Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the expenditure of $35,000 to engage the professional services of Columbus Sister Cities International, Inc. to administer the Columbus Sister Cities International Program (CSCI) for the purpose of promoting business, government, and educational exchanges between our Sister Cities who are Dresden In Germany, Genoa in Italy, Hefei in China, Herzliya in Israel, Odense in Demark, Seville in Spain and Tainan in Taiwan for long-term economic development. City funding was provided in 2004 to support staffing and administrative costs of CSCI. CSCI has worked diligently to raise capital for its overall operation but additional support is required to maintain a full-time executive director and to defray miscellaneous administrative costs. Most recently, CSCI collaborated with local organizations in Central Ohio for hosting a high-level delegation from Hefei, China and for organizing an international symposium entitled: "Doing Business In China". CSCI provided assistance to a martial arts delegation from the same Sister City to the 2005 Arnold Classic in early March 2005.
Emergency action is requested to ensure the uninterrupted implementation of the organization's projects and the retention of essential staff.
FISCAL IMPACT: The 2005 General Fund budget included $35,000 for this contract. This contract will cover the term of February 1,
2005 through January 31, 2006. In 2004, the contract amount was $35,000 and covered the period of February 1, 2004 through January
31, 2005. The contract amount in 2003 was $50,000.
Title
To authorize the Director of Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Sister Cities International, Inc.; to authorize the expenditure of $35,000 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($35,000)
Body
WHEREAS, General revenue monies have been budgeted and appropriated for the Columbus Sister Cities International, Inc.; and
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