Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 2003 the Discovery District Development Corporation asked Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation to initiate an effort to work with Discovery District property owners to create a Special Improvement District pursuant to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Chapter 1710 on the east side of downtown. Property owners were surveyed and overwhelmingly were in support of the proposal and created the Discovery Special Improvement District (Discovery SID). The Discovery SID has operated successfully since its inception and the property owners now wish to reauthorize for an additional five year period, with slightly different boundaries.
Companion legislation is being presented simultaneously that approves the Petition, and the Articles of Incorporation of the Discovery SID and the inclusion of properties owned by the City of Columbus in the district.
This legislation is for the approval of the Plan for Improvement and Services (Attached) to be provided by the Discovery SID pursuant to ORC Chapter1710. This legislation is also for the approval of the properties of the municipal corporation in said plan for improvements and services.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To approve the Plan for Improvements and Services to be provided by the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc.; and to approve the properties of the municipal corporation in said plan for improvements and services.
Body
WHEREAS, the property owners located in the eastside of downtown have initiated a petition to reauthorize the Discovery SID and have filed the petitions with the Columbus City Council along with the Articles of Incorporation for the Discovery Special Improvement District, Inc. a non-profit corporation to be responsible for the operation of the SID; and
WHEREAS, a companion piece of legislation being presented to Columbus City Council simultaneously will request the approval of the Discovery SID's Petition and Articles of Incorporation and the inclusion of the properties owned by the City of Columbus in said district; and
WHEREAS, this legislation is requesting the approval of the Plan for Improvements and Services to be provided by the Discovery SID pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1710; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk of Columbus City Council finds the property owners per the signed petition and the City per this resolution represents at least sixty percent (60%) of the front footage of the property located in the Discovery SID per Chapter 1710; and
WHEREAS, it is the determination of the City Council that the Special Improvement District is a valuable tool for economic development and a means of continuing to improve the downtown area; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Plan of Improvements and Services, including the estimate of cost of the improvements and services to be provided by the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., now on file with the Clerk of Columbus City Council, and all of which are incorporated herein as (Attachment A), are hereby approved.
SECTION 2. That the Mayor or his designee is hereby authorized to designate in writing that the properties of the municipal corporation abutting upon the streets described in the petition are included in the Plan of Improvements and Services as required by the Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1710.
SECTION 3. That the Clerk of Columbus City Council is hereby directed to post a copy of this Ordinance in the Office of the Clerk of Columbus City Council as provided by the Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1710.
SECTION 4. That this resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.