Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this ordinance is to give the Mayor of the City of Columbus the authority to enter into a consortium agreement with the organizations and government entities listed below for the purpose of submitting a competitive application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2. In addition, this legislation seeks authorization from Columbus City Council for the Mayor, as the Lead Applicant for the Consortium, to apply for and accept grant funds from HUD under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. A Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was published by HUD on May 4. 2009 under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-005) (Recovery Act) for additional activities under Division B, Title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289) (HERA), as amended, for the purpose of assisting in the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes under the Emergency Assistance for Redevelopment of Abandoned and Foreclosed Homes heading, referred to as the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2).
The City of Columbus is the Lead Applicant in a local consortium that is forming to respond to aforementioned NOFA. The NSP 2 Consortium will be an association <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_body> of eight organizations and government entities applying for NSP2 funds, as well as, pooling their resources and services for achieving a common goal: Creating vital, healthy neighborhoods by implementing strategies that build a stronger housing real-estate market in weak-market areas of Columbus and Franklin County. Members of the NSP2 Consortium will include: The City of Columbus, Franklin County, Affordable Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County, Campus Partners, Columbus Housing Partnership, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus, and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Columbus. The Consortium members will provide information to area commissions and civic associations on proposed projects and seek input from those stakeholders.
The grant request will not exceed $65,000,000.
It is requested that this legislation be declared an emergency so that the grant application can be submitted by its July 17, 2009 deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Mayor of the City of Columbus to enter into a consortium agreement for the purpose of submitting a competitive application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2; to authorize the Mayor, as the Lead Applicant of the NSP2 Consortium, to apply for and accept grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, A Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) was published by HUD on May 4. 2009 under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-005) (Recovery Act) for additional activities under Division B, Title III of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289) (HERA), as amended, for the purpose of assisting in the redevelopment of abandoned and foreclosed homes under the Emergency Assistance for Redevelopment of Abandoned and Foreclosed Homes heading, referred to as the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2); and
WHEREAS, the NSP2 program is designed to allow local consortiums to submit applications for funding under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2 (NSP2); and
WHEREAS, the City is the Lead Applicant in a local consortium being formed to apply for funding under NSP2 that includes Franklin County, Affordable Housing Trust of Columbus and Franklin County, Campus Partners, Columbus Housing Partnership, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Community Development Collaborative of Greater Columbus, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Columbus; and
WHEREAS, if funding is obtained, Consortium members will work with area commissions and civic associations on proposed projects and seek input on their development proposals.
WHEREAS, these NSP2 grant funds are being sought to build a stronger housing real-estate market in weak-market areas of Columbus and Franklin County through the acquisition, demolition, rehabilitation and redevelopment of foreclosed, abandoned and vacant properties; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that emergency action is necessary so that the grant application can be submitted by its July 17, 2009 deadline, all 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 Mayor of the City of Columbus, or his designee, is hereby authorized to enter into a consortium agreement for the purpose of applying for grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Neighborhood Stabilization Program 2.
Section 2. That the Mayor of the City of Columbus, or his designee, is hereby authorized to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and to accept these grant funds if awarded to the City of Columbus.
Section 3. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part thereof, 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 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.