2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE TWENTY-THREE - Public Planning and Development (§§ 1 — 11273) › PART VII - Community Development (§§ 7001 — 8058) › Chapter 171 - Rehabilitation and Development of Río Piedras (§§ 7001 — 7016) › § 7013a - Advisory Body for the Development of Río Piedras

(a) An Advisory Body for the Development of Río Piedras is hereby created. The same shall be constituted by residents and business people from the various social and economic sectors of the Río Piedras geographical area, as well as by representatives from the Municipality of San Juan, the University of Puerto Rico, the Planning Board, the Infrastructure Financing Authority, and the public interest.
(b) The appointment of members of the Advisory Body shall be conducted under the supervision of the Municipality of San Juan, as follows:
(1) One (1) representative for the residents, initially selected for two (2) years, after which elections shall be held for said office every two (2) years. The election shall be held by bona fide residents of the Special Zone of Río Piedras during an assembly called for such a purpose by the Municipality of San Juan.
(2) One (1) representative of the business sector, selected for two (2) years, after which elections shall be held for said office every two (2) years. The elections shall be held by bona fide business owners of the Special Zone of Río Piedras during an Assembly called for such a purpose by the Municipality of San Juan.
(3) One (1) representative of the Municipality of San Juan, appointed by the Mayor.
(4) The Executive Director, appointed by the Municipality of San Juan or an authorized representative.
(5) One (1) representative of the University of Puerto Rico, appointed by the President of the University of Puerto Rico.
(6) One (1) representative of the Planning Board, appointed by the Chairperson of said Agency.
(7) One (1) representative of the Infrastructure Financing Authority, appointed by the Executive Director of said Authority.
(8) The two Senators for the San Juan District.
(9) The House Representative for the Representative District comprising Río Piedras, as defined in this chapter.
(c) The first elections must be held within the first sixty (60) days after the approval of this act. No election or appointment shall be extended beyond the term of tenure designated for such elective office or appointment, as the case may be. However, the Regulations may provide any number of terms for which any person may be reelected. The Advisory Body shall appoint three (3) officials from among its members, to wit: the Chairperson, the Secretary, and the Treasurer, during the first meeting, which shall be called by the Municipality of San Juan. The duties and responsibilities of the officials, as well as those of all other members of the Advisory Body, shall be set through regulations to be approved within the term of six (6) months after the approval of this act.
(d) The Advisory Body may create all those subcommittees it may deem necessary for its proper operation and shall have the benefit of the technical assistance of the public corporations and agencies which constitute the Interagency Task Force.
(e) The Advisory Body shall have the following duties:
(1) To promote and make feasible the implementation of the Plan for the Rehabilitation of Río Piedras, as well as any other law or regulation, or municipal program, ordinance, plan or project, etc., intended for the redevelopment and revitalization of Río Piedras;
(2) to advise the Special Interagency Task Force for Río Piedras in order to expedite the implementation of the Rehabilitation Plan and any other law or regulation, or municipal program, ordinance, plan or project, etc., intended for the redevelopment and revitalization of Río Piedras;
(3) to draft a short, medium, and long-term Work Plan, which must be submitted to the Municipality of San Juan for its approval within the first twelve (12) months after the approval of this act, which shall not contravene the Plan for the Integrated Development and Rehabilitation of Río Piedras or any municipal program, ordinance, plan or project, etc., intended for the redevelopment and revitalization of Río Piedras;
(4) to organize activities to promote the rehabilitation of Río Piedras;
(5) to follow up on the projects programmed by the Special Interagency Task Force and the Municipality of San Juan;
(6) to include in its Work Plan all those functions assigned to it by the Special Interagency Task Force pursuant to the purpose for which it was created, and
(7) to submit partial reports to the Special Interagency Task Force describing the immediate needs in Río Piedras and the difficulties encountered in implementing the Rehabilitation Plan, so that the necessary corrective measures can be taken. These reports shall describe in detail the various situations and problems affecting Barrio Río Piedras, as well as the strategies adopted, the actions taken, and the results obtained. Furthermore, these reports shall identify those priorities, work plans, situations, and problems which have been impossible to solve, including the reasons for being unable to do so. These reports shall also include recommendations for legislative action. The Special Interagency Task Force shall evaluate and take into consideration the reports submitted by the Advisory Body and make a final decision on such issues concerning the physical, the economic, and the social planning over which such body has jurisdiction by virtue of delegation, insofar as there is no impairment of the authorities and powers of the Municipality of San Juan to implement or enforce its programs, ordinances, plans, projects, etc.
(f) The government agencies and dependencies which constitute the Special Interagency Task Force for Río Piedras shall assign each at least one (1) of their employees with decision-making power, as liaison to the Advisory Body. Provided, That such employees shall be located at the Office of the Executive Director herein established, and that even though they shall be able to continue discharging official duties for the agency for which they work, they shall be responsible for handling the petitions of the Advisory Body and for coordinating and ensuring that the services are rendered by their agency to the Advisory Body for the Rehabilitation of Río Piedras.
History —July 5, 1995, No. 75, added as § 13 on Aug. 15, 1999, No. 236, § 2; July 17, 2009, No. 39, § 6.