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 six community based non-profit organizations and amends Ordinance 0629-2012 by adding Friends of the Hilltop. Organizations participating include the Greater Linden Development Corporation, Franklinton Development Association, Homes on the Hill Community Development Corporation, Central Community House, Friends of the Hilltop, Metropolitan Community Services, Inc., and Community Development for All People.
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 seven community based non-profit organizations.
Emergency action is necessary so upkeep of these City-owned properties can continue without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: $150,000 has been allocated from the General Fund for this purpose.
Title
To amend Ordinance 0629-2012 to include Friends of the Hilltop as a nonprofit organization providing maintenance services under the Community Land Care Program; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contracts with various nonprofit organizations to provide maintenance services for properties held by the Columbus Land Reutilization Program and known as the Community Land Care Program; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 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, Ordinance 0246-2014 passed February 24, 2014 and Ordinance 0789-2015 passed April 20, 2015 authorizing 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 under the Community Land Care Program; 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 modify existing agreements and enter into new agreements with various nonprofit groups so upkeep of these City-owned properties can continue without interruption, 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 Section 1 of Ordinance 0629-2012 is hereby amended to include Friends of the Hilltop as a nonprofit organization providing maintenance services for properties acquired under the Community Land Care Program.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development, or designee, is authorized to enter into contracts with the Greater Linden Development Corporation, Franklinton Development Association, Homes on the Hill Community Development Corporation, Central Community House, Friends of the Hilltop, Metropolitan Community Services, Inc., and Community Development for All People, to provide various maintenance services for properties held by the Columbus Land Reutilization Program and known as the Community Land Care Program.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in section 2, the expenditure of $150,000 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 General Fund in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That these contracts are awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to the process for awarding not-for-profit service contracts.
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.