Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Public Service Director to enter into a contract with Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton and Tilton, Incorporated (EMH&T, Inc), for the Seventeenth Avenue Preliminary Engineering project for the Transportation Division. The project limits are from a point west of the railroad bridges west of Korbel Avenue east to I-71 (a distance of approximately 3,000 feet). This analysis will recommend improvements to be constructed in conjunction with Ohio Expo Center and State Fair Facility Improvements and Modernization Study. It will determine if widening the roadway is needed, suggest layouts of brick treatments at three intersections and recommend ways to accommodate pedestrian movement across the roadway during events. It will also determine a method to achieve a minimum of 14 feet of clearance under the western-most railroad bridge.
The selection process for the professional service contract was completed in accordance with provisions of Chapters 329.12 and 329.14 of Columbus City Code 1959. Ten (10) firms responded to the Request for Proposals issued on June 20, 2005 for the project.
The evaluation committee determined the top three ranked firms (EMH&T, Inc., ms consultants, inc., and Columbus Engineering Consultants, Inc.) were qualified to complete this project. The Director of Public Service has determined EMH&T, Inc., contract compliance number 31-0685594 (expiration date November 29, 2007) submitted the best overall proposal at a competitive price for this work. EMH&T, Inc. was selected through the Department's quality-based selection (QBS) process for professional service contracts.
Fiscal Impact: Funds in the amount of $450,000.00 are budgeted within the Transportation Division's 2005 Capital Improvements Budget in the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund in the Seventeenth Avenue Widening project and are available from the Fall 2005 bond sale. This ordinance utilizes $350,000.00; the difference is available for other capital improvement projects.
Emergency action is requested to allow right-of-way acquisition-related activities to be initiated by the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, as soon as possible so that construction of this improvement project can begin without delay.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director to enter into a contract with EMH&T, Inc., for the Seventeenth Avenue Preliminary Engineering project for the Transportation Division; to authorize the expenditure of $350,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed from the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund and to declare an emergency. ($350,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City has identified the need to procure professional engineering services for the Seventeenth Avenue Preliminary Engineering project; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this project is to study the East Seventeenth Avenue corridor to determine improvements needed and the costs of the improvements; and
WHEREAS, included in this study will be recommendations for the typical pavement section treatments, landscaping, rights-of-way needed for the improvements and other improvements; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize this contract to allow rights-of-way acquisition-related activities to be initiated by the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, so that construction of this improvement can begin as soon as possible, 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 Public Service Director be and hereby is authorized to enter into a contract with EMH&T, Inc., 5500 New Albany Road, Columbus, Ohio 43054 in the amount not to exceed $350,000.00 for the Seventeenth Avenue Preliminary Engineering project for the Transportation Division.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose of paying the cost thereof, the sum of $350,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed be and hereby is authorized to be expended from the Fund 704, the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund, Department No. 59-09, Transportation Division, Object Level One Code 06, Object Level Three Code 6682, OCA Code 644385 and Project 590422.
SECTION 3. 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.