Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to execute a new Lease Agreement with 5957 Cleveland Avenue Properties LLC, as Landlord, for approximately 3,535 rentable square feet of medical office space located at 5957 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43229 to be occupied by the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program of the Department of Health. This location will replace an existing WIC Clinic located at 5770 Karl Road. The existing lease is set to expire on June 30, 2026. The new lease will be for an initial one-year term and provide for four (4) consecutive automatic one-year renewal terms each term subject to appropriation of rental funds by City Council and certification of funds availability by the City Auditor. The annual base rent plus additional expenses for the initial lease term, October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, is $65,397.50. The ordinance is presented as an emergency to allow the Landlord time to make necessary modifications to prepare the space for use as a WIC Clinic by or before October 1st so WIC program services provided to the community can continue without interruption
Further, this legislation authorizes the expenditure of up to $65,397.50, or as much as may be necessary, from the Health Department Grant Fund for payment of base rent and additional expenses.
Fiscal Impact: The Women, Infants and Children Program is entirely funded by the Ohio Department of Health. This program does not generate any revenue or require a City match. Expenditures to provide these services are budgeted in the 2026-2027 WIC Administration Grant, within Health Department Grants funds. ($65,397.50)
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow the Landlord time to make necessary modifications to prepare the space by or before October 1st for use as a WIC Clinic and allow for relocation of the clinic as quickly as possible so program services provided to the community can continue without significant interruption.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a Lease Agreement with 5957 Cleveland Avenue Properties LLC for the lease of medical office space located at 5957 Cleveland Avenue; to authorize the expenditure of $65,397.50 from the Health Department Grant Fund, for the payment of base rent and additional expenses associated with this lease; and to declare an emergency. ($65,397.50)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development through its Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment, leases various office space on behalf of the Department of Health; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Health Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program has requested that the WIC Clinics located at 5770 Karl Road relocate to a new leased location; and
WHEREAS, suitable medical office space to meet WIC program needs has been located at 5957 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43229; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development, Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment, has negotiated lease terms and conditions that are acceptable to the City; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Health, WIC Program has budgeted $65,397.50 within the Health Department Grant Fund, Fund 2251, for payment of rent for this lease for the period October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend grant funds for payment of the leases in order to provide services for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program for the period October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Development, on behalf of the City, to execute the Lease Agreement with 5957 Cleveland Avenue Properties LLC to allow the Landlord time to make necessary modifications to prepare the space by or before October 1st for use as a WIC Clinic and allow for relocation of the clinic as quickly as possible so program services provided to the community can continue without significant interruption, all for the immediate 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 hereby is, authorized to execute those documents necessary to enter into a Lease Agreement by and between the City and 5957 Cleveland Avenue Properties LLC for the lease of approximately 3,535 rentable square feet of medical office space located at 5959 Cleveland Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43229.
SECTION 2. That the terms and conditions of the Lease Agreement shall be in a form prepared and approved by the Department of Law, Division of Real Estate including an initial lease term of one year with four (4) consecutive automatic one-year renewals each subject to the appropriation of grant funds for payment of annual rent.
SECTION 3. That contingent upon the passage of Ordinance 1536-2026, the expenditure of $65,397.50 is hereby authorized from the Health Department Grant Fund, Fund No. 2251, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance, for payment of base rent and additional expenses to 5957 Cleveland Avenue Properties LLC, for the lease of medical office space at 5959 Cleveland Avenue for the period October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that this lease is properly accounted for and recorded accurately on the City’s financial records.
SECTION5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared 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.