Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with The Refuge, Inc. in an amount up to $500,000.00 for the purpose of constructing a residential facility within the Hilltop community.
The Refuge, founded in 1999 and based in The Hilltop, is a leading faith-based addiction recovery organization and the provider of The Refuge Residential Addiction Recovery Program. The Refuge provides the City of Columbus with a highly effective, efficient, and turnkey partnership opportunity providing for the ongoing, simultaneous impacting of the Westside across all three of City Council’s Funding Priorities - Stronger Neighborhoods, Good Paying Jobs and Pathways Out of Poverty. The Refuge program does this through a uniquely and holistic approach to Addiction Recovery with unmatched addiction recovery outcomes that are among the best in the nation. We do so with a particular focus in Franklinton and The Hilltop, a neighborhood listed as the area with the highest level of poverty in the Rise Together blueprint.
The proposed project involves the new construction of a 13,700 sq. ft. residential facility in The Hilltop Neighborhood on Columbus’ Westside. The building site is on The Refuge’s existing property, which is wholly-owned by The Refuge.
Grant funding will be advanced to The Refuge, Inc for expenses incurred in the development of the project.
EMERGENCY: Emergency action is requested to ensure funds are available for construction prior to the end of the current year.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available with the Development Taxable Bonds Fund, 7739.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s contract compliance is pending.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with The Refuge, Inc in an amount up to $500,000.00 for the purpose of constructing a residential facility for their Residential Addiction Recovery Program; to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the Development Taxable Bond Fund; to advance funding per a predetermined schedule; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Refuge, founded in 1999 and based in The Hilltop, is a leading faith-based addiction recovery organization and the provider of The Refuge Residential Addiction Recovery Program; and
WHEREAS, The Refuge provides the City of Columbus with a highly effective, efficient, and turnkey partnership opportunity providing for the ongoing, simultaneous impacting of the Westside across all three of City Council’s Funding Priorities - Stronger Neighborhoods, Good Paying Jobs and Pathways Out of Poverty; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement in the amount of $500,000.00 with The Refuge, Inc. for the purpose of constructing a residential facility for their Residential Addiction Recovery Program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure within the Development Taxable Bond Fund in an amount up to $500,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the execution of a purchase order, starting January 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to also authorize advanced payments, to be determined per a pre-determined schedule to the contract; 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 enter into a capital contribution agreement for facility renovations and to submit the payment to the The Refuge, Inc. for the facility to continue to serve the Columbus area and to ensure funds are available for construction prior to the end of the current year; 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 Development be and is hereby authorized to enter into a Grant Agreement in an amount up to $500,000.00, with The Refuge, Inc. for the purpose of constructing a residential facility for their Residential Addiction Recovery Program and to advance funding per a predetermined schedule.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $500,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bonds), Project 200020-100000 (The Refuge - Capital Campaign), Dept. 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
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 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.