Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into various agreements, as necessary, to accept funding from payments, grants, donations or gifts to be provided to the City to assist with the construction renovation and child care addition to the former Reeb School, a historic landmark in the City's South Side. The facility will be known as the Reeb Avenue Center.
The former Reeb Avenue Elementary School is located at 280 East Reeb Avenue. It will be renovated and expanded to house non-profit organizations to provide programs and services that meet the needs of the neighborhood. The Reeb Avenue School was originally constructed in 1906. This project will renovate the historic portion of the building as well as the approximate 4,500 sq. ft. gymnasium addition that was constructed in 1968. The classroom portion of the 1968 addition will be demolished and replaced with an addition of approximately 18,000 sq. ft. for a daycare center.
The following organizations are the prospective tenants:
· South Side Learning & Development Center
· Boys and Girls Club of Columbus
· City of Columbus Pride Center
· St. Stephen's Community House
· Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC)
· Godman Guild and Connect Ohio
· Community Development for All People
· Ruling Our Experience (ROX)
· American Red Cross
· Lutheran Social Services
The City of Columbus currently owns, and will continue to own, the building. A non-profit organization, the Reeb Avenue Center, is awaiting approval of its tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status from the IRS and will be formed to govern and serve as master tenant of the Reeb Avenue Center. Tenants will enter into lease agreements with the Board of the Reeb Avenue Center. Tenants will be expected to pay rents to cover the operating expenses of the Center and for the establishment of a capital fund reserve.
FISCAL IMPACT: The construction estimate for this renovation is estimated to be $12,100,000. Of this, the City has committed $6,725,000. The remainder of the funding ($5,375,000) is to come from payments, donations, grants, contributions or gifts from private, federal and state entities. This ordinance does not authorize the expenditure of funds; it provides the Finance and Management Director with the authority to enter into various agreements to accept funding from various outside sources.
Emergency action is requested so as to authorize various agreements, as necessary, to accept financial or material payments, grants, contributions, donations or gifts that are to be provided to ensure funding is in place for the construction renovation contract later this summer.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into various agreements, as necessary, to accept payments, grants, contributions, donations and gifts for the construction funding of the renovation of the Reeb Avenue Center; to authorize the City Auditor to deposit any monies received; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into various agreements necessary for the acceptance of payments, grants, contributions, donations and gifts for the construction funding of the renovation and child care addition to the Reeb Avenue Center; and
WHEREAS, any monies received pursuant to these various agreements shall be placed into a fund for use in the renovation and childcare addition of the Reeb Avenue Center; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to accept funds, but not for their expenditure, without additional authorization from Columbus City Council; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management where it is immediately necessary to authorize various agreements necessary for the acceptance of donations or grants for the renovation and childcare addition of the Reeb Avenue Center for the preservation of 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 Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into various agreements necessary to accept payments, grants, contributions, donations and gifts for the renovation and childcare addition to the Reeb Avenue Center.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized to deposit any monies received.
SECTION 3. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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 or vetoes the same.