Explanation
BACKGROUND: Ordinance 0227-2019 authorized the Director of Development to enter into an agreement with the Central Ohio Community Land Trust and spend up to $3.8m to develop affordable housing. This legislation authorizes the modification of the agreement to add an additional $200,000. One of the co-developers requested an allocation of Homeownership Development Program funds, this modification will allow all funds to be granted under one agreement.
Original Contract Amount $3,800,000.00 PO162037
Modification 1 $200,000.00
Total Contract Amount $4,000,000.00
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds are available in the Development Taxable Bonds Fund ($200,000).
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested in order to modify an agreement for spring construction.
Title
To amend the 2019 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify an existing agreement with the Central Ohio Community Land Trust by increasing the maximum expenditures by $200,000.00; to appropriate and transfer funds within the Development Taxable Bond Fund; to authorize an expenditure of $200,000.00 from the 2019 Development Taxable Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency ($200,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, since the establishment of Franklin County’s Land Reutilization Corporation, the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC), and the City’s Land Reutilization Program (Land Banks) have worked in close partnership to identify and target vacant and abandon properties to remove blight from Columbus neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the partnership has resulted in the reduction of vacant and abandoned properties in the City and the accumulation of hundreds of vacant lots located in neighborhoods ready for investment; and
WHEREAS, COCIC has created a not-for-profit subsidiary, the Central Ohio Community Land Trust (COCLT), to serve as a community land trust on the behalf of the City of Columbus and Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, on February 25, 2019, Council passed Ordinance 0227-2019 to authorize the Director of Development to enter into an agreement and expend $3.8 million to help start COCLT projects in Columbus neighborhoods on parcels owned by the Land Banks; and
WHEREAS, the Central Ohio Community Land Trust was created and has started to construct and sell houses; and
WHEREAS, authorization is now requested to modify the existing agreement to add an additional $200,000 for three houses; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2019 Capital Improvement Budget to establish authority within the correct project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to modify the contract with COCLT so that they can start three projects in spring 2020, all for the 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 2019 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1326-2019 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7739 / P782004-100003/Code Enforcement Demolition/ $350,427/($196,524)/ $153,903
7739/ P782004-100000/ Vacant Housing Demolition / $3,476 / $196,524 / $200,000
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to modify an agreement with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation or its subsidiary, the Central Ohio Community Land Trust, to establish a community land trust and develop affordable housing.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the sum of $88,416.26 is hereby authorized within fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bond Fund), Dept-Div 4403 (Code Enforcement), Project P782004-100003 (Code Enforcement Demolition Services), object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $112,981.26, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bond Fund), Dept-Div 4403 (Code Enforcement), Project P782004-100003 (Code Enforcement Demolition Services), object class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bond Fund), Dept-Div 4411 (Land Redevelopment), Project P782004-100000 (Vacant Housing Demolition), object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the transfer of $83,542.74, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bond Fund), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing), Project P782004-100003 (Code Enforcement Demolition Services), object class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bond Fund), Dept-Div 4411 (Land Redevelopment), Project P782004-100000 (Vacant Housing Demolition), object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $200,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7739 (Development Taxable Bond Fund), Dept-Div 4411 (Land Redevelopment), Project P782004-100000 (Vacant Housing Demolition) in object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for any contract or contract modification associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 9. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 10. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.