Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the City Auditor to make payment to Legacy Youth Sports Academy for expenses paid and to declare an emergency. These expenses were paid from November 2025 through December 2025 for the Exposure is Key Initiative. Legacy Youth Sports Academy is the implementing partner for the Exposure is Key Initiative, a targeted program designed to serve undeserved youth from the Columbus community. Through this initiative, approximately 100 youth ages 8-13 participated in a structured, week-long educational travel experience to Naples, Florida (December 6-14, 2025). The program is intentionally designed to provide participants-many of whom have had limited or no prior travel opportunities-with exposure to new environments, cultures, and learning experiences outside of their immediate surroundings. Legacy Youth Sports Academy delivers a comprehensive youth development program that integrates mentorship, social-emotional learning, leadership development, and cultural education. This investment supports a population of young residents who benefit significantly from expanded exposure and structured enrichment opportunities. By connecting youth to experiences beyond Columbus, the program fosters personal growth, civic awareness, and long-term community engagement-outcomes that align with the City’s broader goals of equity, youth development, and neighborhood advancement. The Then and Now certificate is required pursuant to the City Auditor due to the funds being expended prior to the encumbrance of funds via purchase order
The grantee expended funds before a grant agreement had been finalized due to a miscommunication, thereby necessitating this legislation.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $5,000.00 is available from an established General Budget Reservation within the Department of Neighborhoods as noted in the attached “Then and Now Certificate” as approved by the City Auditor.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested to allow for prompt reimbursement of funds spent by grantee in December 2025.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to authorize payment to Legacy Youth Sports Academy per invoice approved by the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods, in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00, an established General Budget Reservation; and to declare an emergency. ($5,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, provided youth from the city with an educational opportunity; and,
WHEREAS, Legacy Youth Sports Academy provided a scope of services that had been approved by the Department of Neighborhoods that includes travel expenses for non-employee program participants; and
WHEREAS, after these goods or services were rendered, the City received an invoice for which a purchase order, with a prior certification of availability of funds by the City Auditor attached, had not been obtained; and
WHEREAS, Section 5705.41(D)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code provides that in certain circumstances a political subdivision may authorize payment on a contract executed without prior certification by the City Auditor; and
WHEREAS, the City Council now has before it a certificate from the City Auditor certifying there was at the time of making the contract and at the time of the execution of such certificate a sufficient sum appropriated for the purpose of such contract and in the treasury or in process of collection to the credit of an appropriate fund free from any encumbrances (a “then and now certificate”); and
WHEREAS, less than thirty days have passed since the City Council’s receipt of the certificate from the City Auditor; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to satisfy the obligations of the contract; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operations of Department of Neighborhoods in that it is immediately necessary to present this ordinance for the City Auditor to issue a warrant in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code Section 5705.41 (D)(1) all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That City Council hereby acknowledges receipt of the “then and now certificate” from the City Auditor and authorizes and directs the City Auditor to authorize payment to Legacy Youth Sports Academy per invoice approved by the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00 to Legacy Youth Sports Academy.
SECTION 2. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are available on an established General Budget Reservation, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes necessary.
SECTION 3. 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 approved by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.