Explanation
BACKGROUND: Ordinances 0629-2012 and 1467-2012 authorized the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contracts with various nonprofit organizations to provide maintenance and landscaping services for parcels owned by the Columbus Land Bank in a program called Community Land Care. This legislation will reestablish land care contracts with five community based non-profit organizations, Greater Linden Development Corporation, Franklinton Development Association, Homes on the Hill Community Development Corporation, Central Community House, and Community Development for All People and will add Metropolitan Community Services as a new community based non-profit provider. The Community Land Care Program services include trash pickup, lawn mowing, landscaping, lot monitoring, seeding, and community garden support. This legislation will continue the program for an additional year with six community based non-profit organizations. $150,000 has been allocated in the 2015 General Fund budget for this purpose.
FISCAL IMPACT: $150,000 has been allocated in the 2015 General Fund budget for this purpose.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify existing agreements or enter into new agreements with various nonprofit organizations to provide maintenance and landscaping services for parcels held by the Columbus Land Reutilization Program in a program called Community Land Care; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Council passed ordinance 2161-93, on October 25, 1993, as amended by 1325-98, on June 8, 1998, to authorize the adoption of a Land Reutilization Program under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5722; and
WHEREAS, Council passed ordinance 0629-2012, on March 28, 2012, as amended by Ordinance 1467-2012, on July 11, 2012, Ordinance 0817-2013 passed April 22, 2013, and Ordinance 0246-2014 passed 2/24/2014 to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into agreements with various nonprofit organizations to provide maintenance and landscaping services for properties owned by the Columbus Land Bank Program; and
WHEREAS, the City owns hundreds of vacant lots acquired under the Land Reutilization Program and desires to continue contracts with various community based non-profit corporations to maintain and improve the lots; and
WHEREAS, such maintenance cannot be performed by existing City Staff; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and expend funds for the maintenance and improvement of existing City owned properties under the Land Reutilization Program, all for the immediate preservation of 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 Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to modify existing agreements or enter into new agreements with the Greater Linden Development Corporation, Franklinton Development Association, Homes on the Hill Community Development Corporation, Central Community House, Metropolitan Community Services, and Community Development for All People, to provide various maintenance services for properties held by the Columbus Land Reutilization Program in a program called Community Land Care.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $150,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary from the Department of Development, Division 44-01, General Fund, Fund 010, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3354, OCA Code 440180 for the aforesaid purpose is hereby authorized.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That these contracts are awarded or modified pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to the process for awarding not-for-profit service contracts and contract modifications.
SECTION 5. That for the reason 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 form and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.