Explanation
BACKGROUND: In order to improve the efficiency with which the City of Columbus manages and disposes of its real estate holdings, the Office of Real Estate Management of the Department of Finance and the Division of Land Redevelopment of the Department of Development will be reorganized into the Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment. The new division will consolidate all real estate duties, except for right of ways, into one division, and allow better coordination of real estate matters, including easements, acquisitions, sale, leasing, and redevelopment. The division will oversee both real estate holdings used for City operations and holdings used to promote both economic and housing development, including the City’s land reutilization program. Additionally, the division will manage the City’s property and casualty insurance, vending machines and other duties as assigned. This reorganization will be effective as of July 6, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for the transfer of staff and programming to the Real Estate and Land Redevelopment Division will be provided by a transfer of appropriations from the Department of Finance and Management Real Estate Management Office’s unencumbered General Fund appropriation in the amount of $472,383.06 and from the unencumbered Employee Benefits fund appropriation in the amount of $680,000.00.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested to create the Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment, enabling the Department of Development to best align the mission of the Department of Development and the Mayor’s priorities around strategic coordination of real estate matters, including easements, acquisitions, sale, leasing, and redevelopment.
Title
To amend various sections of the Columbus City Codes to reflect the updated Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment within the Department of Development; to reduce the Department of Finance and Management’s Real Estate Management Office’s General Fund appropriation by $472,383.06 or so much thereof that remains; to increase the Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment’s General Fund appropriation in an amount equal to the reduction to the Department of Finance and Management’s Real Estate Management Office’s General Fund appropriation; to reduce the Department of Finance and Management’s Real Estate Management Office’s Employee Benefits fund appropriation by $680,000.00; and to increase the Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment’s Employee Benefits fund appropriation in an amount equal to the reduction to the Department of Finance and Management’s Real Estate Management Office’s Employee Benefits fund appropriation. ($1,152,383.06) ; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, in order to improve the efficiency with which the City of Columbus manages and disposes of its real estate holdings, the Office of Real Estate Management of the Department of Finance and the Division of Land Redevelopment of the Department of Development will be reorganized into the Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the new division will consolidate all real estate duties, except for right of ways, into one division, and allow better coordination of real estate matters, including easements, acquisitions, sale, leasing, and redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the new division will oversee real estate holdings used for City operations, holdings used to promote both economic and housing development, including the City’s land reutilization program, manage the City’s property and casualty insurance, manage the City’s vending machines, and other duties as assigned; and
WHEREAS, a reduction of the Department of Finance and Management’s Real Estate Management Office’s unencumbered General Fund appropriation by an amount of $472,383.06 or so much thereof that remains and the unencumbered Employee Benefits fund appropriation in the amount of $680,000.00 will be used to transfer staff and programming to the Real Estate and Land Redevelopment Division; and
WHEREAS, this reorganization will be effective as of July 6, 2025; NOW, THEREFORE,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation in the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to pass this ordinance due to the need to create the division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment, enabling the Department of Development to best align the mission of the Department of Development and the Mayor’s priorities, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health and safety; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SEE ATTACHMENT