Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The following ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler (PID 117479) project in the Northeast Planning Area (41).
The Department of Public service is engaged in the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler (PID 117479) project. The project will add sidewalk to the east side of Sunbury Road. Pedestrian pushbuttons will be installed at Sunbury Road and Agler Road. Sidewalk will be added on Cassady Avenue on both sides of the street to connect to existing sidewalk to the north. Pedestrian pushbuttons will be installed at Cassady Avenue and Agler Road, all within the City of Columbus and Franklin County.
The cost to acquire the right-of-way needed to complete the project is estimated at $150,000.00. If the cost to acquire the needed right-of-way should exceed this estimate, additional legislation will be submitted to Council requesting the needed funding.
The Department of Public service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize right-of-way acquisition pending passage of this funding legislation.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amounts of $150,000.00 are budgeted and appropriated for this project in Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested so right-of-way can be acquired to allow construction to proceed as scheduled, preventing delays in the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to contract for professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler project; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is engaged in the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler (PID 117479) project; and
WHEREAS, the project will include adding a sidewalk to the east side of Sunbury Road. Pedestrian pushbuttons will be installed at Sunbury Road and Agler Road. Sidewalk will be added on Cassady Avenue on both sides of the street to connect to existing sidewalk to the north. Pedestrian pushbuttons will be installed at Cassady Avenue and Agler Road, all within the City of Columbus and Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, successful completion of this project necessitates the City acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to various properties located along the project corridor as additional rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, right-of-way acquisition cost, including professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), staff and land costs, have been estimated to total $150,000.00; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes funding in the amount of $150,000.00 for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to expend $150,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler (PID 117479) project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the necessary right-of-way acquisition for the project to prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service's Capital Improvement Program, to ensure the safety of the traveling public, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be, and hereby is, authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to certain parcels of real estate, to contract for professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way needed to complete the Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler (PID 117479) project in an amount up to $150,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $150,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund) in Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), Project P590105-100473 (Pedestrian Safety - FRA-SRTS Sunbury/Agler (PID 117479)), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance 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 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.