Explanation
BACKGROUND: By Ordinances 0912-2014 and 1909-2014, Council authorized the expenditure of $130,000 to pay costs associated with tax foreclosure cases as a part of the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative. This legislation increases three existing Purchase Orders by an additional $82,000 to continue the payment of these costs, including title policies, transfer fees, and similar expenses typically paid by the City Land Bank Program. In 2012, the Franklin County Treasurer, Franklin County Prosecutor, City Attorney, the County Land Bank, and Land Redevelopment office developed a process to expedite tax foreclosure cases for properties in need of demolition. As council for the Franklin County Treasurer, the Franklin County Prosecutor issued a competitive bid for Legal Services for these foreclosures, under County RFP# 2012-43-32. The Prosecutor selected three law firms, Alban and Alban, LP; Gingo Palumbo Law Group, LLC.; and Luper, Neidenthal and Logan as the lowest and best bids for the service and was authorized to enter into contract with these firms through Franklin County Resolution 0246-13.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds are available for this purpose from the Development Taxable Bonds Fund ($82,000).
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested in order to continue ongoing activities with the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative without interruption.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to increase Purchase Orders with Alban and Alban, LP, Gingo Palumbo Law Group, LLC., and Luper Neidenthal and Logan for costs associated with tax foreclosure cases as a part of the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative; to authorize the expenditure of $82,000.00 from the Development Taxable Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($82,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2012, the Franklin County Treasurer, Franklin County Prosecutor, City Attorney, the County Land Bank and Land Redevelopment office developed a process to expedite tax foreclosure cases for properties in need of demolition; and
WHEREAS, as council for the Franklin County Treasurer, the Franklin County Prosecutor issued a competitive bid for Legal Services for these foreclosures, under County RFP# 2012-43-32; and
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Prosecutor selected three law firms, Alban and Alban, LP; Gingo Palumbo Law Group, LLC.; and Luper Neidenthal and Logan as the lowest and best bids for the service and was authorized to enter into contract with these firms through Franklin County Resolution 0246-13; and
WHEREAS, by Ordinances 0912-2014 and 1909-2014, Council authorized the expenditure of $130,000 to pay a portion of the costs associated with tax foreclosure, including title policies, deed recording, and similar costs typically paid by the City Land Bank Program; and
WHEREAS, the work includes Legal Services that are typically paid by the City Land Bank Program, including title policy and recording fees and these services are inseparable from the underlying foreclosure work and in meetings with the Franklin County Prosecutor, the City agreed to pay for these expenses; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to increase these Purchase Orders to continue ongoing activities with the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative without interruption, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to increase the following Purchase Orders to pay costs associated with tax foreclosure cases as a part of the Mayor's Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative:
Alban and Alban, LP, (ED 049977)
Gingo Palumbo Law Group, LLC. (ED 049965)
Luper Neidenthal and Logan (ED 050407)
SECTION 2. That for the purposes stated in Section 1 the expenditure of $82,000 from the Development Taxable Bonds Fund is hereby authorized as follows:
Fund: 739
Project: 782004-100000
Project Name: Vacant Housing Demolition
O.L. 01 - 03 Codes: 06-6616
OCA Code: 739040
Amount: $82,000
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for any contract or contract modification associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. 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.