Explanation
Background: The Department of Development Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment operates the City of Columbus Land Bank program and works closely with the Franklin County Land Bank - Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC). In 2017, the City of Columbus Council approved Ordinance 0252-2017, allowing the City of Columbus Land Bank to lease office space from COCIC for an initial seven (7) year term, which ended January 31, 2024. The lease automatically extends on a year-to-year basis subject to appropriation of funding by City Council and certification of funds by the City Auditor. On February 10, 2025, City Council passed Ordinance 0248-2025 to appropriate funds required to continue leasing the shared space through January 31, 2026. This legislation authorizes the funding for payments associated with the lease of the shared space for the February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027 term.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure in an amount up to $24,769.68 from funds available in the Land Management Fund.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to enable the Division of Land Redevelopment to continue to occupy office space shared with COCIC without interruption and allow for the timely payment of the cost associated with use of the office space and continue to provide enhanced services to the public at the earliest possible date.
Title
To authorize the expenditure in an amount up to $24,769.68 from the Land Management Fund for the lease of office space at 845 Parsons Avenue; to authorize the payment of the lease expenditures prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning February 1, 2026; and to declare an emergency. ($24,769.68)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus Land Bank and Franklin County Land Bank programs work closely together to return blighted, vacant, and tax-delinquent properties to productive use for the benefit of the public; and
WHEREAS, to further promote their collaborative efforts, the City Land Bank Program and the Franklin County Land Bank Program co-locate operations at that real property owned by Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation located at 845 Parsons Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the City’s lease agreement with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC) for the shared use of office space at 845 Parsons Avenue, Columbus Ohio for the Division of Real Estate and Land Redevelopment and Land Bank Program, after the initial term, automatically renews on a year-to-year basis subject to City Council appropriation of funding necessary for payments associated with the lease of the shared space; and
WHEREAS, by Ordinance 0248-2025, passed February 10, 2025, Columbus City Council approved the expenditure of $24,068.64 to continue the agreement for one additional year until February 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus Land Bank wishes to continue its occupancy of the office space shared with COCIC for the term February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure in an amount up to $24,769.68 from the Land Management Fund for payments due under the lease agreement as well as authorize the expenditure of the lease payments prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning February 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development Division of Land Redevelopment in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and authorizes the expenditure of funds necessary for payments due under the lease agreement for the term February 1, 2026 through January 31, 2027 so that the Division may continue to occupy shared office space without interruption, all 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 Development is authorized to approve the funding of payments associated with the lease of the shared space at 845 Parsons Avenue for the period February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure in an amount up to $24,769.68, or so much thereof that may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in SECTION 1, be and is hereby authorized and approved in Fund 2206 in Object Class 03 per the accounting codes in the attached file.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That the reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase orders, starting February 1, 2026, the start of the lease year, is permitted.
SECTION 5. That for 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.