Explanation
BACKGROUND: On June 3, 2013 Council passed Ordinance 1208-2013 to allow the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with a software services provider, STR LLC, to provide a comprehensive database for the Land Redevelopment Office and to pay the annual user subscription service fee for the first year. The software has enabled the Columbus Land Bank Program to better monitor its growing inventory, track tax foreclosures, merge various datasets into one system, and upgrade how properties are marketed on the City’s website. At this time the Land Bank program needs to pay the annual user subscription service fee, up to $30,000, for the coming year 2017-18. This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a contract, up to $30,000, to pay the annual user subscription service fee for the coming year 2017-18.
EMERGENCY ACTION: Emergency action is requested so that the operations of the Columbus Land Bank Program can continue without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this expenditure are available in the Land Management Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to renew the annual user subscription service fee for 2017-18 with STR LLC for software services provided for the Land Redevelopment Office’s comprehensive database; to authorize the expenditure of up to $30,000.00 from the Land Management Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($30,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on June 3, 2013, Council passed Ordinance 1208-2013 to allow the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with a software services provider STR LLC, to provide a comprehensive database for the Land Redevelopment Office and to pay the annual user subscription service fee for the first year; and
WHEREAS, the software has enabled the Columbus Land Bank Program to better monitor its growing inventory, track tax foreclosures, merge various datasets into one system, and upgrade how properties are marketed on the City’s website; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the renewal of the annual user subscription service fee for software services provided for the Land Redevelopment Office’s comprehensive database for the coming year 2017-18; and
WHEREAS, the data base is a proprietary product of STR, LLC; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development needs to pay the annual user subscription service fee and expend up to $30,000for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, funds are available and appropriated in the Land Management Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and expend said funds so that the operations of the Columbus Land Bank Program can continue without interruption, 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 hereby authorized to pay the annual user subscription service fee to STR LLC for software services provided for the Land Redevelopment Office’s comprehensive database for an additional year.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $30,000 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2206 Land Management Fund in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.