Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute an amended grant agreement from the State of Ohio Department of Development for their Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) grant program. This grant is utilized by the Department of Development and the City of Columbus Department of Water and Power. This grant originated from Ordinance 3209-2023 which expires April 30, 2026. The State of Ohio wishes to allow the City to utilize some of the remaining dollars from this original grant and have it terminated on August 31, 2026. The city will be entering into an amended grant agreement which will reduce the overall grant amount to $2,300,000.00 and the Ohio Department of Development is willing to extend the agreement to allow the city to utilize the funding from the original grant.
On December 7, 2023 Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 3209-2023 which authorized the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable Lead-Safe Housing Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Grant, in an amount up to $5,356,000.00, from the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). The grant would be utilized by the Department of Development and the Department of Water and Power. The term of the grant was to end on April 30, 2026, however after further review the Ohio Department of Development has offered to extend the grant with the city through August 31, 2026 to utilize the reduced remaining funding.
The ODOD-RRP grant has allowed the department to continue to create lead-safe housing in high-risk zip codes by conducting lead-safe renovations on windows, doors, and porches in homes built before 1978. These grant funds have been used in conjunction with other Division of Housing program funds to address both interior and exterior lead issues.
These grant funds have also been used to fund training for aspiring contractors to receive their RRP certification thereby increasing the number of small to medium sized RRP contractors and strengthening the local lead hazard control workforce. In partnership with the Department of Power and Water, grant funds have been used to replaced water lines further allowing for safe drinking water and environments for children and families.
All aspects of Ordinance 3209-2023 are still in effect.
Emergency Designation: This legislation is submitted as an emergency to allow for the extension of the grant agreement so that the department may continue to provide funding of lead remediation and further decrease health issues related to continued exposure to lead.
Fiscal Impact: No additional funds are required however the overall grant amount will be reduced to $2,300,000.00.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into and accept an amended grant agreement from the Ohio Department of Development to utilize the reduced funding from the original grant agreement; to extend the term date of the grant from April 30, 2026 to August 31, 2026; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development accepted and executed a Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Grant agreement from the Ohio Department of Development in an amount up to $5,356,000.00; and
WHEREAS, the ODOD-RRP grant, combined with two other grants from HUD, provides $10 million for lead remediation; and
WHEREAS, the term of the grant was through April 30, 2026, however after further review from ODOD they have reduced the grant amount to $2,300,000.00 but has offered to extend the term date of the grant through August 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Director of the Department of Development to enter into and accept an amended grant agreement which will reduce the funding of the grant to be $2,300,000.00 and extend term end date of the grant and continue the program through August 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Departments of Development and Columbus Water and Power in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Development to accept and enter into an amended grant agreement from the Ohio Department of Development to extend term date from April 30, 2026 to August 31, 2026 to continue the lead remediation program, which will help decrease health issues related to continued exposure to lead, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. The Director of the Department of Development to enter into and accept an amended grant agreement from the Ohio Department of Development that will allow for the City to utilize the remaining reduced funds from the original grant and to authorize the extension of the grant term date from April 30, 2026 to August 31, 2026.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance will allow all other aspects of Ordinance 2808-2023 to be in effect so that the department may utilize the reduced remaining funds for the total overall grant amount to be $2,300,000.00.
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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.