Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 and enter into a professional services contract with Designing Local Ltd., in an amount up to $750,000.00, for the City’s “Reimagining Columbus” project that is funded by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s “Monuments Project” program grant.
Designing Local Ltd shall serve as the City’s lead consultant for the “Reimagining Columbus” project. Through the Department of Development, the City applied for a grant to engage the community and generate discussion about the city’s namesake, Christopher Columbus, and to assess the future disposition of the Christopher Columbus statue that was created by Edoardo Alfieri and gifted to the City of Columbus by its Sister City of Genoa, Italy in 1955. The purpose of this project is to 1) methodically and inclusively host conversations to understand what Columbus residents value most, and how the city’s future symbology and public art landscape can communicate shared values and aspirations, 2) provide the public with opportunities to collaboratively ideate on the future disposition of the Christopher Columbus statue, and with requisite community buy-in, design a new space that allows the public to understand and physically interact with difficult history, and 3) create a replicable model for dealing with difficult topics within the community and pilot new community engagement methodologies, including restorative practices.
The City proposed the Reimagining Columbus project to the Mellon Foundation and was awarded a $2 million grant. As the lead consultant for project, Designing Local will be responsible for project management, community engagement, landscape architecture, and oversight of sub consultants. Sub Consultants will include experts in public engagement, cultural competency, public art, place making, and design and augmented with the perspectives of Advisory Committees composed of local residents and community leaders. The project will use conventional and restorative practices to glean insight and support the sharing of different perspectives and lived experiences.
Emergency action is requested in order to execute the professional services contract as soon as possible to complete the work during the term of the grant.
Waiver of Request for Proposal Requirements: A waiver of the competitive procurement requirements outlined in Columbus City Code Chapter 329 is being requested because Designing Local Ltd. previously was selected as the chosen consultant in response to RFQ021527. A contract was not awarded under RFQ021527 because program scope evolved in light of the private grant opportunity with the Monuments Project.
FISCAL IMPACT: The funding of $750,000.00 for this contract is available in the Private Grant Fund (2291) Mellon Foundation-Monuments Project grant (grant number to be determined) and contingent upon Ordinance 1857-2023. Funding from the Mellon Foundation shall be disbursed to the City in two tranches: one half in summer of 2023 and one half in summer 2024. Upon receipt of the funds in 2024, legislation will be put forth to modify this contract to add the additional funds.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s contract compliance 020995 is active and expires on 7/14/24.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Designing Local Ltd in an amount up to $750,000.00 for the purpose of project management, community engagement, landscape architecture and facilitating the community in public discussion about the future disposition of the Christopher Columbus statue in accordance with the Monuments Project scope; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code Chapter 329; to authorize the expenditure of $750,000.00 from the Department of Development’s Mellon Foundation Grant budget (Private Grant Fund); and to declare an emergency. ($750,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in June of 2023, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded the City a two-year, $2,000,000.00 grant through its Monuments Project; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development seeks to partner with Designing Local Ltd to fulfill the requirements of the grant agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's best interests to waive the competitive bidding requirements of City Code Chapter 329 because Designing Local Ltd. previously was selected as the chosen consultant in response to RFQ021527. A contract was not awarded under RFQ021527 because program scope evolved in light of the private grant opportunity with the Monuments Project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Designing Local Ltd in order to execute the professional services contract as soon as possible to complete the work during the term of the grant, such immediate action being necessary for the preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That this Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code to enter into this contract.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into contract with Designing Local Ltd in an amount up to $750,000.00 for the purpose of project management, community engagement, landscape architecture and facilitating the community in public discussion about the future disposition of the Christopher Columbus statue in accordance with the Monuments Project scope.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $750,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in fund 2291 (Private Grant Fund), Dept. 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Funds are hereby 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 for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.