Explanation
Background: As part of the Consent Order and Settlement Agreement between the City of Columbus and Penn National Gaming, Inc., the parties agreed to create the Westside Community Fund. Both the City of Columbus and Penn National Gaming agreed to contribute $2.5 million to the Westside Community Fund, with the first payment of $1 million to be made in 2012. Additional contributions of $750,000 were to be made by each party in 2013. The parties further agreed to each contribute $500,000 in 2014 with the final payment of $250,000 in 2015.
The Westside Community Fund will be used for a variety of projects related to the neighborhood(s) immediately surrounding the Casino development and/or the citizens thereof, including but not limited to job training, minority affairs, economic development and/or capital projects.
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of $150,000 from the Westside Community Fund for support of The Lower Lights Christian Health Center’s efforts to improve food access on the Westside of Columbus. Within it’s current location at 1160 W. Broad St. a 5,000 sq. ft. not for profit grocery store and café will be developed. In addition to providing access to locally grown fresh produce and other grocery items, Lower Lights anticipates providing 15 jobs with livable wages to residents.
Emergency action is requested so that The Lower Lights Christian Health Center can begin implementing these services without delay.
Fiscal Impact: Funds have been deposited into the Westside Community Fund from proceeds from the city’s allocation of State Casino Tax Revenues to support this expenditure.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $150,000.00 in the Westside Community Fund; to authorize the Director of the Development Department to enter into contract with Lower Lights Christian Health Center; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Westside Community Fund to support the development of a not for profit grocery store and café located at 1160 W. Broad Street in Franklinton; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on June 6, 2011, Columbus City Council passed Ordinance 0889-2011, which authorized the execution of the Consent Order and Settlement Agreement in the case of CD Gaming v. City of Columbus, et al; and
WHEREAS, as a part of that settlement, the City of Columbus and Penn National Gaming, Inc. agreed to create the Westside Community Fund; and
WHEREAS, each party agreed to contribute $2.5 million to the Westside Community Fund, with the first payment of $1 million to be made in 2012, and contributions of $750,000 in 2013, $500,000 in 2014, and $250,000 in 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Westside Community Fund will be used for a variety of projects related to the neighborhood(s) immediately surrounding the Casino development and/or the citizens thereof, including but not limited to job training, minority affairs, economic development and/or capital projects; and
WHERAS, as part of this commitment, on December 14, 2016 each party has agreed to support the development of a not for profit grocery store and café located at 1160 W. Broad Street in Franklinton with a grant in the amount of $150,000 each; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Lower Lights Christian Health Center in order to facilitate the timely and continuing development of a non-profit grocery store for the residents of Columbus, such immediate action being necessary for the preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, the sum of $150,000 is appropriated in Fund 2276 Westside Community Fund in Object Class 03 Contractual Services and per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Lower Lights Christian Health Center to support the development of a not for profit grocery store and café located at 1160 W. Broad Street in Franklinton.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2276 Westside Community Fund in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That all monies necessary to carry out the purpose of this Ordinance are hereby appropriated.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for any contract or contract modification associated with the expenditure of the funds transferred in Section 2 above.
SECTION 6. 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 the passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.