Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 1999 the Capital South Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the Columbus Department of Trade and Development initiated an effort to work with downtown property owners to create a Special Improvement District (SID) in the core area of downtown. Property owners were surveyed and overwhelmingly were in support of creating a SID. In 2000 the SID was created for a five year term. Due to the success of the SID, it was reauthorized in 2006 and again in 2011. The current five year term concludes this summer of 2016. The property owners wish to authorize for another 5 year term. A one petition process has been initiated in which at least 60% of the property owners within the District signed that they are interested in reauthorizing the SID and they approve of the plan for improvements and services to be provided by the SID. This legislation is one of the first actions required by Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code to reauthorize.
This Council is being asked to approve the Petition, and the Articles of Incorporation of the Capital Crossroads Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., an Ohio not-for-profit corporation organized pursuant to ORC 1710.
The Petition and Articles of Incorporation are on file with the Clerk of the Columbus City Council.
This Council is also being asked to also approve the inclusion of City owned property as part of the Special Improvement District.
Emergency action is required to allow the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. to continue the reauthorization of their Special Improvement District in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To approve the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., Petition and Articles of Incorporation and the inclusion of the properties owned by the City of Columbus in said district; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Chapter 1710 of the Revised Code, effective September 29, 1994 provides for the creation of Special Improvement Districts (SIDS), by non-profit corporations governed by trustees elected by the property owners for the provision of special services in a designated district; and
WHEREAS, the property owners located in the downtown area have initiated a petition to reauthorize the SID and have filed the petition with the Clerk of the Columbus City Council along with the Articles of Incorporation of the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. an Ohio non-profit corporation, created pursuant to Chapter 1710.02 of the Revised Code; and
WHEREAS, Section 1710.02 (E) further excludes the property owned by the municipal corporation unless the municipal corporation specifically authorizes its property to be included in the district; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk of Columbus City Council finds that the property owners per the signed Petition, if authorized by this Council represents 60% of the front footage of the property located in the SID, all as provided by Section 1710.02 of the Revised Code; and
WHEREAS, it is the determination of this Council that the SID is a valuable tool for continuing to further economic development and a means of continuing to revitalize the downtown area; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to approve the Petition and the Articles of Incorporation for the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., all for the immediate preservation of the public health, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Petition for the reauthorization of the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. and the Articles of Incorporation of the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., now on file with the Clerk of the Columbus City Council, are hereby approved.
SECTION 2. That the properties of the City of Columbus abutting upon the streets described in the Petition are hereby authorized to be included in the district.
SECTION 3. That for the 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.