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 - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue project in the Far East Planning Area (58).
The Department of Public Service is engaged in the Roadway - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue project. The project involves the improvement of approximately 0.32 miles of Blossom Field Blvd between E. Broad Street and Westbourne Avenue by resurfacing, pavement removal, sidewalks, lighting, and drainage, along with the placement of a new roundabout at the intersection of Blossom Field Blvd/Granite Pointe Drive/Westbourne Avenue Extension Phase 1.
Ordinance 2372-2024 authorized the appropriation and expenditure of funding in the amount of up to $100,000.00 to acquire right-of-way needed to complete the project. This ordinance is authorizing an additional $100,000.00 to acquire the right-of-way needed to complete the project. 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.
Emergency designation is requested as 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
Funding is available, through the Department of Development, with $13,372.47 from the Lucent Incentive District TIF Fund, Fund 4427; $27,000.00 from the Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund, Fund 7432; and $59,627.53 from the Lucent Commercial TIF Fund, Fund 4432. Funds will need to be appropriated in Fund 4427 and transferred to Fund 7484, the Lucent Incentive District TIF Capital Fund, and then appropriated in Fund 7484. Funds will need to be appropriated in Fund 4432 and transferred to Fund 7432 and then appropriated in Fund 7432. Funds will also need transferred between projects within Fund 7432. Project expenses will be paid from Fund 7432 and Fund 7484.
Title
To appropriate funds within the Lucent Incentive District TIF Fund and the Lucent Commercial TIF Fund; to transfer funds from each of the Lucent Incentive District TIF Fund and Lucent Commercial TIF Fund respectively to the Lucent Incentive District TIF Capital Fund and the Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund; to appropriate funds within the Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund and Lucent Incentive District TIF Capital Fund; to transfer appropriation and cash between projects within the Lucent Commercial TIF Capital 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 - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue 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 up to $100,000.00 collectively from the from the Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund and Lucent Incentive District TIF Capital Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is engaged in the Roadway - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue project; and
WHEREAS, the project involves the improvement of approximately 0.32 miles of Blossom Field Blvd between E. Broad Street and Westbourne Avenue by resurfacing, pavement removal, sidewalks, lighting, and drainage, along with the placement of a new roundabout at the intersection of Blossom Field Blvd/Granite Pointe Drive/Westbourne Avenue Extension Phase 1; and
WHEREAS, successful completion of this project necessitates the City to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to various properties located along the project corridor as additional rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2372-2024 authorized the appropriation and expenditure of funding in the amount of up to $100,000.00 from the Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund to acquire right-of-way needed to complete the project; 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 an additional $100,000.00; and
WHEREAS, additional funding is available within the Lucent Incentive District TIF Fund, Fund 4427; Lucent Commercial TIF Fund, Fund 4432; and the Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund. Fund 7432; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds in Fund 4427, Lucent Incentive District TIF Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds in Fund 4432, Lucent Commercial TIF Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for Council to authorize a transfer of funds from each of Fund 4427, Lucent Incentive District TIF Fund and from Fund 4432, Lucent Commercial TIF Fund, to respectively Fund 7484, Lucent Incentive District TIF Capital Fund and Fund 7432, Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund, to establish sufficient cash to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds in both Fund 7432, Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund and Fund 7484 Lucent Incentive District TIF Capital Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer appropriation and cash between projects in Fund 7432, Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to expend $100,000.00, 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 - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and expend funds to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary, to keep the project on schedule 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 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, 2025, the sum of $13,372.47 is appropriated in Fund 4427 (Lucent Incentive District TIF Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), in Object Class 10 (Transfer Out) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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, 2025, the sum of $59,627.53 is appropriated in Fund 4432 (Lucent Commercial TIF Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), in Object Class 10 (Transfer Out) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $13,372.47, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 4427 (Lucent Incentive District TIF Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), to Fund 7484 (Lucent Incentive District TIF Capital Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $59,627.53, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 4432 (Lucent Commercial TIF Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), to Fund 7432 (Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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, 2025, the sum of $13,372.47 is appropriated in Fund 7484 (Lucent Incentive District TIF Capital Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), P530161-100220 (Roadway - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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, 2025, the sum of $59,627.53 is appropriated in Fund 7432 (Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), P530161-100220 (Roadway - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the transfer of $27,000.00 in appropriation, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7432 (Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531037-100000 (Roadway - Westbourne Ave Extension) to, Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), P530161-100220 (Roadway - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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 - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue project in an amount up to $100,000.00.
SECTION 9. That the expenditure of $86,627.53, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7432 (Lucent Commercial TIF Capital Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530161-100220 (Roadway - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 10. That the expenditure of $13,372.47, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7484 (Lucent Incentive District TIF Capital Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530161-100220 (Roadway - Blossom Field Blvd - Broad Street to Westbourne Avenue), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 11. That 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 12. 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 13. 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 14. 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.