Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in an amount up to $750,000.00 to add needed capacity to Franklin Park Conservatory’s operating budget as a result of COVID-19 specific closures.
The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens supports economic recovery by attracting visitors from outside Franklin County. In 2019, more than 370,000 visitors came to the Conservatory with 130,000 of those visitors coming from outside the County. In addition, the Conservatory provides access to nature improving physical and mental health, reducing violence, increasing tolerance and encouraging creativity.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is provided to the City of Columbus from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law March 27, 2020, and funds are available for the Department of Development in Fund 2207 subfund 220702.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Park Conservatory in an amount up to $750,000.00 to add needed capacity to Franklin Park Conservatory’s operating budget as a result of COVID-19 specific closures; to authorize the expenditure of up to $750,000.00 from the CARES Act Fund; to authorize the payment of expenses starting March 1, 2020. ($750,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens supports economic recovery by attracting visitors from outside Franklin County; and,
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in closures that adversely affected the Franklin Park Conservatory's operating budget; and,
WHEREAS, expenditure of CARES Act funding is necessary to address unforeseen needs caused by closures resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency; and,
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2020 Budget; and,
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Park Conservatory for the preservation of the public health, safety and welfare; NOW THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens to add needed capacity to Franklin Park Conservatory’s operating budget as a result of COVID-19 specific closures in an amount up to $750,000.00 effective March 1, 2020.
SECTION 2: That the expenditure of $750,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 2207 (CARES Act Fund), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration Division), 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 legislation.
SECTION 5: That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.