Explanation
BACKGROUND: In September, 2014, Council Ordinance 2024-2014 authorized a partnership with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC, the Franklin County Land Reutilization Program) to execute the Neighborhood initiative Program (NIP), a demolition grant funded by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency. COCIC and the City’s land bank programs have worked together to demolished structures throughout the County, including a total of 160 structures either demolished or pending demolition in the City. The Director of the Department of Development now seeks authorization to enter into an agreement with COCIC to expand this partnership and expend up to $400,000 to demolish properties that are ineligible for the grant. Properties include those located within the City but fall outside the grant boundaries, demolitions that exceed the reimbursement cap, and court ordered demolitions.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds are available in the 2014 Capital Improvement Budget in Fund 782 Housing Preservation.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested to demolish vacant and abandoned structures as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development, or his designee, to enter into an agreement with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation to provide funds to demolish structures located within the City of Columbus; to authorize the expenditure of $400,000 from the Housing Preservation Fund; to execute any and all documents necessary for conveyance of title to properties for demolition to the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation; and to declare an emergency. ($400,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, as authorized by City Council Ordinance 0277-2013, the Director of the Department of Development was authorized to enter into a Master Memorandum of Understanding with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC) to create a framework under which the City’s Land Reutilization Program and the COCIC will operate; and
WHEREAS, as authorized by City Council Ordinance 2024-2014, the City and COCIC entered into a partnership to demolish blighted properties under the Neighborhood Initiative Program, a grant program managed by the Ohio Housing Finance Agency; and
WHEREAS, under the partnership, the City and COCIC work together to bid work, hire contractors, and manage the demolition of blighted structures, the City now seeks authorization to add the demolition of properties ineligible for the grant; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Development, or his designee, to execute any and all necessary documents for the conveyance of title in order to transfer properties to COCIC for demolition; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into an agreement with COCIC and authorize the expenditure of $400,000 as soon as possible in order to facilitate the demolition of blighted properties, 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. The Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation for up to $400,000 to reimburse costs associated with the demolition of structures located within the City of Columbus.
SECTION 2. That for the purposes stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $200,000 from the Housing Preservation Fund is hereby authorized as follows:
Fund: 782
Project: 782001-100000
Project Name: Housing Preservation
O.L. 01 - 03 Codes: 06-6616
OCA Code: 782001
Amount: $200,000
SECTION 3. That for the purposes stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $200,000 from the Housing Preservation Fund is hereby authorized as follows:
Fund: 782
Project: 782001-100004
Project Name: Hsng Pres/Home Again/Old Oaks
O.L. 01 - 03 Codes: 06-6616
OCA Code: 782104
Amount: $200,000
SECTION 4. The Director of the Department of Development, or his designee, is authorized to execute any and all documents necessary for conveyance of title in order to transfer properties for demolition, as approved by the City Attorney’s Office, Real Estate Division, to the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 8. 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.