Explanation
Hotel/Motel Excise Tax proceeds are disbursed in accordance with Section 371.02(c) of Columbus City Codes, 1959, which in part designates a portion of funds for the purpose of promoting the City of Columbus from funds generated by the Hotel/Motel Excise Taxes. In 2008, that portion is projected to be $4,790,000, $700,000 of which Council allocates to the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium, Inc. with this ordinance.
The Consortium is a 16-member group created in 2006 to bring organization and voice to the city's major cultural and artistic "anchor" institutions, with a focus on policy and strategy in both the short term and extended time frame. Among its desired outcomes is the promotion of culture and arts to form a significant differentiator for Columbus to contribute to the city's overall economic development. The City funds allocated here are to provide financial stability to such institutions in this difficult economy. Franklin County provided matching funds for this effort totaling $600,000. Efforts are underway to secure private sector funding for this purpose, as well.
Emergency action is requested to provide immediate support to the Consortium, which will engage the Greater Columbus Arts Counil as fidiciary.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this contract is included in the 2008 budget.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to contract with Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium for the purpose of fostering and sustaining arts and cultural services that enrich the Columbus community; to authorize the expenditure of $700,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($700,000.00) (AMENDED BY ORD. 0711-2008 PASSED 4/21/2008)
Body
WHEREAS, Section 371.02(c) of the Columbus City Codes, specifies a certain amount based on percentage of collections of the revenues of the Hotel-Motel Excise Tax for use to nurture arts and cultural services that enrich the community; and
WHEREAS, City Council believes that this mission is best achieved by using said funds to support a broad array of programs, including but not limited to: fine arts exhibits, concerts, festivals, city park activities, avocational opportunities, and other programs for the visual and performing arts, including those provided by both professional and amateur artists, and public art; and
WHEREAS, further, that the city's major cultural and artistic "anchor" institutions, represented by the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium are crucial to that effort; and
WHEREAS, Franklin County provided matching funds for this effort totaling $600,000; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City, in that it is immediately necessary to contract with the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium to allocate hotel-motel excise taxes to nurture arts and cultural services that enrich the Columbus community, for the immediate 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 City Clerk is hereby authorized to contract with Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium to foster arts and cultural services for the enrichment and benefit of the citizens of Columbus.
SECTION 2. That the City's representative(s) to the oversight committee of the Columbus Cultural Leadership Consortium be approved by Council during Council's regular session.
SECTION 3. For the purpose of paying the costs thereof, the sum of $700,000 of Hotel/Motel Excise Tax revenues is authorized to be expended from City Council, Department No. 20-01, the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Fund 231, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 200214.
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 as amended.
SECTION 5. That for 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves or vetoes the same.