Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 1999 the Capitol South Urban Redevelopment Corporation, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the City of Columbus, Department of Development initiated an effort to work with downtown property owners to create a Special Improvement District (SID) in the core area of downtown (Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc.). The first petition to create the SID and Articles of Incorporation was approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 1741-00, passed July 17, 2000. City Council also approved the Plan for Services to be provided by the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. by Resolution No. 3X-01, passed January 8, 2001. The necessity to implement the Plan of Services and to levy a special assessment for the services was approved by City Council by Resolution No. 017X-01, passed February 12, 2001. A final piece of legislation, providing for the levy of assessment to property owners, was approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 1040-01, passed June 18, 2001. Each assessment is to be returned to the SID for operational requirements as set forth in the District Plan.
This legislation appropriates and approves the expenditure of assessments collected in FY 2004 that are to be returned to the SID. This legislation also allows the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for disbursement of these funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this expenditure will be received from the levy of assessments collected from property owners in the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District. These funds are deposited into and expended from Agency Fund 307.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for the implementation of services set forth in the District Plan; to direct the City Auditor to appropriate and expend up to $1,500,000.00 from assessments levied from property owners; and to declare an emergency ($1,500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, City Council approved the creation and implementation of a plan for services for the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for a period of 5 years from July 1, 2001 through June 30, 2006, and
WHEREAS, City Council has also levied assessments in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 1710 for such purposes, which funds are in the process of collection and are required by law to be distributed to the District by the City; and
WHEREAS, the assessment funds collected by the County and forwarded to the City for disbursement will be available in February 2004, and
WHEREAS, this legislation needs to be an emergency because the Capital Crossroads SID needs this money to operate its' organization and to fund its' initiatives in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, there is an emergency in the usual daily operation of the City, requiring the distribution of such funds, and for the further preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of Development be, and he is hereby, authorized to enter into a contract with the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for the implementation of services previously approved by City Council.
Section 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to expend from the year 2004 appropriation to the Capital Crossroads SID Fund 307, Object Level One 05, Object Level Three 5911, for the operations requirements set forth in the District Plan from assessments levied pursuant to Resolution No. 3X-01 an amount not to exceed $1,500,000.00 for assessments, penalties and fees.
Section 3. That all such sums set forth herein are hereby appropriated for such purposes.
Section 4. That necessary accounting and identification codes and fund numbers be assigned to such expenditures as the City Auditor shall determine.
Section 5. 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.