Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Finance and Management Director to enter into a Line Extension Agreement on behalf of the Office of Construction Management with Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. for the construction of new infrastructure to supply adequate gas pressure to the compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station to be constructed at 5115 Krieger Court, Columbus, Ohio.
The Line Extension Agreement between Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. and the City of Columbus will be for the amount of $353,247.00. The fueling station will provide rapid and reliable dispensing of CNG for energy-efficient CNG-fueled vehicles, and like the Groves Road CNG Station and Morse Road Station, this station will be a public facility whereby consumers using an appropriate credit card will be able to purchase CNG.
The bid for the construction of the facility will be issued later this year or in January. Due to the long lead time necessary for Columbia Gas to locate and install the service line, this part of the project must be advanced as soon as possible.
CNG vehicles produce significantly lower amounts of harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and toxic and carcinogenic pollutants. Natural gas is a domestically available inherently clean-burning fuel. Using compressed natural gas as vehicle fuel increases energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil and improves public health and the environment.
Formal bids were not solicited since Columbia Gas of Ohio is a sole source provider.
Emergency action is requested so Columbia Gas of Ohio can start the acquisition of Private Right of Way prior to start the line extension work. This line extension needs to be complete prior to the completion of the CNG Fueling Station next year.
Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. Compliance No. 31-0673990
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this project is budgeted and available within the Fleet Management Capital Budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contracts with Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. for a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station at 5115 Krieger Court; to authorize the expenditure of $353,247.00 from the Fleet Management Capital Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($353,247.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Finance and Management Department to enter into a Line Extension Agreement on behalf of the Office of Construction Management with Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. for the construction of a new infrastructure to supply adequate gas pressure to the CNG fueling station to be constructed at 5115 Krieger Court, Columbus, Ohio; and
WHEREAS, the new fueling station will provide rapid and reliable dispensing of CNG for energy efficient CNG-fueled vehicles, and like the Groves Road CNG Station, and Morse Road Station this station will be a public facility whereby consumers using an appropriate credit card will be able to purchase CNG; and
WHEREAS, Columbia Gas of Ohio is a sole source provider; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management, Office of Construction Management, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a Line Extension Agreement with Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc, so that construction of the compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling facility can occur without delay, thereby expanding the use of alternative fueled vehicles resulting in cost savings to the City, thereby protecting the public health, property, peace, safety, and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contracts with Columbia Gas of Ohio, Inc. for the infrastructure necessary for proper connection to the natural gas supply network so as to ensure the minimum pressure necessary to serve a Compressed Natural Gas Station to be constructed at 5112 Krieger Court.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $353,247.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in SECTION 1, be and is hereby authorized and approved as follows:
Division: 45-05
Fund/Subfund: 513-004
Project/Detail: 550006-100005
OCA: 513605
Object Level 1:06
Object Level 3: 6602
Amount: $353,247.00
SECTION 3. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of Finance and Management, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
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 legislation.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 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.