Explanation
BACKGROUND: This Council is being asked to approve the Plan of Services to be provided by the University District Special Improvement District; and to declare an emergency.
A companion piece of legislation is being presented simultaneously that approves the Petition and Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation that are on file with the Clerk of the Columbus City Council.
In 2015 a petition to create a new SID in the University area to be known as the University District Special Improvement District (SID) was approved by Council. The property owners initiated a petition process in which the owners of at least 60% of the frontage of all real property located within the District signed, acknowledging that they are interested in the creation of the University Special Improvement district and they approved of the Plan for Improvements and Services to be provided by the University SID. The petition was accepted and approved by Columbus City Council by Ordinance 0641-2015, passed on March 23, 2015. The University District SID was renewed for a five-year term in 2020.
A petition process has been initiated in which owners of at least 60% of the frontage of all real property located within the District have signed that they are interested in reauthorizing the SID and they approve of the plan for improvements and services to be provided by the SID.
This ordinance is the second of a series of four actions required by Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised code to reauthorize.
Emergency action is requested to allow the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District to continue the reauthorization of their Special Improvement District without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To approve the Plan of Services to be provided by the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc.; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the property owners located in the University Special Improvement Development area have initiated a petition to reauthorize the SID and have filed the petition with the Clerk of the Columbus City Council along with the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the University Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., an Ohio non-profit corporation to be responsible for the operation of the SID; and
WHEREAS, a companion piece of the legislation being presented to Columbus Council simultaneously will request the approval of the University SID’s Petition and Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation; and
WHEREAS, this legislation is requesting the approval of the Plan for Improvements and Services to be provided by the University SID pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1710; and
WHEREAS, The Clerk of Columbus City Council finds the property owners per the signed petition and the City per this ordinance represents at least sixty present (60%) of the front footage of the property located in the University SID per Chapter 1710; and
WHEREAS, it is determination of this Council that the Special Improvement District is a valuable tool for continuing to further economic development and a means of continuing to revitalize the university area;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to approve the plan of services for the University SID at the earliest opportunity to ensure the SID re-authorization and special assessment process can be completed in keeping with the timelines established by the Ohio Revised Code and Columbus City Charter, all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Plan of Services to be provided by the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., now on file with the Clerk of Columbus City Council, is hereby approved.
SECTION 2. That the Clerk of Columbus City Council is hereby directed to post a copy of this Ordinance in the Office of the Clerk of Columbus City Council as provided by the Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1710.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof this ordinance is 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.