Explanation
Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into the Northwest Metro Park Development Agreement with the Columbus & Franklin Co. Metropolitan Park District Metro Parks (“Metro Parks”) providing for the acquisition of and the guidelines to develop a natural area Metro Park located within a zone broadly described as within the northwest quadrant of Franklin County and adjacent areas thereto in the vicinity of the Heritage Trail. The City will contribute to Metro Parks funds deposited within the Hayden Run North TIF Fund to be used for land acquisition with a goal of acquiring approximately fifty (50) acres.
Emergency Justification: An emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Development in that it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to proceed as quickly as possible with the execution of the Northwest Metro Park Development Agreement to thereafter pursuant to that agreement immediately provide the funds from the City necessary to allow Metro Parks to close prior to the deadline for the acquisition, or such property may not be acquired for the benefit of City residents.
Fiscal Impact: The City is transferring, appropriating, and authorizing the expenditure of $4,000,000.00 deposited within the Hayden Run North TIF Fund (7426) to Metro Parks for land acquisition pursuant to the Northwest Metro Park Development Agreement.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into the Northwest Metro Park Development Agreement with the Columbus & Franklin Co. Metropolitan Park District Metro Parks for the purpose of funding land acquisition for the development of a Metro Park, whether new or existing, within the northwest quadrant of Franklin County and adjacent areas thereto in the vicinity of the Heritage Trail; to authorize the transfer, appropriation, and expenditure of the funds deposited within the Hayden Run North TIF Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($4,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into the Northwest Metro Park Development Agreement (the “Agreement”) with the Columbus & Franklin Co. Metropolitan Park District Metro Parks (“Metro Parks”) providing for the acquisition of and guidelines to develop a natural area Metro Park, whether new or existing, located within a zone broadly described as within the northwest quadrant of Franklin County and adjacent areas thereto in the vicinity of the Heritage Trail; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the Agreement is to provide $4,000,000.00 of funding for the acquisition of parkland and the guidelines to develop traditional parkland that shall be primarily, but not exclusively, a natural area park designed for passive outdoor recreation, environmental education, open space preservation, and natural area management; and
WHEREAS, this Agreement identifies a goal of acquiring approximately fifty (50) acres as desirable, while acknowledging that certain contingencies (such as land values and availability of appropriate land) might prevent reaching that goal with the funding provided; and
WHEREAS, the terms and conditions of the Agreement will clarify certain responsibilities and conditions of the City and Metro Parks towards establishing or expanding a Metro Park, including cash contributions by the City, and with Metro Parks being responsible to acquire, own, develop, operate, and maintain said Metro Park; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 1555-2017 determined that satisfactory provision had been made for the public improvements benefiting the Hayden Run North TIF properties in order to allow the Hayden Run North TIF funds to be used in support of offsite urban redevelopment for certain “Neighborhood Public Improvements” as identified in Exhibit B of Ordinance No. 1555-2017, which includes acquiring real estate or interests in real estate necessary for public parks or public greenspaces such as this contemplated property acquisition for Metro Parks; and
WHEREAS, this legislation is also transferring, appropriating, and authorizing the expenditure of the funds deposited within the Hayden Run North TIF Fund (7426) to Metro Parks for land acquisition and related closing costs pursuant to the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to proceed as quickly as possible with the execution of the Agreement to thereafter immediately provide from the City to Metro Parks the funds to meet the closing deadline for the acquisition, or such property may not be acquired for the benefit of City residents, 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. That the transfer of $4,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7426 (Hayden Run North TIF Fund), from Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), Project 426001-100000 (Hayden Run North TIF) to Fund 7426 (Hayden Run North TIF Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), Project 426001-100001 (NW Metro Park) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
Section 2. That from the unappropriated monies 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 ended December 31, 2025, the sum of $4,000,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7426 (Hayden Run North TIF Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), Project 426001-100001 (NW Metro Park), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
Section 3. That the Director, or his or her designee, (together, the “Director”) for and in the name of the City, is authorized to execute the Agreement presently on file with the Director, along with any changes or amendments thereto that are not inconsistent with this Ordinance and not substantially adverse to the City, and which shall be approved by the Director and the City Attorney, provided that the approval of such changes and/or amendments thereto, and the character of those changes and amendments, as not being substantially adverse to the City, as evidenced conclusively by the execution and delivery thereof, to provide a cash contribution from the City to Metro Parks for the acquisition, included related costs of closing, of parkland pursuant to the Agreement and thereafter the guidelines for the development of such acquired parkland.
Section 4. That, pursuant to the Agreement, the expenditure of $4,000,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7426 (Hayden Run North TIF Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), Project 426001-100001 (NW Metro Park), in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the account codes in the attachment to this Ordinance
Section 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, authorized for expenditure to carry out the purposes of this ordinance, 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 the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account or subfund to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
Section 8. That for the reasons states in the Preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part of 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 of ten days after the passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.