Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the expenditure of up to $24,835 for a Brownfield grant award pursuant to the Green Columbus Fund established by Ordinance 1462-2010, which was later amended and replaced by Ordinance 1931- 2012.
The Green Columbus Fund represents the City's commitment to foster sustainable building through LEED certification and to foster sustainable Brownfield assessment and redevelopment. The program will produce economic, environmental and social benefits for Columbus and its residents.
Columbus Urban League was granted $175,165 to redevelop the site located at 778-780 Mt. Vernon Avenue pursuant to ordinance 3153-2016, passed by City Council on December 12, 2016. The site has been redeveloped into the Huntington Empowerment Center, which includes My Brother’s Closet, a collection of professional clothing provided to low-income men, as well as flexible spaces for youth programs, social programs and business incubator space.
This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into an additional grant agreement with the Columbus Urban League for additional costs of Brownfield abatement and redevelopment of the site at 778-780 Mt. Vernon Avenue, subject to the project attaining Brownfield assessment and redevelopment goals of the program and meeting the terms and conditions of the agreement. It authorizes the expenditure of up to $24,835 in order to pay for the costs of the asbestos abatement and selective demolition at the site. Emergency action is requested so that the Brownfield assessment work can be completed in a timely manner.
Fiscal Impact: Cash is available in the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget in the Green Columbus Fund portion of Fund 7735, identified as the Green Columbus Initiatives Fund.
Emergency Justification: Emergency legislation is required to allow for immediate execution of the Green Columbus Fund Agreement, which is necessary to facilitate the completion of the rehabilitation of the property to maintain the project schedule and to coincide with the established development timeline.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Brownfield grant agreement with Columbus Urban League to complete asbestos remediation and selective demolition on the site pursuant to the Green Columbus Fund Program; to authorize the expenditure of up to $24,835.00 from the Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($24,835.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development administers from city bond proceeds the Green Columbus Fund, established by Ordinance 1462-2010 and later amended and replaced by Ordinance 1931-2012; and
WHEREAS, the Green Columbus Fund represents the City's commitment to produce economic, environmental and social benefits for Columbus and its residents by fostering sustainable building through LEED certification and by fostering sustainable Brownfield assessment and redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the applicant Columbus Urban League has applied under the Brownfield assessment and redevelopment component of this program, the purpose of which is to encourage proper and productive use of Brownfield land, in this case the site at 778-780 Mt. Vernon Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Urban League has received a Brownfield grant for the site pursuant to Ordinance 3153-2016 in the amount of $175,165 to perform necessary asbestos remediation work and selective demolition; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into an additional Brownfield grant agreement with Columbus Urban League; and
WHEREAS, this Green Columbus Fund Brownfield grant of up to $24,835 is required to complete the necessary asbestos remediation work and selective demolition; and
WHEREAS, the property has been re-developed as the Huntington Empowerment Center, which includes My Brother’s Closet, a collection of professional clothing provided to low-income men, as well as flexible spaces for youth programs, social programs and business incubator space; and
WHEREAS, funding is available under the Green Columbus Fund in the Northland and Other Acquisitions Fund 7735; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into the grant agreement with Columbus Urban League so that work can be completed in a timely manner, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a Brownfield grant agreement with Columbus Urban League for asbestos remediation work and selective demolition under the Brownfield component the Green Columbus Fund program for the site at 778-780 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Columbus.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $24,835 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7735 Northland and Other Acquisitions in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay 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 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 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. 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 its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.