Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Utilities to apply for an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Clean Water Act Section 319 Grant, enter into a Grant Agreement with the Ohio EPA and accept the Ohio EPA Grant monies if chosen for the award. The Section 319 grant program is administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. The grant program requires a 20% local match of funding amount. The total cost of the project is $340,084.00. The grant amount is $272,067.00.
The Section 319 Grant is administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. This grant is for the Twin Bridges Innovative Stormwater Development project. The proposed improvements include the development of a parking area with stormwater management infrastructure, shoreline protection, a boat launch and related activities to not only provide safer access to the water but to protect the shoreline and install green infrastructure in and around the parking area to lessen the impact of stormwater runoff to the water quality of the City's raw water source.
The Twin Bridges Access and Boat Launch Area consists of a large gravel and dirt parking area that is steeply sloped toward the water. All runoff from this site and the adjacent roadway filters directly into the drinking water reservoir. The primitive boat launch has developed gravel deposited over the year. There is no protection of the shoreline throughout the site and erosion is throughout. With no clear flow of traffic, this popular use area is prone to safety concerns. This project will install paved parking that not only allows for proper traffic flow and improves safety, but also increases the number of ADA and regular parking spaces. The inclusion of pervious concrete parking spaces and bioretension areas within and adjacent to the paved parking lot will treat stormwater runoff and lessen stormwater impacts to the water quality of our raw water sources. The shoreline protection remedy the effects of the erosion and provide a safe launch access point.
This is a Federal grant program that requires the project to be completed in three (3) years.
2. EMERGENCY:
The grant application deadline was May 14, 2010 and the Department of Public Utilities is requesting City Council to deem this legislation an emergency measure to allow the Director to enter into the grant agreement as soon as possible upon award of the grant to expedite the project to take advantage of the construction season.
3. FISCAL IMPACT:
There is a 20% match requirement for this grant program ($68,017.00). This match requirement only becomes requisite once the grant award is accepted, should the Department of Public Utilities be awarded the grant monies. The $68,017.00 will come from the Water Build America Bonds Fund. This Ordinance also requests the authority for the City Auditor to appropriate the proceeds of said grant for purposes of funding this project work.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Public Utilities to apply for and enter into a Section 319 Grant Agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the Twin Bridges Innovative Stormwater Development Project; to accept the grant in the amount of $272,067.00; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $272,067.00 from the Ohio EPA Grant; to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to appropriate and expend $68,017.00 from the Water Build America Bonds Fund for the match required for the grant; and to declare an emergency ($340,084.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Surface Water, has issued a grant in accordance with the Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Implementation Program, in connection with improving water quality in the Lower Olentangy Watershed by restoring, enhancing and creating habitat for native fish, other aquatic species and wildlife, and facilitating a natural stream flow in the Twin Bridges Area; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to apply for and accept said grant, to appropriate and expend the funds; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Utilities is required to be authorized by Council to apply for and enter into the grant agreement; to accept the grant money; and appropriate the bond funds necessary for the required match; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utiliteis to apply for the grant and enter into the grant agreement in order to expedite the project contract and so the terms and conditions of the grant agreement between the City of Columbus and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency are accomplished; 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 Public Utilities, be and hereby is, authorized and directed to apply for and enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the Twin Bridges Innovative Stormwater Development Project through the Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Implementation Program; and to accept a grant in the amount of $272,067.00 from the Ohio EPA Grant; and to expend $68,017.00 from the Water Build America Bonds Fund for the match requirement for the Grant.
Section 2. That the Department of Public Utilities has committed to administer the grant through grant coordination, grant reporting, grant fund pay requests, and contract administration services.
Section 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the Ohio EPA Grant Fund, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during thefiscal year ending December 31, 2010, the sum of $272,067.00 shall be appropriated to the Department of Public Utilities, Department/Division 60-09, as follows:
Fund Type: Grant | Grant Title: Twin Bridges Innovative Stormwater Development Project | Fund Name: Water Grant Fund | Fund No: 620 | Grant No: to be assigned by City Auditor | OCA Code: to be assigned by City Auditor | Object Level 3: 6621 | Amount: $272,067.00.
Section 4. That for the purpose of paying the cost of the aforementioned grant project contract, the expenditure of $272,067.00 is hereby authorized within the Department/Division 60-09 | Fund Name: Water Grant Fund | Fund No: 620 | Grant Title: Twin Bridges Innovative Stormwater Development Project | Grant No: to be assigned by City Auditor | OCA Code: to be assigned by City Auditor | Object Level 3: 6621 | Amount: $272,067.00.
Section 5. That for the purpose of paying the costs associated with the required match for the grant project, the expenditure of $68,017.00 is hereby authorized within the Division of Power and Water as follows: Dept No: 60-09 | Fund No: 609 | Water Build America Bonds Fund | Project No: 690411-100000 (carryover) | OCA Code: 606411 | Object Level 3: 6621 | Amount: $68,017.00.
Section 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance 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 no longer required for said project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project account by monies from more than one source.
Section 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish proper project accounting numbers as appropriate.
Section 8. 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 9. 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 approved nor vetoes the same.