Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board, a non-profit corporation, by adding an amount up to $700,000.00 to provide housing support and service coordination for the residents of the Colonial Village apartment complex. Funding will be advanced to the agency on a predetermined schedule.
Original Agreement $600,000.00 Ord. 3381-2023 PO422453
Modification No. 1 $3,000,000.00 Ord. 0388-2024 PO435036
Modification No. 2 $ 700,000.00
Total $4,300,000.00
Throughout December 2023 and January 2024 over 300 households were relocated to temporary housing due to unsafe and unhealthy conditions at the Colonial Village Apartment complex. The Community Shelter Board is providing each household with temporary housing at a hotel or motel, and coordinating the provision of meals, transportation, and access to a relocation specialist and other support services.
That Columbus City Council deems this expenditure and the distribution of food and non-alcoholic beverages to be a proper public purpose, in that it helps to feed residents who have lost their homes due to the Colonial Village closure and have limited access to prepared food. Food and beverage related expenditures will only be allowable from the passage date of this ordinance, and shall not exceed $20.00 per served individual, per meal.
The number of residents being temporarily housed by the Community Shelter Board has grown to 1300 since the initial $600,000.00 was allocated for this project on December 14, 2023. In order to fulfill the goals of this project it was necessary to allocate an additional $3,000,000.00. The deadline for the program is being extended in order to give relocated tenants additional time to find alternative housing. $700,000.00 is being requested to cover expenses for this additional time frame.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding of $700,000.00 is available within the General Fund Citywide Account.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: The vendor number is 004795 and expires on 12/31/2024.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: In order to avoid disruption of services to those affected by the Colonial Village closure, these funds must be allocated and transferred to the Community Shelter Board with immediacy. They will exhaust their funds in the coming weeks.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement in an amount up to $700,000.00 to provide housing support and service coordination for the residents of the Colonial Village apartment complex to the Community Shelter Board; to authorize payment for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages for residents; to authorize the advancement of funds on a predetermined schedule; to authorize the transfer of $700,000.00 from the general fund citywide account to the Department of Development general fund budget; to authorize the expenditure of $700,000.00 from the general fund; and to declare an emergency. ($700,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, over 300 households in Colonial Village apartment complex are being relocated to temporary housing due to unsafe and unhealthy conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Community Shelter Board mobilized to provide temporary housing in motels- coordinating accommodations, meals, transportation, and linkage to on-site county agencies; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to modify a grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board to assist the organization in providing housing support and service coordination for the residents of the Colonial Village apartment complex; and
WHEREAS, each household is eligible for accommodations and services as they work with relocation specialists to identify long-term housing options; and
WHEREAS, services available include delivery of meals, transportation, staffing costs, as well as security services; and
WHEREAS, that Columbus City Council deems this expenditure and the distribution of food and non-alcoholic beverages to be a proper public purpose, in that it helps to feed residents who have lost their homes due to the Colonial Village closure and have limited access to prepared food. Food and beverage related expenditures will only be allowable from the passage date of this ordinance and shall not exceed $20.00 per served individual, per meal.
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board to provide additional funding for housing support and service coordination for the residents of the Colonial Village apartment complex and to prevent the disruption of support and service coordination for tenants, all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, and safety; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to modify the grant agreement in an amount up to $700,000.00 to provide housing support and service coordination for the residents of the Colonial Village apartment complex to the Community Shelter Board, and is authorized to advance funds per a schedule to be included in the agreement.
SECTION 2. That Columbus City Council hereby determines that the purchase and distribution of food and non-alcoholic beverages, as related to the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, is for a public purpose and is authorized.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $700,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), from Dept.-Div 45-01 (Financial Management), object class 10 (Transfer Out Operating) to Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), object class 05 (Other) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $700,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized in fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 05 (Other) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this Ordinance are deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That this agreement is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code related to awarding grant agreements.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contract modifications associated with this Ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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.