Explanation
Background: As a condition for the receipt of federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) monies, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the City to implement a Fair Housing Program. The Columbus Urban League (CUL) is the local agency which provides Fair Housing services to the City. These services provide access to housing for minorities and disadvantaged persons through research, advocacy, landlord-tenant counseling housing discrimination investigation, placement assistance and public education. In 2004 the CUL will continue implementation of the Fair Housing Action Plan, which seeks to eliminate the barriers to fair housing choice identified in the Analysis of Impediments completed in 2001. As the City's subrecipient for this activity, the Columbus Urban League will promote the availability of, and the accessibility to safe, decent, sanitary and affordable housing and will work towards the elimination of overt and subtle patterns of housing discrimination.
Pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Code, the City of Columbus chooses to engage the CUL, due to the City's lack of expertise in this area.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency so that the Fair Housing Program can continue to operate in a timely manner.
Fiscal Impact: An allocation of $188,814.00 has been included in the 2004 CDBG budget for this purpose.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Urban League for the Fair Housing Program, to authorize the expenditure of $188,814.00 from the Community Development Block Grant fund, and to declare and emergency. ($188,814.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Department of Finance to expend monies from the Community Development Block Grant Fund for an agreement with the Columbus Urban League for the Fair Housing Program, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance in that it is immediately necessary to expend the aforementioned funds for the ongoing timely operation of the Fair Housing Program; Now, Therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That, in accordance with Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Code, the Director of the Department of Finance is hereby authorized and directed to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Urban League for the Fair Housing Program.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $188,814.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from Division 45-01, Fund 248, OCA Code 454013, Subfund 001, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336 is hereby authorized for aforesaid purpose.
SECTION 3. 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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.