Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City disperses Hotel/Motel Excise Tax proceeds in accordance with Section 371.02(c) of Columbus City Codes, which in part, allocates for the purpose of fostering arts and cultural services that enrich the community a certain amount of revenue from this source based on percentage of total collections. The City traditionally contracts with The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) to administer a variety of art and cultural programs and grants, pursuant to this objective.
Emergency action is requested to expedite the distribution of grants and support by GCAC into the community.
FISCAL IMPACT: The contract authorized by this legislation is included in the 2008 city budget.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to contract with The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Inc. for the purpose of fostering and sustaining arts and cultural services that enrich the Columbus community; to authorize the expenditure of $4,074,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($4,074,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Section 371.02(c) of the Columbus City Codes, specifies a certain amount based on percentage of collections of the revenues of the Hotel-Motel Excise Tax for use to nurture arts and cultural services that enrich the community; and
WHEREAS, City Council believes that this mission is best achieved by using said funds to support a broad array of programs, including but not limited to: fine arts exhibits, concerts, festivals, city park activities, avocational opportunities, and other programs for the visual and performing arts, including those provided by both professional and amateur artists, and public art; and
WHEREAS, The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Inc. has for many years served as the City's primary non-profit agency to disburse cultural arts funding; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City, in that it is immediately necessary to contract with the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Inc. to allocate hotel-motel excise taxes to nurture arts and cultural services that enrich the Columbus community, 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 City Clerk is hereby authorized to contract with The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Inc., to foster arts and cultural services for the enrichment and benefit of the citizens of Columbus.
SECTION 2. That said contract shall allocate by the City up to $4,074,000 of the revenues of the Hotel-Motel Excise Tax, in accordance with Chapter 371.02(c) of Columbus City Codes, 1959 from City Council, Department No. 20-01, the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Fund, Fund 231, Sub-Fund 004, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 200214.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 as amended.
SECTION 4. That for 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves or vetoes the same.