Columbus City Council last night approved legislation raising the threshold for purchasing municipal goods and services. Columbus Finance Director Joe Lombardi says the threshold for purchases of basic goods and services that must go through the competitive bidding process is being raised from 20 thousand to 50 thousand dollars. He says the legislation follows a review of current code for the first time in 15 years which shows the city's threshold is lower than in many other cities.
Council also approved creation of an economic development agreement with the Indiana-based company announced last week as the developer of a multi-use project in Franklinton. The city is creating a tax increment finance district to help pay for related infrastructure improvements on the project located behind the local science museum. The project includes office and retail space, hotel rooms and affordable housing units. Sponsoring council member Elizabeth Brown says city help was needed to get the affordable housing component included in the project.
Council also approved the last of three grants to the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority for a mixed-income development in the Poindexter Village area. And Council approved new regulations governing the operation of microtransit vehicles and quadricycles.
