Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with the Neighborhood Design Center (NDC) in an amount up to $318,000.00 to manage all aspects of the Power of One - Corridor and Parcel Intervention Program and to provide design services to businesses in the Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization (NCR) districts as well as businesses throughout the City of Columbus. The ultimate goal of these initiatives is to improve aspects of the built environment and to incentivize economic Development in the city.
Building upon their experience assisting the Department of Development with design services that focuses on improving the small business build environment in the City of Columbus and Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization Areas (NCR), NDC will manage a program that looks to improve the small business built environment citywide. NDC will assess, evaluate, and recommend projects for city funding under the program. For projects that are funded, NDC will be available to provide design services as needed.
The services included in this not-for-profit service contract cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity to provide.
Emergency action is requested to ensure programming provides continuous revitalization efforts to Columbus’ small businesses.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for the Neighborhood Design Center in an amount up to $318,000.00 is available in the Division’s 2025 General Fund Budget, contingent upon the passage Ordinance 3228-2025 for the third quarter financial review transfer.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s contract compliance 006529 is active and expires on 3/24/27.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with the Neighborhood Design Center (NDC) in an amount up to $318,000.00 to manage all aspects of the Power of One - Corridor and Parcel Intervention Program and provide design assistance and general management to the NCR districts; to authorize the expenditure of up to $318,000.00 from the 2025 General Fund Budget; and to declare an emergency. ($318,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, small business growth and development is essential to the growth of the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Neighborhood Design Center, a non-profit organization, provides the design services for the City’s Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization districts and the Power of One program and
WHEREAS, the Neighborhood Design Center has been established to promote the City's commercial revitalization efforts; and
WHEREAS, NDC will manage a program that looks to improve the small business built environment citywide and will assess, evaluate, and recommend projects for city funding under the program; and
WHEREAS, NDC will also provide design services as needed to projects approved under the Power of One-Corridor and Parcel Intervention Pilot Program; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development wishes to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with NDC, to manage all aspects of the Power of One - Corridor and Parcel Intervention Program and to provide design services, in an amount up to $318,000.00; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the expenditure of up to $318,000.00 from the 2025 General Fund Budget; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent on passage of Ordinance 3228-2025, which authorizes a transfer within the General Fund, reflective of the 2025 third quarter financial review; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development to authorize the Director to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with the Neighborhood Design Center in an amount up to $318,000.00 to manage all aspects of the Power of One-Corridor and Parcel Intervention Program to ensure continuous revitalization for Columbus' small businesses, 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 Development is authorized to enter into a not for service contract with the Neighborhood Design Center in an amount up to $318,000.00 to manage all aspects pf the Power of One - Corridor and Parcel Intervention Program.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of up to $318,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development Division), in object class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service 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 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.