Article 1. Legislative Findings And Declarations of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 24. >> Part 7.5. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 1.

The Legislature finds that developing an urban problem-solving capability requires that:
  (a) Federal assistance be offered in a flexible manner which allows state and local governments to define their needs, set their priorities, and design programs which respond directly to local conditions.
  (b) Local governments have the skills and resources needed to lead urban problem-solving efforts.
  (c) Local, state, and federal governments coordinate their independent programs so that their resources will be concentrated on the most pressing urban problems.
  (d) Government develop programs which integrate specialized services of different agencies to meet the multifaceted nature of urban problems, and specifically coordinate and integrate physical and social planning and delivery of services.

The Legislature further finds that the Comprehensive City Demonstration Programs, authorized under the provisions of Title I of Public Law 89-754 (42 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and commonly known as the "Model Cities" program, provide demonstration efforts in 150 cities throughout the United States, 11 of which are in California. The Model Cities Program is a major federal effort to meet the overall requirements for developing an urban problem-solving capability. The purpose of this program is to:
  (a) Provide flexible bloc grants to local governments and waive restrictions in existing categorical grant-in-aid programs to permit state and local governments to respond to local conditions and design creative and innovative programs.
  (b) Seek to develop in local governments the skills, resources, and community support needed for effective leadership in urban problem-solving efforts.
  (c) Seek to coordinate and concentrate the resources of all levels of government on locally defined urban problems.
  (d) Provide opportunities for government to develop programs which integrate the specialized services of various professional agencies.

The Legislature further finds that, because of the state's extensive involvement in the programs which directly affect Model Cities areas, the Model Cities program will not succeed in California without significant state interest and cooperation.

The Legislature hereby declares that it is the policy of the State of California to cooperate with and assist the Model Cities program in California, to coordinate state services in Model Cities areas, and to use the Model Cities program as an opportunity for developing innovative programs, especially those programs which would integrate or combine the specialized services of various departments and agencies of state government.