Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Finance and Management Director to enter into contract with Experience Columbus for marketing services to increase tourism and convention business and for the disbursement of the Hotel/Motel excise tax proceeds in accordance with Section 371.02(c) of Columbus City Codes which, in part, designates a portion of funds for the purpose of promoting Columbus. For 2017, that portion of the Hotel/Motel excise tax is projected to be $9,776,000 and is provided to Experience Columbus per this ordinance.
Emergency action is requested to ensure ongoing operation of Experience Columbus.
Experience Columbus, Contract Compliance#: 31-4153118 (non- profit)
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $9,776,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Fund with Experience Columbus for marketing services related to increasing tourism and convention business for the City of Columbus. These funds are budgeted in the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax fund for these services. Funding for this contract will come from receipts into the Hotel/Motel tax fund in accordance with Section 371.02 of the Columbus City Codes. In 2016, the City entered into a $9,446,000.00 contract with Experience Columbus for these services.
Title
To authorize the Finance and Management Director to contract with Experience Columbus for marketing services to increase tourism and convention business and strengthen the image of the City of Columbus, Ohio; to authorize the expenditure of $9,776,000.00 from the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($9,776,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Section 371.02(c) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, specifies that 2.39% of the combined rates of 5.1% of the revenues of the hotel/motel excise tax are to be used for the promotion of the City of Columbus as a desirable location for conventions, tourism, trade shows, and similar events; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned rates were established pursuant to Ord. 0484-2014; and
WHEREAS, Ord. 2864-2016 appropriated $9,776,000 from the monies in the fund known as the Hotel-Motel Tax Fund, Fund No. 2231, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources during the 12 months ending December 31, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the city and its citizens benefit economically, culturally, and otherwise from these marketing services, and it is in the best interests of the city and its citizens to encourage and support the services of Experience Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Experience Columbus Board of Directors will dedicate funding in its annual budget for collaborative image/branding efforts to enhance awareness, to support development in the region, and to continue the implementation of the five-year Destination Columbus Plan; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Finance and Management Department to enter into contract with Experience Columbus for $9,776,000 or 2.39% of the combined rates of 5.1% of the revenues of the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax in accordance with Chapter 371.02 (c) of Columbus City Codes; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Experience Columbus to ensure the ongoing operation of Experience Columbus for the immediate preservation of public peace, property, health, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. The Director of the Finance and Management Department is hereby authorized to contract with Experience Columbus for marketing the City of Columbus, so as to increase cultural, educational, religious, professional and sports-related visits and conventions in the city, thus boosting the economy and creating more jobs.
SECTION 2. That said contract shall provide for payment by the city for such services in accordance with Chapter 371.02(c) of Columbus City Codes and 2.39% of the combined rates of 5.1% of the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax, currently estimated at $9,776,000, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Hotel/Motel Excise Tax Fund 2231, Sub-Fund 223105 in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 0535-2017 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329 relating to awarding not-for-profit service contracts exceeding twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00).
SECTION 4. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.