Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Office of the City Attorney to contract with Columbus Next Generation Corporation (“NextGen”) to administer a program to provide grants to owner-occupants of residential properties in the City of Columbus for exterior home repairs to address code violations (“the Program”).
The Program provides grants to make needed repairs to the exterior of the homes of eligible homeowners in the City of Columbus. Residents who have owned and lived in their home for greater than one year can receive a grant of up to 100% of direct construction cost for exterior home repairs to address code violations.
Columbus Next Generation Corporation, FID: 46-2621229 CC#: CC008637, expires 9/22/2022
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an appropriation and expenditure of $100,000.00 from the General Fund, Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, to allow the City to contract with NextGen to administer a grant program to provide grants to owner-occupants of residential properties in the City of Columbus for exterior home repairs to address code violations.
Emergency action is requested so that a contract can be entered into immediately and the grant program for community outreach activities can begin without delay as the conditions of the properties continue to deteriorate and a failure to act immediately may result in the properties being compromised beyond repair. Any further delay in making needed home repairs could result in harm to occupants and neighboring property owners and the funds are needed immediately to complete the necessary work.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to enter into contract with Columbus Next Generation Corporation to administer a program to provide grants to owner-occupants of residential properties in the City of Columbus for exterior home repairs to address code violations; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $100,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City Attorney has established a program (the “Program”) to provide grants to owner-occupants of residential properties in the City of Columbus for exterior home repairs to address code violations; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney desires for Columbus Next Generation Corporation (“NextGen”) to serve as the administrator of the Program and to deposit funds with NextGen for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, NextGen is an Ohio nonprofit corporation; and
WHEREAS, NextGen desires to serve as the administrator of the Program and accept those funds, to be used to make grants under the Program; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney’s Office lacks the necessary personnel and expertise in housing construction to administer the Program and it is desirable that the funds be administered by an entity who is not responsible for enforcing the housing code; and
WHEREAS, this contract is awarded pursuant to provisions of Columbus City Codes Chapter 329 pertaining to not-for-profit service contracts; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney’s Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to enter into contract with NextGen to administer a grant program to provide grants to owner-occupants of residential properties in the City of Columbus for exterior home repairs to address code violations as the conditions of the properties continue to deteriorate and a failure to act immediately may result in the properties being compromised beyond repair. Any further delay in making needed home repairs could result in harm to occupants and neighboring property owners and the funds are needed immediately to complete the necessary housing repairs during the warmer months 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 Attorney is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Columbus Next Generation Corporation (“NextGen”) during the period beginning on June 1, 2021, and continuing through December 31, 2021, to provide grants to owner-occupants of residential properties in the City of Columbus for exterior home repairs to address code violations.
SECTION 2. That the appropriation and expenditure of up to $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the General Fund 1000, in Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the City Attorney, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 relating to awarding not-for-profit service contracts exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00).
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.