Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 1999 the Short North Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. was created by the property owners in a defined area of High Street in the Short North. The SID was created for a 12 year period and was very successful. The twelve-year SID period concludes in December, 2011 and now the property owners wish to reauthorize the SID, with slightly different boundaries, but again still called the Short North Special Improvement District (map attached). The property owners have initiated a one petition process in which at least 60% of the property owners within the District signed that they approve of the reauthorization of the SID and they approve of the plan for improvements and services to be provided by the SID (petition attached). This legislation is one of the first actions required by Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code.
City Council must accept the petitions and the Articles of Incorporation of the Short North Special Improvement District, Inc., an Ohio not-for-profit corporation organized pursuant to Chapter 1710 of the Revised Code.
City Council is being asked to also approve the inclusion of City owned property as part of the Special Improvement District.
Emergency action is required to allow the Short North Special Improvement District, Inc to continue the establishment of a Special Improvement District in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To approve the Short North Special Improvement District, Inc. Petition and Articles of Incorporation and the inclusion of the properties owned by the City of Columbus in said district; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Chapter 1710 of the Revised Code, effective September 29, 1994 provides for the creation of Special Improvement Districts (SIDS), by non-profit corporations governed by trustees elected by the property owners for the provision of special services in a designated district; and
WHEREAS, the property owners located in the Short North area have initiated a petition to create a Short North Special Improvement District, and have filed the petition with the Columbus City Council along with the Articles of Incorporation of Special Improvement District, Inc., a Ohio non-profit corporation, created pursuant to Chapter 1702 of the Revised Code; and
WHEREAS, Section 1710.02 (E) further excludes the property owned by the municipal corporation unless the municipal corporation specifically authorizes its property to be included in the district; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk of Columbus City Council finds that the property owners per the signed Petition, if authorized by this Council represents 60% of the front footage of the property located in the SID, all as provided by Section 1710.02 of the Revised Code; and
WHEREAS, it is the determination of the Columbus City Council that the SID is a valuable tool for continuing to further economic development and a means of continuing to revitalize the Short North Special Improvement District; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to approve the Petition for the formation of the Short North Special Improvement District and approve the Articles of Incorporation of the Short North Special Improvement District, Inc. to continue the establishment of a Special Improvement District in a timely manner, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Petition for the creation of the Short North Special Improvement District and the Articles of Incorporation of Short North Special Improvement District, Inc., now on file with the Clerk of the Columbus City Council, and incorporated herein as Attachment A, are hereby approved.
Section 2. That the properties of the City of Columbus abutting upon the streets described in the Petition are hereby authorized to be included in the district.
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.