Explanation
In 2018, Columbus voters voted overwhelmingly in support of adding two additional members to Council and creating nine residential Council districts. To create these districts, the Charter required that a five-member independent, citizen-led commission be formed. In accordance with Charter requirements, the Council Residential Districting Commission embarked on a journey to create three residential district maps to submit to Council. On December 13, 2021, Council chose an official Council District Map. This year, voters will head to the polls utilizing this new district system for the first time. To ensure that residents understand how this change affects them and their neighborhood, Council will be creating an educational initiative that will include digital, print, and social media materials.
This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of funds within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund to City Council for purposes of creating an educational initiative on the Columbus Residential Districts that will include digital, print, and social media materials.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
This expense is budgeted within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order for this appropriation action to take effect immediately to allow for the education of residents on the Columbus Residential Districts that go into effect this year.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $150,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund to Columbus City Council for purposes of creating an educational initiative on the Columbus Residential Districts that will include digital, print, and social media materials; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus voters overwhelmingly voted in support of Issue 3 in May 2018, to add two additional seats to City Council and create residential districts in the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, a five-member independent, citizen-led commission was seated prior to March 1, 2021 and charged to create three Council residential districting maps in accordance with the Columbus City Charter and submit them to Council; and
WHEREAS, on December 13, 2021, Council chose an official Council District Map; and
WHEREAS, voters will head to the polls utilizing this new district system for the first time; and
WHEREAS, Council is committed to ensuring that residents understand how this change affects them and their neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the city in that it is immediately necessary to establish appropriations to allow for the education of residents on the Columbus Residential Districts that go into effect this year; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $150,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; fund 1000, subfund 100018, in Services-03 to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. 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 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 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.