Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Short North Special Improvement District (SID) was created in 1998 for a term of 12 years through 2011. In 2011 the property owners sought and obtained reauthorization for a period of 5 years to be ending in 2016. In 2016 the SID was reauthorized for an additional 5 years to 2021. In 2021, the petition to reauthorize the SID for two 5-year terms ending December 2031, and the updated Articles of Incorporation were approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 0734-2021, passed March 29, 2021. City Council also approved the Plan for Improvements and Services to be provided by the Short North SID by Resolution No. 0046X-2021 passed April 5, 2021. The necessity to implement the Plan of Improvements and Services (District Plan) and to levy a special assessment for the improvements and services was approved by City Council by Resolution No. 0081X-2021, passed May 10, 2021. A final piece of legislation, providing for the levy of assessments on property owners, was approved by City Council by Ordinance No. 2717-2021, passed October 18, 2021. A portion of each assessment is to be returned to the SID for operational requirements as set forth in the District Plan.
This legislation appropriates and approves the expenditure of that portion of assessments collected in FY 2023 that is to be returned to the SID. This legislation would also allow the Director of Development to enter into a contract with the Short North Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for the disbursements of assessments collected by County Auditor in 2023 from property owners in the District.
Emergency designation is requested to prevent any interruption of service as these critical payments are only released from the auditor bi-annually for continued cleaning and safety services, and are the sole source of employee payroll for the districts they serve.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this expenditure will be received from the levy of assessments collected from property owners in the Short North Special Improvement District. These funds are deposited into and expended from Agency Fund 3306.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a contract with the Short North Special Improvement District, Inc. for the disbursement of assessments collected in 2023 from property owners in the District; and to authorize the City Auditor to appropriate and expend up to $750,000.00 from assessments collected from property owners in 2023; and to declare an emergency. ($750,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, City Council approved the reauthorization and implementation of a plan providing services and improvements for the Short North Special Improvement District over two 5-year terms from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2031; and
WHEREAS, City Council has also levied assessments in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 1710 for such purposes, which funds are in the process of collection and are required by law to be distributed to the District by the City; and
WHEREAS, the assessment funds collected by the County and forwarded to the City for disbursement will be available in March 2023 and September 2023; and
WHEREAS, this legislation needs to be an emergency because the Short North SID needs this money to operate its organization and to fund its initiatives in a timely manner; and
WHEREAS, there is an emergency in the usual daily operation of the City, requiring the distribution of such funds, to prevent any interruption of service as these critical payments are only released from the auditor bi-annually for continued cleaning and safety services, and are the sole source of employee payroll for the districts they serve and for the further preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the Short North Special Improvement District of Columbus, Inc. for the implementation of services to meet the operational requirements as set forth in the District Plan previously approved by City Council pursuant to Resolution 2281X-2021, for an annual amount not to exceed $750,000.00.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all the monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, the sum not to exceed $750,000.00 is appropriated in fund 3306 Short North SID.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $750,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 3306 in care of Short North SID, under an assigned Object Class for Other Expenditure per the accounting codes.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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 its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.