Explanation
On March 2, 2022, Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 0441-2022, authorizing the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into three-year, renewable Operations agreement, a three-year License Agreement, and a one-year start up contract with Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC). CELC had been selected, via a competitive selection process, to serve as the operator and tenant of the new Hilltop Early Learning Center located at 45 Clarendon Avenue.
The agreement was renewed in the second (2023) and third (2024) year of the agreement and $3,120,000.00 was appropriated each year.
Ordinance 1683-2024, passed by City Council on June 6, 2024, modified the ordinance by authorizing the Department of Finance and Management to execute an appendix to the Operations Agreement on behalf of the Office of Education to allow a short-term pilot program provision of early learning activities to infants and toddlers.
At the conclusion of the three-year agreement authorized by Ordinance 0441-2022, a new three-year contract was authorized by City Council that allowed the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a new three-year agreement with CELC for the same purposes.
However, it was discovered that through a miscommunication with CELC, the Purchase Order associated with the original three-year agreement was canceled while a final invoice was pending.
Therefore the Office of Education requests the authority to enter into a retroactive not-for-profit service contract with Columbus Early Learning Centers, to reimburse for the early education services provided to Hilltop children from August 1 to August 31, 2024. These services have already been provided and said services cannot be provided by existing city employees due to lack of human resources.
Fiscal Impact: $90,000.00 is budgeted and available in the 2025 Office of Education General Fund budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Education to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Columbus Early Learning Centers; to reimburse for the early education services provided to Hilltop children from August 1 to August 31, 2024; to authorize the payment of expenses incurred prior to the issuance of a purchase order back to and including August 1, 2024; and to authorize the expenditure of $90,000.00. ($90,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0441-2021 authorized the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into three-year, renewable Operations Agreement, among other contracts and agreements, with Columbus Early Learning Centers (CELC) to serve as the operator and tenant of the new Hilltop Early Learning Center located at 45 Clarendon Avenue; and
WHEREAS, at the expiration of that three-year agreement, a new three-year agreement was authorized by City Council via Ordinance 1754-2025 for the same purposes; and
WHEREAS, due to a miscommunication, the Purchase Order associated with the original three-year agreement was canceled while a final invoice was pending; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Office of Education to authorize the Director to enter into a retroactive not-for-profit service contract with Columbus Early Learning Centers to reimburse them for the early education services that they provided to Hilltop children from August 1 to August 31, 2024, to preserve the public health, peace, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Education is authorized to enter into a retroactive contract with Columbus Early Learning Centers to reimburse them for the early education services that they provided to Hilltop children from August 1 to August 31, 2024, and the payment of expenses incurred prior to the issuance of a purchase order back to and including August 1, 2024 is hereby authorized.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $90,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund as follows:
Div.: 40-06 | Fund: 1000 | SubFund: 100010 | Obj. Class: 03 | Main Acct: 63050 | Program: ED001 | Amount: $90,000.00
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 legislation.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.