Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 2010, the State of Ohio passed HB 313 to authorize Counties with a population greater than 60,000 to establish county land reutilization corporations and to establish basic procedures where municipal land reutilizations operate within the same area. In 2012, Franklin County created a county land reutilization corporation under the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC). This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the COCIC to create a framework under which the City's Land Reutilization Program and the COCIC will operate. Specifically, the MOU will establish a process for the City to exercise its priority interest in tax foreclosures and other acquisitions of property. This legislation will allow the City to accept property from the COCIC under its Land Reutilization Program.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested in order to execute agreement and immediately start acquiring vacant and abandoned property.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation; to authorize the acceptance of properties acquired by the COCIC into the Land Reutilization Program; to authorize the Director of Development to execute any and all agreements and deeds necessary to conveyance of title; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, by Ordinance 1325-98, Council adopted and elected to use the Revised Code Chapter 5722, Land Reutilization Program, to facilitate effective reutilization of nonproductive land acquired through a sale pursuant to a foreclosure proceeding initiated by the Franklin County Treasurer, or through a sale of forfeited lands by the Franklin County Auditor, or through a conveyance in lieu of foreclosure to foster either return of such land to tax revenue generating status or its devotion to public use, or any other land acquired as part of the land reutilization program; and
WHEREAS, by HB 313, the Ohio General Assembly authorized counties with a population greater than 60,000 to organize a county land reutilization corporation under Revised Code Chapter 5722; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Franklin County established a county land reutilization corporation under the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC); and
WHEREAS, under Revised Code Chapter 5722, a municipality that lies within a county that has established a county land reutilization corporation possesses certain preemptory rights with respect to properties that are or may be acquired by the county land reutilization corporation; and
WHEREAS, the COCIC and the City desire to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to establish policies and procedures that allow both parties to undertake their land reutilization programs collaboratively and concurrently; and
WHEREAS, said Memorandum of Understanding will establish various Protocol Agreements between the COCIC and City for the acquisition, disposition, maintenance, and demolition of properties; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said agreement in order to acquire vacant and abandoned properties, 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 enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation to establish policies and procedures for the acquisition, disposition, maintenance, and demolition of properties under the City and County Land Reutilization Programs (Land Banks).
Section 2. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to execute any and all agreements and deeds necessary for the conveyance of title under said agreement.
Section 3. That Columbus City Code Section 329.29 is hereby waived.
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.