Explanation
The City disperses Hotel/Motel Excise Tax proceeds in accordance with Section 371.02(c) of Columbus City Codes, which in part, allocates for the purpose of fostering arts and cultural services that enrich the community a certain amount of revenue from this source based on percentage of total collections. The City traditionally contracts with The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) to administer a variety of art and cultural programs and grants, pursuant to this objective.
The 2012 allocation provided with this ordinance is $4,306,800, 97% of funds allocated from hotel/motel tax receipts for cultural services for community enrichment. The balance of projected receipts, $133,200 will be reserved by the City for cultural arts programs and services contracted by the City Recreation and Parks Department.
Emergency action is requested to expedite the distribution of grants and support by GCAC into the community.
FISCAL IMPACT: The contract authorized by this legislation is included in the 2012 city budget.
Allocated dollars represent 97% of hotel/motel tax funds set aside for cultural services for the enrichment of the community.
Title
To authorize City Council to contract with The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Inc. for the purpose of fostering and sustaining arts and cultural services that enrich the Columbus community; to authorize the expenditure of $4,440,000.00 $4,306,800 from the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($4,440,000.00) ($4,306,800.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Section 371.02(c) of the Columbus City Codes, specifies a certain amount based on percentage of collections of the revenues of the Hotel-Motel Excise Tax for use to nurture arts and cultural services that enrich the community; and
WHEREAS, City Council believes that this mission is best achieved by using said funds to support a broad array of programs, including but not limited to: fine arts exhibits, concerts, festivals, city park activities, avocational opportunities, and other programs for the visual and performing arts, including those provided by both professional and amateur artists, and public art; and
WHEREAS, The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Inc. has for many years served as the City's primary non-profit agency to disburse cultural arts funding; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City, in that it is immediately necessary to contract with the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Inc. to allocate hotel-motel excise taxes to nurture arts and cultural services that enrich the Columbus community, 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 City Council is hereby authorized to contract with The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Inc., to foster arts and cultural services for the enrichment and benefit of the citizens of Columbus.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure is hereby authorized for an amount up to $4,440,000.00 $4,306,800.00 of the revenues of the Hotel-Motel Excise Tax, in accordance with Chapter 371.02(c) of Columbus City Codes, 1959 from City Council, Department No. 20-01, the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Fund, Fund 231, Sub-Fund 004, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 200214.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 as amended.
SECTION 4. 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.