Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the expenditure of up to $32,928 for a LEED grant award pursuant to the Green Columbus Fund, a grant program established by Ordinance 1462-2010 and amended and replaced by Ordinance 1931-2012.
The Green Columbus Fund represents the City's commitment to foster sustainable building through LEED certification and to foster sustainable Brownfield assessment and redevelopment. The program will produce economic, environmental and social benefits for Columbus and its residents.
This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Ohio History Connection for the project to sustainably renovate and operate their main building at 800 E. 17th Ave., Columbus, known as the Ohio History Center. The project is subject to attaining certification pursuant to LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, and to meeting the other terms and conditions of the agreement. The ordinance also authorizes the expenditure of up to $32,928 for this purpose.
The applicant at an earlier stage of its work on this building submitted an application to the Green Columbus Fund program and was awarded a LEED grant via ordinance 1696-2011. It was not able to secure sufficient resources to complete the project at that time but has now secured such resources and has submitted a new application. Ordinance 1696-2011 is hereby repealed and replaced by this ordinance.
Emergency action is necessary so vital program services that foster sustainable economic development can begin immediately.
FISCAL IMPACT: Cash is available in the 2016 Capital Improvements Budget, Fund 7735, Green Columbus Initiatives Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Ohio History Connection in order to foster sustainable building renovation and operation through LEED Gold certification of the Ohio History Center, 800 E. 17th Avenue, pursuant to the Green Columbus Fund Program; to authorize the expenditure of up to $32,928.00 from the Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund; to repeal Ordinance Number 1696-2011; and to declare an emergency. ($32,928.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development administers from city bond funds the Green Columbus Fund, established by Ordinance 1462-2010 and later amended and replaced by Ordinance 1931-2012; and
WHEREAS, the Green Columbus Fund represents the City's commitment to foster sustainable building through LEED certification and to foster sustainable Brownfield assessment and redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the program will produce economic, environmental and social benefits for Columbus and its residents; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has applied under the LEED certification component of this program, the purpose of which is to encourage sustainable buildings, and the application has been approved by the Department of Development; and
WHEREAS, the applicant at an earlier stage of its work on this building submitted an application to the Green Columbus Fund program and was awarded a LEED grant via ordinance 1696-2011, however, it was not able to secure sufficient resources to complete the project at that time but has now secured such resources and has submitted a new application therefore, Ordinance Number 1696-2011 is being repealed; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Ohio History Connection for the sustainable renovation, operation and maintenance of the Ohio History Center at 800 E. 17th Avenue, subject to the project attaining LEED certification and meeting the other terms and conditions of the agreement; and
WHEREAS, Ohio History Connection is seeking Gold level certification pursuant to LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance; and
WHEREAS, funding is available for the Green Columbus Fund in Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund 7735; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement in order to foster sustainable economic development on this project and preserve, enhance, and protect public health, peace, property and safety; 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 hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Ohio History Connection for sustainable operation and maintenance of the Ohio History Center at 800 E. 17th Avenue, in order to foster sustainable building through LEED certification under the Green Columbus Fund Program.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose sated in Section 1, the expenditure of $32,928 or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in Fund 7735 Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That Ordinance 1696-2011 is hereby repealed: and
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administrating said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
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.