Explanation
BACKGROUND: In order to strengthen the “Preservation” pillar of the Mayor’s Housing Strategy, this ordinance creates the Division of Housing Stability within the Department of Development to enhance tenant protections and create a more equitable housing landscape for Columbus residents. The Division of Housing Stability will accomplish this by ensuring city agencies’ efforts are coordinated to effectively serve residents, developing policies and long-term strategies to support and protect tenants and unsheltered residents, and provide equitable access to information on rent stabilization, eviction prevention, and tenant support programs. The new Division of Housing Stability will be effective as of 6/22/25.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for the new Housing Stability Division will be provided by a transfer from the Department of Development’s Office of Administration’s general fund appropriation in the amount of $657,400.00, from the Department of Development’s Housing Division’s general fund appropriation in the amount of $131,200.00, and a transfer from the General Fund, citywide account in the amount of $525,000.00. An accompanying authorized strength ordinance will be put forth to account for the transfer of personnel.
Emergency Designation: To allow for more immediate assistance to tenants facing housing instability, eviction, and potential homelessness.
Title
To amend Columbus City Codes Section 215.01 and to enact Section 215.11 of the Columbus City Codes to create the Division of Housing Stability within the Department of Development; to reduce the Department of Development’s Office of Administration’s general fund appropriation by $657,400.00; to reduce the Department of Development’s Housing Division’s general fund appropriation by $131,200.00; to authorize a transfer of $525,000.00 from the General Fund, citywide account; to establish the Division of Housing Stability’s general fund appropriation in an amount equal to the reduction to the Office of Administration’s general fund appropriation, the reduction to the Housing Division’s general fund appropriation, and the transfer of the General Fund, citywide account in an amount of $1,313,600.00 and to declare an emergency. ($1,313,600.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness with which the Department of Development executes the Mayor’s Housing Strategy, in order to create an equitable housing landscape for the residents of Columbus, the Division of Housing Stability is being created within the Department of Development; and
WHEREAS, a reduction of the Department of Development’s Office of Administration’s general fund appropriation by an amount of $657,400.00 will be used to establish the Division of Housing Stability’s general fund appropriation in an amount equal to the reduction to the Office of Administration; and
WHEREAS, a reduction of the Department of Development’s Housing Division’s general fund appropriation by an amount of $131,200.00will be used to establish the Division of Housing Stability’s general fund appropriation in an amount equal to the reduction to the Housing Division; and
WHEREAS, a transfer in an amount of $525,000.00 from the General Fund, citywide account to the Division of Housing Stability will be required; and
WHEREAS, the Division shall have as its primary duties collaborating with other city agencies to enhance and enforce current tenant protections; develop policies and long-term strategies to support and protect tenants and unsheltered residents; provide equitable access to information on federal, state, and local fair housing laws, rules, and regulations, eviction prevention, and tenant support programs; and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council; and NOW, THEREFORE,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation in the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to pass this ordinance due to the need to allow for more immediate assistance to tenants facing housing instability, eviction, and potential homelessness for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health and safety; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the existing Section 215.01 of the Columbus City Codes is hereby amended to read as follows:
215.01 - Department of development established.
There is established a department of development. The department of development shall consist of a director, one (1) department deputy directors and the following divisions: economic development, planning, housing, and land redevelopment, and housing stability. Within the director's office there shall be an administrative office. The department of development shall have as its primary duty the coordination, management, implementation and promotion of programs to encourage business expansion and attraction, planned growth, creation of housing opportunities, a lively downtown, land reutilization and redevelopment of properties, and healthy, safe and revitalized neighborhoods. The department of development shall perform all other lawful functions as directed by the mayor or ordinance of council.
SECTION 2. That prior existing Section 215.01 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 3. That new Section 215.11 of the Columbus City Codes be and is hereby enacted, reading as follows:
215.11 - Division of housing stability.
The division of housing stability is established as a division of the department of development. The division shall have as its primary purpose collaborating with other city agencies to enhance and enforce current tenant protections; develop policies and long-term strategies to support and protect tenants and unsheltered residents; provide equitable access to information on federal, state, and local fair housing laws, rules, and regulations; eviction prevention and tenant support programs; and other duties as may be authorized by the director or ordinance of council.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to reduce the Department of Development’s Office of Administration general fund, fund 1000, subfund 100010 appropriation by an amount not to exceed $657,400.00 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. The actual amount of the reduction should take into account the appropriation balances starting with the fourteenth pay period on June 22, 2025.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to reduce the Department of Development’s Housing Division’s general fund, fund 1000, subfund 100010 appropriation by an amount not to exceed $131,200.00 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. The actual amount of the reduction should take into account the appropriation balances starting with the fourteenth pay period on June 22, 2025.
SECTION 6. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer the sum of $525,000.00 within Fund 1000 (General Fund) from Dept-Div 45-01 (Financial Management), Object Class 10 (Transfer Out Operating), to Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), in object class 01 (Personnel) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to establish the Division of Housing Stability’s general fund appropriation as equal to the reduction authorized in Section 4, Section 5, and equal to the transfer authorized in Section 6, not to exceed $1,313,600.00per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That the administration and management of all private and government grants previously awarded will remain assigned to division 44-01 for the duration of the grant agreements, to allow for continuity of programming and reporting. All other stipulations related to that funding remain in place. All new grant awards after the effective date of the establishment of the Division of Housing Stability will be accounted for in that division and assigned to division 44-12.
SECTION 9. That the Director is authorized to pay and/or continue to pay any outstanding encumbrances and contract obligations held as it relates to the Division of Housing Stability using the funding and encumbrances currently in place on those obligations, including prior year(s) encumbrances, until those balances are liquidated or no longer needed.
SECTION 10. That all current year general fund expenses that have already occurred prior to the effective date of the establishment of the Division of Housing Stability, and associated with Division of Housing Stability, will remain in division 44-01.
SECTION 11. 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 12. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish proper accounting numbers as appropriate.
SECTION 13. 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 14. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest date permitted by law.
SECTION 14. 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 10 days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.