Explanation
BACKGROUND: On May 18, 2020, Columbus City Council passed Ordinance 1210-2020 to IMPACT Community Action Agency to provide $2,650,000.00 of CARES Act funding as matching funds for the Hope Program. Since that time, it has been determined that some of the funding is needed for utility assistance, late fees, court costs, attorney’s fees and administrative costs and a contract modification is needed. This legislation is presented as emergency because of the need to provide funding to continue program services without interruption.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact of this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a contract with IMPACT Community Action Agency, to expand the range of eligible expenditures incurred on or after March 1, 2020 to include utility assistance, late fees, court costs, attorney’s fees and administrative costs and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 1210-2020 to provide $2,650,000 in CARES Act funding to IMPACT Community Action Agency as matching funds for the Hope Program, and
WHEREAS, since that time, it has been determined that some of the funding is needed for utility assistance for utilities, late fees, court costs, attorney’s fees and administrative costs; and
WHEREAS, the expansion of eligible expenditures is necessary to allow IMPACT Community Action Agency to effectively and expeditiously administer a much needed rental assistance program when low income households have seen significant decreases in personal income due to COVID-19 and the public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development that it is immediately necessary to enter into a contract modification with IMPACT Community Action Agency thereby preserving 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 Development be, and hereby is, authorized to modify the contract with IMPACT Community Action Agency to allow for eligible expenditures incurred on after March 1, 2020 to include utilities late fees, court costs, attorney’s fees and administrative costs.
SECTION 2. 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.