Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement, in an amount up to $259,447.12, with the Zora’s House in support of the completion of the community hub.
To further expand the programs and services offered by Zora’s House, an initiative was started to expand to build out a new $5.1 million community hub that will serve as a center for leadership, innovation, and economic empowerment. Zora’s House has successfully completed the 10,000 square foot community hub, however additional funding is needed to complete the entrepreneurial hub within the new facility.
Columbus City Council, per Ordinance Number 0484-2022, on April 4, 2022, authorized the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement, in an amount of $500,000.00, with Zora’s House in support of the community project. The allocation from the City of Columbus was an in-kind match of $250,000 each from the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and The Columbus Foundation.
Emergency Designation: An emergency exists as the payment per the commitment is due and is necessary for the improvement and expansion of the Zora’s House construction schedule.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds in the amount of $259,447.12 are available for this project in the Development Taxable Bonds Fund 7739 within the Department of Development.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number is 043278 and contract compliance expires on 3/4/2027.
Title
To amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer cash and appropriation between projects within the Development Taxable Bonds Fund; to authorize the Director of Development to enter a grant agreement in an amount up to $259,447.12 with Zora’s House in support of the completion of the community hub; to authorize the transfer between projects and the expenditure in an amount up to $259,447.12 within the Development Taxable Bond Fund; to advance funding on a predetermined schedule; to authorize expenditures prior to the approval of the purchase order; and to declare an emergency ($259,447.12)
Body
WHEREAS, to further expand the programs and services offered by Zora’s House, an initiative was started to expand to build out a new $5.1 million community hub that will serve as a center for leadership, innovation, and economic empowerment; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council, per Ordinance Number 0484-2022, on April 4, 2022, authorized the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement, in an amount of $500,000,00 with Zora’s House in support of the community project. The allocation from the City of Columbus was an in-kind match of $259,447.12 each from the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing and The Columbus Foundation; and
WHEREAS, additional funding is needed, however, to complete the entrepreneurial hub within the new facility; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus would like to continue to provide support to the Zora’s House community hub an amount up to $259,447.12 to complete the entrepreneurial hub in the new facility; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget and a transfer of cash within the Development Taxable Bonds Fund for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer between projects and the expenditure within the Development Taxable Bond Fund in an amount up to $259,447.12; 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 Zora’s House for the facility to continue to serve the Columbus area; 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 and directed to enter into a grant agreement, in an amount up to $259,447.12 with the Zora’s House in continued support of the community hub, is authorized to advance payments on a pre-determined schedule, and is authorized to approve the expenditures prior to the approval of the purchase order.
SECTION 2. That the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by Ordinance 1907-2024 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /Amended
7739 / P440104-100024 / Strategic Acquisition Fund (Unvoted Carryover) /$282,755.00 / ($259,447.12) / $23,307.88
7739 / P441780-100000 / Zora’s House Facility Improvements (Unvoted Carryover) /$0.00 / $259,447.12 / $259,447.12
7739/P441780-100000/ Zora’s House Facility Improvements (Councilmanic ITSA Supported)/ $250,000.00/($250,000.00)/$0.00
7739/P440104-100024/ Strategic Acquisition Fund (Councilmanic ITSA Supported)/$2,500,000.00/$250,000.00/$2,750,000.00
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $259,447.12 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within Fund 7739 Development Taxable Bonds per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. The expenditure of $259,447.12, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bonds Fund), in Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), Project P441780-100000 (Zora’s House Facility Improvements), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance 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 no longer required for said project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project account by monies from more than one source.
SECTION 7. 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 8. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is 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.