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 Action Plan to accept its recommendations as a framework for policy and program development in the area of local food systems; and
WHEREAS, this legislation supports the implementation of the Local Food Action Plan’s Goal B-5 to: “Grow capacity and enhance the viability of civic agriculture to allow more residents to grow food for themselves and their neighbors;” and
WHEREAS, in 2016, the City established an agreement with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation (COCIC) to provide funds to purchase materials for community gardens licensed by the City Land Bank Program. Items purchased include wood, fencing, top soil, seeds, plants, mulch, water cisterns, and other materials to improve the gardens; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to extend and modify the agreement with COCIC and authorize the expenditure of an additional $25,000; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is requested in order to install the garden resources during the 2017 growing season; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to modify a contract with the COCIC to provide grants for City Land Bank properties used as community gardens and appropriate and expend funds for the improvement of existing City owned properties under the Land Reutilization Program, all for the immediate preservation of 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 Director of Development is authorized to modify a contract with Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation to provide grants for City Land Bank properties used as community gardens.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $25,000.00, or so much therefore as may be necessary, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Land Management Fund, Fund 2206 in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.