Explanation
Background: As part of the Consent Order and Settlement Agreement between the City of Columbus and Penn National Gaming, Inc., the parties agreed to create the Westside Community Fund. Both the City of Columbus and Penn National Gaming agreed to contribute $2.5 million to the Westside Community Fund, with the first payment of $1 million to be made in 2012. Additional contributions of $750,000.00 were to be made by each party in 2013. The parties further agreed to each contribute $500,000.00 in 2014 and $250,000.00 in 2015.
The Westside Community Fund will be used for a variety of projects related to the neighborhood(s) immediately surrounding the Casino development and/or the citizens thereof, including but not limited to job training, minority affairs, economic development and/or capital projects.
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $50,000.00 from the Westside Community Fund for support of The Buckeye Ranch. This funding will be used to assist The Buckeye Ranch with debt reduction on the recently remodeled West Broad Street Family Center. This center serves the residents of the Westside by providing youth and their families with comprehensive and individualized mental health and substance abuse treatment.
Fiscal Impact: Funds have been deposited into the Westside Community Fund from proceeds from the city's allocation of State Casino Tax Revenues to support this expenditure.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Development Department to enter into contract with The Buckeye Ranch to provide support to the remodeling and opening of the West Broad Street Family Center; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $50,000.00 from the Westside Community Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on June 6, 2011, Columbus City Council passed Ordinance 0889-2011, which authorized the execution of the Consent Order and Settlement Agreement in the case of CD Gaming v. City of Columbus, et al; and
WHEREAS, as a part of that settlement, the City of Columbus and Penn National Gaming, Inc. agreed to create the Westside Community Fund; and
WHEREAS, each party agreed to contribute $2.5 million to the Westside Community Fund, with the first payment of $1 million to be made in 2012, and contributions of $750,000.00 in 2013, $500,000.00 in 2014 and $250,000.00 in 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Westside Community Fund will be used for a variety of projects related to the neighborhood(s) immediately surrounding the Casino development and/or the citizens thereof, including but not limited to job training, minority affairs, economic development and/or capital projects; and
WHEREAS, as part of this commitment in 2014, each party has agreed to support The Buckeye Ranch in the amount of $50,000.00 each; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that this Ordinance is required to be immediately effective in order to facilitate the timely and continuing development of the Westside Community and the resulting creation and retention of jobs, such immediate action being necessary for the preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That The Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into contract with The Buckeye Ranch to provide support to the remodeling and opening of the West Broad Street Family Center.
Section 2. That from the unappropriated balance in the Westside Community Fund, Fund 276, Subfund 001, and from any and all sources unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, the sum of $50,000 be and is hereby appropriated to the Department of Development, Office of the Director, Division 44-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 276001.
Section 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $50,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Westside Community Fund, Fund 276, Subfund 001, Department of Development, Office of the Director, Division No. 44-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 276001.
Section 4. 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 5. That the award of this contract meets the procurement provisions of Chapter 329.15 of the Columbus City Code, 1959.
Section 6. 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 the passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.