Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to execute a contribution agreement with the Greater Columbus Arts Council in support of Deliver Black Dreams, an aspirational call to action of, by, and for Black people.
Since Black Lives Matter, then delivering Black Dreams is essential to a better Columbus for all. Deliver Black Dreams is about imagining a Columbus where Black, Brown, Indigenous, and White people are able to choose a destiny free from oppression and repression.
The Greater Columbus Arts Council conceived of Deliver Black Dreams, which imagines a Columbus where Black, Brown, Indigenous, and White people are able to choose a destiny free from oppression and repression, after conducting a community survey eliciting nearly 250 responses, which overwhelmingly supported the creation of public mural exhibitions intended to preserve the current movement in history. The role of Black artists in designing and leading the creation of those murals is intended to catalyze a more integrated and far-reaching project that touches on education, healthcare, safety, and more.
The Department of Public Service has committed to contributing $15,000.00 to support that effort, will provide space within the public-of-way for the murals, and will contribute labor to remove graffiti or other damage from the murals if necessary.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this expenditure is available in the Street Construction, Maintenance, and Repair Fund, Fund 2265, and is appropriated.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to facilitate the creation and installation of said artwork as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to execute a contribution agreement with the Greater Columbus Arts Council in support of Deliver Black Dreams; to authorize the expenditure of up to $15,000.00 within the Street Construction, Maintenance, and Repair Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($15,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Greater Columbus Arts Council is sponsoring Deliver Black Dreams, an aspirational call to action of, by, and for Black people; and
WHEREAS, Deliver Black Dreams is about imagining a Columbus where Black, Brown, Indigenous, and White people are able to choose a destiny free from oppression and repression; and
WHEREAS, Deliver Black Dreams supports Black artists in designing and leading the creation of murals, with the aim of catalyzing a more integrated and far-reaching movement impacting many areas, including education, healthcare, and safety; and
WHEREAS, the role of Black artists in designing and leading the creation of murals is intended to catalyze a more integrated and far-reaching project that touches on education, healthcare, safety, and more; and
WHEREAS, the City, acting through the Department of Public Service, intends to contribute $15,000.00, space within the public right-of-way for murals, and labor to repair murals to the Greater Columbus Arts Council in furtherance of the aforementioned effort; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this legislation is to authorize the execution of a contribution agreement between the Department of Public Service and the Greater Columbus Arts Council for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contribution agreement with GCAC in order to facilitate the creation and installation of said artwork as soon as possible; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service is hereby authorized to enter into a contribution agreement with the Greater Columbus Arts Council relative to Deliver Black Dreams.
SECTION 2. That expenditure of $15,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2265 (Street Construction, Maintenance, and Repair Fund), Dept-Div 5901 (Director’s Office), in Object Class 03 (Services), per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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 its approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.