Explanation
Background: The City of Columbus owns large tracts of land in Franklin, Pickaway, and Delaware Counties associated with operations of the Department of Public Utilities. Land being held for future expansion of Division of Water and Division of Sewerage and Drainage operations and for protection and buffering of groundwater well fields is leased for farming purposes. By leasing tillable tracts for farming purposes, the City; i) reduces its cost for property management and oversight such as mowing fields, maintaining fences & tree lines, etc.; ii) provides for good stewardship of the land keeping it in productive use to prevent vandalism and the formation of wetland conditions, and iii) generates a small amount of income for the Division of Water and Division of Sewerage and Drainage .
The Department of Finance and Management, Real Estate Management Office (REMO) is responsible for the leasing of these City-owned tracts for farming purposes on behalf of the Department of Public Utilities. Currently the City leases tracts of property to eleven (11) farming entities. The lease agreements with these entities will expire in November and December 2016. After considerable research into the dynamics of farmland leasing as they relate to the City’s goals for land stewardship, and an extensive review of the farming operations and stewardship practices of the current Tenants it has been determined that it is the best interest of the City to enter into new lease agreements with the existing Tenants to ensure consistent, professional management of the City’s tillable acreage to preserve and manage the land in conformance with best farming practices.
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to execute eleven new lease agreements for the farming of available tillable acreage at various properties used in Department of Public Utilities operations.
Emergency action is requested to assure that these eleven Lease Agreements...
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