Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into an agreement with The Ohio State University for GreenSpot program assessment services.
The GreenSpot program assessment is vital to ensuring compliance with the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit and the Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) to assess the performance of the legacy GreenSpot program on resident, business, and local community’s behavior changes regarding water consumption, energy use, and other sustainable actions. The project aims to improve the effectiveness of the City’s support to the growing GreenSpot member population in Columbus.
The GreenSpot program assessment will require The Ohio State University to meet various objectives and goals which are considered project parameters. These project parameters include assessments of current GreenSpot programming and a recommended future action plan. There are many tasks and responsibilities included in this assessment which include general Stakeholder meetings and Consultations, review of scientific literature on behavior change, and surveys regarding Columbus residents and business owners. The tasks also include various reviews, surveys, and analysis of how GreenSpot is functioning currently. These include an analysis of members, member surveys, and assessments of staffing.
Once the assessment is complete, the project will provide the City of Columbus with a detailed report on current GreenSpot programming in context of the MS4 and Sustainable Columbus’ Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals, as well as, staffing adequacies for the program. The assessment will also develop interventions and implementation measures for the next four years, 2026-2030, to achieve the outlined goals.
The vendor was provided access to the GreenSpot files as of January 2025. The agreement will be in effect from the date of passage of this Ordinance until May 31, 2026. This ordinance is submitted in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code for not-for-profit service contracts.
Principal Party:
The Ohio State University
The Environmental Social Sustainability Lab (ESSL)
1960 Kenny Rd.
Columbus, OH 43210
Jeremy Brooks, (614) 292-9787
Contract Compliance Number: 006163
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: March 29, 2025
Fiscal Impact: $100,000.00 is budgeted and available from within the Public Utilities Operating Funds to meet the financial obligations of this contract.
$0.00 was spent in 2024
$0.00 was spent in 2023
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into an agreement with The Ohio State University to conduct the GreenSpot program assessment; and to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 split between the Electricity, Water, Sanitary Sewer, and Stormwater Operating Funds. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a not-for-profit agreement with The Ohio State University for GreenSpot assessment services; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is being submitted in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code regarding not-for-profit service contracts; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities wishes to enter into a service agreement from the date of passage of this Ordinance to May 31, 2026; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Public Utilities Operating Fund, split among the Electricity, Water, Sanitary Sewer, and Stormwater Operating Funds; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a contract for GreenSpot program assessment services with The Ohio State University; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Utilities is authorized to enter into an agreement with The Ohio State University to conduct the GreenSpot program assessment. The amount being authorized by this ordinance is $100,000.00
SECTION 2. That this contract is in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code regarding not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 3. That the expenditure of $100,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from object class 03, Services, split among the Electricity, Water, Sanitary Sewer, and Stormwater Operating Funds, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.