Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the City Auditor to set up an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $556,676.00 for various expenditures for labor, materials, and equipment in conjunction with safety, security, and lighting improvements managed by the Recreation and Parks Department. These are expenditures that are intended to increase the safety in six target parks where lighting and safety issues have been reported. These locations include Barnett Park, Dodge Park, Driving Park, Far East Park, Saunders Park, and Bicentennial Park.
The intent is to move forward with the procurement of labor, materials, and equipment as soon as details are confirmed and finalized. Due to the extended lead time with some equipment and the urgent need for more surveillance and lighting at these locations, these expenditures will be made as soon as this funding is authorized. Proposals designed to increase the safety at these locations are in the process of being collected and evaluated. The Department wishes to move forward as soon as details are confirmed and this ordinance will provide the funding to keep these efforts progressing as quickly as possible. Contracts will be entered into in compliance with the procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.
Within the total authorization of the auditor’s certificate described herein, this ordinance will also authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with KNS Services, Inc. (KNS) for continued security camera services and equipment, as authorized by Ordinance 0164-2022 and 1333-2022. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is not to exceed $556,676.00, which is the same as the total value of the auditor’s certificate being authorized by this ordinance. The Department will modify the contract with KNS up to the total amount of this ordinance. KNS has provided surveillance system installation and repair for the department for many years. They also service many other city departments including Public Safety, Finance, and Public Utilities. The have established a unique relationship with the Department of Technology to provide robust service to multiple departments in the city. The City of Columbus selected the Genetec software platform years ago for all departments to utilize for their surveillance systems with the vision of aggregating these services citywide. This effort has resulted in KNS becoming the provider of these services for several departments as Genetec requires the equipment to be maintained by KNS Services to avoid a situation where multiple vendors are given security clearance to access and make changes to the system. By authorizing the modification of this contract, the department will be able to quickly address many of our safety, security, and lighting needs by utilizing this experienced vendor and the contract already in place.
Principal Parties:
KNS Services, Inc.
8450 Rausch Drive, Plain City, OH 43064
Nathan Bladen, 614-733-3880
Contract Compliance Number, Tax ID: 005443, 31-1460220
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: March 8, 2023
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to ensure that needed safety, security and lighting improvements are not delayed, allowing safety concerns that are identified to be addressed as soon as possible.
Benefits to the Public: Having this funding in place for unanticipated needs as they arise will benefit the community by helping to ensure facilities are safe, accessible, and user friendly.
Community Input Issues: Many issues that this funding helps to address come straight from the community, through 311 and direct contact with the department. The community has expressed the desire for safer parks with better lighting and surveillance through public workshops, social media, and direct contact with City staff.
Area(s) Affected: Citywide (99) - The entire City of Columbus is affected by having the funding in place to act efficiently on improving safety in our parks.
Master Plan Relation: This certificate and resulting projects support the department’s Master Plan by helping to ensure that facilities remain safe and user friendly.
Fiscal Impact: The expenditure of $302,000.00 was legislated for continued security camera services and equipment improvements by Ordinances 0164-2022 and 1333-2022. This ordinance will provide funding that will modify the previously authorized amount by up to $556,676.00. The aggregate total amount authorized for this contract, including this modification, is $858,676.00. $556,676.00 is budgeted and available in the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this contract modification and/or various expenditures.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $556,676.00 for various expenditures for labor, materials, and equipment in conjunction with safety, security, and lighting improvements within the Recreation and Parks Department; to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with KNS Services, Inc. for continued security camera services and equipment; to authorize the transfer of $556,676.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund, to authorize the amendment of the 2021 Capital Improvements Budget; and to authorize the expenditure of $556,676.00 from the Voted Recreation and Parks Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($556,676.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the City Auditor establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $556,676.00 for various expenditures in conjunction with safety, security, and lighting improvements within the Recreation and Parks Department; and
WHEREAS, funding is budgeted and available from within the Voted Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of these various expenditures; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with KNS Services, Inc. for continued security camera services and equipment; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $556,676.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2021 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 2707-2021 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the expenditure of $556,676.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund to ensure that needed safety, security and lighting improvements are not delayed, allowing safety concerns that are identified to be addressed as soon as possible, all for the preservation of public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $556,676.00 for various expenditures for labor, materials, and equipment in conjunction with safety, security, and lighting improvements within the Recreation and Parks Department.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be and is hereby authorized to modify an existing contract with KNS Services, Inc. for continued security camera services and equipment.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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 6. That the transfer of $556,676.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the 2021 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 2707-2021 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this ordinance and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
Fund 7702; P516000-100000; Emergency Replacement - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $501,863 / ($501,863) / $0
Fund 7702; P516000-100000; Emergency Replacement - Misc. (SIT Supported) / $871,200 / ($54,813) / $816,387
Fund 7702; P511014-100000; Security Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $501,863 / $501,863
Fund 7702; P511014-100000; Security Improvements (SIT Supported) / $0 / $54,813 / $54,813
SECTION 8. That the expenditure of $556,676.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Voted Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 9. That this Council hereby recognizes that this ordinance does not identify specific contractors or vendors for the expenditure purposes authorized herein and hereby delegates sole and final contracting decisions relative to the determination of lowest, best, most responsive and most responsible vendor(s) to the Director of Recreation and Parks. All contracts will be entered into in compliance with the relevant procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.
SECTION 10. 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.