Explanation
BACKGROUND: Earlier this year, the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC) received an award of $5.8 million dollars to demolish 1-4 family structures in Franklin County under Ohio Housing Finance Agency's Neighborhood Initiative Program (NIP). The NIP will allow COCIC to acquire, demolish, and maintain properties from the City's Land Reutilization Program. Authorization is requested to allow the Director of the Department of Development to amend the Master Memorandum of Understanding with the COCIC; to transfer eligible properties to the COCIC; to receive payments from the COCIC for acquisition, maintenance, and other eligible costs; and to establish and execute Mortgage, Promissory Notes, Deeds, Mortgage Releases, and other documents necessary to meet the requirements of the Neighborhood Improvement Program.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested to transfer eligible properties as soon as possible in order to facilitate the demolition of same.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development, or his designee, to execute any and all documents necessary to convey title to properties held in the City's Land Reutilization Program to the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation; to amend the Master Memorandum of Understanding; to accept payments under the program; to establish and execute Mortgage, Promissory Notes, Deeds, and other documents necessary to meet the requirements of the State's Neighborhood Initiative Program; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, as authorized by City Council Ordinance 0277-2013, the Director of the Department of Development entered into a Master Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC) to create a framework under which the City's Land Reutilization Program and the COCIC will operate; and
WHEREAS, COCIC made application to the Ohio Housing Finance Agency to receive funds to demolish 1-4 unit residential structure under the Neighborhood Initiative Program and such application was made with the help and encouragement of the Department of Development; and
WHEREAS, COCIC received a grant for $5.8 million under the Neighborhood Initiative Program; and
WHEREAS, the funds may be used to demolish structures within the City of Columbus in areas identified in the application, provided the demolition is performed with a mortgage modification as required under the program; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development wishes to transfer properties acquired under the Land Reutilization Program and issue mortgages, promissory notes and similar documents to meet program rules; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Development, or his designee, to execute any and all necessary documents for the conveyance of title in order to transfer properties; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Development anticipates the receipt of funds under the grant program to reimburse the Land Reutilization Program for maintenance, acquisition, and other eligible costs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to transfer eligible properties as soon as possible in order to facilitate the demolition of the properties, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. The Director of the Department of Development, or his designee, is hereby authorized to execute any and all documents necessary to convey title to properties held in the City's Land Reutilization Program to the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation under the State's Neighborhood Initiative Program.
SECTION 2. The Director of the Department of Development is authorized to amend the Master Memorandum of Agreement between the City and the Central Ohio Improvement Corporation to implement the State's Neighborhood Initiative Program.
SECTION 3. The Director of the Department of Development, or his designee, is authorized to issue, modify or cancel mortgages, promissory notes, and similar agreements to meet rules established under the State's Neighborhood Initiative Program; and to receive payments for acquisition and reimbursement for other costs as allowed under the program.
SECTION 4. 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.