Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the City Auditor to set up an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $250,000.00 for various expenditures for labor, materials, and equipment which are directly related to capital projects in conjunction with facility improvements managed by the Recreation and Parks Department. These funds will be used for unanticipated expenditures directly related to the following types of capital improvements:
• The construction of new buildings and structures, including site preparation
• Additions, alterations, conversions, expansions, reconstruction, renovations, rehabilitations, and major replacements of a building or structure
• Major mechanical and electrical system installations and upgrades, including, but not limited to, plumbing, heating and central air conditioning, boilers, ventilation systems, fire suppression systems, pump systems, electrical work, elevators, escalators, and other similar building services that are built into the facility
• New, fixed outside structures or facilities, including, but not limited to, sidewalks and trails, highways and streets, bridges, parking lots, utility connections, outdoor lighting, water supply lines, sewers, water and signal towers, electric light and power distribution and transmission lines, playgrounds and equipment, parks with features, retaining walls, and similar facilities that are built into or fixed to the land, including site preparation
• Additions, alterations, expansions, reconstruction, renovations, rehabilitations, and major replacements of a fixed, outside structure
• Major earthwork for land improvements for parks and recreation fields
• Surveys in conjunction with land acquisitions or improvements
• Equipment that itself rises to the level of a capital asset or which directly relates to a capital project
Contracts will be entered into in compliance with the procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329. Expenditures will be in compliance with the City of Columbus Capital Eligibility Requirements.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to ensure that needed facility improvements are not delayed, keeping the impact on facility users to a minimum and allowing safety issues that arise to be addressed in a timely manner. It is important to have this funding available to address unanticipated facility improvement needs when they arise.
Benefits to the Public: Having this funding in place for unanticipated needs as they arise will benefit the community by helping to ensure facilities are safe, accessible, and user friendly. This funding will also keep the impact on facility visitors to a minimum when unforeseen issues arise.
Community Input Issues: Many issues that this funding helps to address come straight from the community, through 311 and direct contact with the department. The community has expressed the desire for well-kept facilities and amenities through public workshops, social media, and direct contact with City staff.
Area(s) Affected: Citywide (99) - The entire City of Columbus is affected by having the funding in place to act efficiently on issues that arise in our facilities.
Master Plan Relation: This certificate and resulting projects will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by helping to ensure that facilities remain safe and user friendly.
Fiscal Impact: $250,000.00 is budgeted and available from and within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of these various expenditures.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $250,000.00 for various expenditures for labor, materials, and equipment in conjunction with facility improvements within the Recreation and Parks Department; to authorize the transfer of $250,000.00 between the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $250,000.00 in the Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $250,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the City Auditor establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $250,000.00 for various expenditures in conjunction with facility improvements within the Recreation and Parks Department; and
WHEREAS, funding is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of these various expenditures; and
WHEREAS, the City anticipates incurring certain Original Expenditures (as defined in Section 1.150-2(c) of the Treasury Regulations (the "Treasury Regulations") promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with respect to the construction of the project described in this ordinance (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $250,000.00 between the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, funds will need to be appropriated within the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099 and within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, the City will reimburse the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099; and
WHEREAS, this transfer should be considered as a temporary funding method; and
WHEREAS, the aggregated principal amount of obligations which the City will issue to finance this project is presently expected not to exceed $250,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $250,000.00 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 establish this auditor certificate to ensure that needed facility improvements are not delayed, keeping the impact on facility users to a minimum and allowing safety issues that arise to be addressed in a timely manner, 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 City Auditor is authorized and directed to establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $250,000.00 for various expenditures for labor, materials, and equipment in conjunction with facility improvements within the Recreation and Parks Department.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. 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 5. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said funds from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, the sum of $250,000.00 is appropriated in General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, in Object Class 10 Transfer Out Operating, and in Fund 7702, Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the transfer of $250,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer said funds to the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702, at such time as is deemed necessary by the City Auditor, and to expend said funds, or so much thereof as may be necessary.
SECTION 8. That upon obtaining other funds from the 2024-2025 Bond Sale for the City of Columbus, the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to repay the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099 the amount transferred under Section 6.
SECTION 9. That the City intends that this ordinance constitutes an "official intent" for purposes of Section 1.150 2(e) of the Treasury Regulations, and that the City reasonably expects to reimburse itself for certain Original Expenditures incurred with respect to the Project from the proceeds of obligations to be issued by the City in a principal amount currently estimated to be $250,000.00 (the "Obligations"). The City intends to make a reimbursement allocation on its books for the Original Expenditures not later than eighteen months following the later to occur of the date of the Original Expenditure to be reimbursed or the date the Project for which such Original Expenditures were made is "placed in service" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.150 2(c). Upon the issuance of the Obligations, the proceeds of such Obligations shall be used to reimburse the fund from which the advance for costs of the Project will be made.
SECTION 10. That the expenditure of $250,000.00 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 attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 11. That this Council hereby recognizes that this ordinance does not identify specific contractors or vendors for the expenditure purposes authorized herein and hereby delegates sole and final contracting decisions relative to the determination of lowest, best, most responsive and most responsible vendor(s) to the Director of Recreation and Parks. All contracts will be entered into in compliance with the relevant procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.
SECTION 12. 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.