Explanation
Background: With the demise of the former South Side Settlement House, the City has been working with the Southern Gateway Revitalization Collaborative as part of a comprehensive approach to revitalize the neighborhood by the provision targeted programs to deliver vital social services, childcare, education, and related services to support the community and enhance the quality of life for South Side residents in a functional facility. The former Reeb Avenue Elementary School ("Building") has been identified as the facility location for the delivery of these key neighborhood services. The building will be renovated and possibly expanded, to house various non-profit entities providing programs and services identified as paramount for the revitalization of the community. Currently, St. Stephen's Community House (SSCH) provides its Family to Family program from space in the Building leased from Columbus City Schools that expires on December 31, 2012. SSCH wishes to continue to provide its Family to Family services from its current space in the Building during this transition period that will determine the final programming of services and renovation plan for the Building.
Fiscal Impact: The non-profits providing services identified as essential to the revitalization of this neighborhood will pay rent for office space based on the cost of building maintenance, management, and capital reserve requirement necessary to maintain the facility and ensure its long-term viability.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow for the immediate execution of a license agreement with St. Stephen's Community House to allow the Family to Family program to continue without interruption.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into license agreements with various third party non-profit entities as may be necessary for the rental of office space in the former Reeb Avenue Elementary School for delivery of essential social services, childcare, education, and related programs and services to support the community and enhance the quality of life for South Side residents; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City has assumed ownership of the former Reeb Avenue Elementary School (Building), that currently houses the St. Stephen's Community House (SSCH) Family to Family program and upon renovation will house the various third party non-profit entities and likely city offices such as Neighborhood Pride that provide a variety of social service, childcare, education, and related programs and services identified as essential for the revitalization of the community; and
WHEREAS, the current occupancy of the Building by St. Stephen's Community House (SSCH) Family to Family program terminates on December 31, 2012; and
WHEREAS, the City and St. Stephen's Community House desire to continue to St. Stephen's Community House (SSCH) Family to Family program from the Building; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into license agreements with St. Stephen's Community House and other third party non-profit entities to define terms and conditions for rental of office space to provide programs and services identified as essential for the revitalization of the community; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus, in that it is immediately necessary to grant authority to the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into and execute license agreements for rental of office space in the former Reeb Avenue Elementary School for delivery of essential human service, childcare, education, and related programs and services for the preservation of the public peace, property, health and safety; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management, be and hereby is authorized to enter into license agreements, as approved by the Real Estate Division, Department of Law, with St. Stephen's Community House, and other similar non-profit agencies, for office space for use and occupancy of space in the former Reeb Avenue Elementary School for the delivery of vital human services, childcare, education, and related programs to the South Side Community.
SECTION 2. That for the reasons state in the preamble hereto, 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 ten days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.