Explanation
BACKGROUND: The maintenance and supplementation of the Columbus City Code is a primary responsibility of the City Clerk's Office. The City Clerk has annually renewed contracts with LexisNexis for these services. LexisNexis provided notification in late December 2008, that effective immediately they will no longer provide municipal codification services and had transferred their accounts to Municipal Code Corporation (MCC). MCC has agreed to provide these services under terms of Lexis Nexis' current pricing structure.
It is manifestly impractical for the City Clerk to suspend the supplementation and codification services of the Columbus City Code pending completion of the competitive procurement process. For that reason, it is in the best interest of the City to enter into contract with Municipal Code Corporation for the remainder of the 2009 fiscal year to allow time to prepare an RFP and pursue the competitive procurement process to identify and initiate a contract with a service provider for the 2010 fiscal year with the option to renew for five (5) one (1) year periods.
Emergency legislation is requested to ensure uninterrupted availability and supplementation of the Columbus City Code for City of Columbus employees and citizens.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds have already been budgeted within Council's 2009 General Fund Budget for these services in the amount of $6,000.00.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Clerk to enter into contract with Municipal Code Corporation and to authorize the City Clerk to expend up to $6,000.00 for supplementation and codification services for the remainder of 2009, and to waive the competitive procurement provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City Clerk has annually renewed contracts with LexisNexis for codification and supplementation services of the Columbus City Code; and
WHEREAS, LexisNexis recently provided notification that they no longer provide municipal codification services and had transferred their accounts to Municipal Code Corporation (MCC) for services to be provided under terms of Lexis Nexis' current pricing structure; and
WHEREAS, it is manifestly impractical for the City Clerk to suspend the supplementation and codification services of the Columbus City Code while initiating the competitive procurement process; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's interest to contract with Municipal Code Corporation for the remainder of the 2009 fiscal year with the intention that the Clerk's office will pursue the competitive procurement process to identify and initiate a contract with a service provider for the 2010 fiscal year with the option to renew with the same provider for five (5) one (1) year periods; and
WHEREAS, Municipal Code Corporation will provide an up-to-date, electronic copy of the City Code with each supplement, and a complete listing of current and past subscribers and the corresponding contact information including all government agencies and private companies, every six months and/or upon request; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual operation of the City Clerk's Office, and that it is immediately necessary to authorize such agreement thereby ensuring uninterrupted availability and supplementation of the Columbus City Code thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
Section 1. The City Clerk is authorized to enter into a contract with Municipal Code Corporation for the 2009 fiscal year to provide supplementation and codification services to the City Code.
Section 2. That the provisions of Columbus City Codes Chapter 329 relating to the procurement of professional services are hereby waived.
Section 3. That there is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund up to $6,000.00 to Municipal Code Corporation and the City Auditor is authorized to draw warrants upon the treasury for services thereunder upon receipt of invoices approved by the City Clerk.
Section 4. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.