Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Smart Columbus to implement the Ride & Drive Program. Smart Columbus will design an annual Ride & Drive Program to promote EV education and adoption in Central Ohio. The Ride & Drive Program will support the pursuit of the transportation goals included in the Columbus Climate Action Plan. In addition to City of Columbus support, the Ride & Drive Program will also be supported by funding from a Charging & Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.
The Smart Columbus Ride & Drive Program is planned to include up to 30 events per year across Central Ohio. A majority (15+) of the annual events will be located in the Columbus MSA. These events will be planned in partnership with the City of Columbus and other Ride & Drive Program sponsors to ensure events reach target locations and audiences, a service not presently provided by City employees.
Event Details & Audience(s):
- Public Ride & Drive experiences offered at annual community events and with an equity focus (Ex. City of Columbus Earth Day, COSI Big Science Celebration)
- Employer hosted Ride & Drive with local businesses
- Events will range from 4-8 hours
The Smart Columbus Ride & Drive Program will begin in 2025 with events concentrated in two seasons: spring and fall. Based on previous Ride & Drive Roadshow programming results (2017-2019), Smart Columbus anticipates being able to provide an EV test drive experience to at least 50 individuals per event. Several hundred individuals will be reached per event through event promotion and additional e-mobility education offerings. All Smart Columbus’ Ride & Drive Program events will feature a hands-on EV test drive experience alongside several resident education stations. The City of Columbus is invited to present e-mobility education programming at events located in the Columbus MSA.
This contract(s) will include program expenses beginning November 1, 2024.
Smart Columbus LLC, 170 South Civic Center Dr., Columbus, OH 43215; Tax ID 831311046; Vendor Account # 033348
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: The Department of Public Utilities respectfully requests this legislation be considered an emergency in order for Smart Columbus to beginning branding and marketing of events ahead of program implementation in early 2025, and to maintain compliance with the terms and conditions of the Charging & Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes a transfer and appropriation of $424,283.50 from the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside subfund to the Sustainable Columbus Fund and the expenditure of $250,000.00 from the Sustainable Columbus Fund, to Smart Columbus for implementation of the Ride & Drive Program.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Smart Columbus, LLC for implementation of the Ride & Drive Program, to provide E-Mobility education and awareness experiences; to authorize the appropriation and transfer of $424,283.50 from the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside Subfund to the Sustainable Columbus Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $250,000.00 within the Sustainable Columbus Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $250,000.00 from the Sustainable Columbus Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Smart Columbus is a non-profit organization with a mission to anticipate and advance what is new and next at the intersection of technology and community good; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus Ride & Drive program will promote EV education and adoption in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the Ride & Drive program will support the pursuit of the electrification and transportation goals included in the Columbus Climate Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Ride & Drive program is planned to include up to 30 events per year across Central Ohio, with a majority of the annual events located in the Columbus MSA; and
WHEREAS, in addition to City of Columbus support, the Ride & Drive program will also be supported by funding from a Charging & Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration; and
WHEREAS, this contract is awarded pursuant to provisions relating to non-profit services of City Code Chapter 329.30; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate and transfer funds from the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside Subfund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate and expend funds from the Sustainable Columbus Fund; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Smart Columbus for the Ride & Drive program to promote EV education and adoption in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Smart Columbus for implementation of the Smart Columbus Ride & Drive program in order to begin program activities as soon as possible and to maintain compliance with the terms and conditions of the Charging & Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Grant, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Smart Columbus to implement the Ride & Drive Program.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated balance of the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside Subfund No. 1000-100099, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, the sum of $424,283.50 is hereby appropriated to the Department of Finance and Management per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance in order to carry out the purpose of this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $424,283.50, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized from the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside Subfund to the Sustainable Columbus Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the appropriation of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized within the Sustainable Columbus Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized from the Sustainable Columbus Fund 2260 in object class 03 Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of the Department of Public Utilities, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.30 relating to awarding not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 10. 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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.