Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into agreement with the Columbus Historical Society to support the installation of new exhibits.
The Columbus Historical Society continues to preserve the great multi-cultural history of Columbus and shares that history with the community through a variety of educational programming. The Society now has the opportunity to receive donations of two important collections of historical artifacts and artwork that will significantly further its mission in the community and make Columbus and the Society a major research destination. This will bring visitors and related tourism to Columbus.
One collection’s focus is on Abraham Lincoln and his ties to Columbus and Ohio. It includes over 900 books and over 1,000 original letters, documents, speeches, maps, etc. This is a major opportunity for the citizens of Columbus. It will be used in research, publications, and a variety of adult and child educational programs. Funding will be used to inventory and archive this important collection.
The other collection is coming through Columbus Sister Cities International and Columbus’ sister city of Genoa, Italy. It is a collection of 19 original sculptures and 40 original drawings of the noted Italian sculptor, Edoardo Alfieri. CHS will host an exhibition of the collection and make it available for research and educational programming. Funding will be used for the exhibition and archival storage.
The entire Central Ohio Community will benefit from the addition of these collections. They will result in increased attendance at the Society’s exhibitions as well as increased tourism from out-of-town visitors.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to provide CHS with resources in advance of the exhibits’ opening, currently scheduled for late April.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Historical Society to support the installation of new exhibits; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Historical Society continues to preserve the great multi-cultural history of Columbus and shares that history with the community through a variety of educational programming; and
WHEREAS, the Society now has the opportunity to receive donations of two important collections of historical artifacts and artwork that will significantly further its mission in the community and make Columbus and the Society a major research destination. Funding will be used for the exhibition and archival storage; and
WHEREAS, the entire Central Ohio Community will benefit from the addition of these collections and they will result in increased attendance at the Society’s exhibitions as well as increased tourism from out-of-town visitors; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the city Clerk's office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Historical Society in advance of the imminent opening of the new exhibits; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Historical Society to support the installation of new exhibits.
SECTION 2: That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $150,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3: That per the action authorized by Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $150,000.00, or so much thereof as necessary, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 legislation.
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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.