Explanation
Background: In February 2012 Mayor Coleman announced a program to fight vacant and abandoned properties that includes a plan to aggressively target and demolish blighted structures. Ordinances 1633-2012 and 1627-2012 authorized the Director of Development to enter into contracts with demolition and asbestos testing companies to provide asbestos remediation and demolition services under the program. The contract increases are to allow demolitions to proceed pending a new demolition bid published in November. This legislation will increase and extend contracts with these companies:
Demolition and Abatement Amount
Watson General Contracting (cc# 311429409, expiration 3/10/2013) $200,000
Ransom Company (cc# 269401266, expiration: 1/9/2014, MBE) $200,000
Asbestos Testing Services Amount
R3, Inc. (cc# 113746960, expiration 5/16/2014, AFA) $30,000
Hina Environmental Solutions, LLC (cc# 261342009 expiration 6/1/2014, FBE) $30,000
Fiscal Impact: Funds are available in the General Government Grant Fund, Move Ohio Forward grant, for this purpose.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to continue the work until additional contracts are established and demolish structures as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to increase and extend contracts with R3, Inc., Watson General Contracting, LLC and Ransom Company for the provision of asbestos hazard evaluation services, asbestos abatement services, and demolition services on vacant structures within the municipal boundaries of the City of Columbus; to authorize the expenditure of $460,000.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($460,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced the Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative, a comprehensive plan to address vacant and abandoned properties that includes a goal to demolish hundreds of structures over the next four years; and
WHEREAS, Various City offices are implementing the demolition portion of the program, including the targeting of vacant and abandoned properties through tax foreclosure and seeking authorization to demolish blighted properties from the Environmental Section of the Franklin County Municipal Court; and
WHEREAS, Ordinances 1633-2012 and 1627-2012 authorized the Director of Development to enter into contracts with the above demolition and asbestos testing companies to provide asbestos remediation and demolition services under the program; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to increase and extend agreements with two vendors for demolition and asbestos abatement services for a total of up to $400,000 or $200,000 each; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to increase and extend agreements with two vendors for asbestos testing services for a total of up to $60,000 or $30,000 each; and
WHEREAS, cash is currently available in the General Government Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to expand the contracts and demolish structures that are an immediate danger to the public, all for the immediate preservation of 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 the Department of Development is hereby authorized to increase and extend the contracts with Watson General Contracting, LLC, Ransom Company, R3, Inc., and Hina Environmental Solutions, LLC to complete asbestos hazard evaluation services, and to abate asbestos and demolish blighted structures as follows:
Contractor Amount of Increase Total Contract Amount
Watson General Contracting $200,000 $500,000
Ransom Company $200,000 $500,000
R3, Inc. $30,000 $84,000
Hina Environmental Solutions, LLC $30,000 $63,000
Section 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $460,000.00 is hereby authorized from the Department of Development, Division 44-01, General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, with grant and OCA codes to be issued by the City Auditor upon receipt of executed grant agreements.
Section 3. That these contract modifications are awarded in accordance with Chapter 329.16 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
Section 4. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.