Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a service contract with R.H. Brown & Company, LLC in an amount up to $300,000.00 of federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funds to provide support for those in need of emergency rehousing services and to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code. To authorize the contract term to be effective November 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025.
The City’s Emergency Rehousing Initiative assists tenants who have been involuntarily displaced and are struggling to find available rental housing and rehousing assistance. This initiative includes helping tenants identify rental housing that meets their needs based on the affordability of rent, family size, and location. R.H. Brown Company, LLC will work with and support those in need of emergency rehousing in evaluating choices and making informed decisions for their housing needs. This contract will further the City’s Emergency Rehousing Initiative in helping to achieve housing stability for those that are involuntarily displaced.
A proposal was solicited and received from R.H. Brown & Company LLC and ultimately reviewed by Department of Development staff with a recommendation to enter into a contract for services.
Bid Waiver Request: Under the authority of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.18, the Director of the Department of Development is requesting that City Council finds it in their best interest to waive the competitive bidding provision of City Code as an emergency exists and is an immediate need for services to assist those that have been involuntarily displaced to help them in finding housing and rehousing assistance.
Emergency action is necessary in order to help achieve housing stability for those that are facing or have already been involuntarily displaced and are in need of emergency rehousing services.
FISCAL IMPACT: $300,000.00 is available from and within the Emergency Rental Assistance Fund (Fund 2208).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number is 046895 and expires on 10/04/2025.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a service contract with R.H. Brown & Company, LLC in an amount of up to $300,000.00 to provide support for those in need of emergency rehousing services; to waive the competitive bidding provision of Columbus City Code Chapter 329; to authorize the term of the contract from November 1, 2023 to September 30, 2025; to authorize the expenditure of $300,000.00 from the ERA2 fund; and to declare an emergency. ($300,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development wishes to enter into a service contract with R.H. Brown & Company, LLC in an amount up to $300,000.00 of federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funds to provide support for those in need of emergency rehousing; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Emergency Rehousing Initiative assists tenants who have been involuntarily displaced and are struggling to find available rental housing and rehousing assistance; and
WHEREAS, the City is facing a housing crisis and the term of the contract is needs to be extended from November 1, 2023 through September 30, 2025 which will provide assistance and will align this contract with the term of the grant; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the city to waive the competitive bidding provision of Columbus City Code 329.18 to enter into contract with R.H. Brown & Company LLC to provide emergency rehousing services to those that have faced or are currently facing involuntary displacement; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a service contract with the R.H. Brown & Company, LLC to help resolve immediate needs for those facing involuntary displacement, 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 City Council finds it in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provision of Chapter 329.18 of Columbus City Code to enter into this contract.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a service contract with R.H. Brown & Company, LLC in an amount up to $300,000.00 to provide support for those in need of emergency rehousing services utilizing federal Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) funds, and authorizes the term of the agreement from November 1, 2023 through September 25, 2025.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $300.000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2208 (ERA2), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 which 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 it.