Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the amendment of Ordinance 1115-2022, passed by Columbus City Council on May 9, 2022.
Ordinance 1115-2022 authorized the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable Healthy Homes Production Grant in an amount up to $2,000,000.00 from the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The grant is being utilized by the Department of Development and Columbus Public Health.
The departments use funding from this grant to administer the Healthy Homes Production Grant program. In the original ordinance, all of the funds were appropriated and expenditures authorized, with an Auditor’s Certificate (ACPO) being created in the amount of $1,192,500.00 for the Department of Development. The purpose of putting some funds on this ACPO is to carve out funds specifically to pay to remediate the health and safety hazards in low-income families’ homes and to ensure we are meeting grant spending requirements. The remaining funds are available in the budget for expenses such as personnel, goods, and other services.
The cost of remediation work in a residence is typically under $50,000.00. However, there may be instances where the cost is greater than $50,000.00. Remediation includes removal of mold, lead, and other similar toxins. The department has a list of prequalified contractors who, through a bid rotation system, bid on the work under this program. After a bidder is chosen from the public bidding process, the department enters into a grant agreement with the homeowner for the work and sets up a purchase order to pay the contractor directly.
Columbus City Code 111.14 states that “All programs which award loans or grants of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) must submit legislation for approval to City Council”.
The amendment of Ordinance 1115-2022 would include the following:
• Authorize the Director of Development to enter into grant agreements with homeowners if the grant amount is greater than $5,000.00 to carry out the purpose of the grant program.
• Authorize the Director of Development to create a purchase order for a contractor if the amount is greater than $50,000.00 to carry out the purpose of the grant program.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency to allow for expenditure of funds to remediate homes as soon as possible to reduce or prevent health issues due to mold, lead, and other similar toxins.
FISCAL IMPACT: No additional funding is necessary
Title
To amend Ordinance 1115-2022, passed by Columbus City Council on May 9, 2022, to amend the authority given the Director of Development to administer the Healthy Homes Production from the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by authorizing the Director of Development to enter into grant agreements with homeowners if the grant amount is greater than $5,000.00 and authorize the Director of Development to create a purchase order for a contractor if the amount is greater than $50,000.00, both to carry out the purpose of the grant program; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00).
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1115-2022 authorized the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable Healthy Homes Production Grant in an amount up to $2,000,000.00 from the Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and
WHEREAS, it was recently discovered that Ordinance 1115-2022 did not request the appropriate authority to efficiently administer the Healthy Homes Production Grant program; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Code 111.14 states that “All programs which award loans or grants of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) must submit legislation for approval to city council”; and
WHEREAS, the amendment of Ordinance 1115-2022 would authorize the Director of Development to enter into grant agreements with homeowners if the grant amount is greater than $5,000.00 authorize the Director of Development to create a purchase order for a contractor if the amount is greater than $50,000.00, both to carry out the purpose of the grant program; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus, Department of Development to allow for expenditure of funds to remediate homes as soon as possible to reduce or prevent health issues due to mold, lead, and other similar toxins, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Section 2. of Ordinance 1115-2022, passed by Columbus City Council on May 9, 2022, be added as follows:
SECTION 2. To authorize the Director of Development to enter into grant agreements with homeowners if the grant amount is greater than $5,000.00 and authorize the Director of Development to create a purchase order using ACPO008160 for a contractor if the amount is greater than $50,000.00, both to carry out the purpose of the grant program.
SECTION 2. That Sections 3 through 8 be renumbered as follows:
SECTION 23. That from the unappropriated monies in Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund) and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the grant period, the sum of $2,000,000.00 is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement in Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing) & Dept-Div 5001, G442200, per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 34. That the expenditure of $1,192,500.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing), G442200 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 45. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 56. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 67. 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 78. 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.
SECTION 3. 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 which 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 it.