Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the City Clerk to enter a grant agreement with Columbus Downtown Development Corporation dba Downtown Columbus, Inc. (DCI) (registered trade name of Columbus Downtown Development Corporation), a non-profit corporation, in support of open streets programming, which is currently scheduled to commence as early as August. Open streets programming is designed to temporarily close streets to vehicular traffic and demonstrate to people how the right-of-way can be reclaimed for activities like bicycling, walking, exercise, arts, and more.
DCI is partnering with the Office of Councilmember Barroso de Padilla to host three events at various scales along High St. downtown. Two smaller events will occur from Long St. to Broad St. along High St., while the other event will be for a longer stretch of High St. to allow for more micro-mobility activations. These events are being coordinated with other partners like COTA to help educate people about how to de-center single occupant vehicles. Other initiatives like LinkUS and Bike Plus may also be featured.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds are available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018. Councilmember Barroso de Padilla has earmarked funds for open streets events this year.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter a grant agreement with Columbus Downtown Development Corporation; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, open streets initiatives are designed to temporarily close streets to vehicular traffic and demonstrate to people how the right-of-way can be reclaimed for activities like bicycling, walking, exercise, arts, and more; and
WHEREAS, Downtown Columbus, Inc. has experience activating spaces like the right-of-way, such as the parklets it has spearheaded near Gay St. and High St. last year, and near the Junto Hotel this year; and
WHEREAS, Downtown Columbus, Inc. has agreed to partner with Columbus City Council to plan and execute three open streets events this year to take place downtown; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Columbus Downtown Development Corporation in support of open streets programming in downtown Columbus.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $100,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018, to Columbus Downtown Development Corporation per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all grant agreements or grant agreement modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.