shall be subject to the position classification plan.  Themanager shall have full power to administer the affairs of the agency, subjectto the direction and approval of the agency.  The manager shall, subject to theapproval of the agency, have power to appoint, suspend, and discharge suchother employees, subordinates, and assistants as may be necessary for theproper conduct of the business of the agency.  All the appointments,suspensions or discharges shall be made in conformity with the applicableprovisions of chapter 76.

(4)  To make preliminary surveys, studies, and plansto identify redevelopment areas; provided that the studies and initialdetermination of what areas are blighted, within the meaning of this part,shall be made exclusively by the planning commission, and to make redevelopmentplans for the areas, which plans shall be in conformity with the master planfor the development of the locality, and each plan shall show the outline ofthe area, character of existing development, proposed use of land, generalcharacter of new buildings and other general details of redevelopment, as wellas the preliminary estimated cost thereof.  Further, the plans shall give dueconsideration to the provision of adequate park and recreational areas andfacilities that may be desirable for neighborhood improvement, with specialconsideration for the health, safety and welfare of children residing in thegeneral vicinity of the site covered by the plans.  In preparing redevelopmentplans the agency shall utilize such assistance as can be given by employees ofthe government, but may also enter into contracts for professional services inconnection therewith.  Any council which is not otherwise authorized toestablish a planning commission with power to prepare a master plan for thephysical development of the locality, may prepare such a master plan for thepurposes of initiating and carrying out a redevelopment project under thispart.

(5)  To assist and cooperate with other local agencieswithin the State and to contract for professional services with the other localagencies in carrying out its duties.

(6)  To establish and operate a central relocationoffice which shall perform such functions and activities as may be necessaryand proper for the satisfactory relocation of families, individuals,businesses, and nonprofit organizations, incorporated and unincorporated,displaced by any governmental action to decent, safe, and sanitary locations atrents and prices within the financial means of the displaced families,individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.  To the extent thatspecial funds are made available by the State or the county, the agency mayauthorize the central relocation office to make relocation payments for actualmoving costs to families, individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations,incorporated or unincorporated, displaced from other than urban renewal projects;provided that the payments shall not exceed $100 for each displaced family orindividual and $300 for each displaced business (including the operation of afarm) or nonprofit organization; provided further that the payments shall notbe made to recipients of any other relocation payments made by any governmentor agency thereof for the same displacement.  In the case of a business, theallowable expenses for transportation shall not exceed the cost of moving fiftymiles from the point from which the business is being displaced.

To prepare plans for and assist in the relocationof persons (including individuals, families, business concerns, nonprofitorganizations and others) displaced from an urban renewal area, and to makerelocation payments to or with respect to the persons from funds provided bythe federal government.

(7)  To prepare a general neighborhood renewal planfor urban renewal areas which may be of such scope that urban renewalactivities may have to be carried out in stages over an estimated period of upto ten years.  The plan may include, but is not limited to, a preliminary planwhich (A) outlines the urban renewal activities proposed for the area involved,(B) provides a framework for the preparation of urban renewal plans, and (C)indicates generally the land uses, population density, building coverage,prospective requirements for rehabilitation and improvement of property, andportions of the area contemplated for clearance and redevelopment.  A generalneighborhood renewal plan shall, in the determination of the local governingbody, conform to the general plan of the locality as a whole and the workableprogram of the county. [L 1949, c 379, pt of §4; am L 1951, c 244, pt of §3; amL 1953, c 209, §3; am L 1955, c 271, §1(f); RL 1955, §143-6; am L 1957, c 163,§1; am L 1959, c 33, §1; am L 1961, c 112, §1 and c 144, §1; am L 1963, c 66,§1; am L 1965, c 96, §89 and c 101, §1(b) to (e); HRS §53-5; am L 2000, c 253,§150]