Explanation
Background: This legislation amends the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; authorizes the City Auditor to transfer funds within the General Permanent Improvement Fund; authorizes Department of Finance and Management on behalf of the Franklin County Municipal Court Judges (hereinafter "Municipal Court Judges”) and the Franklin County Municipal Court Clerk (hereinafter "Municipal Court Clerk”) to appropriate $234,169.00 from the General Permanent Improvement Fund. The Municipal Court Judges will receive $84,169.00 and the Municipal Court Clerk will receive $150,000.00.
Ordinance 1707-2025 authorized the Municipal Court Clerk to enter into a contract with Mission Critical Partners, LLC provision of a Justice Ecosystem Study for a new Case Management System. This was Phase I of the project. The Municipal Court Judges worked collaboratively with the Municipal Court Clerk and Mission Critical Partners and decided to have a deeper dive in their processes and future needs as well.
This legislation authorizes Phase II of the Municipal Court Clerk’s project. Phase II includes consulting and guidance by Mission Critical Partners, LLC, during the Request for Proposal process to procure a new case management system. Although the contract is held and maintained by the Municipal Court Clerk, the Municipal Court Judges are highly impacted by the decision, which is why they have been an active partner in the process. It saves both time and money to have Mission Critical Partners contract with both the Municipal Court Judges and Municipal Court Clerk to ensure consistent feedback is given to both parties and that the project remains on track to be completed by the time the new municipal court building is built.
The purchase will be from the Ohio State Term Schedule, Contract Number 534504; Expiration Date 6/30/2026. The Municipal Court Clerk has deemed the State Term Schedule to be the most cost-effective method due to its availability for use under ordnance 582-1987 and vetted process used by the State of Ohio to provide contracts. Ohio State Term Schedule, Contract Number 534504 has only one authorized dealer, so multiple quotations could not be sought. Therefore, the Municipal Court Clerk is requesting this City Council to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code for this contract.
Contract Compliance: 26-4026964
Expiration Date: 09/10/2026
DAX Vendor Number: 002532
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to prevent delays in the current project schedule and ensure compliance with legislative mandates.
Fiscal Impact: This legislation authorizes an appropriation, transfer and expenditure of $234,169.00 from the General Permanent Improvement Fund 7748. An amendment to the 2025 Capital budget will be necessary.
Title
To authorize Department of Finance and Management on behalf of the Municipal Court Judges and the Municipal Court Clerk to enter into contract with Mission Critical Partners, LLC for the provision of a Justice Ecosystem Study; to authorize the appropriation of $234,169.00 within the General Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $84,169.00 from the General Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $234,169.00 within the General Permanent Improvement Fund; to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($234,169.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Municipal Court Judges to enter into a one (1) year contract with Mission Critical Partners, LLC for the provision of a Justice Ecosystem Study; and
WHEREAS, the Municipal Court Judges and Municipal Court Clerk have a need to obtain a professional services consulting firm to consider strategies to address the functionality and longevity of its current case management system and recommend a forward path for a system that would meet the needs of our entire justice system; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate, transfer and expend funds within the General Permanent Improvement Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes to enter into this contract; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of the Municipal Court Clerk and the Municipal Court Judges in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Municipal Court Clerk and the Municipal Court Judges to enter into the contract with Mission Critical Partners, LLC for the provision of a Justice Ecosystem Study and consultation services to prevent delays in the current project schedule and ensure compliance with legislative mandates, 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 Municipal Court Judges are hereby authorized to enter into contract with Mission Critical Partners, LLC in the amount of $84,169.00 for the provision of a Justice Ecosystem Study.
SECTION 2. That the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget be amended in Fund 7748 as follows:
Project Number Project Name Current Auth. Change. Revised Auth.
P748999-100000 Unallocated GPIF Carryover $537,953 ($234,169) $303,784
P748030-100000 Judges -Municipal Court Management system $0 $84,169 $84,169
P748031-100000 Muni Ct Clerk - Municipal Court Management system $0 $150,000 $150,000
SECTION 3. 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, 2026, the sum of $234,169.00 is appropriated in Fund 7748 (General Permanent Improvement Fund), Dept-Div 2501 (Municipal Court Judges) and Dept-Div 2601 (Municipal Court Clerk) , Project P748030-100000 (Judges - Municipal Court Management System) and Project P748031-100000 (Muni Ct Clerk - Municipal Court Management system), in object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $234,169.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7748 (General Permanent Improvement Fund) from Dept- Div 4501 (Financial Management) Project 748999-100000 (Unallocated Balance), Object Class 99, to Dept- Div 2501 (Municipal Court Judges) and Dept-Div 2601 (Municipal Court Clerk), Project P748030-100000 (Judges - Municipal Court Management System) and Project P748031-100000 (Muni Ct Clerk - Municipal Court Management system), Object Class 99 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $84,169.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7748 (General Permanent Improvement Fund ), Dept-div 2501 (Municipal Court Judges), Project P748030-100000 (Judges - Municipal Court Management System), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the funding attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance remaining for this project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of proper notification from the Department of Finance and Management that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for this project.
SECTION 9. That Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Codes in order to enter into this contract and does hereby waive the same.
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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.