Explanation
In March 2023, City Council announced our Housing Initiatives, a 12-piece policy legislative package that seeks to invest in our city through the sustainable development of new affordable housing units, preserve our current housing stock, and ensure the housing market is inclusive of all people, regardless of socio-economic status. These initiatives represent a team effort at City Council to address the problems within our community. In order to truly effectuate change, proper enforcement measures must be in place to ensure that residents who experience discrimination or mistreatment have an avenue for recourse.
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services to enter into a non-profit service contract with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus for referral services for fair housing enforcement. The services that Legal Aid will provide cannot be performed by current city staff as there are currently no employment classifications that conform to the duties associated with this work.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency Designation: An emergency exists that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Building and Zoning Services to enter into this contract in order to provide a mechanism for fair housing enforcement, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services to enter into a non-profit service contract with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus for referral services for fair housing enforcement; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $10,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($10,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in March 2023, City Council announced its Housing Initiatives, a 12-piece policy legislative package that seeks to invest in our city through the sustainable development of new affordable housing units, preserve our current housing stock, and ensure the housing market is inclusive of all people, regardless of socio-economic status; and
WHEREAS, these initiatives represent a team effort at City Council to address the problems within our community; and
WHEREAS, proper enforcement measures must be in place to ensure that residents who experience discrimination or mistreatment have an avenue for recourse; and
WHEREAS, the Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC) gives free legal help to people with low incomes and limited savings; and
WHEREAS, LASC is a trusted community partner when it comes to helping our most vulnerable residents find solutions to community problems; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services to enter into this contract in order to provide a mechanism for fair housing enforcement, 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:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services is hereby authorized to enter into a non-profit service contract with the Legal Aid Society of Columbus for fair housing enforcement.
SECTION 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $10,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; fund 1000, subfund 100018, in Services-03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized by Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $10,000.00 is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this service contract is entered into under the non-profit service contracting provisions of Section 329.29 of Columbus City Codes.
SECTION 5. 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 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 reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.