Explanation
BACKGROUND: Authorization is needed for the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a 5 year lease agreement for the property at 000 Cleveland Ave. & 898 Cleveland Ave. Columbus, Ohio 43201 {Franklin County Tax Parcel № (010-002934) & (010-053621) } to Cultivate CDC, an Ohio nonprofit whose project is to transform vacant and underutilized sites in under-served neighborhoods into productive, sustainable urban farms that provide low-income, food insecure residents increased access to fresh, local produce and encourage civic engagement. This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into the necessary lease agreement as needed for the use, operation, lease, and management of the property by Cultivate CDC.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City will collect “Rent” as defined as lessee’s annual rental payment to the City in the amount of Five-Hundred and 00/100 U.S. Dollars ($500.00), which is calculated at Fifty and 00/100 U.S. Dollars ($50.00) per parcel per year.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested to enable the City to immediately enter into the necessary agreements allowing the lessee to begin farming immediately during the 2021 growing season and in order to reduce Land Bank maintenance costs, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into the necessary lease agreement as needed for the use, operation, lease, and management of 000 Cleveland Ave. (010-002934) & 898 Cleveland Ave. (010-053621) by Cultivate CDC and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, by Ordinance 1325-98, Council adopted and elected to use the Revised Code Chapter 5722, Land Reutilization Program, to facilitate effective reutilization of nonproductive land acquired through a sale pursuant to a foreclosure proceeding initiated by the Franklin County Treasurer, or through a sale of forfeited lands by the Franklin County Auditor, or through a conveyance in lieu of foreclosure to foster either return of such land to tax revenue generating status or its devotion to public use, or any other land acquired as part of the land reutilization program; and
WHEREAS, a proposal for the lease of the property which was acquired pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 5722.06 meets the Land Reutilization Program’s Lease Policies and Guiding Principles and has been approved by the Land Redevelopment Office Administrator; and
WHEREAS, in conformity with Columbus City Code Section 329.3 in order to complete the lease agreement of such property to the lessee, authority is needed for the Director of the Department of Development to execute any and all necessary lease agreements for the real property; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, Land Redevelopment Division in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to grant lease of said parcel of real estate to expedite the transfer in order to reduce Land Bank maintenance costs, all for the immediate preservation of 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 the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to execute any and all necessary lease agreements for the use, operation, lease, and management of the property, as determined by the Director of the Department of Development, of the following parcel of real estate to Cultivate CDC
PARCEL NUMBER: (010-002934) & (010-053621)
ADDRESS: 0000 Cleveland Ave. & 898 Cleveland Ave Columbus, Ohio 43201
RENT: $50.00 per parcel per year
USE: Community Garden & Urban Farming
SECTION 2. For the property stated in Section 1, that the Director of Development is hereby authorized to execute any agreements to ensure compliance with land bank program rules.
SECTION 3. That Council hereby finds that the selection process utilized in this matter is in accordance with the Land Bank Lease Process created pursuant to the City’s Land Reutilization Program and hereby approves the same.
SECTION 4. 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.