Explanation
BACKGROUND: Pursuant to ordinance No. 1872-04, passed by Columbus City Council on November 1, 2004, the Columbus Department of Development applied for, and was awarded, a Clean Ohio assistance fund grant of $750,000.00 from the Ohio Department of Development to perform environmental cleanup at the former Lazarus Building in Downtown Columbus. The
State Controlling Board approved the grant application at its March 14, 2005, 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 the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation (CDDC) to apply the grant funding toward the environmental cleanup work at the former Lazarus site.
The Lazarus Building is a well-known Columbus landmark and is an "anchor" development being undertaken by the CDDC on behalf of the City to revitalize the core of downtown. The building will be redeveloped by CDDC for both governmental and private uses. Its renovation will be a catalyst project for the future development of the City's RiverSouth District. 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 former Lazarus 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 to $750,000.00 for environmental cleanup at the Lazarus 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 assistant grant funds in an amount of $750,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of $750,000.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize and direct the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation to apply said grant funding for environmental cleanup work at the former Lazarus Building in Downtown Columbus; to authorize the expenditure of $750,000.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($750,000.00)
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 the former Lazarus Building in Downtown Columbus where environmental clean up is required before redevelopment can occur; and
WHEREAS, the City was successful in its application to the State of Ohio for a Clean Ohio Assistance fund grant of $750,000.00 to perform asbestos removal work at the former Lazarus site; and
WHEREAS, Agreements with the Ohio Department of Development and the CDDC are required in order for the City to receive, administer and apply the Clean Ohio assistance grant of $750,000.00, 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 the CDDC, 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 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 $750,000.00 for an environmental clean up at the former Lazarus Building in Downtown Columbus.
Section 2. That the sum of $750,000 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, Grant 445016, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005, to the Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, Object Level Three, 3336, OCA Code 445016.
Section 3. That the Director of the Columbus Department of Development is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation in the amount of $750,000.00 for environmental clean up at the former Lazarus site.
Section 4. That for the purpose stated in Section 3, the expenditure of $750,000.00 is hereby authorized from the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, Grant No. 445016, Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, Object Level Three 3336, OCA Code 445016.
Section 5. That for reasons stated 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.