Explanation
BACKGROUND:
On January 28, 2005, the Mayor released his "Get Green Columbus" initiative. The guidance document laid out how the city will change its operations to improve efficiency and environmental sensitivity. It directs city agencies to use the city's purchasing power and investment incentive to encourage job creation and it provides a framework for the entire community to unite to solve these challenges.
As part of this initiative, the city will promote buying environmentally preferable products by adopting changes to our procurement code to assure that when practical, we are purchasing materials, supplies, equipment, construction and services which are environmentally preferable. Purchasing these materials not only will preserve natural resources and help keep materials out of the landfill, but it also will leverage the city's buying power to help nurture the marketplace for environmentally preferable products.
The Purchasing Office will educate vendors and city agency staff regarding this City Code change. This will include notification of the change on vendor registration and open bid solicitation websites, appropriate language in procurement documents and vendor training in appropriate commodity areas. City fiscal staff will be educated at an internal cooperative purchasing meeting prior to the implementation date.
Amending Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 will encourage the implementation of policies and procedures designed to promote the procurement of materials, supplies, equipment, construction and services from environmentally preferable bidders or offerors. Chapter 329 is also being amended to correct all references to the procurement definitions described in Section 329.04 throughout the entire Chapter and to change all language specifying the "finance" director to the "finance and management" director which were not previously changed pursuant to Ordinance 1102-2005, passed July 28, 2005.
FISCAL IMPA...
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