Explanation
BACKGROUND: Pursuant to ordinance No. 2437-03, passed by Columbus City Council on November 10, 2003, the Columbus Department of Development applied for and was awarded, a Clean Ohio assistance fund grant of $81,200.00 from the Ohio Department of Development to perform a Phase II environmental assessment at 1826 E. Livingston Avenue (a.k.a. the former Hoffman Container building) in order to quantify clean-up costs and allow for the business expansion of General Theming Contractors. The State Controlling Board approved the grant application at its July 26, 2004 meeting.
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize an agreement between the Columbus Department of Development and the Ohio Department of Development to receive and administer the grant and to authorize an agreement between the Columbus Department of Development and General Theming Contractors to apply the grant funding toward Phase II environmental assessment work at the E. Livingston Avenue site.
General Theming Contractors currently employs 50 people and specializes in specialty artwork for clients such as Disney Studios, Abercrombie-Fitch and The Limited. With the help of Clean Ohio assistance funds, General Theming plans to accurately assess total clean up costs to remediate its site and invest in a building expansion to increase employment to 100 people within the next 3-5 years.
This legislation and the associated assistance grant does not subject the City to liability for any site contamination which may exist at or near the General Theming site.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency to commence the Clean Ohio assistance grant process immediately.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are no costs to the City of Columbus associated with the Clean Ohio assistance grant funding. The City of Columbus will receive up $81,200.00 for a Phase II environmental assessment at the General Theming site.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Development to receive and administer Clean Ohio assistance grant funds in an amount of $81,200.00; to authorize the appropriation of $81,200 from the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize and direct the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to enter into an agreement with General Theming Contractors to apply said grant funding for Phase II environmental work at its facility at 1826 E. Livingston Avenue; to authorize the expenditure of $81,200 from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($81,200)
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio Clean Ohio Program will award $40 million per year, for five years, to communities throughout Ohio for the purpose of clean up and redevelopment of contaminated or abandoned properties known as "brownfields"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus contains brownfield properties which may qualify for Clean Ohio clean up and redevelopment grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has been involved with brownfield redevelopment since 1999 through its administration of the Columbus Brownfield Redevelopment Program and its associated task force; and
WHEREAS, Clean Ohio grant funding will greatly compliment the efforts of the Columbus Department of Development in helping to clean up and redevelop brownfield properties in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has identified a brownfield property, which is eligible for the Clean Ohio grant assistance fund, at 1826 East Livingston Avenue where a Phase II environmental assessment is required to determine clean up costs; and
WHEREAS, General Theming Contractors are located at 1826 East Livingston Avenue where it employs 50 people and will invest in expansion and increase employment to 100 people within 3-5 years after determining clean up costs and undertaking site remediation; and
WHEREAS, Agreements with the Ohio Department of Development and General Theming Contractors are required in order for the City to receive, administer and apply the Clean Ohio assistance grant of $81,200.00; 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 Columbus Department of Development to enter into agreements with the Ohio Department of Development and General Theming Contractors, for Clean Ohio assistance funding in order to commence the Clean Ohio assistance grant process immediately, all for the preservation of 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 Columbus Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Development to receive and administer Clean Ohio assistance grant funds in the amount of $81,200 for an environmental assessment at 1826 E. Livingston Avenue.
Section 2. That from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220 and from all monies estimated to come into said fund the sum of $81,200 is hereby deemed appropriated to the Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, as follows:
Grant No. : 443010 - Object Level Three: 3336 - OCA Code: 443010 - Amount: $81,200.00
Section 3. That the Director of the Columbus Department of Development is authorized to enter into an agreement with General Theming Contractors in the amount of $81,200 for Phase II environmental work at 1826 East Livingston Avenue.
Section 4. That for the purpose stated in Section 3, the expenditure of $81,200 is hereby authorized from the Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, as follows:
Grant No.: 443010 - Object Level Three: 3336 - OCA Code: 443010 - Amount: $81,200.00
Section 5. That for reasons started in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, the 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.