Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance & Management to contract with Experience Columbus, to provide support to explore bidding for the Republican National Convention (RNC) and Democratic National Conventions (DNC) for 2020. These political conventions can attract in excess of $100 million in visitor spending at events, but also invaluable exposure and public relations/marketing value to a host city. Hosting such a convention entails a massive community effort, requiring public/private collaboration to raise funds, plan, and execute with the highest levels of security and professionalism. Experience Columbus will act as lead agency, with anticipated partner support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County and the Columbus Partnership in this exploration. These Central Ohio organizations will continue the planning that began in the previous convention bid cycle, and engage other partners in exploring options for 2020 and beyond. The convention bid cycle for 2020 will mostly occur in 2016, and that process itself requires significant partner engagement and funding. In 2016, resources shall be used to advance Columbus' awareness among key decision makers for the DNC and RNC Conventions, to be hosted in Cleveland, OH and Philadelphia, PA. This may include special events in these cities, travel, marketing activities and materials, general outreach activities and other collaborative efforts.
Experience Columbus, Contract Compliance #: 31-4153118 004 (non-profit)
Emergency action is requested so that an immediate payment can be made to Experience Columbus.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this contract is available in the 2016 General Fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance & Management to enter into an agreement with Experience Columbus to provide support for 2016 advocacy for the RNC and DNC National Political Conventions; to authorize the expenditure of $15,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($15,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into an agreement with Experience Columbus to support advocacy for future RNC and DNC National Political Conventions and the potential for the City of Columbus to host such conventions; and
WHEREAS, Experience Columbus is instrumental in promoting the City of Columbus as a favorable location to host future political conventions; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance & Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to execute an agreement to support 2016 advocacy for RNC and DNC National Political Conventions and so such advocacy can begin at the earliest possible time, all for the immediate preservation of 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 Director of the Department of Finance & Management is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with Experience Columbus, to provide support for 2016 advocacy for the RNC and DNC National Political Conventions.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $15,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in SECTION 1, be and is hereby authorized in the General Fund 1000, Subfund 100010 in Object Class 03-Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 0698-2016 Legislation Template.xls
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 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.