Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department, working in conjunction with Columbus City Council and the Office of Councilmember Nancy Day-Achauer, to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Epic Youth for the planning, coordination, and execution of a one-day Summit on Youth Programming, scheduled for fall 2026.
The purpose of the summit is to gather youth program providers to network, share expertise, assess community needs, review best practices, workshop successful grant writing practices, and nonprofit board development, while also helping to identify and reduce redundancies in youth programming for overserved neighborhoods.
The total contract amount will be $100,000.00.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions:
Bids were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on May 5, 2026, and received by Columbus City Council on May 26, 2026. Bids were received from the following companies:
Flower Boards and More
ELEVAR Events
Meridian 360
Public Consulting Group
Epic Youth
Distinct Event Planning
Chesapeake Health Education Program Inc
Civic Uplift LLC
After reviewing the proposals that were submitted, it was determined that Epic Youth was the most qualified bidder.
Principal Parties:
Epic Youth
460 East Main Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Eryn Hathaway - ehathaway@epicyouth.org
Contract Compliance Number 042295
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is requested to allow for ample time to plan and coordinate a successful Youth Programming Summit, scheduled to take place in fall 2026.
Area(s) Affected: Citywide (99)
Fiscal Impact: $100,000.00 is budgeted and available from within the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund, Subfund 100018, to meet the financial obligations of this contract.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Epic Youth for the planning, coordination and execution of a one-day Youth Programming Summit scheduled for fall 2026; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Councilmember Day-Achauer’s Columbus Forward initiatives is to catalogue and analyze youth programming opportunities across Columbus to foster more equitable and data-informed programs for young people; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Epic Youth for the planning, coordination and execution of a one-day Youth Programming Summit scheduled for fall 2026; and
WHEREAS, the summit will allow attendees not only to discuss best practices with regard to youth programming, but also to collaboratively ascertain the needs of young people citywide and determine how providers should meet those needs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract to have funding available for necessary expenditures due to the time sensitivity of research, program development and delivery, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be and is hereby authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Epic Youth for the planning, coordination and execution of a one-day Youth Programming Summit scheduled for fall 2026.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $100,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary for the contract to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund, Subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate funds within the General Fund, Fund 1000, Subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.