Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC, in an amount up to $130,000.00, to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of funds in an amount up to $130,000.00 to assist in the completion and opening of the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center, to waive competitive bidding, and to authorize the expenses prior to the issuance of the purchase order, starting January 1, 2026.
Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 2305-2023 in which Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC provided assistance in identifying potential stakeholders, reviewed project work-to-date, as well as provided support and advice through ongoing meetings with internal and external participants with the initial phase of the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center project.
For Phase Two, Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC will further support this project by:
• Enhanced community stakeholder engagement;
• Updated financial status;
• Research report on site visits to National African American museums and trails;
• Focus on areas of capital campaign development, operations funding, local museum advisory council, museum programming and curation, museum construction, and agreements with partner organizations.
Emergency action is necessary to ensure the funding is available to continue the support of the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center, allowing for the continuous provision of services in completing the preservation of a historical site that honors the neighborhood’s history.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in an amount up to $130,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund
BID WAIVER INFORMATION: The Department of Development is requesting a Bid Waiver on this contract as Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC has years of experience engaging the Poindexter Community and is uniquely positioned to establish the coalition necessary to accomplish the goal.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: CC- CC045081 expires 3/20/2027
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC to assist in the completion and opening of the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $130,000.00 within the Neighborhood Economic Development fund; to allow for reimbursement of expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($130,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Poindexter Village was established in the then-segregated East Side of Columbus as the first public housing in Columbus, and one of the first in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Poindexter Museum will showcase the rich untold story of an African American experience in its neighborhood and beyond in order to nurture understanding, inspire success, inform action and empower future generations to build the strong, vibrant and just community they want to live in; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 2305-2023 in which Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC aided in identifying potential stakeholders, reviewed project work-to-date, as well as provided support and advice through ongoing meetings with internal and external participants with the initial phase of the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center project; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development wishes to enter into a contract with Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC to assist in the completion and opening of the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $130,000.00 within the Neighborhood Economic Development Fund; and
WHEREAS, and to reimburse expenses incurred prior to the purchase order, starting January 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Department of Development to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code because this organization has years of experience engaging the Poindexter Community and is uniquely positioned to establish the coalition necessary to accomplish the goal; 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 of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC for the continuous provision of services in completing the preservation of the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center as the funding for this contract is necessary to facilitate the community engagement, engineering, and design of the museum and any delays could result in an increase in construction costs to the project, 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 Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC. to assist in the completion and opening of the Poindexter Village Museum and Cultural Center, in an amount not to exceed $130,000.00, and to allow for reimbursement of expenditures incurred prior to the purchase order.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $130,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development fund ), Dept-Div 44-01 (Development Administration), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That this Council finds it in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of City Code Chapter 329 to enter into a contract with Priscilla Tyson Consulting, LLC.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.