Explanation
Background: The Department of Development’s Land Redevelopment Division manages the City Land Bank’s Community Garden Program. Since 2011, the number of city land bank parcels licensed as community gardens has expanded from about 20 parcels to about 90 parcels. Due to the increased interest in community gardening and urban agriculture over the last five years in Columbus, the Land Redevelopment Division had dedicated more resources to help the garden program’s licensees develop, expand, and sustain their community gardens. This legislation will allow the Director of the Department of Development to modify an existing agreement with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC) to provide material support to land bank community gardens. The legislation will provide an additional $25,000 to a contract established in 2016 by PO #016025 in the amount of $19,000.
Emergency action is requested in order to provide funds and resources for the 2017 growing season.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $25,000 from the Land Management Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a contract with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation to provide grants for City Land Bank properties used as community gardens; to authorize the expenditure of $25,000.00 from the Land Management Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($25,000.00)
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, the City owns thousands of vacant lots acquired under the Land Reutilization Program and establishes licenses with various individuals and nonprofit corporations to maintain community gardens; and
WHEREAS, Council passed resolution 0275X-2016 on November 21, 2016 to authorize the adoption of the Columbus & Franklin County Local Food Acti...
Click here for full text