Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 2003 the Discovery District Development Corporation asked Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation to initiate an effort to work with Discovery District property owners to create a Special Improvement District on the east side of downtown. Property owners were surveyed and overwhelmingly were in support of the proposal and created the Discovery Special Improvement District (Discovery SID). The Discovery SID has operated successfully since its inception and the property owners now wish to reauthorize for an additional five year period, with slightly different boundaries (Map Attached).
In reauthorizing the Discovery SID, property owners are initiating a one petition process in which property owners representing at least 60% of the frontage of property, per Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1710 (ORC Chapter 1710) within the District, sign a Petition approving the Plan for Improvements and Services to be provided by the Discovery SID (Petition Attached). This legislation is the first of a series of actions required by ORC 1710 to reauthorize the Discovery SID.
City Council is being asked to approve the Petition, and the Articles of Incorporation of the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., an Ohio not-for-profit corporation organized pursuant to ORC Chapter 1710.
Companion legislation is being presented simultaneously that approves the Plan for Improvements and Services of the Discovery SID.
City Council is also being asked to approve the inclusion of City owned property as part of the Discovery Special Improvement District.
Emergency action is required to allow the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. to reauthorize the Special Improvement District in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To approve the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., Petition and Articles of Incorporation and the inclusion of the properties owned by the City of Columbus in said district; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 1710, effective September 29, 1994 provides for the creation of Special Improvement Districts, by non-profit corporations governed by trustees elected by the property owners for the provision of special services in a designated district; and
WHEREAS, the Discovery SID is in the final year of a five year authorized Plan for Improvements and Services; and
WHEREAS, the Discovery SID property owners now wish to reauthorize the Discovery SID for an additional five year period, with slightly different boundaries;
WHEREAS, the property owners located on the east side of downtown have initiated a new petition to reauthorize the Discovery SID and have filed the petition with the Columbus City Council along with the Articles of Incorporation of the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. an Ohio non-profit corporation, created pursuant ORC Section 1710.02; and
WHEREAS, Section 1710.02 (E) further excludes the property owned by the municipal corporation unless the municipal corporation specifically authorizes its property to be included in the district; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk of Columbus City Council finds that the property owners per the signed Petition, if authorized by this Council, represents 60% of the front footage of the property located in the Discovery SID, all as provided by ORC 1710.02; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is requested to allow the process of reauthorizing the Discovery Special Improvement District to move forward in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, it is the determination of the Columbus City Council that the Special Improvement District is a valuable tool for continuing to further economic development and a means of continuing to revitalize the downtown area; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to approve the Petition and the Articles of Incorporation for the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., all for the immediate preservation of the public health, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Petition for the reauthorization of the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. and the Articles of Incorporation of the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., now on file with the Clerk of the Columbus City Council, and incorporated herein as Attachments, are hereby approved.
SECTION 2. That the properties of the City of Columbus abutting upon the streets described in the Petition are hereby authorized to be included in the district.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof this Ordinance is 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.