Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to modify a professional services contract with Heart & Hunter Inc, dba Hunter Marketing, by extending the contract to December 31, 2026.
The current contract was authorized by Ordinance 3430-2025, which established a contract with Heart & Hunter Inc, dba Hunter Marketing, to provide communications services regarding salary transparency. The contract is set to expire on March 31, 2026. Work was delayed on the side of the City, and there is a resulting desire to extend the time for which the Purchase Order will be open. Additionally, after further conversation, it will be beneficial to retain the services of Hunter Marketing through March of 2027 as the salary transparency requirement goes into effect on January 1, 2027. Hunter will support public awareness of this requirement leading up to and after it goes into effect.
Original contract amount $40,000.00 Ord. 3430-2025
Modification No. 1 amount $ 0.00
Total contract amount $40,000.00
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is requested due to the impending expiration of the current contract on March 31, 2026. Extending the contract will allow work to proceed, keeping the purchase order open for invoicing.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to extend an existing contract with Heart & Hunter Inc, dba Hunter Marketing, for communications services regarding salary transparency to March 31, 2027; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on November 3, 2025, Columbus City Council adopted ordinance 2898-2025, a measure requiring salary transparency in job postings; and
WHEREAS, salary transparency requirements will be enforced beginning on January 1, 2027; and
WHEREAS, Heart & Hunter Inc, dba Hunter Marketing was selected by the City to provide communications services alerting both job seekers and employers to this requirement; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Clerk to extend a contract with Heart & Hunter Inc, dba Hunter Marketing, to March 31, 2027 to allow for communications services work to proceed and continue through the effective date of the salary transparency requirement, as the current contract is set to expire on March 31, 2026; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized extend the contract with Heart & Hunter Inc dba Hunter Marketing, for communications services regarding salary transparency, to March 31, 2027.
SECTION 2. That this modification is made in accordance with the relevant provisions of the City Code Charter 329 relating to contract modifications.
SECTION 3. 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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.