Explanation
BACKGROUND: Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code, effective September 29, 1994 provides for the creation of Special Improvement Districts (SID), by non-profit corporations governed by trustees elected by the property owners for the provision of specified services in a designated district. In 2015 a petition to create a new SID in the University area to be known as the University District Special Improvement District (District) was approved by Council for a 5-year term. In 2020 members of the SID approved a reauthorization to continue SID services. The property owners initiated a one petition process in which the owners of at least 60% of the area of all real property located within the District signed, acknowledging that they supported the reauthorization of the Special Improvement District and their approval of the Base Plan for Public Services and Improvements (the Base Plan) delineating the services to be provided by the University District SID. This petition was accepted and approved by Columbus City Council by Ordinance 0800-2020, passed May 4, 2020, for a 5-year term. Subsequently, two Resolutions were approved by the City Council: 0066X-2020 on May 18, 2020 and 0102X-2020, passed on June 29, 2020. A final piece of legislation, providing for the levy of assessment to property owners, was approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 1894-2020, passed September 14, 2020 for a 5-year term from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2025. Each assessment is to be returned to the SID for operational requirements as set forth in the Plan of Pubic Services and Improvements.
This legislation appropriates and approves the expenditure of that portion of assessments collected in FY 2023 that is to be returned to the SID. This legislation would also allow the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the University District Special Improvement District for disbursements of these funds.
Emergency designation is requested to prevent any interruption of service as these critical payments are only released from the auditor bi-annually for continued cleaning and safety services, and are the sole source of employee payroll for the districts they serve.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this expenditure will be received from the levy of assessments collected from property owners in the University District Special Improvement District. These funds are deposited into and expended from Agency Fund 3311.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for implementation of services as set forth in the Plan of Public Services and Improvements; to direct the City Auditor to appropriate and expend up to $400,000.00 from assessments levied from property owners in 2023; and to declare an emergency. ($400,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, City Council approved in 2020 the creation and implementation of a Plan for Public Services and Improvements of the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for a term of 5 years, and,
WHEREAS, City Council has also levied assessments in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 1710 for such purposes, which funds are in the process of collection and are required by law to be distributed to the University District SID by the City; and
WHEREAS, the assessment funds collected by the County and forwarded to the City for disbursement will be available in March 2023 and September 2023; and
WHEREAS, this legislation needs to be an emergency because the University District SID needs this money to operate its organization and to fund its initiatives in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, there is an emergency in the usual daily operation of the City, requiring the distribution of such funds, to prevent any interruption of service as these critical payments are only released from the auditor bi-annually for continued cleaning and safety services, and are the sole source of employee payroll for the districts they serve and for the further 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 the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for the implementation of services fulfilling the operational requirements as set forth in the Plan of Public Services and Improvements that was previously approved by City Council pursuant to Resolution 0066X-2020, for an amount not to exceed $400,000.00 in 2023.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all the monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, the sum not to exceed $400,000 is appropriated in Fund 3311 University SID, Object Class 05 Other Expenditures 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 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.