Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a service contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC in an amount up to $45,000.00 for the purpose of managing the Supportive Services Program (Program) portion of the HOME-ARP program. The contract term shall be from the date the Purchase Order through May 29, 2026.
The City of Columbus (“City”) is a Participating Jurisdiction (“PJ”) with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) and receives annual allocations of HOME Investment Partnerships Program (“HOME”) funds. The Department of Development (“Department”) plans and expends the HOME funds on behalf of the City. City HOME programs include multifamily rental development (“Rental”), homeownership development (“HDP”), downpayment assistance (“ADDI”), and community housing development organization assistance (“CHDO”) set-a-side and operating.
HUD published the HOME Final Rule on January 6, 2025, with an effective date of April 20, 2025. PJs are required to set a compliance date as early as April 20, 2025, but no later than April 20, 2026. The Department has an incremental implementation plan for compliance, with full compliance being completed no later than April 19, 2026.
The Department of Development advertised RFQ031306 through the Vendor Services portal on September 29, 2025, and accepted proposals for HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Final Rule Loan Document and Policy Review and Update services through the Bonfire portal on October 20, 2025. Two (2) proposals were submitted in response to RFQ031306 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes. Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC, was selected by an evaluation committee of Department of Development staff. The qualifications were based on the team's project management experience, availability, approach, and other factors.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is needed to avoid any delay in updating the Department’s HOME policies for all programs for compliance with the HOME Final Rule, which will help provide the necessary services for the City’s most vulnerable populations.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $45,000.00 is available within the General Fund.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s contract compliance 043977 expires 12/9/2026.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a service contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC in an amount up to $45,000.00 for the purpose of updating Department’s HOME policies for all programs for compliance with the HOME Final Rule; to authorize the expenditure of up to $45,000.00 from the department’s 2025 General Fund budget; and to declare an emergency. ($45,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development (“Department”) plans and expends the HOME funds on behalf of the City. City HOME programs include multifamily rental development (“Rental”), homeownership development (“HDP”), downpayment assistance (“ADDI”), and community housing development organization assistance (“CHDO”) set-a-side and operating; and
WHEREAS, HUD published the HOME Final Rule on January 6, 2025, with an effective date of April 20, 2025. PJs are required to set a compliance date as early as April 20, 2025, but no later than April 20, 2026. The Department has an incremental implementation plan for compliance, with full compliance being completed no later than April 19, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development seeks to enter into a service contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC to review and update the Department’s existing HOME Rental/CHDO Set-a-Side, HDP, and ADDI Loan documents, and update the Department’s HOME policies for all programs for compliance with the HOME Final Rule; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a service contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC to avoid any delay in updating the Department’s HOME policies for all programs for compliance with the HOME Final Rule to help provide the necessary services for the most vulnerable, all 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 the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a service contract with Amanda King, dba Spatialist LLC in an amount up to $45,000.00 to review and update the Department’s existing HOME Rental/CHDO Set-a-Side, HDP, and ADDI Loan documents, and update the Department’s HOME policies for all programs for compliance with the HOME Final Rule. The contract term shall be from the date the Purchase Order through May 29, 2026.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $45,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept Div 44-10 (Housing Division), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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.