Explanation
BACKGROUND: Chapter 1710 of the Ohio Revised Code, effective September 29, 1994 provides for the creation of Special Improvement Districts, by non-profit corporations governed by trustees elected by the property owners for the provision of special services in a designated district. In 2015, a petition to create a new SID in the University area to be known as the University District Special Improvement District (SID) was approved by Council. The property owners initiated a one petition process in which the owners of at least 75% of the area of all real property located within the District signed, acknowledging that they are interested in the creation of a Special Improvement District and they approve of the Plan for Improvements and Services to be provided by the University District SID. This petition was accepted and approved by Columbus City Council by Ordinance 0641-2015, passed March 23, 2015. Another action required by the Ohio Revised Code is the approval of the Plan for Improvements and Services in said plan. This legislation was approved by Columbus City Council by Resolution No. 0061X-2015, passed March 23, 2015. The third piece of legislation was to declare the necessity to implement the Plan of Services adopted by the Discovery Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc., and to levy a special assessment for the services. This legislation was approved by Columbus City Council by Resolution No. 0096-2015, passed April 27, 2015. A final piece of legislation, providing for the levy of assessment to property owners, was approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 1892-2015, passed July 27, 2015. Each assessment is to be returned to the SID for operational requirements as set forth in the District Plan.
This legislation appropriates and approves the expenditure of assessments collected in fiscal year 2019 that are to be returned to the SID. This legislation also allows the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for disbursement of these funds.
Emergency action is necessary to allow vital program services to continue without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this expenditure will be received from the levy of assessments collected from property owners in the University District Special Improvement District. These funds are deposited into and expended from Agency Fund 3311.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for the implementation of services set forth in the District Plan; to direct the City Auditor to appropriate and expend up to $650,000.00 from assessments levied from property owners; and to declare an emergency. ($650,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, City Council approved the creation and implementation of a plan for services for the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for a period of 5 years from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2020; and
WHEREAS, City Council has also levied assessments in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 1710 for such purposes, which funds are in the process of collection and are required by law to be distributed to the District by the City; and
WHEREAS, the assessment funds collected by the County and forwarded to the City for disbursement will be available in March and September 2019; and
WHEREAS, this legislation needs to be an emergency because the University District SID needs this money to operate its’ organization and to fund its’ initiatives in a timely manner; 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 of Development to enter into a contract with the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. and requiring the distribution of such funds, for the further 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 enter into a contract with the University District Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for the implementation of services for the operations requirements set forth in the District Plan previously approved by City Council pursuant to Resolution 0061X-2015, for an amount not to exceed $650,000.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all the monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, the sum not to exceed $650,000 is appropriated in fund 3311 University SID, Object Class 05 Other Expenditures per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $650,000 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 3311 University District SID in Object Class 05 Other Expenditures per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.