Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department modify an existing contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the Gender Road Park and McCoy Park Improvements - Design Project. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is $1,200,000.00.
Gender Road Park and McCoy Park are two different park parcels owned by the Recreation and Parks Department that are currently undeveloped. Gender Road Park is a 32 acre undeveloped parkland in the City’s South East Community. McCoy Park, along Harmon Avenue, is an underutilized greenspace of nearly 20 acres in the City’s Southwest Community. This project will provide professional services to develop improvements for Gender Road Park and McCoy Park. The project will involve master planning, conceptual design, construction oversight, and public engagement.
For Gender Road Park, the consultant team will provide a report detailing the existing public recreational facilities in the surrounding three square mile area, conduct public engagement with the surrounding community, and conduct internal program discussions with staff to develop a high quality programming plan for the Recreation and Parks Department to utilize over the next decade of development as the design for this park is put together. The public engagement open houses held during the first phase of this project helped to develop a master plan for this park that includes a basketball court, a pickleball court, playground, walking trails, and a Frisbee golf course.
For McCoy Park, the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department will develop a new master plan for the site including a detailed diverse and inclusive park design layout. This design will include therapeutic recreation space that accommodates multiple inclusive outdoor sports opportunities including athletic fields, pickleball courts, and a splash pad. It will also provide improvements to parking, family park amenities, and access points at the park. A modification for this contract was planned and is needed to complete the detailed design phase and furnish complete construction documents.
Principal Parties:
Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.
7965 North High Street, Suite 200
Columbus, Ohio 43235
Chris Hice, (380) 215-0732
Contract Compliance Number: 024725
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: February 1, 2025
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested as this project is currently in design development and this will allow progress to continue without disruption, allowing the Department to take full advantage of the upcoming 2025 construction season to reduce impacts on overall project costs and allowing the Department to make the park amenities available to the public as soon as possible.
Benefits to the Public: The two parks will provide new amenities such as therapeutic recreation space capable of accommodating multiple outdoor sports opportunities, athletic fields, pickleball courts, a splash pad, and family park amenities for two separate communities. The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is looking to add more inclusive opportunities for therapeutic recreation at McCoy Park, which is much needed.
Community Input/Issues: The Southwest and South East Communities have been heavily involved in providing ideas and input for this project. The Recreation and Parks Department also conducted two public meetings regarding the improvements at Gender Road Park and McCoy Park to gather additional input from the communities.
Area(s) Affected: Southwest (59), South East (65)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by helping to update sports related parks, expanding amenities to appeal to a more diversified audience, and updating five neighborhood parks per year.
Fiscal Impact: The expenditure of $413,402.82 was legislated for the Gender Road Park and McCoy Park Improvements Project by Ordinance 1418-2023. This ordinance will provide funding that will modify the previously authorized amount by $1,200,000.00. $1,200,000.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this contract modification. The aggregate total amount authorized, including this modification, is $1,613,402.82. This ordinance is contingent upon the deposit of proceeds from the Spring 2024 Bond Sale.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to provide architectural and engineering services for the Gender Road Park and McCoy Park Improvements Project; to authorize the expenditure of $1,200,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. for the Gender Road Park and McCoy Park Improvements - Design Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $1,200,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to modify this contract as this project is currently in design development and this will allow progress to continue without disruption, allowing the Department to take full advantage of the upcoming 2025 construction season to reduce impacts on overall project costs and allowing the Department to make the park amenities available to the public as soon as possible, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department be and is hereby authorized to modify an existing contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. to provide architectural and engineering services for the Gender Road Park and McCoy Park Improvements Project. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is $1,200,000.00.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance is contingent upon the deposit of proceeds from the Spring 2024 Bond Sale.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $1,200,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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.