Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into contract with The Participatory Budgeting Project, Inc. (PBP) to provide consultancy services on participatory budgeting.
PBP supports participatory budgeting (PB) processes that deepen democracy, build stronger communities, and make public budgets more equitable and effective. Since 2009, PBP has supported dozens of governments, public institutions, and organizations in launching and deepening participatory budgeting processes. This support ranges from technical assistance with specific stages of PB to fully implementing a PB process. Participatory budgeting is a democratic process where community members have substantial input regarding how to spend part of a public budget. Though each PB initiative looks different, the process generally involves several months of public meetings, discussions, and voting, so that the public has time to make wise decisions. In the United States, PB was first used in 2009 in Chicago’s 49th Ward. Since then, PB has spread all over the country.
In 2025, Columbus City Council expects to utilize participatory budgeting for a portion of the Capital Improvements Budget. Council will collaborate with the Participatory Budgeting Project on guidance, best practices, coaching, and technical assistance to help stand up the new initiative.
This ordinance is being entered into under the non-profit contracting provisions of Section 329 of Columbus City Codes. There are no current city staff resources that have the experience or expertise to undertake this initiative, hence the need to contract with an external non-profit organization.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to establish the agreement prior to the initiation of year-end processing by the Auditor’s office.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into contract with The Participatory Budgeting Project, Inc. to provide con...
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