Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the transfer and expenditure of $30,000 from the General Fund to provide funds to enter into an agreement with the International Economic Development Council for an assessment of the Economic Development Division. The assessment will look at the division's operations, organizational and programmatic capacity, and staff resources with a focus on marketing, business attraction, retention and expansion.
IEDC is the recognized professional association of economic development professionals, comprised of the leadership of development organizations at the local, state, federal levels, as well as non-profit, chamber of commerce, site location, utility and development organizations.
To address these challenges, IEDC was requested to assess the department's structure, staff, and programs and determine the need for new tools, staff training, structural and programmatic change. IEDC will make recommendations of specific strategies and actions, backed with case-oriented research, to help prepare, train, and properly equip the department so that they can effectively carry out their economic development objectives.
IEDC will assemble a team of representatives from around the country to evaluate Columbus' economic development system, benchmark the city with other successful communities, and make recommendations for enhancing our efforts. The work will include a preliminary review, a site visit by experts from around the country, and a final report with recommendations. The effort is expected to be completed with four months of contract signing.
Emergency action is requested so that the agreement with the International Economic Development Council can be executed immediately.
Fiscal Impact: Funds will be transferred within the General Fund, Economic Development Division for the contract with the International Economic Development Council. This transfer was included in the quarterly financial review.
Title
To authorize the transfer of $30,000 within the General Fund, Department of Development; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the International Economic Development Council for an assessment of the Economic Development Division; to authorize the expenditure of $30,000 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($30,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a nationally recognized economic development organization which will provide an assessment of the operations of the Economic Development Division; and
WHEREAS, the assessment of the Economic Development Division's operations will focus on improving services to the economic development sector that the Development Department serves; and
WHEREAS, the assessment will concentrate on the Economic Development Division's organizational and programmatic capacity, staff resources, marketing, business attraction and business retention and expansion; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the transfer and expenditure of $30,000 for a contract with the International Economic Development Council, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, Therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $30,000 within the Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, General Fund, Fund 010 as follows:
FROM:
Object Level 0ne Object Level Three OCA Code Amount
01 1101 440314 $30,000
TO:
Object Level 0ne Object Level Three OCA Code Amount
03 3336 440314 $30,000
Section 2. That the Development Director is hereby authorized to enter into contract with the International Economic Development Council for an assessment of the Economic Development Division.
Section 3. That the expenditure of $30,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, from the Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division 44-02, General Fund, Fund 010, OCA Code 440314, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336 for the aforesaid purpose is hereby authorized.
Section 4. That this contract is awarded in accordance with Chapter 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
Section 5. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.