Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Director of the Department of Development entered into an agreement with the Short North Special Improvement District, Inc. for professional services for the establishment of a Special Improvement District (SID) on north high Street from the railroad viaduct at the Convention Center north to Smith Place. The first petition to create the SID and Articles of Incorporation was approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 1839-98, passed July 13, 1998. City Council also approved the Plan for Improvements and Services to be provided by the Short North SID by Resolution No. 32X-99, passed March 22, 1999. The necessity to implement the Plan of Improvements and Services and to levy a special assessment for the improvements and services was approved by City Council by Resolution No. 49X-99, passed April 22, 1999. A final piece of legislation, providing for the levy of assessment to property owners, was approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 1719-99, passed July 12, 1999. A portion of each assessment is to be returned to the SID for operational requirements as set forth in the District Plan.
This legislation appropriates and approves the expenditure of that portion of assessments collected in FY 2005 that is to be returned to the SID. This legislation would also allow the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the Short North Special Improvement District, Inc.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this expenditure will be received from the levy of assessments collected from property owners in the Short North Special Improvement District. These funds are deposited into and expended from Agency Fund 306.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Short North Special Improvement District, Inc. for the implementation of services and improvements set forth in the District Plan; to authorize the City Auditor to appropriate and expend up to $125,000 from assessments levied from property owners; and to declare an emergency ($125,000)
Body
WHEREAS, City Council approved the creation and implementation of a plan for services and improvements for the Short North Special Improvement District for a period of 12 years from July 1, 1999 through June 30, 2011, and
WHEREAS, City Council has also levied assessments in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 1710 for such purposes, which funds are in the process of collection and are required by law to be distributed to the District by the City; and
WHEREAS, the assessment funds collected by the County and forwarded to the City for disbursement will be available in February 2005, and
WHEREAS, this legislation needs to be an emergency because the Short North SID needs this money to operate its organization and to fund its initiatives in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, there is an emergency in the usual daily operation of the City, requiring the distribution of such funds, and for the further 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 Director of the Department of Development be, and he is hereby, authorized to enter into a contract with the Short North Special Improvement District, Inc. for the implementation of the District Plan for services and improvements previously approved by Council.
Section 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to expend from the year 2005 appropriation to the Short North SID Fund 306, OCA 441307, Object Level One 05, Object Level Three 5911, for the operations requirements set forth in the District Plan from assessments levied pursuant to Resolution No. 49X-99 an amount not to exceed $125,000 for assessments, penalties and fees.
Section 3. That all such sums set forth herein are hereby appropriated for such purposes.
Section 4. That necessary accounting and identification codes and fund numbers be assigned to such expenditures as the City Auditor shall determine.
Section 5. 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 its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.