Explanation
BACKGROUND:
In order to stimulate revitalization of the Morse Road corridor, the Northland residential and business community, with the support of the city of Columbus, formed Northland Alliance, Inc. Since its inception in early 2001, Northland Alliance, Inc. has been cooperatively working with the city of Columbus on the revitalization efforts. It has been recognized that the city of Columbus should further support the group and its efforts by entering into a contract that will allow the group to continue its current level of operation. This legislation authorizes the expenditure of $75,000 from General Fund monies for a contract with Northland Alliance, Inc.
The funding for the Northland Alliance is for administrative costs associated with operations of the organization. One of the efforts of Northland Alliance is the creation of a Special Improvement District on Morse Road. This effort is very labor intensive and the funding for Northland Alliance will be used for salaries and other expenses associated with the formation of a Special Improvement District.
Emergency action is requested so that the agreement with Northland Alliance, Inc. can be executed immediately to avoid an interruption in services.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$75,000 is allocated for this contract from the 2006 General Fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an administrative contract with Northland Alliance, Inc. to support the group's revitalization efforts within the Northland Community; to authorize the expenditure of $75,000 from the 2006 General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($75,000)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council adopted the Morse Road Design Study in December, 2000; and
WHEREAS, in response to the recommendation of the Morse Road Design Study the Northland residential and business communities joined together to form the Northland Alliance, Inc; and
WHEREAS, the mission statement of Northland Alliance, Inc. states that the group is charged with the coordination and management of a community-wide agenda, carried out in cooperation with dozens of other organizations to reinvent and revitalize the Northland Community. A specific goal of the group is to revitalize the Morse Road corridor and make it a successful "mixed use" area; and
WHEREAS, the current operating budget of Northland Alliance, Inc. is not sufficient to support the work of the group. The group has initiated fund raising efforts; however, those funds are currently not at a level to support the operation of the group; and
WHEREAS, this expenditure of funds will be used to contract with Northland Alliance, Inc. to support the group's revitalization efforts within the Northland Community by forming a Special Improvement District; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is necessary to allow the Northland Alliance, Inc. to continue the revitalization efforts in the Northland Community uninterrupted; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the expenditure of $75,000 for a contract with Northland Alliance, Inc. thereby preserving 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 the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into an administrative contract with Northland Alliance, Inc. to support the group's revitalization efforts, which includes the formation of a Special Improvement District on Morse Road, within the Northland Community.
Section 2. That the expenditure of $75,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, from the Department of Development, Division 44-02, General Fund, Fund 010, OCA Code 440314, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337 for the aforesaid purpose is hereby authorized.
Section 3. That this contract is awarded in accordance with Chapter 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
Section 4. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.