Explanation
Background: The City of Columbus, Ohio owns that certain real property, located at 9990 Riverside Drive, Powell, Ohio, commonly known as the Columbus Zoo. In addition, the City and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners own as tenants in common, 100% of certain real property and personal property located in the vicinity of the Zoo. The City and Franklin County, collectively, through several lease agreements, dating back from 1989 to the present, have leased property to the Columbus Zoological Park Association. The City of Columbus, the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County Ohio, and the Columbus Zoological Park Association, now desire to amend and restate the prior lease agreements to consolidate them, extend their term, add the most recently acquired parcels and make other necessary certain changes to the leases, all with the intention of allowing the Columbus Zoological Park Association to refinance its bonds and to facilitate the expansion of the Columbus Zoo. The following ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to execute an Amended and Restated Lease Agreement, any ancillary documents by, among, and between the City of Columbus, the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County Ohio, and the Columbus Zoological Park Association for the aforementioned purpose.Fiscal Impact: N/AEmergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow this project, which will benefit the City of Columbus, to proceed without delay.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to execute an Amended and Restated Lease Agreement and any ancillary documents by, among and between the City of Columbus, the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County Ohio, and the Columbus Zoological Park Association to consolidate certain prior lease agreements, extend their terms and add certain newly acquired parcels to the premises of the Columbus Zoo and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Ohio owns certain real property, located at 9990 Riverside Drive, Powell, Ohio, commonly known as the Columbus Zoo; and
WHEREAS, the City and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners own as tenants in common, 100% of certain real property located in the vicinity of the Zoo; and
WHEREAS, the City and Franklin County, collectively, through several lease agreements, dating back from 1989 to the present, have leased the aforementioned owned real property to the Columbus Zoological Park Association; and
WHEREAS, City of Columbus, the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County Ohio, and the Columbus Zoological Park Association now desire to amend and restate the prior lease agreements to consolidate them, extend their term, add the most recently acquired parcels, as well as make other necessary certain changes to the lease, all with the intention of allowing the Columbus Zoo to refinance a portion of its borrowings in order to facilitate the expansion of the Columbus Zoo; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to execute an Amended and Restated Lease Agreement and any ancillary documents, by, among and between the City of Columbus, the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County Ohio, and the Columbus Zoological Park Association necessary to consolidate prior and recent lease agreements, extend their lease term, and to expand the Columbus Zoo premises 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 Recreation and Parks Department be and hereby is authorized to execute an amended and restated lease agreement and any ancillary documents, as approved by the Department of Law, Real Estate Division, by, among and between the City of Columbus ("Lessor"), the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County Ohio ("Lessor"), and the Columbus Zoological Park Association ("Lessee") for the purpose expanding the Zoo premises.
Section 2. That the term of the lease shall be amended to extend through December 31, 2023.
Section 3. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.