Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to modify the existing Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement with Lyft Bikes and Scooters, LLC (“Lyft”) to support the continued operation of CoGo Bike Share.
The City of Columbus has provided financial support to CoGo Bike Share since its inception.
Ordinance 2241-2012 authorized the execution of the City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement, between the Department of Recreation and Parks and Alta Bicycle Share, Inc., to facilitate the development, installation, operation, and management of a public bike share system, which launched on July 30, 2013, with 30 stations and 300 bikes. Since that time, CoGo Bike Share has grown to 88 stations and more than 600 bikes throughout the City, offering a low-cost option for alternative transit and personal recreation resulting in more than 50,000 rides annually.
Ordinance 1572-2019 authorized the execution of the Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement between the Department of Recreation and Parks and Motivate International, formerly known as Alta Bicycle Share, Inc., to facilitate the continued operation of CoGo Bike Share through July 1, 2024.
Ordinance 2311-2021 authorized the execution of the First Modification to the Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement between the Department of Recreation and Parks and Lyft, which acquired Motivate International, Inc.
Ordinance 0950-2023 authorized the execution of the Second Modification to the Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement between the Department of Public Service, which assumed responsibility for supporting CoGo Bike Share from the Department of Recreation and Parks pursuant to that legislation, and Lyft.
The purpose of this legislation is to enable the Department of Public Service to provide financial support to CoGo Bike Share through year-end while it continues to seek secure long-term sponsorships to fund the ongoing operation of that program.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for Lyft Bikes and Scooters, LLC is 040364, which expires December 8, 2023.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $500,000.00 is available within the Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund to support the continued operation and management of CoGo Bike Share. This expense was not budgeted, and the necessary funds must be appropriated.
4. MINORITY AND WOMAN OWNED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE & SMALL LOCAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM
The Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement was executed prior to the implementation of the MBE/WBE/SLBE Program, and as such, the contract modification contemplated herein is exempt from the requirements imposed by that program.
5. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested so as to prevent an interruption in the daily operation of CoGo Bike Share, which provides important transportation and recreation benefits.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to appropriate funds within the Mobility Enterprise Fund; to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to modify the Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement with Lyft Bikes and Scooters, LLC; to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2241-2012 authorized the execution the City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement between the Department of Recreation and Parks and Alta Bicycle Share, Inc. to facilitate the development, installation, operation, and management of a public bike share system in the City of Columbus; and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to that legislation, CoGo Bike Share launched on July 30, 2013, with 30 stations and 300 bikes; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has provided ongoing financial ongoing to CoGo Bike Share since its inception, which has helped CoGo Bike Share grow to 88 stations and more than 600 bikes throughout the City today; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1572-2019 authorized the execution the Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement between the Department of Recreation and Parks and Motivate International, Inc., formerly known as Alta Bicycle Share, Inc., to facilitate the continued operation of CoGo Bike Share through July 1, 2024; and
WHEREAS, 2311-2021 authorized the execution of the First Modification to the Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement between the Department of Recreation and Parks and Lyft Bikes and Scooters, Inc. (“Lyft”), which acquired Motivate International, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0950-2023 authorized the execution of the Second Modification to the Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement between the Department of Public Service, which assumed responsibility for supporting CoGo Bike Share from the Department of Recreation and Parks pursuant to that legislation, and Lyft; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to modify the Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement to facilitate the continued operation of CoGo Bike Share through year-end while the Department of Public Service seeks to secure long-term sponsorships to fund that program; and
WHEREAS, it also is necessary to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of funds in the Mobility Operating Fund for the aforementioned purpose; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to modify and amend the existing contract for the CoGo Bike Share system with Lyft Bikes and Scooters, LLC; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund, Fund 6500; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists within the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to execute the requisite contract modification with Lyft Bikes and Scooters, LLC so as to prevent an interruption in the daily operation of CoGo Bike Share, which provides important transportation and recreation benefits, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, the sum of $500,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 6500 (Mobility Enterprise Operating Fund), Dept-Div 5906 (Parking Services), Object Class 3 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2 That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to modify the Amended and Restated City of Columbus Bike Share Agreement with Lyft Bikes and Scooters, LLC, relative to the CoGo Bike Share Program.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $500,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 6500 (Mobility Enterprise Fund) Dept-Div 59-06 (Division of Parking Services), Object Class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Funds are deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is made a part hereof, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.