Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to modify a non-profit service agreement with the IMPACT Community Action Agency (IMPACT) to add up to $9,500,000.00 of federal Emergency Rental Assistance 1 (ERA 1) funds and to reclassify the type of agreement from “non-profit service agreement” to “subaward grant agreement”.
Ordinances 0284-2021 and 0858-2022 authorized the City of Columbus to accept and appropriated $26,822,803.20 and $12,513,379.24 of federal Emergency Rental Assistance 1 (ERA 1) program funds, respectively, as passed by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Of this amount, $9,500,000.00 will be used to modify a non-profit service agreement/subaward grant agreement with IMPACT to provide rental and utility assistance (as defined by U. S. Treasury) to qualifying residents of the local community for up to 12 months plus an additional three months, if necessary, to ensure housing stability.
IMPACT has successfully deployed $10.8 million in Columbus CARES Act funding, $10 million of ERA 1 funding, and nearly $2.5 million of ERA 2 funding to our community by providing rental, mortgage, and utility assistance to central Ohio residents.
Original $10,000,000.00 Ord. 0408-2021 PO265739
Modification 1 $ 500,000.00 Mayor’s Emergency
Modification 2 $ 9,500,000.00
Total amount $20,000,000.00
Emergency action is requested to provide continuation of services and expend the grant funds before December 31, 2022.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding of $9,500,000.00 is provided to the City of Columbus from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 passed by Congress and signed into law December 27, 2020.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor’s vendor number is 001447 and expires 11/17/2023
Title
To authorize the Director of Development modify a non-profit service agreement with the IMPACT Community Action Agency to add up to $9,500,000.00 of federal Emergency Rental Assistance 1 (ERA 1) funds and to reclassify the type of agreement from “non-profit service agreement” to “subaward grant agreement”; to authorize the expenditure of up to $9,500,000.00 from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance 1 (ERA 1) fund; and to declare an emergency ($9,500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to modify a non-profit service agreement with IMPACT Community Action Agency to provide rental and utility assistance (as defined by U. S. Treasury) to qualifying residents of the local community for up to 12 months plus an additional three months if necessary, to ensure housing stability; and
WHEREAS, the correct name for this type of agreement is a “subaward grant agreement”; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Code Chapter 111.14 states, “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, IMPACT Community Action Agency (IMPACT) is a non-profit organization with a commitment to reduce poverty in the community through providing emergency assistance empowerment services, energy assistance and outreach and engagement; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in much needed assistance when low income households have seen significant decreases in personal income due to COVID-19 and the public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of ERA 1 funding to provide low income households with financial assistance is necessary to address reduced income needed to pay rent and utility expenses caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2022 Budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to modify an agreement with IMPACT Community Action Agency to provide continuation of services and to expend the grant funds before December 31, 2022, all for the 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 modify a non-profit service agreement with IMPACT Community Action Agency (IMPACT) in an amount up to $9,500,000.00 and is authorized to reclassify the type of agreement from “non-profit service agreement” to “subaward grant agreement”.
SECTION 2: This grant is authorized pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 111 of City Code relating to grants.
SECTION 3: That the expenditure of up to $9,500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed is hereby authorized in Fund 2208 (ERA 1 Fund), Dept-Div 44-10 (Housing Division), in object class 05 (other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4: 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 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 legislation.
SECTION 6: That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.