Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $61,529.00 and expenditure up to $61,529.00 of grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the HOME investment Partnerships Program (HOME) grant and authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Feasibility Research Group Ohio, LLC in an amount up to $61,529.00 00 to produce a Housing Market Analysis Services report for the area of corporate Columbus, the Columbus MSA counties of Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Union and additional counties served by the Housing Opportunity for Persons with Aids program, which are Morrow and Pickaway counties.
The City of Columbus (City) is the capital and largest city in the state of Ohio. It is the 14th largest city in the United States with a population of 905,748 as of 2020. It is the core city of the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which encompasses a ten-county region.
The City of Columbus is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation boasting affordable living, job opportunities and strategic economic geographical placement in the Midwest. With growth comes the need for affordable housing. Housing programs will have to be competitive in the rental market in order to provide affordable housing to the citizens of Columbus within the private market. As the City continues to work through the process of updating the zoning code to assist with the development of more affordable housing, it is clear that market rates for rent will be affected. The Housing Market Analysis Report will be used to provide Housing and Urban Development supporting documentation of the city’s request for a community-wide rent standard exception.
The Department of Development advertised RFQ027480 through the Vendor Services portal on June 24, 2024, and accepted proposals for Housing Market Analysis Services through the Bonfire portal on July 22, 2024. Six (6) proposals were submitted in response to RFQ027480 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes. Feasibility Research Group Ohio, LLC was selected by an evaluation committee of staff from the Department of Development. The qualifications were based on federal experience and availability, references, and other factors.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is needed to avoid any delay in analyzing the housing market and developing a report, which will help provide the necessary services for the City’s most vulnerable populations.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $61,529.00 is available within the 2020 HOME grant (G451903).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s contract compliance 022168 expires 11/15/2026.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a service contract with Feasibility Research Group Ohio, LLC in an amount up to $61,529.00 to produce a Housing Market Analysis Services report; to authorize the appropriation of $61,529.00; to authorize the expenditure of $61,529.00; and to declare an emergency. ($61,529.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus (City) is the capital and largest city in the state of Ohio. It is the 14th largest city in the United States with a population of 905,748 as of 2020. It is the core city of the Columbus, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which encompasses a ten-county region; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Ohio, requires a Housing Market Analysis Services report for the area of corporate Columbus, the Columbus MSA counties of Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Union and additional counties served by the Housing Opportunity for Persons with Aids program, which are Morrow and Pickaway counties; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development seeks to enter into a service contract with Feasibility Research Group Ohio, LLC for the purpose of analyzing the housing market within Franklin County and surrounding areas to provide Housing and Urban Development supporting documentation the city’s request for a community-wide rent standard exception; and
WHEREAS, the appropriation in the amount of $61,529.00 and the expenditure in an amount up to $61,529.00 is necessary to provide supportive services to the City’s most vulnerable population; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Feasibility Research Group Ohio, LLC to avoid any delay in analyzing the housing market to help provide the necessary services for the most vulnerable, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; 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 contract with Feasibility Research Group Ohio, LLC in an amount up to $61,529.00 to produce a Housing Market Analysis Services report for the area of corporate Columbus, the Columbus MSA counties of Franklin, Delaware, Licking, Fairfield, Union and additional counties served by the Housing Opportunity for Persons with Aids program, which are Morrow and Pickaway counties.
SECTION 2. The appropriation of $61,529.00 or so much there of as be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 2201 (HOME-Admin), from Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing), G451903 (HOME-Admin), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $61,529.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2201 (HOME-Admin), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing), G451903 (HOME-Admin), object class 03 (Services).
SECTION 4. That from the unappropriated monies and from all 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, 2025,
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 contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 8. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of Section 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 9. 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.