Explanation
BACKGROUND: On June 21, 2012, Council passed Ordinance 1263-2012 to allow the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with Rebuilding Together Central Ohio (RTCO) to provide water containment systems to organizations who license parcels for community gardens under the Columbus Land Bank Program. Funds for the contract where provided to the Department by City Council expansion of the 2011 Capital Improvement Budget in 2012. This legislation authorizes the modification of the contract (EL013265) to allow the continuation of the program, to add an additional $15,000 to the contract, and to expand the materials provided to Land Bank community gardens. The additional materials include rain catchment systems, wood and other material to construct raised beds, tunnels to extend the growing season, and other similar items to promote the use of Land Bank parcels as community gardens. Additional funding is provided by the Mayor's Office of Environmental Stewardship.
FISCAL IMPACT: $15,000 from the Mayor's Office of Environmental Stewardship Fund will be added to the contract for a total contract amount of $75,000. These funds will be transferred from the Mayor's Office to the Department of Development.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a contract with Rebuilding Together Central Ohio to provide water containment systems on Land Bank owned parcels licensed for community gardens; to authorize the transfer of $15,000.00 within the General Fund; to authorized the expenditure of $15,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($15,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Council passed ordinance 2161-93, on October 25, 1993, as amended by 1325-98, on June 8, 1998, to authorize the adoption of a Land Reutilization Program under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5722; and
WHEREAS, the City owns hundreds of vacant lots acquired under the Land Reutilization Program and establishes licenses with various community based non-profit corporations to maintain community gardens; and
WHEREAS, Council passed ordinance 1263-2012, on June 21, 2012 to authorize the establishment of a Contact (EL013265) with Rebuilding Together Central Ohio to improve various City-owned properties with water containment systems to benefit community gardens and to help the Columbus Land Bank Program manage the purchase, installation, site selection of such improvements; and
WHEREAS, the management of this program cannot be performed by existing City Staff due to the expertise, equipment, and time necessary to manage such a program; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to expand the uses and purposes of the Contract (EL013265) to include other materials needed for improving community gardens including but not limited to rain catchments and materials to builds raised beds; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to extend contract EL013265 from June 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to increase contract EL013265 from $60,000 to $75,000; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is requested in order to install the water containment systems, rain catchments, and other needed garden improvement materials before winter 2013; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to transfer and expend funds for the improvement of existing City owned properties under the Land Reutilization Program, all for the immediate 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 Development is hereby authorized to modify, increase, and extend the following contract with Rebuilding Together Central Ohio to provide water containment systems on Land Bank owned parcels licensed for community gardens:
Contractor: Rebuilding Together Central Ohio
Contract Number: EL 013265
Amount of Increase $15,000.00
Total Contract Amount: $75,000.00
New Term: December 31, 2015
Section 2. That the transfer of $15,000.00 within the General Fund, Fund 010 be authorized as follows:
FROM:
Division No. / OCA Code / Object Level One / Object Level Three / Amount
40-01 / 400101 / 03 / 3000 / $15,000.00
TO:
Division No. / OCA Code / Object Level One / Object Level Three / Amount
44-01 / 440311 / 03 / 3336 / $15,000.00
Section 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $15,000.00 from the Department of Development, General Fund, Fund 010, Department 44-01, OCA Code 440311, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336 is hereby authorized.
Section 4. That this contract modification is awarded in accordance with Chapter 329.16 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
Section 5. 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 6. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.