Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This legislation amends Ordinance No. 0862-2006 passed May 1, 2006. The legislation as passed authorized the expenditure of Emergency Human Services (EHS) funds in the amount of $100,000 for relocation expenses for the closure of the Woodland Meadows apartment complex. Due to the fact that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was able to pay for most of the relocation expenses, the authorized funds were not necessary. Consequently, the Housing Division expended only $7,018.54 leaving a balance of $92,981.46. Due to federal budget cuts, relocation dollars are desperately needed for any emergency situations requiring the relocation of low and moderate-income households.
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to expend up to the remaining $92,981.46 from the Emergency Human Services Fund city wide for eligible relocation payments in accordance with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines to benefit low and moderate income households.
The ordinance is presented as an emergency action in order to expedite the use of the EHS funds for relocation assistance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No additional funds are required for this amendment. Funding for this expenditure was previously authorized by City Council.
Title
To amend Ordinance 0862-2006, passed May 1, 2006, to allow the Housing Division to use the unspent balance of Emergency Human Services funds on eligible relocation expenses city wide in accordance with HUD guidelines; and to declare and emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to amend Ordinance 0862-2006 to expend $92,981.46 on eligible relocation expenses city wide as determined by the Housing Division; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0862-2006 passed May 1, 2006 authorized the expenditure of EHS funds for relocation expenses for a specific project that is now being expanded to serve additional eligible households; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the city and low and moderate income households to enable the Department of Development to use these funds for relocation expenses, and;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Housing Division, in that it is immediately necessary to amend Ordinance 0862-2006 thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That Section 2 of Ordinance 0862-2006, passed May 1, 2006, be and is hereby amended to read as follow:
That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to expend Emergency Human Services Funds for HUD-eligible relocation expenses for projects city wide in accordance with HUD guidelines
Section 2. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.