Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a modification of a grant agreement with The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio to extend the end date from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027.
Original Agreement $ 55,000.00 Ord 3292-2024 PO500371
Modification No. 1 amount $ 0.00 Ord 0185-2025 PO500371
Modification No. 2 amount $ 0.00
Total contract amount $ 55,000.00
In accordance with C.C. 329.09(a):
1. No additional funds are being requested under this modification.
2. The additional time necessary was not foreseen per the original contract due to funding being disbursed at a slower pace than anticipated. The widespread availability of emergency rental assistance in 2025 led to higher rates of case settlement and a correspondingly small number of appeals; in 2026 tenants have been using the fund with increasing frequency, and as such, the need for legislative modification is required by operation of C.C. 329.09(b).
3. It is in the City’s best interest to continue with The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio’s current grant agreement to create a fund to provide fiscal manager services, as a partner in the City of Columbus, for eligible low-income tenants facing eviction with the funding required for eviction case appeals.
4. Prices remain the same as the original contract.
Low Income tenants in eviction court often encounter many barriers to addressing legal issues in eviction cases. While the City provides funding for legal representation, oftentimes that representation must be cut short if the tenant is unable to pay for a court-mandated bond when attempting to appeal a decision.
The City of Columbus currently provides funding for Access to Counsel thought the Tenant Advocacy Project (TAP) at Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio to assist low-income tenants at eviction court. TAP assists in a number of appeals for these clients but cannot assist with securing funding required to proceed in certain types of eviction case appeals where tenants are required to post a bond.
A bond is an amount of money the court may ask one party to deposit with the court while the final outcome of the case is delayed by an appeal to ensure that the other party is not harmed by the delay. This means that many tenants receiving legal services from TAP are unable to pursue their case at the appellate level because they lack the funds to pay for the bond.
In December 2024, City Council created the “Robin Green Legacy Fund,” which authorized the Department of Development to enter into a $55,000.00 Grant Agreement with the Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus, Ohio to create a fund and provide fiscal manager services, as a partner in the City of Columbus, for eligible low-income tenants facing eviction with the funding required for eviction case appeals. The initial agreement’s term ended on December 31, 2025 and was renewed for one year, with a current end date of December 31, 2026.
This ordinance would give the Department of Development the authority to renew the grant for an additional two years with no additional funding being sought. This will allow the Robin Green Fund to distribute the remainder of the available grant funds.
The fiscal manager services provided by The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio assist Columbus residents and their families with funding required for eviction case appeals, helping to prevent eviction and potential homelessness.
Contract Compliance: the vendor number is 033793 and expires 03/19/2027
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is needed for this modification.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a modification of a grant agreement with The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio to extend the term end date from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 3292-2024, passed by Columbus City Council on December 16, 2024, authorized the Director of the Department Development to enter into a grant agreement with The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio in an amount up to $55,500.00 to create a fund and provide fiscal manager services, as a partner in the City of Columbus, for eligible low-income tenants facing eviction with the funding required for eviction case appeals; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to extend the term date of the contract from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027, to deploy the remainder of the funds; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development to authorize the Director to enter into a modification of a grant agreement with The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio to extend the contract termination date; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a modification of a grant agreement with The Broad Street Presbyterian Church of Columbus Ohio to extend the end date from December 31, 2026 to December 31, 2027, to deploy the remainder of the funds.
SECTION 2. That this modification is in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.