Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a grant agreement with Franklin County Historical Society (COSI) to support the continued operation and programmatic delivery of their educational initiatives that engage and support Columbus residents, particularly youth and families, in high-quality STEAM education across multiple platforms-onsite, offsite, and online.
COSI engages in numerous programs that serve Columbus youth and families. These programs include the COSI Science Festival and Big Science Celebration, Learning Lunchboxes, the Museums for All program, the Color of Science, The Platform, COSI Connects2You and ConnectsEDU, and Science Meets Society.
Therefore, the Office of Education requests the authority to enter into a grant agreement with COSI so that they are able to provide these important educational services to Columbus children and families. This agreement will be entered into in compliance with relevant procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Section 329.30. No city employee has either the capacity or experience to engage in this work.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $150,000.00 from the 2025 Mayor’s Office of Education General Fund budget. These funds are budgeted and available in the general fund.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION:
Emergency designation is requested because the programs and activities outlined in this proposal are critical for youth engagement in workforce and STEAM education. COSI has engaged community partners to execute these programs and the funds will enable COSI to deliver to the community without interruption and to expand on its impact.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Education to enter into a grant agreement with Franklin County Historical Society (COSI) to support the continued operation and programmatic delivery of their educational initiatives that engage and support Columbus residents; to authorize the transfer of $150,000.00 within the Department of Finance General Fund to the Office of Education; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Office of Education General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to support the continued operation and programmatic delivery of COSI’s educational initiatives that engage and support Columbus residents; and
WHEREAS, COSI engages in numerous programs that serve Columbus youth and families including, the COSI Science Festival and Big Science Celebration, Learning Lunchboxes, the Museums for All program, the Color of Science, The Platform, COSI Connects2You and ConnectsEDU, and Science Meets Society; and
WHEREAS, COSI, named the best science museum in the nation by USA Today for the past five years is best positioned to complete this work; and
WHEREAS, this grant agreement is being awarded to the Franklin County Historical Society pursuant to Section 329.30 of Columbus City Codes, for which the city does not supply such services; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Education in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into such agreements and expend such funds so that the programming may continue uninterrupted, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Education is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Franklin County Historical Society (COSI) to support the continued operation and programmatic delivery of their educational initiatives that engage and support Columbus residents, particularly youth and families, in high-quality STEAM education across multiple platforms-onsite, offsite, and online.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $150,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized within the General Fund 1000 from Dept-Div 45-01, Object Class 10 to Dept-Div 40-06, Object Class 05 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $150,000.00, is hereby authorized within the general fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this agreement is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Codes relating to the process for awarding not-for-profit contracts.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is herby 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.