Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Modification of the Participation Agreement previously entered into with Prairie Townships for the procurement and payment of professional consulting services in connection with the implementation of the Big Darby Town Center, which was authorized by City Council on December 5, 2012 by City Ordinance 2608-2012. The purpose of this Modification is to include Brown Township (Brown) into the Participation Agreement along with Prairie Township (Prairie) and the city of Columbus (Columbus). All three are local jurisdictions within the Franklin County portion of the Big and Little Darby Creeks' Watershed and have been involved in the Big Darby Accord planning process, a process that is intended to protect the water quality and other natural resources of this planning area, within the context of a balanced development approach and respecting the rights of property owners. The Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan of 2006 designates that the development of a Town Center be a large consideration in the preservation of the Watershed in Franklin County. Brown, Prairie and Columbus are among the four jurisdictions that also adopted the Big Darby Town Center Master Plan (December 2011). They have a direct interest in the successful development and creation of the Town Center and desire to bring it closer to implementation.
The cost for hiring the consultant for this initiative is estimated to be approximately $110,000. The City's portion shall not exceed $50,000 (45.5%). The cost of hiring the consultant will be shared among the three jurisdictions, each of which has agreed to provide funds to finance a portion of the costs of the consultant. This modification does not add to the amount that Columbus previously agreed to provide. It is understood that additional funding may be required and that any of these three jurisdictions may by a future modification to the P...
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