Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Sister Cities International, Inc. (CSCI), a non-profit corporation, in an amount up to $225,000.00 to administer the Columbus Sister Cities International Program for the purpose of promoting business, government, cultural, educational and environmental exchanges between the Columbus Sister Cities as well as long term economic development. Funding will be advanced on a predetermined schedule.
The ten Sister Cities are: Accra in Ghana, Ahmedabad in India, Curtiba in Brazil, Dresden in Germany, Genoa in Italy, Hefei in China, Herzliya in Israel, Odense in Denmark, Seville in Spain and Tainan in Taiwan. City funding has been provided in previous years to support staffing and administrative cost of CSCI. CSCI has worked diligently to raise capital for its overall operation. Additional support is required to maintain a full-time Executive Director and to defray miscellaneous administrative cost.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: This program provides vital connections locally and abroad. Requesting emergency designation to maintain continuity of service.
FISCAL IMPACT: $150,000.00 is budgeted in the Economic Development Division’s 2024 General Fund Budget, funding of $75,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number is 005482 and expires on 5/30/25.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Sister Cities International, Inc. in an amount up to $225,000.00 for the purpose of promoting business, government, cultural, educational and environmental exchanges between the Columbus Sister Cities; to authorize the expenditure of up to $150,000.00 from the 2024 General Fund Operating Budget; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $75,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to authorize the advancement of funds on a predetermined schedule; and to declare an emergency. ($225,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Sister Cities International Program promotes business, government, cultural, educational and environmental exchanges between the Sister Cities; and
WHEREAS, the ten Sister Cities are: Accra, Ghana; Ahmedabad, India; Curtiba, Brazil; Dresden, Germany; Genoa, Italy; Hefei, China; Herzliya, Israel; Odense, Denmark; Seville, Spain; Tainan, Taiwan; and
WHEREAS, the funding for this project will be used for administrative costs associated with the Columbus Sister Cities International Inc.’s Program; and
WHEREAS, funding will be advanced to the agency on a predetermined schedule; 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 the Department of Development to enter a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Sister Cities International, Inc. for the purpose of continuing to promote long term economic development with the sister cities all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, and safety; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Sister Cities International, Inc. (CSCI) in an amount up to $225,000.00 to administer the Columbus Sister Cities International Program for the purpose of promoting business, government, cultural, educational and environmental exchanges between the Columbus Sister Cities as well as long term economic development, and is authorized to advance funds per a schedule to be included in the agreement.
Section 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $75,000.00 to the Department of Development within fund 1000 (General Fund), subfund 100018 (Neighborhood Initiative), Dept. 44-02 (Economic Development), in Object Class 05 (Other Expenditures) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
Section 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $225,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept. 44-02 (Economic Development), in Object Class 05 (Other Expenditures) per the accounting codes in the attached to this ordinance.
Section 4. That this grant agreement is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code related to awarding grant agreements.
Section 5. 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 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
Section 7. 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.