Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Auditor to establish a certificate in the amount of $500,000.00 to fund a review and update of the City’s disparity study in accordance with City Code 3907.98, managed by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
The funds will support the procurement of professional services, including expert consulting, data analysis, and stakeholder engagement, all essential for an accurate and up-to-date evaluation of marketplace conditions and city procurement practices, ensuring any disparities are identified and addressed.
In alignment with this effort, the ordinance also permits the allocation of resources to support the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s continuous efforts in creating equitable economic opportunities through data-driven strategies.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion has posted a request for information from vendors regarding potential options, approaches, and methodologies for updating the City of Columbus’ previous disparity study. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will use the request for information to inform whether to solicit a request for a statement of qualifications or a request for proposals for this project with the funds on the certificate authorized by this ordinance.
After the statement of qualifications or proposals has been accepted, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will submit ordinances seeking Council authorization to enter into contracts. This ordinance also authorizes the expenditure of $500,000.00 for the purposes described above.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is being requested so that a certificate can be established prior to the City Auditor’s 2024 year-end deadline.
Fiscal Impact: $500,000.00 was expressly budgeted, and is available in the 2024 general operating fund to undertake the project outlined above.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to set up a certificate in the amount of $500,000.00 to fund a review and update of the City’s disparity study; to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the Operating fund for the purpose described above, and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion issued a request for information to gather input from vendors, with the goal of informing the next steps in the process of conducting the disparity study,
WHEREAS, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, plans to solicit proposals or a statement of qualifications for professional services, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the City Code Chapter 329 for needs assessments to fund a review and update of the City’s disparity study and,
WHEREAS, funds totaling $500,000.00 were budgeted in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion’s 2024 operating budget for the purposes noted above; and
WHEREAS, to ensure the availability of monies budgeted in the 2024 Operating Fund for the above-noted purposes in 2025, it is necessary to authorize the City Auditor to establish a certificate in the amount of $500,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the operating fund for the purposes described in this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will submit ordinances seeking Council authorization to enter into contracts with the selected consultants; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Auditor to establish a certificate in the amount of $500,000.00 to ensure the availability of funds in the upcoming months to fund a review and update of the City’s disparity study, for the preservation of 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 Auditor is hereby authorized to establish a certificate in the amount of $500,000.00 to ensure the availability of funds to contract with qualified vendor(s) to fund a review and update of the City’s disparity study. The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will submit future ordinances seeking Council authorization to enter into contracts with selected consultants.
SECTION 2. To authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the operating fund for the purpose stated in Section 1. (See attachment FUNDING STRING)
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 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 5. 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.