Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
In the course of effecting roadway improvements, it is sometimes necessary to force the relocation of utilities from privately held easements or place overhead utilities underground to promote public health, safety and welfare including the economic development of the City.
Private utility companies Columbus Southern Power dba American Electric Power/AEP and AT&T must relocate their facilities for the Roadway Improvements - I-670/71 Interchange - Phase 1 project off of the Long Street Bridge over I-70 and I-71. The utilities intend to place their facilities overhead outside the project Phase 1 limits, but the City wants to ensure they are relocated back on the bridge underground so they will not interfere with future aesthetics of the freeway reconstruction project. The City must fund this extra effort.
This utility relocation will place the AT&T facilities in conduit on either side of the Long Street Bridge from a temporary aerial feed. AT&T will pay ODOT for their conduits on the new bridge in advance of construction. AEP will also arrange to move their facilities from overhead back into underground conduit on the Long Street Bridge, and the City will reimburse the private utility for this work.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Columbus Southern Power dba American Electric Power/AEP and AT&T.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
Columbus Southern Power dba American Electric Power/AEP Contract Compliance number 314154203, expires: 2/1/2012
AT&T Contract Compliance number 340436390, expires: 5/20/12
3. FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $378,000.00 for utility relocation expenses. Funds for this expenditure are available within the Street and Highway Improvement Fund.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency Action is requested to provide reimbursement to AEP and AT&T at the earliest possible time for costs incurred for the relocation of utility from the Long Street Bridge.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to reimburse AEP and AT&T for utility relocation costs incurred in conjunction with Department of Public Service capital improvement projects; to amend the 2010 C.I.B.; to authorize the transfer of funds within the Street and Highway Improvement Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $378,000.00 from the Street and Highway Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($378,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is participating with The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in the multi-year interstate reconstruction project in downtown Columbus to alleviate congestion and safety issues on the section of Interstate 70 and 71 in the downtown area; and
WHEREAS, as part of the first phase of this project bridge work will be performed on the Long Street bridge over Interstates 70 and 71; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to relocate utilities while this bridgework is in progress; and
WHEREAS, reimbursement to these utilities is necessary for expenses incurred by the utility for this relocation; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Department of Public Service to reimburse AT&T and AEP for these costs, and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for utility relocation expenses for yet to be determined projects in order to provide for quick turnaround of utility relocation work; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Division of Design and Construction, in that it is necessary to provide funding for this reimbursement at the earliest possible time, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to pay utility relocation costs to AEP, P.O. Box 24409, Canton, OH, 44701, and AT&T, 150 East Gay Street, Floor 8, Columbus, OH 43215 in the amount of $378,000.00 for utility relocation costs incurred for relocation of utilities on the Long Street bridge which are for phase 1 of the downtown freeway reconstruction project.
SECTION 2. That the 2010 Capital Improvements Budget established within ordinance 0564-2010 be and hereby is amended to provide funding for utility relocations as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current CIB / CIB Change / Amended CIB
766 / 530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements / $463,739.00 (Carryover) / ($378,000.00) (Carryover) / $85,739.00 (Carryover)
766 / 530161-100033 / Roadway Improvements - I-670/71 Interchange - Phase 1 / $0.00 (Carryover) / $378,000.00 (Carryover) / $378,000.00 (Carryover)
SECTION 3. That the sum of $378,000.00 be and hereby is appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the Street and Highway Improvement Fund, no. 766, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011, as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
766 / 530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements / 06-6600 / 590010 / $378,000.00
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor be and hereby is authorized to transfer cash and appropriation in the amount of $378,000.00 within the Street and Highway Improvement Fund, no. 766, as follows:
TRANSFER FROM:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
766 / 530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements / 06-6600 / 590010 / $378,000.00
TRANSFER TO:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
766 / 530161-100033 / Roadway Improvements - I-670/71 Interchange - Phase 1 / 06-6600 / 761633 / $378,000.00
SECTION 5. That for the purpose of paying the cost of the utility relocation the sum of $378,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended for the Division of Design and Construction as follows Dept./Div. 59-12:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 / OCA Code / Amount
766 / 530161-100033 / Roadway Improvements - I-670/71 Interchange - Phase 1 / 06-6621 / 761633 / $378,000.00
SECTION 6. 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 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 day after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.