Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
The City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, is engaged in the Arterial Street Rehabilitation Hamilton Road Phase B (S-Curve) project. The project realigns North Hamilton Road from a point along existing Hamilton Road approximately 450’ north of Menerey Lane/Preserve Boulevard to the easternmost North Hamilton Road and Dublin-Granville Road Intersection. Improvements include: North Hamilton Road will run through an open field and tie in at East Dublin-Granville Road. This project will provide a new roadway that can support the future development in the area and will provide a more direct route for Hamilton Road traffic traveling to and from SR-161. Roundabouts will be built at Old Hamilton Road and throughout the S-curve. A new signal with mast arms and video detection will be installed at the intersection of new Hamilton Road and SR-161 on East Dublin-Granville Road.
In the course of effecting roadway improvements for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation Hamilton Road Phase B (S-Curve) project, it is necessary to force the relocation of utilities from privately held easements. These relocations are in areas where the city has previously allowed utilities, so to relocate them is done at the city's expense. Utility relocation estimates are normally included in the budget for each project, but occasionally estimates are insufficient and not always within the city's control. This legislation provides a source of funding for additional utility relocation needs in order to provide for quick turnaround of these relocations once the utility and project are determined.
To date, American Electric Power has been designated as one of the utilities needed to relocate facilities. City Council recognizes that this ordinance does not identify all of the utilities to whom a contract may be awarded and understands that its passage will give the Director of Public Service the final decision in determination for such contract(s). This Council is satisfied it is in the best interests of the city to delegate this contracting decision.
2. FISCAL IMPACT:
This project is budgeted and available within the 2015 Capital Improvement Budget. It is necessary to do a partial cancellation from AC038502 that was legislated on 1824-2015 in the amount of $50,000.00 to be used for utility relocation instead of right-of-way for this project. A form requesting the partial cancellation has been submitted to the Auditor’s Office.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide funding for utility reimbursements to allow relocations to be completed as quickly as possible to prevent delays in the construction project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to reimburse utilities for utility relocation costs incurred in conjunction with the Arterial Street Rehabilitation -- Hamilton Road Phase B capital improvement project; to authorize the expenditure of $50,000.00 from the Street and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is vitally concerned with the use of the various rights-of-way areas in the city as such rights-of-way areas represent a valuable and limited resource that must be utilized to promote the public health, safety and welfare including the economic development of the city; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for utility relocation expenses for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation Hamilton Road Phase B (S-Curve) project in order to provide for quick turnaround of utility relocation work; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes funding in the amount of $50,000.00 for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necesarry to provide funding for these utility relocation costs at the earliest possible time to prevent construction delays, 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 Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to reimburse utilities for utility relocation costs to American Electric Power, and other utilities as necessary, for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation Hamilton Road Phase B (S-Curve) project.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $50,000 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 Street and Highway GO Bonds Fund in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. City Council recognizes that this ordinance does not identify all of the companies that will be reimbursed for the utility relocation costs and understands that its passage will give the Director of Public Service the final decision in determination for reimbursement.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 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. For the reasons stated in this ordinance's preamble, which are made a part of this ordinance, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and is effective and in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten (10) days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this ordinance.