Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 1999 the Capital South Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and the Columbus Department of Trade and Development initiated an effort to work with downtown property owners to create a Special Improvement District (SID) in the core area of downtown. Property owners were surveyed and overwhelmingly were in support of creating a SID. In 2000 the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus (the Capital Crossroads SID) was created for a five year term. Due to the success of the Capital Crossroads SID, it was reauthorized in 2006, 2011, and 2016.
The property owners within the Capital Crossroads SID at this time wish to authorize an overlapping “Transit Services Plan” as a plan for improvements and services applicable only to non-residential and non-parking properties within the Capital Crossroads SID. A one petition process has been initiated in which the owners of at least 60% of the front footage within the portion of the Capital Crossroads SID covered by the Transit Services Plan signed that they are interested in having the Transit Services Plan adopted and they approve of the improvements and services to be provided by the Capital Crossroads SID under the Transit Services Plan. This legislation is one of the first actions required by Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code to authorize the Transit Services Plan.
A companion ordinance is being presented that approves the Petition to Adopt the Transit Services Plan and the inclusion of properties owned by the City of Columbus in the area covered by the Transit Services Plan.
This legislation is for the approval of the “Transit Services Plan” (Attached) to be provided by the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1710.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation
Title
To approve the Transit Services Plan to be provided by the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District, Inc.; and the inclusion of properties owned by the City of Columbus as properties covered by the Transit Services Plan.
Body
WHEREAS, Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code provides for the creation of Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) and the adoption of plans for public improvements and public services within all or any portion of the area of a SID; and
WHEREAS, the City has created the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus and the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. (collectively, the Capital Crossroads SID); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code, the Capital Crossroads SID has submitted to the City a Petition to Adopt the Transit Services Plan (the Petition) and a Transit Services Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Transit Services Plan is a plan for public improvements and public services under Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code, including the provision of access to Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) transit services to employees working in buildings within the Capital Crossroads SID that are covered by the Transit Services Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Petition requests that the City approve the Transit Services Plan as a plan for public improvements and public services for the portion of the Capital Crossroads SID covered by the plan; and
WHEREAS, the Council will also consider a companion piece of legislation at the same time as this Resolution which would approve the Petition and authorize the City to sign the Petition and submit certain of its real property to the Transit Services Plan; and
WHEREAS, this Resolution is for the approval of the Transit Services Plan to be provided by the Capital Crossroads SID pursuant to Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk of Columbus City Council finds that the real property owned by the property owners who have signed the Petition and owned by the City represents at least 60% of the front footage of the real property located within the Capital Crossroads SID and to be assessed under the Transit Services Plan, all in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 1710.06(B); and
WHEREAS, this Council determines that the SID is a valuable tool for economic development and a means of continuing to improve the Downtown area, and that the Transit Services Plan furthers those goals; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Transit Services Plan, including the estimate of cost of the public improvements and public services to be provided by the Capital Crossroads SID under the Transit Services Plan, now on file with the City Clerk is hereby approved.
SECTION 2. That the Mayor or his designee is hereby authorized to designate in writing that the City’s properties within the Capital Crossroads SID are included under the Transit Services Plan and may be assessed under the Transit Services Plan.
SECTION 3. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to post a copy of this Resolution in the Office of the City Clerk as provided by Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1710.
SECTION 4. That this Resolution shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.