Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of up to $3,100,000.00 and the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. in an amount up to $3,100,000.00.
In 1999 the Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation, the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, and the Columbus Department of Trade and Development initiated an effort to work with downtown property owners to create a Special Improvement District (SID) in the core area of downtown. Property owners were surveyed and overwhelmingly were in support of creating a SID. The SID was created for a five (5) year period and was very successful, and re-authorized for additional 5 year terms in 2006, 2011, and 2016. In 2016, the SID’s petition was accepted and approved by Columbus City Council by Ordinance No. 0610-2016, passed March 14, 2016.
Another action required by the Ohio Revised Code is the approval of the Plan of Improvements and Services and the inclusion of City owned property in said plan. This legislation was approved by Columbus City Council by Resolution No. 0042X-2016, passed March 21, 2016.
The third piece of legislation was to declare the necessity to implement the Plan of Services adopted by the Capital Crossroads 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. 0097X-2016, passed May 2, 2016.
A final piece of legislation, providing for the levy of assessment to property owners, was approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 1578-2016, passed June 20, 2016. Each assessment is to be returned to the SID for operational requirements as set forth in the District Plan.
This legislation disburses assessments to be collected in fiscal year 2020 to be returned to the SID.
Emergency action is requested to continue services without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this expenditure will be received from the levy of assessments collected from property owners in the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District. These funds are deposited into and expended from Capital Crossroads SID fund (Fund 3307).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor’s vendor number is 006946 and is valid from 12/6/19-12/6/21.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $3,100,000.00 from the Capital Crossroads SID fund; to authorize the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. in an amount up to $3,100,000.00; and to declare an emergency. ($3,100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, City Council approved the creation and implementation of a plan for services for the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for a period of 5 years from January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2021; 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 2020; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Economic Development Division, in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and expend said funds to allow for continuation of services without interruption, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the sum of $3,100,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 3307 (Capital Crossroads SID), Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development), in object class 05 (Other)
Section 2. That the expenditure of $3,100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 3307 (Capital Crossroads SID), Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development) in object class 05 (Other) 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 Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for an amount up to $3,100,000.00.
Section 5. 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 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.