Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the transfer of signature authority from the Director of Public Service to the City’s Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present, and future contracts entered into by the City of Columbus in connection with Smart Columbus, the Smart City Challenge, and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan) projects, along with all future documents requiring signature for any of these projects.
The Department of Public Service, on behalf of the City of Columbus, applied for the Smart City Challenge grant program sponsored by the United States Department of Transportation and a companion grant offered by the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. The City was awarded both grants and responsibility for the programs remained under the Department of Public Service. All legislation passed in connection with these programs authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into contracts or sign documents on behalf of the City.
Eventually the position of Chief Innovation Officer was created by the Mayor to direct the City’s Smart Columbus efforts. This has created a need for the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee to have signature authority for contracts already created, and for future contracts and other documents requiring the signature of a person that can legally bind the City.
2. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency designation is requested in order to allow authorization of future modifications to past contracts and authorization of future contracts without any delays.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
No financial impact is anticipated.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Public Service to transfer signature authority for all Smart City Challenge, Smart Columbus, and Paul G. Allen Family Foundation contracts, documents, and projects, past, present, and future, to the City’s Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service has established contracts with various firms in conjunction with the Smart City Challenge and Paul G. Allen Family Foundation grants; and
WHEREAS, the Smart Columbus office was created to administer projects in conjunction with the Smart City Challenge and Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Vulcan grants; and
WHEREAS, the position of Chief Innovation Officer was established to oversee the Smart Columbus office; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to transfer signature authority from the Director of Public Service to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all Smart City Challenge, Smart Columbus, and Paul G. Allen Family Foundation contracts, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Public Service Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to transfer signature authority to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present and future Smart Columbus, Smart City Challenge, Paul G Allen Family Foundation contracts, documents, and projects.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. That for 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.