...Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into an advance pay grant agreement with the South Side Thrive Collaborative in support of the Parsons Avenue Outreach Program and the Livingston Avenue Initiative as part of the Clean and Safe Corridors Initiative.
South Side Thrive Collaborative (SSTC) is a non-profit organization with a mission of bringing people together to create a strong and resilient South Side. SSTC envisions a diverse and vibrant South Side community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. SSTC formed from a simple idea, that the community can accomplish more together than by working alone. The need is significant in Columbus’ South Side. To achieve impact, it requires a collaborative and coordinated effort to identify and address the complex, often overlapping, circumstances that cause hardship for South Side low-income individuals and families.
The 2026 Clean & Safe Corridors Initiative is a cross-departmental investment model that delivers concentrated public safety, beautification, economic development, and community engagement efforts while addressing quality of life concerns along key commercial corridors through direct engagement with residents, small businesses and civic leaders, providing business support, code compliance, and property stabilization, enhanced public safety operations and violence prevention interventions, and intensive refuse removal and beautification.
The purpose of the Parsons Avenue Outreach Program and the Livingston Avenue Initiative is to build relationships with residents, businesses, service providers, and people accessing services along the Parsons Avenue corridor and Livingston Avenue while promoting public safety, cleanliness, general order, and access to coordinated services. In its second year of implementation, the Parsons Outreach Program team will continue to cultivate relationships with the residents and business along Parsons Avenue. During the first year of implementation of the Livingston Avenue Initiative, SSTC will hire a dedicated part-time Project Coordinator to plan and organize day-to-day work plans as well as serve as the primary point of contact. The area of focus will be Livingston Avenue from Parsons Avenue to Alum Creek Drive. The Director of the Department of Neighborhoods deems the purchase and distribution of food and non-alcoholic beverages during outreach on these corridors as necessary to serve a public purpose in that it will assist in engagement with the vulnerable residents that SSTC is seeking to assist. Food and non-alcoholic beverage costs will not exceed $15 per person and any purchase of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Since the organization lacks the funding necessary to operate the program on a reimbursement basis, funds will be advanced to the South Side Thrive Collaborative in order to initiate services.
Fiscal Impact: The funding of $267,000.00 for this agreement will be transferred from the General Fund Citywide Account to the Department of Neighborhoods General Fund Budget.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested to prevent disruption of both the Parsons Avenue Outreach Program and the Livingston Avenue Initiative due to delays of the disbursements of funds.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with the South Side Thrive Collaborative in support of the Parsons Avenue Outreach Program and the Livingston Avenue Initiative; to authorize the expenditure of funds on reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses; to authorize a transfer of $267,000.00 within the general fund Finance Department Citywide Account and the Department of Neighborhoods; and to authorize the expenditure of $267,000.00 from General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($267,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, South Side Thrive Collaborative (SSTC) is a non-profit organization with a mission of bringing people together to create a strong and resilient Columbus’ South Side; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Parsons Avenue Outreach Program is to build relationships with residents, businesses, service providers, and people accessing services along the Parsons Ave corridor while promoting public safety, cleanliness, general order, and access to coordinated services; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Livingston Avenue Initiative is to build relationships with residents, businesses, service providers, and people accessing services along Livingston Avenue while promoting public safety, cleanliness, general order, and access to coordinated services; and
WHEREAS, grants will consist of advance payments; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Neighborhoods in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with South Side Thrive Collaborative (SSTC) to prevent disruption in the provision of services of the Parsons Avenue Outreach Program and the Livingston Avenue Initiative all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Neighborhoods is hereby authorized to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with the South Side Thrive Collaborative in support of the Parson Avenue Outreach Program and the Livingston Avenue Initiative.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $267,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund) from Dept-Div 45-01 (Financial Management), Object Class 10 (Transfer Out Operating) to Dept-Div 48-01 (Neighborhoods), Object Class 05 (Other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $267,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund) from Dept-Div 45-01 (Financial Management), Object Class 10 (Transfer Out Operating) to Dept-Div 48-01 (Neighborhoods), Object Class 05 (Other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That funds shall be paid in advance to the South Side Thrive Collaborative in order for the organization to have the capital necessary to hire and deploy the anticipated staff needs.
SECTION 5. That the use of said expenditures may be put toward reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses, not to exceed $15.00 per person, and that the Council hereby finds such food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses to be for a proper public purpose. No part of the expenditures shall be used toward alcohol expenses.
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 the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 8. 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.