Explanation
1. BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to modify an existing professional services agreement with Brown and Caldwell for the DPU Franklin County Water/Sewer Assessment Project to extend the term of the contract by 12 months to September 2020.
Franklin County owns and operates water distribution and sewage collection systems that are connected to and served by the City of Columbus. These systems are located in approximately 30 areas across the region. In addition, the County owns and operates a wastewater treatment plant, Darbydale, and a water plant, Timberlake, that are not connected to Columbus’ systems.
The County has requested that the City consider taking over its water/sewer assets. In order to make an informed decision about how to proceed, it is necessary to understand the County system. The City of Columbus and Franklin County are therefore requiring a comprehensive evaluation of the County’s water and sewer utilities. In accordance with Ordinance 1037-2018, passed by Columbus City Council on May 7, 2018, and Resolution 0350-18 passed by the Franklin County Commissioners on May 8, 2018, the City of Columbus and Franklin County will share equally in the costs of this service agreement, with the City encumbering the total cost of the agreement ($999,614.60), and receiving reimbursement of up to $500,000.00 from Franklin County. Ordinance 1792-2018 was passed in 2018 to fund this project. This contract extension adds only time not funding to the existing contract.
2. PROJECT TIMELINE: After issue of the notice to proceed (NTP) the first phase of this project was completed in December 2018. The second phase of this project is planned to be completed no later than September 2020.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is requested to allow for existing project timelines and milestones to be met.
4. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE NO: 94-1446346 | MAJ | 8/15/2019 | Vendor #: 010815
5. ECONOMIC / ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: If the City agrees to take over the County assets, the information obtained from this assessment will allow the City to do so smoothly and with the appropriate level of planning. Such a takeover will benefit the County customers, as they should see lower bills.
6. FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation only extends the term of the original contract schedule from September 2019 to September 2020. No additional funding is requested with this modification.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to modify an existing professional services agreement with Brown and Caldwell for the DPU Franklin County Water/Sewer Assessment Project to extend the term of the contract an additional twelve months; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Franklin County operates water distribution and sewage collection systems that are connected to and served by the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to evaluate the existing Franklin County water and sewer infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, Franklin County will reimburse the City of Columbus, up to $500,000.00 for this evaluation per Columbus City Ordinance 1037-2018 and Franklin County Commissioners Resolution 350-18; and
WHEREAS, the original contract with Brown and Caldwell was authorized with Ordinance 1792-2018 and Purchase Order PO143077; and
WHEREAS, the original contract term ends in September 2019; and
WHEREAS, in order to complete the project, an extension of the original term of the project is necessary, expecting the project to conclude in September 2020; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Divisions of Sewerage and Drainage and Water, Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director to modify an existing professional services agreement with Brown and Caldwell for the DPU Franklin County Water/Sewer Assessment Project, in that it is necessary to meet project timelines and milestones for the 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 is hereby authorized to modify a professional services agreement with Brown and Caldwell, 4700 Lakehurst Court, Suite 100, Columbus, Ohio 43016, for the DPU Franklin County Water/Sewer Assessment Project in order to extend the length of the contract.
SECTION 2. That the Director is hereby authorized to extend the contract term an additional 12 months to end in September 2020.
SECTION 3. That the said firm, Brown and Caldwell, shall perform the work to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Utilities.
SECTION 4. That for 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 full 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.