Explanation
Background: The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to apply to the Ohio Department of Development, Clean Ohio Council for redevelopment emergency assistance funding in the amount of $81,175.00. The requested funding will be used for a Phase 2 environmental assessment at General Theming Contractors' business site located at 1826 E. Livingston Avenue (a.k.a., the former Hoffman Container building) in preparation for anticipated clean up at the site to allow for acquisition and business expansion by General Theming. The authority to apply for funding is required for the application of Clean Ohio grant funds.
General Theming Contractors currently employs 50 people and specializes in specialty artwork for clients such as Disney Studios, Ambercrombie-Fitch and The Limited. With the assistance of Clean Ohio emergency assistance funds, General Theming plans to accurately assess total clean up costs to remediate its site and invest in a building expansion to increase employment to 100 people within the next 3-5 years.
This legislation and the associated emergency assistance grant application does not subject the City to liability for any site contamination which may exist at or near the General Theming site.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency to commence the Clean Ohio emergency assistance grant application immediately.
Fiscal Impact: There are no costs to the City of Columbus associated with applying for Clean Ohio emergency assistance grant funding. If the application is approved by the State, the City of Columbus will receive up to $81,175.00 for a Phase 2 environmental assessment at the General Theming site.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to apply to the Ohio Department of Development, Clean Ohio Council for emergency assistance grant funding in the amount of $81,175.00 for a Phase 2 environmental assessment of General Theming Contractors' facility at 1826 E. Livingston Avenue; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio Clean Ohio Program will award $40 million per year, for five years, to communities throughout Ohio for the purpose of clean up and redevelopment of contaminated or abandoned properties known as "brownfields"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus contains brownfield properties which may qualify for Clean Ohio clean up and redevelopment grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has been involved with brownfield redevelopment since 1999 through its administration of the Columbus Brownfield Redevelopment Program and its associated task force; and
WHEREAS, Clean Ohio grant funding will greatly complement the efforts of the Columbus Department of Development in helping to clean up and redevelop brownfield properties in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has identified a brownfield property, which may be eligible for the Clean Ohio emergency grant assistance fund, at 1826 East Livingston Avenue where a Phase 2 environmental assessment is required to determine clean up costs; and
WHEREAS, General Theming Contractors are located at 1826 East Livingston Avenue where it employs 50 people and will invest in expansion and increase employment to 100 people within 3-5 years after determining clean up costs and undertaking site remediation; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to to authorize the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to apply to the Ohio Department of Development, Clean Ohio Council, for redevelopment emergency assistance funding, all for the preservation of 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 the Columbus Department of Development is authorized to apply to the Ohio Department of Development, Clean Ohio Council for emergency assistance grant funding in the amount of $81,175.00 for a Phase 2 environmental assessment of General Theming Contractors' facility at 1826 East Livingston Avenue.
Section 2. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, the 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.