Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify a Grant Agreement with Huckleberry House Inc in an amount up to $258,207.00 authorized by Ordinance 0325-2024, to update the project scope, no additional funding is necessary.
Huckleberry House Inc is an organization that provides shelter, support, and guidance to young people between the ages of 12 and 24 who are facing difficult situations. Huckleberry House Inc’s four main programs assist by providing a 24/7 Crisis Shelter that offers a temporary safe place for teens ages 12 to 17. This shelter includes hot meals, a warm bed, and access to necessities like clothes and hygiene items, a Transitional Living Program for young people between the ages of 18-24, providing a safe place to live combined with a range of supportive services, a Counseling Center, with a team of therapists who specialize in working with teens, young adults, and families, and the Youth Outreach Program, is designed to prevent homelessness, engages with youth and provides support and resources to increase stability. The requested funds will be used to improve the kitchen and laundry facilities and replace the glass windows with tempered glass.
Huckleberry House Inc offers essential services to young people in crisis. The improvements to the kitchen include replacing the commercial range and installing a commercial dishwasher; the improvements to the laundry facility include replacing and adding new appliances, two commercial washers, and two commercial dryers, which will improve energy efficiency and increase capacity. Replacing the current windows with tempered glass windows will assist in providing a safer environment. These improvements will enhance the experience for teens and young adults who visit Huckleberry House Inc.
The Grantee identified other issues at the facility that require immediate attention and others that would make the facility more useful and flexible for the guests and the staff. The updated project scope includes:
The demolition of the current space will affect an adjacent room. Huckleberry House Inc’s plan is to create flexible counseling/meeting space that will include a sound proof wall that can divide the room in half to make two private meeting spaces; or can be opened for one large space for group counseling or large family meetings.
The first floor, accessible bathroom has a shower that is leaking through its base and into the basement. They wish to repair the shower stall.
To cover the cost of the changes to the scope of the project they are reducing the number of windows that need tempered glass; leaving space in the budget for other window repair, design, permits, inspection and potential projects that qualify under the scope of work with approval from the Department of Development representative.
Emergency action is requested to promptly complete this work to enable this organization to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
FISCAL IMPACT: No additional funding is necessary.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: Huckleberry House Inc’s vendor number is 004307 and expires 3/1/2026.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a Grant Agreement with Huckleberry House Inc to revise the original scope of the project at no additional costs; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0325-2024 established that the city will allow $258,207.00 to be used for center renovation, new appliances, and replacement of windows; and
WHEREAS, the Grantee identified other issues at the facility that require immediate attention and others that would make the facility more useful and flexible for the guests and the staff; and
WHEREAS, the updated project scope includes: the demolition of the current space will affect an adjacent room. Huckleberry House Inc’s plan is to create flexible counseling/meeting space that will include a sound proof wall that can divide the room in half to make two private meeting spaces; or can be opened for one large space for group counseling or large family meetings. The first floor, accessible bathroom has a shower that is leaking through its base and into the basement. They wish to repair the shower stall. To cover the cost of the changes to the scope of the project they are reducing the number of windows that need tempered glass; leaving space in the budget for other window repair, design, permits, inspection and potential projects that qualify under the scope of work with approval from the Department of Development representative; and
WHEREAS, emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to modify a grant agreement with Huckleberry House to promptly complete the work detailed above to enable this organization to serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to modify a Grant Agreement with Huckleberry House Inc to update the project scope, with no change to the total contract amount.
SECTION 2. 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.