Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 2003 the Discovery District Development Corporation asked Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation to initiate an effort to work with Discovery District property owners to create a Special Improvement District (SID) on the east side of downtown. Property owners were surveyed and overwhelmingly were in support of seeing a proposal to create a SID. The SID was created for a five year period and has been very successful. The SID property owners renewed the SID one year early for a five-year period ending in 2015. The SID property owners now wish to reauthorize the Discovery Special Improvement District for an additional five year period, with slightly different boundaries, but still called the Discovery Special Improvement District. The property owners initiated a one-petition process to reauthorize the SID in which at least 60% of the property owners within the District signed that they are interested in reauthorizing the SID and approving the Articles of Incorporation. This petition was accepted and approved by Columbus City Council by Ordinance 0639-2015, passed March 23, 2015.
Another action required by the Ohio Revised Code is the approval of the Plan for Improvements and Services and the inclusion of City owned property in said plan. This legislation was approved by Columbus City Council by Resolution 0060X-2015, adopted March 23, 2015. Also, in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, an action to declare the necessity to implement the Plan of Improvements and Services adopted by the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. and the necessity to levy a special assessment for the services was adopted by City Council as Resolution 0097X-2015 on April 27th, 2015.
This legislation will determine to proceed with the Plan of Services of the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. and to provide for the levy of assessments in said district. It also approves the report of the Assessment Equalization Board appointed pursuant to Ordinance 1542-2015, which recommended a reduction to the assessment on the property of an objecting property owner.
Emergency action is requested on this legislation to allow the special assessment process to proceed in a timely manner.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To determine to proceed with the Plan of Services of the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. and to provide for the levy of assessments in said district; to approve the report of the Assessment Equalization Board; 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 petition to reauthorize the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. was approved by City Council by Ordinance 0639-2015, passed March 23, 2015; and
WHEREAS, the petition to approve the Plan of Services to be provided by the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. was accepted and approved by City Council by Resolution 0060X-2015, adopted March 23, 2015; and
WHEREAS, this Council adopted Resolution 0097X-2015 on April 27, 2015 declaring the necessity of implementing the Plan of Services of the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, the Plan for Services calls for the provisions of these services to the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. to be funded by special assessment; and
WHEREAS, Council has received and hereby approves the report of the Assessment Equalization Board appointed by Ordinance 1542-2015 passed June 8th, 2015; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to proceed in a timely manner with the Plan of Services of the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for the economic development and continued improvement of the downtown area, 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 it is hereby determined to proceed with the Plan of Services of the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. (SID) as set forth in said Plan heretofore approved by Resolution 0060X-2015, adopted on March 23, 2015 and as provided for in the Resolution of Necessity, 0097X-2015 adopted on April 27, 2015.
SECTION 2. That the services constituting the Plan shall be made in accordance with the provision of the Resolution of Necessity, 0097X-2015, and in accordance with the Plan of Services and estimate of cost of the Plan previously approved and on file in the office of the Clerk of Council.
SECTION 3. That the Council does hereby find that no claim for damages resulting from said Plan of Services have been filed with the Clerk of Council.
SECTION 4. That the assessable portion of the cost of the Plan of Services shall be assessed against the benefiting properties, in the manner and in the number of annual installments as provided in the Resolution of Necessity.
SECTION 5. That the report of the Assessment Equalization Board appointed pursuant to Ordinance 1542-2015 is hereby approved.
SECTION 6. That the estimated assessment heretofore prepared and filed in the office of the Clerk of this Council in accordance with the Resolution of Necessity and as equalized by the Assessment Equalization Board are hereby adopted and confirmed.
SECTION 7. That the portion of the cost provided in the above-mentioned Resolution of Necessity to be assessed are hereby levied and assessed in the manner and number of installments provided in said Resolution 0097X-2015 and on the lots and lands described therein, which assessments are in proportion to the special benefits and are not in excess of any statutory limitations.
SECTION 8. The assessment against each lot or parcel of land shall be payable over five (5) years in semi-annual installments. All assessments shall be collected as follows:
In two semi-annual collections by the County Treasurer. The City Auditor shall certify the herein-referenced unpaid special assessment to the County Auditor as provided by law.
SECTION 9. That pursuant to the provisions of Section 1710.11 of the Ohio Revised Code, Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., as soon as funds are available, may make and execute contract(s) for said Plan of Services in accordance with Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. rules for competitive bidding, and such improvements and services shall be financed as provided in the aforesaid Resolution of Necessity.
SECTION 10. That the Clerk of Council shall cause a notice of passage of this ordinance to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Columbus and to continue on file in the office of the Clerk of Council said assessments.
SECTION 11. That the Clerk of Council is hereby directed to deliver a certified copy of this ordinance to the Auditor of Franklin County, Ohio within fifteen (15) days after its passage.
SECTION 12. It is hereby found and determined that all formal actions of this Council concerning and relating to the passage of this ordinance were adopted in an open meeting of this Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and any of its committees that resulted in such formal action were in meetings open to the public, in compliance with all legal requirements, including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.
SECTION 13. That the Clerk of Council is hereby directed to post a copy of this ordinance in the Office of the Clerk of Council.
SECTION 14. 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 days after adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.