Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The following ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Roadway - Polaris Parkway - Gemini Place to South Old State Road project in the Far North Planning Area (32).
The Department of Public service is engaged in the Roadway - Polaris Parkway - Gemini Place to South Old State Road project. The project will widen northbound Polaris Parkway to three lanes from Gemini Place to approximately 1000’ south of South Old State Road and widening of southbound Polaris Parkway to three lanes from Antares Avenue to approximately 670’ west of Antares Avenue. The project will also widen eastbound Antares Avenue to four lanes to include a 210’ right turn lane.
The cost to acquire the right-of-way needed to complete the project is estimated at $170,000.00. If the cost to acquire the needed right-of-way should exceed this estimate, additional legislation will be submitted to Council requesting the needed funding.
The Department of Public service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize right-of-way acquisition pending passage of this funding legislation.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
The City has received funding in the amount of $170,000.00 from N.P. Limited for the hire and acquire expenses and deposited said funds in Fund 7766, the Street and Highway Non-Bond Fund, Project P531061-100000 (Polaris Parkway - Gemini Place to South Old St Rd). It is necessary to amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget to establish sufficient budget authority for this project. The funds need to be appropriated.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide hire and acquire funding so that the Department of Public Service can commence Right-of-Way acquisition activities as soon as possible so not to delay the project and ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to appropriate funds within the Street & Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to contract for professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Roadway - Polaris Parkway - Gemini Place to South Old State Road project; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the expenditure of $170,000.00 from the Street & Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($170,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is engaged in the Roadway - Polaris Parkway - Gemini Place to South Old State Road project; and
WHEREAS, the project will include widening of northbound Polaris Parkway to three lanes from Gemini Place to approximately 1000’ south of South Old State Road and widening of southbound Polaris Parkway to three lanes from Antares Avenue to approximately 670’ west of Antares Avenue. The project will also widen eastbound Antares Avenue to four lanes to include a 210’ right turn lane; and
WHEREAS, successful completion of this project necessitates the City acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to various properties located along the project corridor as additional rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, right-of-way acquisition cost, including professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), staff and land costs, have been estimated to total $170,000.00; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes funding in the amount of $170,000.00 for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the City Auditor to appropriate $170,000.00 within the Street and Highway Non-Bond Fund, Fund 7766; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to expend $170,00.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Roadway - Polaris Parkway - Gemini Place to South Old State Road project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the necessary right-of-way acquisition for the project to prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service's Capital Improvement Program, to ensure the safety of the traveling public thereby preserving 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 2024 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1907-2024 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7766 / P531061-100000 / Roadway - Polaris Pkwy - Gemini Place to South Old State Road (Street & Highway Imp Carryover) / $0.00 / $170,000.00 / $170,000.00 (to match cash)
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, the sum of $170,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7766 (Street & Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531061-100000 (Roadway - Polaris Parkway - Gemini Place to South Old State Road), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be, and hereby is, authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to certain parcels of real estate, to contract for professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way needed to complete the Roadway - Polaris Parkway - Gemini Place to South Old State Road project in an amount up to $170,000.00.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $170,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7766 (Street & Highway Improvement Non-Bond Fund) in Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531061-100000 (Roadway - Polaris Parkway - Gemini Place to South Old State Road), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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.