Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City of Columbus’ Department of Building and Zoning Services to accept a reimbursement grant from, and enter into grant agreements with, the University of Cincinnati using funds awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Resilient and Efficient Code Implementation (RECI) program in the amount of $60,000.00 for efforts from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025 with an anticipated additional $40,000.00 for work between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026 for a total of $100,000.00.
The DOE awarded grants to four Ohio cities, including Columbus, a total of $2,800,000 for the development and implementation of a cost-optimal, equitable Building Performance Standard (BPS). A BPS is a policy that requires building owners to meet energy usage and/or greenhouse gas emissions-based targets over time. Columbus building owners already track their whole-building energy usage and submit benchmarking reports for compliance with Columbus’ Energy Benchmarking chapter of Columbus City Code (Chapter 4117). Energy data collected from the existing benchmarking ordinance and individual building characteristics such as use type will be used as baseline data in the BPS and for determining building performance targets.
$60,000.00 has been awarded to the Department of Building and Zoning Services for part-time-limited staff and activities related to the creation of a BPS policy/code. In addition, up to $40,000 of the grant will be designated for a third-party facilitator for BPS stakeholder engagement. The third-party facilitator will act as a non-biased liaison and process manager in order to ensure all parties, especially underserved communities, are understood and represented throughout the stakeholder process. The facilitator will be procured through a Request for Proposal process.
In Columbus, buildings account for 55% of community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a major contributing factor to climate change. Columbus has carbon reduction goals as part of the Columbus Climate Action Plan, and the development of a BPS through the RECI grant will help the city meet its goals by focusing on the reduction of GHG emissions from Columbus buildings.
Principal Party:
University of Cincinnati
Grants & Contracts Mgt Div
Lisa Ann Martin
PO Box 210222
Cincinnati, OH 45221
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance will authorize the acceptance and appropriation of $100,000.00 in the General Government Grants Fund 2220, Grant Number to be assigned by the Auditor. This is a 100 percent grant award to reimburse Building and Zoning Services for expenses from the Development Services Fund, resulting in a net zero fiscal impact. There is no revenue generated, nor matching requirement.
Emergency Justification: To maximize the use of the awarded funds prior to the RECI program’s project deadlines to help Columbus meet its Climate Action Plan carbon reduction goals, this legislation is submitted as an emergency.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Building and Zoning Services to accept a grant from, and enter into reimbursement grant agreements with the University of Cincinnati using funds from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Resilient and Efficient Code Implementation (RECI) program for the development of efficient codes, including the creation of statewide Building Performance Standards; to authorize an appropriation in the General Government Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Building and Zoning Services collects building energy data and building characteristics per the Energy Benchmarking chapter of Columbus City Code (Chapter 4117); and
WHEREAS, the Director of Building and Zoning Services applied for and has been awarded a grant by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Resilient and Efficient Code Implementation (RECI) program through The University of Cincinnati to develop efficient codes and participate in the creation of a statewide Building Performance Standards (BPS) in the amount of $60,000.00 for efforts from January 1, 2025 through June 30, 2025 with an anticipated additional $40,000.00 for work between July 1, 2025 and December 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, this grant will enable the department to hire the additional staff and facilitator necessary for work related to the creation of a BPS policy/code; and
WHEREAS, the development of a BPS policy/code will help Columbus meet its Climate Action Plan carbon reduction goals by focusing on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from Columbus buildings; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Building and Zoning Services in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to accept the grant and execute the agreements to maximize the use of the awarded funds prior to the RECI program’s project deadlines and to help Columbus meet its Climate Action Plan carbon reduction goals, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Building and Zoning Services is hereby authorized to accept a grant in the amount of $100,000.00 and enter into reimbursement grant agreements with the University of Cincinnati using funds from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Resilient and Efficient Code Implementation (RECI) program for the development of efficient codes and the creation of statewide Building Performance Standards for the period of January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026.
SECTION 2. That from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose, the sum of $100,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2220 General Government Grants Fund in Object Classes 01 Personal Services per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. 2025 Resilient and Efficient Code Implementation (RECI), Grant No. to be assigned by City Auditor. Appropriation to be effective upon receipt of reimbursement funds.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in Section 2 shall be transferred upon order of the Department of Building and Zoning Services as reimbursement for costs incurred in the service of these grant agreements.
SECTION 4. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. That the funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and interfund transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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.