Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the expenditure of up to $47,700 for a LEED grant award pursuant to the Green Columbus Fund, a grant program established by Ordinance 1462-2010 and amended and replaced by Ordinance 1931-2012.
The Green Columbus Fund represents the City's commitment to foster sustainable building through LEED certification and to foster sustainable Brownfield assessment and redevelopment. The program will produce economic, environmental and social benefits for Columbus and its residents.
This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Grange Mutual Casualty Company, for the project to sustainably operate and maintain an existing building at 671 S. High Street, Columbus. The project is subject to attaining LEED certification and meeting the other terms and conditions of the agreement. The ordinance also authorizes the expenditure of up to $47,700 for this purpose.
Emergency action is requested as it is necessary to immediately enter into this grant agreement to foster sustainable economic development on this project.
FISCAL IMPACT: Cash is available in the 2014 Capital Improvements Budget, Fund 735, Green Columbus Initiatives Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Grange Mutual Casualty Company in order to foster sustainable building operation and maintenance through LEED Silver certification of the existing office building at 671 S. High Street, pursuant to the Green Columbus Fund Program; to authorize the expenditure of up to $47,700.00 from the Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($47,700.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development administers from city bond funds the Green Columbus Fund, established by Ordinance 1462-2010 and later amended and replaced by Ordinance 1931-2012; and
WHEREAS, the Green Columbus Fund represents the City's commitment to foster sustainable building through LEED certification and to foster sustainable Brownfield assessment and redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the program will produce economic, environmental and social benefits for Columbus and its residents; and
WHEREAS, the applicant has applied under the LEED certification component of this program, the purpose of which is to encourage sustainable buildings, and the application has been approved by the Department of Development; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Grange Mutual Casualty Company for the sustainable operation and maintenance of the existing building at 671 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43206, subject to the project attaining LEED certification and meeting the other terms and conditions of the agreement; and
WHEREAS, the office building achieved Silver certification in the Existing Building: Operations and Maintenance (EB: O&M) rating category; and
WHEREAS, funding is available for the Green Columbus Fund in Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund 735; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with Grange Mutual Casualty Co. to foster sustainable economic development on this project, immediate action being in the interest of the City in order to preserve, enhance, and protect public health, peace, property and safety; 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 enter into a grant agreement with Grange Mutual Casualty Company, for the sustainable operation and maintenance of the existing building at 671 S. High Street, Columbus, in order to foster sustainable building and operating practices through LEED certification under the Green Columbus Fund Program.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $47,700 or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized from the Department of Development, Division 44-01, Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund 735, Project 441749-100001, Object Level One 06, Object Level Three 6617, OCA Code 754151.
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 the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
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 administrating 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 its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.