Explanation
This ordinance amends 1391-2025 to allow the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Columbus to be reimbursed for expenses prior to the issuance of the purchase order and, further, to allow ULI Columbus to include food in the budget for the purpose of planning and supporting a full-day housing forum.
The distribution of food and beverage associated with the event is common practice associated with conferences and convenings and benefits both conference organizers and those in attendance.
Emergency action is requested in order to immediately undertake the continued support of planning for the anticipated forum in September.
Title
To amend ordinance 1391-2025 to allow for the reimbursement of non-food/beverage expenditures incurred prior to the issuance of the PO and to allow for funds to be used for the distribution of food and beverage; and to declare an emergency. ($15,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, ULI Columbus is planning to host, in partnership with the City of Columbus, a full day conference in September that gathers housing stakeholders and local development partners; and
WHEREAS, the event will focus on exploring efforts to address housing supply, zoning reform, and the best paths to promote sustainable, equitable, and dense transit-oriented development, with case studies from Columbus and peer cities across the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1391-2025 failed to address the need to authorize reimbursement for non-food/beverage expenditures that were incurred prior to the issuance of the PO; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1391-2025 failed to include authorization to expend funds so appropriated on non-alcoholic food and beverages as a proper public purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a contract with ULI Columbus in order to immediately undertake planning activities in advance of an anticipated housing forum in September; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Section 1 of ordinance 1391-2025 is hereby amended as follows:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a not for profit services contract with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Columbus to provide planning support for an upcoming housing forum and to allow for the reimbursement of non-food/beverage expenses on or after April 10, 2025 but prior to the issuance of a PO.
SECTION 2. That ordinance 1391-2025 is hereby amended as follows:
SECTION 8. That part of said expenditure may be used for the purpose of procuring food and non-alcoholic beverages, which City Council hereby finds to be for a proper public purpose, provided however that, in no case may food or alcoholic beverage expenses incurred prior to the effective date of this Ordinance be paid or reimbursed from funds authorized by this Ordinance.
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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.