Explanation
Background: In February, 2012 Mayor Coleman announced a program to fight vacant and abandoned properties that includes a plan to aggressively target and demolish blighted structures. Ordinance 0453-2013 authorized the Director of Development to enter into contracts with demolition and asbestos testing companies to provide asbestos remediation and demolition services under the program.
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to amend contracts for the provision of additional asbestos abatement services and demolition services on vacant structures within the municipal boundaries of the City of Columbus. This legislation increases the amounts and extends to December 31, 2014, contracts with Watson General Contracting ($250,000), Egner Construction ($250,000) and Bronze Star Contracting, LLC ($200,000).
This legislation also modifies subcontracting provisions in additional asbestos abatement and demolition services contracts to permit an alternative bidding process of subcontract work to allow bidding of the asbestos work where the bids are lower than the pricing sheet.
These modifications will allow demolitions to continue pending a new demolition bid anticipated in the fall.
Fiscal Impact: A transfer of $207,967.92 from the Housing Preservation Fund will provide the funds necessary for the contract amendments. This ordinance also appropriates grant funds from the Move Ohio Forward grant of $415,935.84 which is the amount for which match funds are available.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to continue the work and demolish structures as soon as possible, until additional contracts are established.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to amend contracts with Watson General Contracting, Egner Construction, and Bronze Star Contracting, LLC, for the provision of additional asbestos abatement services and demolition services on vacant structures within the municipal boundaries of the City of Columbus; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify asbestos abatement and demolition services contracts with various contractors to permit an alternative bidding process of subcontract work; to authorize the transfer of $207,967.92 (cash) from the Housing Preservation Fund to the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $415,935.84 within the General Government Grant Fund to the Department of Development; to authorize the expenditure of $700,000.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($700,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced the Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative, a comprehensive plan to address vacant and abandoned properties that includes a goal to demolish hundreds of structures over the next four years; and
WHEREAS, Various City offices are implementing the demolition portion of the program, including the targeting of vacant and abandoned properties through tax foreclosure and seeking authorization to demolish blighted properties from the Environmental Section of the Franklin County Municipal Court; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0453-2013 authorized the Director of Development to enter into contracts with the above demolition and asbestos testing companies to provide asbestos remediation and demolition services under the program; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to modify contracts established with Egner Construction, Bronze Star Contracting, LLC, Watson General Contracting, Ransom Company, and Superior Enterprises Unlimited, Inc. to revise subcontracting procedures established under the contracts. The current contracts required the use of a pricing sheet for various asbestos related work, while the City and Contractors wish to allow bidding of the asbestos work where the bids are lower than the pricing sheet; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development desires to increase and extend agreements with three vendors for demolition and asbestos abatement services for a total of up to $700,000 or $200,000 for Bronze Star Contracting, LLC, and $250,000 each for Egner Construction and Watson General Contracting; and
WHEREAS, cash is currently available in the General Government Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to amend said contracts to allow vital services to continue without interruption, all 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 the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to amend contracts EL014146 with Watson General Contracting (cc# 311429409, expiration 1/18/15), EL014177 with Egner Construction (cc# 010853960, expiration 1/22/15) and EL014147 with Bronze Star Contracting, LLC (cc# 371643362, expiration 7/26/14) for the provision of additional asbestos abatement services and demolition services on vacant structures within the municipal boundaries of the City of Columbus by extending the contract terms to December 31, 2014 and increasing the contract amounts as follows:
Watson General Contracting $250,000.00
Egner Construction $250,000.00
Bronze Star Contracting, LLC $200,000.00
$700,000.00
Section 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to modify the following asbestos abatement and demolition services contracts to permit an alternative bidding process of subcontract work:
Contractor Contract
Ransom Company EL014149
Watson General Contracting EL014146
Egner Construction EL014177
Superior Enterprises Unlimited, Inc. EL014176
Bronze Star Contracting, LLC EL014147
Section 3. That the transfer of cash ($207,967.93) be and is hereby authorized as follows:
FROM:
Fund / Project / Project Name / OL 01-03 / OCA / Amount
782 / 782004-100000 / Vacant Housing Demolition / 06-6600 / 782004 / $207,967.92
TO:
Fund / Project / Project Name / OL 01-03 / OCA / Amount
782 / 782004-100000 / Vacant Housing Demolition / 10-5501 / 782004 / $207,967.92
Section 4. That the transfer of cash ($207,967.93) be and is hereby authorized as follows:
FROM:
Fund / Project / Project Name / OL 01-03 / OCA / Amount
782 / 782004-100000 / Vacant Housing Demolition / 10-5501 / 782004 / $207,967.92
TO:
Fund / Grant / Grant Name / OL 01-03 / OCA / Amount
220 / 441205 / Move Ohio Forward / 80-0886 / 441205 / $207,967.92
Section 5. That the sum of $415,935.84 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources appropriated and un-appropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, to the Department of Development, Administration Division, Division No. 44-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3292.
Section 6. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $700,000 from the Development Department, Division No. 44-01, Fund 220, Grant 441205, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3292, OCA Code 441205 is hereby authorized.
Section 7. That these contract modifications are awarded in accordance with Chapter 329.16 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
Section 8. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
Section 9. 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 10. 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 11. 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 administrating said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
Section 12. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.