(a) The department shall perform the duties, responsibilities, and functions and may exercise the power and authority described in this Code section. The department shall undertake and carry out such activities as may be necessary to coordinate policies, programs, and actions of governments in local government affairs and as may be specified by law. Such activities may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:

(1) The department may take such action as the commissioner may deem necessary, to the extent feasible and practicable as determined by the commissioner, to make the programs and policies including, but not limited to, comprehensive plans of all levels of government consistent and to minimize duplicated or inconsistent programs and policies including, but not limited to, comprehensive plans within the state government and among local governments;

(2) The department may review, on a continuous basis, the programs and policies including, but not limited to, comprehensive plans of all governments acting within the state to determine their consistency with long-range programs and policies of the state; and

(3) The department may consult with, meet with, confer with, and cooperate with the executive or legislative authorities of other states, with representatives of municipalities and counties of other states, with other representatives of governments, with representatives of private entities, and with others for the purpose of furthering the coordination of programs and policies affecting local government affairs within this state.

(b) The department shall serve as the state's clearing-house and research center on intergovernmental relations, including relationships among federal, state, and local levels of government and, to this end, the department shall:

(1) Monitor, review, analyze, and communicate with and to others with respect to actions and developments in the United States Congress, in the federal agencies, and in other states which affect local governments or which may affect relations between the state and any local governments; and

(2) Coordinate its activities with the office of the Governor, other state agencies and authorities, and the state's members of the United States Congress.

(c) The department may provide, supervise, or coordinate leadership and community development programs for local governments and other programs with respect to local government affairs. The department may develop pilot programs or projects designed to address the problems and needs of local government.