Explanation
BACKGROUND: On June 3, 2013 Council passed Ordinance 1208-2013 to allow the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with a software services provider STR LLC (contract compliance #84-1703484, expires 8/25/2017) to provide a comprehensive database for the Land Redevelopment Office and to pay the annual user subscription service fee for the first year. The software has enabled the Columbus Land Bank Program to better monitor its growing inventory, track tax foreclosures, merge various datasets into one system, and upgrade how properties are marketed on the City’s website. At this time the Land Bank program needs to pay the annual user subscription service fee, up to $30,000, for 2015-16.
Emergency action is requested in order to continue ongoing activities for the Columbus Land Bank Program without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds are available in the Land Management Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to renew an annual user subscription service contract with STR, LLC for software support of the comprehensive Land Redevelopment Office database, in accordance with the sole source provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of up to $30,000 from the Land Management Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($30,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced the Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative, a comprehensive plan to address vacant and abandoned properties that includes a goal to demolish hundreds of structures over the next three years; and
WHEREAS, various City offices are implementing the demolition portion of the program, including the targeting of vacant and abandoned properties through tax foreclosure under the Land Reutilization Program; and
WHEREAS, the Land Redevelopment Office has installed a data base to track, maintain, and dispose of property; and
WHEREAS, the database is a proprietary product of STR, LLC; and
WHEREAS...
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