Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation in an amount up to $71,700.00 within the Housing/Business Tax Incentives fund for salary and wages, refunds, and for a professional service contract. This ordinance also authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a service contract with Urban Decision Group, LLC in an amount up to $20,000.00 to provide data analysis in accordance with Chapter 4565 of Columbus City Code and requests to waive the competitive procurement requirements of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
Urban Decision Group, LLC will analyze the data from years 2019-2024 to better inform the Residential Tax Incentive program’s Area Designations, as the current data is from years 2014-2019.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested so that personnel can be adequately funded, refunds submitted timely, and for the service contract with Urban Decision Group, LLC to begin as soon as possible with the goal of completing the project prior to the end of 2026 so the department will be able to implement the findings prior to 2027. The data acquired from this contract will be needed as soon as possible to assist in decision making regarding the affordable housing bond package issuances as well for the Residential Tax Incentives.
Bid Waiver Request: Urban Decision Group, LLC partnered with VSI on the original incentive study in 2017 and 2021. They have direct knowledge of the policies, tools, and data sources that are used to administer the program including possession of the original raw data that informed the prior analyses. Due to the time sensitivity to complete this contract and interpret the outcomes before the end of 2026, Urban Decision Group LLC will be able to deliver this data more efficiently and effectively versus hiring a new organization.
Contract Compliance: CC-003142 and expires 08/31/2028
Fiscal Impact: This legislation requires an appropriation in an amount up to $71,700.00 within the unappropriated balance of the Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund (Fund 2229).
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $71,700.00 from the unappropriated balance of the Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund to the Department of Development to provide funds for salary and wages, refunds, and for professional service contract with Urban Decision Group, LLC; to authorize the expenditure in an amount up to $20,000.00 for the service contract with Urban Decision Group, LLC; to waive competitive bidding provision of Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($71,700.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development’s Housing Division requires funding for salaries and wages, refunds, and a professional service contract; and
WHEREAS, there is a time sensitive need to authorize the contract with Urban Decision Group, LLC to provide data analysis regarding the Residential Tax Incentive program and receive the results prior to the end of 2026; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City’s best interest to waive competitive bidding requirements of City Code Chapter 329 as Urban Decision Group, LLC. Has direct knowledge of the policies, tools, and data sources that are used to administer the program including possession of the original raw data that informed the prior analyses. Due to the time sensitivity to complete this contract and interpret the outcomes before the end of 2026, they will be able to deliver this data more efficiently and effectively versus hiring a new organization; and
WHEREAS, this legislation appropriates $71,700.00 from the unallocated balance of the Housing/Business Tax Incentives Fund; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure in an amount up to $20,000.00 is needed to provide the data analysis for the Residential Tax Incentive program; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to provide for this appropriation for salary and wages, refunds, and for the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an contract for the analysis of the Residential Tax Incentive program and to have that data prior to the end of the current fiscal year all to assist in decision making regarding the affordable housing bond package issuances, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. 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, 2027, the sum of $71,700.00 is appropriated in Fund 2229 (Housing Business Tax Incentive), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a professional service contract with Urban Decision Group, LLC., in an amount up to $20,000.00 for the purpose of analyzing data from 2019-2024 regarding the Residential Tax Incentive program and this data will also assist in decision making regarding the affordable housing bond package issuances.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure in an amount up to $20,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in fund 2229, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this Council finds that is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code to enter into this contract and does hereby waive the same.
SECTION 5. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized 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 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 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.