Explanation
Background: As part of the Consent Order and Settlement Agreement between the City of Columbus and Penn National Gaming, Inc., the parties agreed to create the Westside Community Fund by March 31, 2012. Each party agreed to contribute $2.5 million to the Westside Community Fund, with the first payment of $1 million made in 2012. Additional contributions of $750,000 were made by each party in 2013. The parties further agreed to each contribute $500,000 in 2014 and $250,000 in 2015.
The Westside Community Fund will be used for a variety of projects related to the neighborhood(s) immediately surrounding the Casino development and/or the citizens thereof, including but not limited to job training, minority affairs, economic development and/or capital projects.
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $500,000.00 within the Westside Community Fund for the 2014 contribution.
Fiscal Impact: This legislation authorizes the appropriation of $500,000 within the Westside Community Fund.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $500,000.00 within the Westside Community Fund to the Department of Development to support projects related to the neighborhoods immediately surrounding the Casino development and/or the citizens thereof, including but not limited to job training, minority affairs, economic development and/or capital projects; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on June 6, 2011, Columbus City Council passed Ordinance 0889-2011, which authorized the execution of the Consent Order and Settlement Agreement in the case of CD Gaming v. City of Columbus, et al; and
WHEREAS, as a part of that settlement, the City of Columbus and Penn National Gaming, Inc. agreed to create the Westside Community Fund by March 31, 2012; and
WHEREAS, each party agreed to contribute $2.5 million to the Westside Community Fund, with the first payment of $1 million in 2012; and
WHEREAS, the 2014 contribution is to be $500,000; and
WHEREAS, the Westside Community Fund will be used for a variety of projects related to the neighborhood(s) immediately surrounding the Casino development and/or the citizens thereof, including but not limited to job training, minority affairs, economic development and/or capital projects; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that this Ordinance is required to be immediately effective in order to facilitate the timely and continuing development of the Westside Community and the resulting creation and retention of jobs, such immediate action being necessary for the preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the amount of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby appropriated within Fund/Subfund 276-001, Westside Community Fund, Dept/Div 44-01, OCA 276001, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3000 for the purpose of supporting projects related to the neighborhoods immediately surrounding the Casino development and/or the citizens thereof, including but not limited to job training, minority affairs, economic development and/or capital projects.
Section 2. 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 3. 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 its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after the passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.