Explanation
BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement in an amount up to $137,930.00 with Southeast Inc., to assist in the repair of their Friends of the Homeless shelter after the facility experienced significant flooding. Southeast Inc. was awarded a grant for assistance with shelter repairs under Ordinance No. 0325-2024 on February 12, 2024. Because of the flood damage, Southeast Inc. was required to reallocate their emergency shelter repair funds, necessitating additional time to utilize the funds and make the new required repairs. Legislation could not be completed in time to modify the current agreement, purchase order number PO434125, before the end of the grant term. As such, authorization is requested to allow expense prior to purchase order execution of this grant, beginning March 6, 2024. Authorization is also requested to advance funds per a pre-determined schedule to be included in the agreement.
Southeast Inc. operates The Friends of the Homeless (FOH) shelter that provides emergency housing to highly vulnerable men and women, providing them with the opportunity to reestablish themselves as members of the Columbus community.
Emergency action is necessary to promptly complete this work to allow Southeast Inc to supply emergency housing for highly vulnerable men and women.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available in existing cash within the Development Taxable Bond Fund, 7739.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: Southeast Inc.’s vendor number is 004491 and expires 05/14/27.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Southeast Inc. in an amount up to $137,930.00 to assist in the repair of their Friends of the Homeless shelter; to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to match cash and authorize the expenditure of up to $137,930.00 from the Development Taxable Bond Fund; to authorize the advancement of funds on a pre-determined schedule; to authorize the reimbursement of expenditures incurred prior to the establishment of a purchase order; and to declare an emergency. ($137,930.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into grant agreement in an amount up to $137,930.00 with Southeast Inc., to assist in the repair of their Friends of the Homeless shelter after the facility experienced significant flooding; and
WHEREAS, Southeast Inc. was awarded a grant for assistance with shelter repairs under Ordinance No. 0325-2025 on February 12, 2024, but due to unexpected flood damage, Southeast Inc. was required to reallocate their emergency shelter repair funds, necessitating additional time to utilize the funds and make the new required repairs; and
WHEREAS, legislation could not be completed in time to modify the current agreement before the end of the grant term; and
WHEREAS, an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to match cash is needed to establish sufficient authority for this project and authorize the expenditure of up to $137,930.00; and
WHEREAS, authorization is requested to allow expenses prior to purchase order execution, beginning March 6, 2024 and to authorize the advancement of funds per a pre-determined schedule to be included in the agreement.; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a grant agreement with Southeast Inc. to promptly complete the repair of their Friends of the Homeless shelter to supply emergency housing for highly vulnerable men and women, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, welfare and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7739 / P782003-100000 / Emergency Shelter Repair (Unvoted Carryover) /$4,561/137,930/ $142,491 (to match cash)
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement in an amount up to $137,930.00, with Southeast Inc. in order to assist in the repair of their emergency shelter serving individuals experiencing homelessness.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $137,930.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bonds), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing), Project P782003-100000 (Emergency Shelter Repair) object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the grant agreement authorized in Section 3 of this Ordinance is authorized to reimburse expenditures incurred prior to the purchase order, beginning March 6, 2024; and to advance funds per a schedule to be included in the agreement.
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 contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administrating said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 8. 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.