Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a professional service contract with Paul Werth Associates, Inc in an amount up to $65,690.87 to continue strategic communications work, communications outreach, constituent messaging, constituent outreach, media relations, media planning, and paid media services through December 31, 2026. This legislation also authorizes the reimbursement of expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning January 1, 2026.
This legislation also repeals ordinance 2640-2025, which would have modified the original contract PO500962 to extend the contract term date through December 31, 2026. The authorized modification did not take place prior to the expiration of the contract, and therefore Ordinance 2640-2025 needs to be repealed and a new contract must be established to continue the work.
The original agreement PO500962 for strategic communications work was a result of a Request for Proposals (RFP) process in accordance with City procurement standards to solicit proposals. Proposals were submitted in response to RFQ029346 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes. Paul Werth Associates, Inc. received the highest overall score from the RFP committee.
Ordinance 2640-2025 later authorized a modification to extend the contract term through December 31, 2026. However, because the modification was not fully executed before the original contract expired, the Department must enter into a new contract to continue these services through December 31, 2026.
The Department of Development has a need to continue the contract to create a strategic communications partnership with Paul Werth Associates, Inc. through 2026, which will support strategic communications work, communications outreach, constituent messaging, constituent outreach, media relations, media planning, and paid media to ensure the messages shared with Columbus neighbors are clear and understandable to all who call Columbus home.
The work completed through this contract will continue to educate audiences on how the department helps to make Columbus a more equitable community and foster prosperity for the city’s residents, businesses, and investors; highlight the Columbus Housing Strategy and demonstrate how our programming and funding activate the Strategy; demonstrate how economic development tools attract and retain businesses and promote capital investment; illustrate how our work helps businesses of all sizes reach their full potential, which in turn, creates community benefits; and show how our work fosters smart and sustainable growth.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is needed as the previously authorized modification did not get fully executed prior to the expiration date of the original agreement and services are still being rendered. Immediate authorization is necessary to establish the new contract and pay for eligible services.
Contract Compliance: The vendor number is 004255 and expires 12/23/2026.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund
Title
To repeal ordinance 2640-2025; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a professional service contract with Paul Werth Associates, Inc to aid in strategic communications work; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $65,690.87 within the Neighborhood Economic Development fund; to waive the competitive bidding requirements under Columbus City Code; to authorize the reimbursement of expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order; and to declare an emergency. ($65,690.87)
Body
WHEREAS, The Department of Development and Paul Werth Associates, Inc entered into a professional service contract in April 2025 with an award of $100,000.00 to aid in strategic communications work, communications outreach, constituent messaging, constituent outreach, media relations, media planning, and paid media to ensure the messages shared with Columbus neighbors are clear and understandable to all who call Columbus home; and
WHEREAS, proposals were submitted in response to RFQ029346 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, and Paul Werth Associates, Inc. received the highest overall score from the RFP committee; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development was authorized to modify a professional service contract with Paul Werth Associates, Inc to extend the end date to December 31, 2026 via Ordinance 2640-2025; and
WHEREAS, the department did not fully execute the modification authorized by Ordinance 2640-2025 prior to the original contract expiration date, and Ordinance 2640-2025 now needs to be repealed; and
WHEREAS, the department seeks to enter into a new contract to continue the strategic communications work with Paul Werth Associates, Inc.
WHEREAS, the department is requesting that competitive bidding be waived; and
WHEREAS, approval is also needed for the reimbursement of expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a new contract with Paul Werth Associates, Inc. because the original contract expired on December 31, 2025, the previously authorized modification was not fully executed prior to that expiration, and services are still being rendered and must be paid, all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, and safety; and NOW THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a professional service contract with Paul Werth Associates, Inc to aid in strategic communications work in an amount up to $65,690.87 and is authorized to process the reimbursement of expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026.
SECTION 2. That the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $65,690.87 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development fund), Dept-Div 4401 (Development Administration), Object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code to enter into this contract, and does hereby waive the same.
SECTION 4. That Ordinance 2640-2025 is hereby repealed.
SECTION 5. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance 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 agreements or agreement modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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.