Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a not-for-profit service contract with the Columbus Partnership relative to the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan.
In 2016, the City of Columbus bested six other finalists to be named the winner of the Smart City Challenge, a nationwide competition administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan), which seeks to “create a fully integrated, first-of-its kind city that uses data, technology and creativity to shape how people and goods move in the future.”
Ordinance 1863-2016 authorized the Director of Public Service to sign agreements with USDOT, Vulcan, or others in connection with the award of the Smart City Challenge grant, the expenditure of those grant funds through additional council action, if needed, and the return of unused Smart City Challenge grant funds if any should remain at the end of the grant. This legislation also authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with organizations or individuals to accept contributions of materials, services, equipment, grants, or other type of assistance related to the Smart City Challenge, to administer the contributions according to the terms and conditions of the agreements, and to authorize the return of any contributions if required at the end of the term of the agreement. Ordinance 1901-2017 authorized the transfer of signature authority from the Director of Public Service to the Chief Innovation Officer, or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee, for all past, present and future contracts entered into by the City of Columbus in connection with Smart Columbus, the Smart City Challenge, and Vulcan projects.
Pursuant to the aforesaid legislation, the City executed a grant agreement with Vulcan with the aim of laying a practical path to replacing carbon-based fuel consumption through critical system improvements that increase safety, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance mobility. That grant agreement allows the City to engage other parties to fulfill the terms of that agreement with the approval of Vulcan and City Council.
To that end, the Smart City Program Management Office desires to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with the Columbus Partnership to relative to the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan. Examples of the initiatives the Columbus Partnership will lead include:
• Working with public, private, and academic sectors to place in operation over 1,200 electric vehicles into their fleets by the end of the grant period.
• Increase electric vehicle consumer market adoption in Columbus and the surrounding seven county region.
• Engage in partnerships with local car dealerships and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to secure a satisfactory supply of new and used electric vehicles and improve the sales environment of these models to satisfy the increased consumer demand created during the life of the grant.
• Support the acceleration of electric vehicle adoption through installation of charging infrastructure, with the goal of 990 new charging ports by the end of the grant period.
Per Columbus City Code 329.15, the Smart Columbus Program Management Office has complied with the requirements for awarding a not-for-profit service contract to the Columbus Partnership. A search of the I.R.S. website of not-for-profit organizations revealed the Columbus Partnership is classified as a tax-exempt charitable organization.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $1,508,359 is available for this project expenditure within Fund 7768 Smart City Private Grant Fund. This ordinance is contingent upon the passage of ordinance 1260-2018 which appropriates funds in Fund 7768.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide for the timely execution of the aforementioned not-for-profit service contract with the Columbus Partnership so as to facilitate the provision of requisite services in accordance with the schedule set forth in the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Phase III Grant Agreement.
Title
To authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a not-for-profit service contract with the Columbus Partnership relative to the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan; to authorize the expenditure of $1,508,359.00 from the Smart City Private Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,508,359.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2016, the City of Columbus bested six other finalists to be named the winner of the Smart City Challenge, a nationwide competition administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan), which seeks to “create a fully integrated, first-of-its kind city that uses data, technology and creativity to shape how people and goods move in the future”; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 1863-2016 authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with organizations or individuals to accept grants and contributions of materials, services, equipment, and other types of assistance related to the Smart City Challenge, and to administer those contributions according to the terms and conditions of the agreements; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to that legislation, the City executed a grant agreement with Vulcan with the aim of laying a practical path to replacing carbon-based fuel consumption through critical system improvements that increase safety, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance mobility; and
WHEREAS, the Vulcan grant agreement allows the City to engage other parties to fulfill the terms of the grant agreement with the approval of Vulcan and City Council; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 1901-2017 authorized the transfer of signature authority from the Director of Public Service to the Chief Innovation Officer, or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee, for all past, present and future contracts entered into by the City of Columbus in connection with Smart Columbus, the Smart City Challenge, and Vulcan projects; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 1212-2017 authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into a sub-recipient agreement with the Columbus Partnership relative to the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan; to waive the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $1,580,000.00 from the Smart City Private Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency.
WHEREAS, the Smart City Program Management Office does not currently have qualified staff available to lead initiatives aimed at encouraging electric vehicle adoption by individuals, public entities, and private employers and increasing electric vehicle charging infrastructure locally, and the Columbus Partnership has staff and sub-consultants who are qualified for said projects; and
WHEREAS, the Chief Innovation Officer desires to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with the Columbus Partnership, a non-profit organization, relative to the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan, which prioritizes five key objectives in order to change the long-term trajectory of carbon emissions in the Central Ohio region; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Smart City Challenge Program Management Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Chief Innovation Officer to execute a not-for-profit service contract with the Columbus Partnership so as to facilitate the provision of services necessary to achieve the objectives outlined in the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan, 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 Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Columbus be and is hereby authorized to execute a not-for-profit service contract with the Columbus Partnership, 150 S. Front Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215, relative to the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1,508,359, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized in Fund 7768 (Smart City Grant Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project G591611 (Private Grant Smart City), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance. The expenditure of $1,508,359 accounts for both the reduction of $156,491 for the Phase II agreement and the work for the Phase III agreement anticipated to begin April 1, 2018 in the amount of $1,664,850 processed by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
SECTION 3. 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 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 City Auditor is authorized to reimburse for expenses to the Columbus Partnership for expenses beginning April 1, 2018.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
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 its passage and approval by the Mayor, or 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.