Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Obetz and the City of Groveport. The parties plan to complete an application for a Local Government Innovative Grant. The Memorandum of Understanding is needed to facilitate and implement the goals of the grant application. The City of Columbus will be the lead application for the Local Government Innovative Grant. The parties to the Local Government Innovative Grant application have agreed to do the following:
1. Develop, build and operate, in conjunction with private parties, a fiber optic system utilizing and connecting existing fiber optics owned by the three cities.
2. Enhance the economic development of the three communities and create sufficient revenue to sustain the collaboration and the operation of the proposed fiber system.
3. To aggregate demand for telecommunications services, and when possible, support each other's data and information technology needs utilizing the proposed fiber system for that purpose.
4. Upon approval of Columbus City Council, cooperate in the creation of a mutually agreed-upon entity or series of contractual commitments to each other to perform the actions indicated in numbers 1 through 3.
This legislation is presented as an emergency measure in order to meet the grant application deadline.
Fiscal Impact: There is no fiscal impact for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Obetz and the City of Groveport for the purpose of completing the Local Government Innovative Grant Application; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, City of Obetz and the City of Groveport desires to jointly complete an application for a Local Government Innovation Grant; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus will be the lead applicant for the Local Government Innovation Grant Application; and
WHEREAS, the parties intend to expand the proposed fiber optic system to other Southern Franklin County communities and districts, if feasible and mutually agreed upon; and
WHEREAS, the Memorandum of Understanding is not intended to be a legally binding document; and
WHEREAS, the Memorandum of Understanding is a document which outlines how the parties intend to collaborate if the grant is awarded; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into the Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Obetz and the City of Groveport for the purpose of the completing the Local Government Innovative Grant Application in order to meet the grant application deadline, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, Therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Development Director is hereby authorized to enter a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Obetz and the City of Groveport for the purpose of completing the Local Government Innovation Grant and for the purpose of outlining how the parties intent collaborate should the Local Government Innovation Grant be awarded to the parties.
Section 2. That the Development Director be and hereby is authorized and directed to present the negotiated MOU to Columbus City Council for approval prior to entering into said MOU with the City of Obetz and the City of Groveport.
Section 3. That the approval of Columbus City Council shall be required prior to the creation of any mutually agreed-upon entity or series of contractual commitments to perform the actions indicated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof.
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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.