Explanation
Background: This ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to reserve and encumber funds to enter into one or more contracts in an amount totaling up to $172,114.65 to support the division’s availability study. The work performed through these contracts will provide essential business data and meaningful insights. Findings from the availability study will inform policy decisions and help expand access to City opportunities.
By way of this ordinance, the director seeks to reserve and encumber the planned funds from the 2025 operating budget to enter into one or more contracts for the services mentioned above with to-be-determined contractors. The division is currently engaged in the Request for Proposal process per Columbus City Code Chapter 329, but the process will not be completed before City Council’s last meeting in 2025. It is estimated that the contract(s) with the selected vendor(s) will be legislated, if required, and executed in the first quarter of 2026.
Fiscal Impact: $172,114.65 has been planned and is available within the Administration Division’s General Fund budget.
Emergency: This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to prevent delays to the division’s availability study and to utilize the 2025 General Funds in which these contracts were budgeted.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to reserve and encumber funds for one or more service contracts in an amount totaling up to $172,114.65 with to-be-determined firms; to authorize the expenditure of up to $172,114.65 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($172,114.65)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion seeks to enter into one or more service contracts to support the division’s availability study; and
WHEREAS, the division is currently engaged in the Request for Proposal process per Columbus City Code Chapter 329, but the process will not be completed, before City Council’s last meeting in 2025; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in that the Director seeks to encumber and reserve the planned funds from the 2025 operating budget to enter into one or more contracts for the services mentioned above with to-be-determined firms in an amount up to $172,114.65, preventing delay of receipt of information from this work, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hereby authorized to reserve and encumber funds for one or more service contracts in an amount totaling up to $172,114.65 with to-be-determined firms pending the outcome of the Request for Proposal process requirements in Columbus City Code Chapter 329
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $172,114.65 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept Div 40 03 (Administration), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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.