Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to amend Ordinance 1184-2026 authorizing the modification and increase of the professional engineering services contract with Hill International, Inc. (hereafter Hill International) for the Professional Construction Management Services (PCM) - 2020 contract, CIP 690587-100001, in an amount up to $4,250,200.00.
Ordinance 1184-2026, passed by Columbus City Council on 6/1/2026, authorized the Director of Public Utilities to enter a service contract with Hill International, Inc. and to expend up to $3,686,800.00 from the Water - Fresh Water Market Rate Fund, fund 6014. The partial financing of this contract was to be done with loans from the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) Fresh Water Program. Ordinance 1184-2026 was conditional upon OWDA approving the funding. OWDA has denied the funding for three of the four loans submitted totaling $2,169,500.00. Funding applications have been submitted to fund the rejected loans with the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSLRA) funds. This ordinance is requesting to amend the Capital Improvements Budget, appropriations, and expenditures authorized by Ordinance 1184-2026 from OWDA funds to WSLRA funds to pay for the contract for three of the four projects originally OWDA funded.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no increase in costs.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency designation is requested for this ordinance. This Professional Construction Management Services contract supports various projects in the Division of Water. These projects maintain and upgrade drinking water supply and treatment facilities to provide a safe and reliable water supply to the Central Ohio area. Continuation of funding for this contract is paramount in sustaining potable drinking water for much of the City of Columbus.
Title
To amend Ordinance 1184-2026 to correct partial funding from the Ohio Water Development Authority Fresh Water loan program to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency Water Supply Revolving Loan Account; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1184-2026 authorized the Director of Public Utilities to execute a contract modification for the Professional Construction Management Services - 2020 contract with Hill International to partially fund continued services for the contract with Ohio Water Development Authority Fresh Water loan program funds; and
WHEREAS, after passage of 1184-2026 it was determined that the loan from the Ohio Water Development Authority Fresh Water loan program was not approved and would not partially pay for the contract; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1320-2026, passed by City Council on 6/1/2026, authorized the use of loans from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA); and
WHEREAS, the Professional Construction Management Services contract was not specifically listed as a project to be loan funded on Ordinance 1320-2026 and this ordinance will ask for authorization to loan fund it; and
WHEREAS, funding has been requested from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency that is administered by the Ohio Water Development Authority; and
WHEREAS, the WSRLA Loan Application and Loan Agreement documents require the City to submit to the Ohio EPA a certified copy of approved City Council legislation authorizing the Director of the Public Utilities Department to apply for and subsequently execute the WSRLA agreement and to authorize a dedicated source of repayment for the loan; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon the loans being approved; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget must be modified to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1184-2026 authorized the appropriation and expenditure of $3,686,800.00 to pay for the contract from the Ohio Water Development Authority Fresh Water loan program find; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance changes the authorized appropriation and expenditure of $2,169,500.00 to pay for the contract from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to amend ordinance 1184-2026 to change the partial funding source as continuation of funding for this contract is paramount in sustaining potable drinking water for much of the City of Columbus; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Ordinance 1184-2026 be hereby repealed and replaced as amended in the following, with additions in bold and deletions in strikethrough:
4. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract modification will be split between bond funds and loans because two of the six projects are not eligible to be loan funded.
Loan Funded Portion
Four loans are planned to be obtained from the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) Fresh Water loan program totaling $3,686,800.00. The projects anticipated to be loan funded are:
• 690486-100000 HCWP Hypochlorite Disinfection Improvements ($1,517,300.00)
• 690487-100000 PAWP Hypochlorite Disinfection Improvements ($1,176,200.00)
• 690545-100000 HCWP Lime and Soda Ash Dust Collection System Improvements ($206,500.00)
• 690291-100002 PAWP Misc. Imp's - Lime Slaker and Soda Ash Feeder Replacement ($786,800.00)
Three projects are planned to be funded by the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account fund:
• 690291-100002 PAWP Misc. Imp's - Lime Slaker and Soda Ash Feeder Replacement ($786,800.00)
• 690487-100000 PAWP Hypochlorite Disinfection Improvements ($1,176,200.00)
• 690545-100000 HCWP Lime and Soda Ash Dust Collection System Improvements ($206,500.00)
One project is planned to be funded with the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) Fresh Water loan program:
• 690486-100000 HCWP Hypochlorite Disinfection Improvements ($1,517,300.00)
These loans are expected to go before the OWDA Board for approval in May, June 2026. Public Utilities will inform the Auditor’s Office when the loans have been approved. The funding for these four projects is contingent upon OWDA approving loans for them. The OWDA Fresh Water loan program is a reimbursement program. The Department of Public Utilities will pay project invoices and then submit them to OWDA for reimbursement.
The 2025 Capital Improvement Budget will need to be amended to establish budget authority for the proper projects. Funds will need to be appropriated in the Water Fresh Water Market Rate Program Fund, Fund 6014.
Bond Funded Portion
The following projects are planned to be financed with bond funds in the amount of $563,400.00:
• 690587-100001 Program Management ($259,800.00)
• 690540-100002 Water Treatment Residuals Turnkey Dewatering Services ($303,600.00)
Funds are appropriated and available within the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to align budget authority with the proper projects. A transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to modify and increase a professional engineering services contract with Hill International for the Professional Construction Management Services 2020 contract; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the appropriation of funds within the Water Fresh Water Market Rate Program Fund; to authorize the appropriation of funds within the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account fund; to transfer cash and appropriation between projects within the Water Bond Fund; and to authorize an expenditure of up to $4,250,200.00 from the Water Bond Fund, Water Supply Revolving Loan Account fund, and the Water Fresh Water Market Rate Program Fund to pay for the modification. ($4,250,200.00)
WHEREAS, the funding for the four OWDA loan funded projects in this ordinance is contingent upon the OWDA Board approving the loans for them; and
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by Ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient budget authority for this project:
Fund / Project Number / Project Name (Funding Source) / Current Authority / Revised Authority / Change
6014 / 690486-100000 / HCWP Hypochlorite Disinfection Improvements (OWDA Direct Loan) / $0.00 / $1,517,300.00 / $1,517,300.00 (To match loan amount)
6014 6011 / 690487-100000 / PAWP Hypochlorite Disinfection Improvements (OWDA Direct Loan WSLRA Loan) / $0.00 / $1,176,200.00 / $1,176,200.00 (To match loan amount)
6014 6011 / 690545-100000 / HCWP Lime and Soda Ash Dust Collection System Improvements (OWDA Direct Loan WSLRA Loan) / $0.00 / $206,500.00 / $206,500.00 (To match loan amount)
6014 6011 / 690291-100002 / PAWP Misc. Imp's - Lime Slaker and Soda Ash Feeder Replacement (OWDA Direct Loan WSLRA Loan) / $0.00 / $786,800.00 / $786,800.00 (To match loan amount)
6006 / 690552-100000 / Plant Drain & Water System Imp's (Voted Water Carryover) / $0.00 / $363,100.00 / $363,100.00 (To match cash)
6006 / 690576-100000 / DOW Safety Improvements (Voted Water Carryover / $337,500.00 / $391,469.00 / $53,969.00 (To match cash)
6006 / 690607-100000 / Merchant Road Property Demolition (Voted Water Carryover) / $0.00 / $121,941.00 / $121,941.00 (To match cash)
6006 / 690552-100000 / Plant Drain & Water System Imp's (Voted Water Carryover) / $363,100.00 / $0.00 / ($363,100.00)
6006 / 690576-100000 / DOW Safety Improvements (Voted Water Carryover / $391,469.00 / $337,500.00 / ($53,969.00)
6006 / 690607-100000 / Merchant Road Property Demolition (Voted Water Carryover) / $121,941.00 / $0.00 / ($121,941.00)
6006 / 690291-100000 / PAWP Facility Misc. Improvements (Voted Water Carryover) / $26,350.00 / $1,960.00 / ($24,390.00)
6006 / 690587-100001 / Program Management / (Voted Water Carryover) / $513,200.00 / $773,000.00 / 259,800.00
6006 / 690540-100002 / Water Treatment Residuals Turnkey Dewatering Services / Voted Water Carryover) / $599,600.00 / $903,200.00 / $303,600.00
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 ending December 31, 2026, the sum of $3,686,800.00 1,176,200.00 is appropriated in the Water Fresh Water Market Rate Program Fund, Fund 6014, and the sum of $2,169,500.00 is appropriated in the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account fund, fund 6011 per the account codes in the funding attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That an expenditure of $4,250,200.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the Water Fresh Water Market Rate Program Fund, Fund 6014, the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account fund, fund 6011, and the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, to pay for this contract modification per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That Columbus City Council authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to apply for loans for the projects listed in the Fiscal Impact Section of this Ordinance through the Ohio Water Development Authority's (OWDA) Fresh Water loan program, and the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account, to accept such loans if approved by OWDA, and to execute documents necessary to enter into these loan agreements.
SECTION 2. That all other provisions of Ordinance 1184-2026 shall remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is made a part hereof, this Ordinance is 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this Ordinance.