Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes an amendment to Ordinance 0352-2025, passed by Columbus City Council on April 21, 2025, to authorize further appropriations and expenditures in support of Latino Heritage Month programming. These funds were not yet identified at the time of the original ordinance's passage.
The Office of Councilmember Barroso de Padilla has identified $30,000.00 in additional funding to support Latino Heritage Month programming, and the Office of the Mayor has identified another $10,000.00. Because the original not-for-profit contract authorized by Ordinance 0352-2025 has not yet been executed, an amendment is preferred rather than a contract modification.
This amendment also specifies that the fiscal management fee for Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio is up to 15 percent.
FISCAL IMPACT: $30,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018, as well as $10,000.00 within the Department of Finance's citywide account, subfund 100010. Ordinance 0352-2025 originally authorized an expenditure of $50,000.00.
REASON FOR EMERGENCY: Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio needs to be able to disburse funds to community partners in a timely fashion and well in advance of the September-October event timeline in order to ensure seamless programming.
Title
To amend Ordinance 0352-2025, passed by Columbus City Council on April 21, 2025; to authorize a transfer within the general fund; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($40,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0352-2025 authorized the City Clerk to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio in support of Latino Heritage Month programming; and
WHEREAS, after Ordinance 0352-2025 passed, more Council and Mayoral funds were identified to be appropriated and expended in support of Latino Heritage Month funding; and
WHEREAS, the original ordinance stated that Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio would receive a 15 percent fee for its fiscal management services, but should have stated that up to 15 percent of the funds identified in the ordinance could be paid to the organization for their services as a fiscal manager; and
WHEREAS, An emergency exists in the Clerk's Office insofar as Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio needs to be able to disburse funds to community partners in a timely fashion and well in advance of the September-October event timeline in order to ensure seamless programming, all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is authorized to provide additional funding for a not-for-profit service contract with Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio in the amount of $40,000.00 in support of Latino Heritage Month programming.
SECTION 2. That the title of Ordinance 0352-2025 be amended as follows:
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio on behalf of the Latino Heritage Month Committee in support of their Latino Heritage Month events; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize a transfer within the general fund; to authorize an expenditure from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)($90,000.00)
SECTION 3. That the existing title of Ordinance 0352-2025 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 4. That Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio, in exchange for its services as fiscal manager of the city's financial support, be eligible to receive up to fifteen percent (15%) of the total funds appropriated and expended under this ordinance and Ordinance 0352-2025. Any information in the background/explanation and recital sections of Ordinance 0352-2025 that contradicts the new text below shall be superseded by this section.
SECTION 5. That in addition to the funds authorized and appropriated under Ordinance 352-2025, the appropriation and expenditure of $30,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018, as well as the transfer and expenditure of $10,000.00 from the General Fund, subfund 100010, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That Section 1 of Ordinance 0352-2025 be amended as follows:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio in support of the Latino Heritage Month Committee for their Lationo Heritage Month events, in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 $90.000.00.
SECTION 7. That existing Section 1 of Ordinance 0352-2025 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 8. 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 9. 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.