Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of up to $750,000.00 and the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the Short North Special Improvement District in an amount up to $750,000.00.
The Short North Special Improvement District (SID) was created in 1998 for a term of 12 years through 2011. In 2011, the property owners sought and obtained reauthorization for a period of 5 years. In 2016 the SID was reauthorized for another 5 years. The petition to reauthorize the SID and Articles of Incorporation was approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 0612-2016, passed March 14, 2016.
City Council also approved the Plan for Improvements and Services to be provided by the Short North SID by Resolution No. 0044X-2016 passed March 21, 2016. The necessity to implement the Plan of Improvements and Services and to levy a special assessment for the improvements and services was approved by City Council by Resolution No. 0099X-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. 1580-2016, passed June 20, 2016. A portion of 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 Short North Special Improvement District. These funds are deposited into and expended from the Short North SID Fund (fund 3306).
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $750,000.00 from the Short North SID fund; to authorize the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the Short North Special Improvement District in an amount up to $750,000.00; and to declare an emergency. ($750,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, City Council approved the reauthorization and implementation of a plan for services and improvements for the Short North Special Improvement District 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 $750,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 3306 (Short North SID), Dept-Div 44-02 (Economic Development), in object class 05 (Other)
Section 2. That the expenditure of $750,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 3306 (Short North 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 purposes 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 Short North Special Improvement District, Inc. for an amount up to $750,000.00.
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.