Explanation
This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $250,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. It further authorizes the Columbus City Attorney’s Office to extend service contracts with MDDR Enterprises Incorporated (vendor #033102) and Lindsay Automotive Inc. (vendor #004376) for vehicle maintenance and repair services supporting the City’s Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention program through April 30, 2027. This legislation also authorizes reimbursement for eligible expenses incurred prior to the issuance of a purchase order.
The Project Taillight program provides low-income residents with access to free vehicle repairs to address safety-related issues. By ensuring vehicles meet safety standards, the program enhances roadway safety for drivers, passengers, and pedestrians, while helping residents avoid citations for equipment violations. Originally launched as a two-year, grant-funded pilot, Project Taillight is now a fully funded, ongoing initiative supported in partnership with Columbus City Council and continues to expand access to a range of necessary vehicle repairs for eligible residents.
VENDORS:
Lindsay Automotive Inc. | CC-004376 | expires 6/18/2027
MDDR Enterprises Incorporated | CC-033102 | expires 2/11/2027
FISCAL IMPACT:
Total appropriation is $250,000.00 and is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
EMERGENCY ACTION:
Emergency action is requested in order to immediately provide the funds necessary to continue and expand the Project Taillight pilot and provide residents with needed repairs to their vehicles, without interruption.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $250,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize the Columbus City Attorney’s Office to extend service contracts with MDDR Enterprises Incorporated and Lindsay Automotive Inc. for vehicle maintenance and/or repair services for the city’s Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention program through April 30th, 2027; to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the issuance of a purchase order; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Attorney’s Office designed and implemented the innovative Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention program giving low-income residents access to free vehicle safety light repair services through vetted auto repair shops; and
WHEREAS, these repair services keep drivers, passengers and pedestrians safer on the roads and prevent low-income residents from receiving tickets for safety code violations; and
WHEREAS, City Council has provided funding in the 2026 operating budget to further expand the capacity of the program; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Attorney solicited competitive bids for these services in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code through a Best Value Procurement solicitation #RFQ029673; and
WHEREAS, two (2) reactive bids were received; and
WHEREAS, two contracts were executed the Lindsay Automotive, Inc. and MDDR Enterprises; and
WHEREAS, both contracts included a 12-month extension clause allowing the City Attorney to extend the contract deadlines; and
WHEREAS, this legislation approves reimbursements retroactive to December of 2025 for services rendered prior to final contact execution and prior to the issuance of a purchase order; and
WHEREAS, $250,000.00 is available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Columbus City Attorney’s Office in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and authorize the expenditure of funds, and to extend repair contracts with vendors approved to provide automotive repair services through the City of Columbus’ Project Taillight program, in order to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of critical vehicle safety repair services for residents and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of drivers, passengers, and pedestrians; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Columbus City Attorney is hereby authorized to extend service contracts with Lindsay Automotive, Inc. 5959 Scarborough Blvd. Columbus, Ohio 43232 and MDDR Enterprises Incorporated 2233 Morse Rd Columbus, OH 43229 for the purpose of supporting the Project Taillight public safety and crime prevention program.
SECTION 2. That the Lindsay Automotive, Inc and MDDR Enterprises Incorporated contracts are in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code.
SECTION 3. That repair reimbursement is retroactive to December 1st, 2025 for services rendered prior to final contact execution and prior to the issuance of a purchase order.
SECTION 4. That the Auditor is hereby authorized to appropriate $250,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, Fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $250,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.