Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus City Council has supported the 614 Beautiful Program through multiple ordinances, including Ordinances 1214-2022, 1424-2023, 660-2024, 3534-2024, and 955-2026. 614 Beautiful is a program to beautify and unify Columbus communities through place-based, public-facing improvements. The 614 Beautiful Program accomplishes this by funding projects such as pocket parks, landscape enhancements, streetscape and public right-of-way improvements, place making signage, and public art. Ordinance 1424-2023 authorized an extension of the original contract through July 31, 2024, and increased the available funding by $300,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund. Ordinance 660-2024 authorized a contract extension to July 31, 2025. 3534-2024 increased the available funding by $300,000.00 under the contract from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund and authorized payment for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages expenses. Most recently, Ordinance 955-2026 authorized a contract modification to extend the City's contract with Neighborhood Design Center (NDC) until April 30, 2027.
The purpose of this legislation is to modify the contract with NDC to add funding in the amount of $100,000.00 to the existing contract and to extend the term of the contract through December 31, 2027. By extending the contract term and adding funds, Neighborhood Design Center will be able to open a new round of applications and make awards to more artists, thereby expanding program capacity and impact across the City. Food and/or beverage purchases will be subject to what is allowable in the respective grant agreements. Food and beverage costs will not exceed $15 per person and any purchase of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds have been earmarked and are available in the amount of $100,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund, Subfund 100018.
REASON NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS NOT FORESEEN: Earlier phases of 614 Beautiful were considered pilots in nature, with no guarantee of continued funding. This year, City Council approved an earmark for an additional $100,000.00 to support the program's continuation under the direction of Neighborhood Design Center.
REASON OTHER PROCUREMENT METHODS NOT UTILIZED: Neighborhood Design Center is a nonprofit and is therefore not subject to the competitive bidding requirements included in Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes. Furthermore, Neighborhood Design Center is a unique nonprofit in Columbus with special knowledge of the program and possesses special expertise to carry out the purpose of the contract as successfully as possible. Contracting with another entity would jeopardize the consistency of the program, particularly for past and current grantees (artists).
ADDITIONAL FUNDS: The amount of $100,000.00 is considered sufficient to continue the program for calendar year 2026, including administering further grants and defraying the cost of staff support from Neighborhood Design Center.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Neighborhoods to modify a not-for-profit service contract with Neighborhood Design Center to add funding to the existing contract in support of the 614 Beautiful Program and to extend the current contract through December 31, 2027; to authorize expenditures for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage costs; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, 614 Beautiful was created in 2022 and has always served to beautify and unify Columbus communities through place-based, public-facing improvements; and
WHEREAS, in addition to activating spaces and designing place-making improvements, 614 Beautiful aims to encourage dialogue amongst neighbors, local businesses, and organizations, thereby promoting creativity and ingenuity in strategies that support all residents of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, previous projects supported by 614 Beautiful include a mural on the U.S. 40 overpass to instill pride and celebration in living in the Hilltop, the South Side Family Farm Stand to provide access to fresh produce and teaching youth about urban agriculture, and a garden reading pavillion across the street from the Linden Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library; and
WHEREAS, additional funding will expand program capacity to support current and future iterations of 614 Beautiful; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Dept. of Neighborhoods is hereby authorized and directed to modify the terms of the existing not-for-profit service contract with Neighborhood Design Center to add $100,000.00 in support of 614 Beautiful and to extend the term of the existing contract through December 31, 2027.
SECTION 2. That the contract modification authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance is in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $100,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund, Subfund 100018, per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That per the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and that the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the use of said expenditures may be put toward reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses, not to exceed $15.00 per person, and that City Council hereby finds such food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses to be for a proper public purpose. No part of the expenditures shall be used toward alcohol expenses.
SECTION 8. That is ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.