Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to increase Purchase Orders to pay costs associated with tax foreclosures as a part of the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative and the Moving Ohio Forward Grant Program. In 2012, the Franklin County Treasurer, Franklin County Prosecutor, City Attorney, the County Land Bank, and Land Redevelopment office developed a process to expedite tax foreclosure cases for properties in need of demolition. As counsel for the Franklin County Treasurer, the Franklin County Prosecutor issued a competitive bid for Legal Services for these foreclosures, under County RFP# 2012-43-32. The Prosecutor selected three law firms, Alban and Alban, LP; Gingo Palumbo Law Group, LLC.; and Luper, Neidenthal and Logan as the lowest and best bids for the service and was authorized to enter into contract with these firms through Franklin County Resolution 0246-13. The work includes Legal Services that are typically paid by the City Land Bank Program, including title policy and recording fees. The existing purchase orders will be increased by a total of $65,000.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for these Purchase Order increases are allocated from the Land Management Fund ($65,000).
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested in order to continue ongoing activities with the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative and the Moving Ohio Forward Grant Program.
Title
To authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to increase Purchase Orders with Alban and Alban, LP, Gingo Palumbo Law Group, LLC., and Luper Neidenthal and Logan for legal services associated with expedited tax foreclosures as a part of the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative and the Moving Ohio Forward Grant Program; to authorize the expenditure of $65,000.00 from the Land Management Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($65,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2012, the Franklin County Treasurer, Franklin County Prosecutor, City Attorney, the County Land Bank and Land Redevelopment office developed a process to expedite tax foreclosure cases for properties in need of demolition; and
WHEREAS, as council for the Franklin County Treasurer, the Franklin County Prosecutor issued a competitive bid for Legal Services for these foreclosures, under County RFP# 2012-43-32; and
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Prosecutor selected three law firms, Alban and Alban, LP; Gingo Palumbo Law Group, LLC.; and Luper Neidenthal and Logan as the lowest and best bids for the service and was authorized to enter into contract with these firms through Franklin County Resolution 0246-13; and
WHEREAS, the work includes Legal Services that are typically paid by the City Land Bank Program, including title policy and recording fees and these services are inseparable from the underlying foreclosure work and in meetings with the Franklin County Prosecutor, the City agreed to pay for these expenses; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to increase these Purchase Orders to continue ongoing activities with the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative and the Moving Ohio Forward Grant Program, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and 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 increase the following Purchase Orders for legal services associated with expedited tax foreclosures as a part of the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative and the Moving Ohio Forward Grant Program:
Alban and Alban, LP, (ED 049977)
Gingo Palumbo Law Group, LLC. (ED 049965)
Luper Neidenthal and Logan (ED 050407)
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $65,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Department of Development, Land Management Fund, Fund 206, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3324, OCA 441206.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated.
SECTION 4. That 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.