Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 2006 the City of Columbus and the Columbus Chamber entered into a contract to pursue an economic development strategy to attract and retain young professionals. Next Generation Consulting was hired to study the current trends of young people in Columbus. As part of the contract they also provided an action plan to retain and attract young professionals to the area. To date, the research has been completed, the recommendations have been presented and approved, and implementation needs to continue. In order to continue the implementation of the action plan, the Columbus Chamber will continue employment of a person to be responsible for the Young Professional's component of the attraction and retention initiative.
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Chamber for $40,000 as partial funding to continue employment of a manager of the Young Professional's, a component of the attraction and retention initiative. The Chamber will provide additional funding for fringe benefits and administrative costs associated with the Young Professional's position.
Emergency action is requested to allow the Columbus Chamber to continue the uninterrupted delivery of program services.
FISCAL IMPACT: $40,000 has been allocated from the 2009 General Fund for this initiative.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Chamber to continue support of the Young Professional's initiative; to authorize the expenditure of $40,000 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($40,000)
Body
WHEREAS, Next Generation Consulting (NGC) was hired to pursue an economic development strategy to attract and retain young professionals in the Columbus area; and
WHEREAS, to date, NGC completed the attraction and retention research, the recommendations have been presented and approved, and implementation needs to continue; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Chamber and the City of Columbus desire to continue the implementation of the Young Professional's initiative; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus will provide up to $40,000 for costs associated with retaining a manager for the Young Professional's initiative; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Chamber will provide funds for fringe benefits and administrative costs for a manager of the Young Professional's initiative; and
WHEREAS, the manager of the Young Professional's initiative will continue to be a Columbus Chamber employee and will be housed at the Columbus Chamber; 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 Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Chamber in order to continue the uninterrupted delivery of program services, all for the 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 Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter an agreement with the Columbus Chamber to continue support of the Young Professional's initiative.
Section 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1 the expenditure of $40,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Development Department, Economic Development Division, Division 44-02, General Fund, Fund 010, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336, OCA 440314.
Section 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, as amended.
Section 4. 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.