Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Axis Civil Construction LLC for the Alum Creek Trail - Mock Road Connector Project. The contract amount is $3,319,709.16, with a contingency of $330,000.00, for a total of $3,649,709.16. An additional $268,000.00 is being authorized for interdepartmental inspections and fees for a total of $3,917,709.16 being authorized by this ordinance.
The Alum Creek Trail's Mock Road Connector will become a direct connection to the regional trail system for the Northeast Community. The 1.2 mile connector will be an eight foot wide paved path, starting at the Alum Creek Trail at Sunbury Drive and Mock Road. The connector will head west, connecting directly to the new Hudson Street Greenway. This connection will open a seamless 3.5 mile east-west trail from Interstate 71 to the Alum Creek Trail. This project will link over 6,000 residents in northeast Columbus to the trail system, putting them within ten minutes of walking and biking connectivity to parks, churches, schools, retail, and jobs.
A grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Clean Ohio Trails Fund will be providing $485,000.00 of the construction costs for the Mock Road Connector. The project is anticipated to be complete by the summer of 2027.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (Office of Diversity and Inclusion designation status):
Bids were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on November 4, 2025 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on November 25, 2025. Bids were received from the following companies:
Axis Civil Construction LLC: $3,319,709.16
Shelly & Sands Inc.: $3,530,056.39
Complete General Construction: $3,884,144.40
After reviewing the bids that were submitted, it was determined that Axis Civil Construction LLC was the lowest and most responsive bidder. Axis Civil Construction LLC and all proposed subcontractors have met code requirements with respect to prequalification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
Principal Parties:
Axis Civil Construction LLC
1196 Technology Drive
Gahanna, Ohio 43230
Rob Sharrett, (614) 626-8830
Contract Compliance Number: 029566
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: Pending
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested so that trees can be cleared from the site prior to March 31, 2026 to comply with the Indiana Bat Habitat protection requirements that are part of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant funding.
Benefits to the Public: This project will provide a greenway trail along Mock Road, connecting it to the new Hudson Street Greenway and the Alum Creek Trail. This will provide direct connectivity and safe access to greenway trails and outdoors spaces for inner city neighborhoods.
Community Input/Issues: Letters of support were received from non-profit organizations, residents, a school principal, and the Central Ohio Greenways Board. The project team engaged the residents through public meetings, an online survey, and social media.
Area(s) Affected: Northeast (41)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving access to trails and greenways corridors. It provides equitable and safe access to the trail system for underserved communities.
Fiscal Impact: $3,917,709.16 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this expenditure.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Axis Civil Construction LLC for the Alum Creek Trail - Mock Road Connector Project; to authorize the transfer of $711,459.16 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $3,917,709.16 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund and Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,917,709.16)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Axis Civil Construction LLC for the Alum Creek Trail - Mock Road Connector Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $711,459.16.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $3,917,709.16 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Voted Bond Fund 7702; 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 Director to enter into contract with Axis Civil Construction LLC so that trees can be cleared from the site prior to March 31, 2026 to comply with the Indiana Bat Habitat protection requirements that are part of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources grant funding for part of this project, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare and, NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Axis Civil Construction LLC for the Alum Creek Trail - Mock Road Connector Project.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. 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 5. That the transfer of $711,459.16 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this ordinance and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current Revised Authority / Current Remaining Authority / Change / Amended Revised Authority / Amended Remaining Authority
Fund 7702 / P440006-100000 / UIRF - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $1,119,999 / $1,119,999 / ($37,183) / $1,082,816 / $1,082,816 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P440006-100200 / Italian Village Pavilion 2016 UIRF (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $82 / $82 / $82 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P440006-100202 / Schiller Park Column Restoration (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $37,182 / $37,182 / $37,182 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P440006-102113 / UIRF - University Dodridge Connection to Olentangy Trail (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $72,723 / $72,723 / $72,723 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P200039-100000 / Marion-Franklin Pool (Voted Carryover) / $800,000 / $800,000 / ($311,459) / $488,541 / $488,541
Fund 7702 / P440006-100000 / UIRF - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $1,082,816 / $1,082,816 / ($290,013) / $792,803 / $792,803
Fund 7702 / P440006-100200 / Italian Village Pavilion 2016 UIRF (Voted Carryover) / $82 / $82 / ($82) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P440006-100202 / Schiller Park Column Restoration (Voted Carryover) / $37,182 / $37,182 / ($37,182) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P440006-102113 / UIRF - University Dodridge Connection to Olentangy Trail (Voted Carryover) / $72,723 / $72,723 / ($72,723) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P513011-100000 / Mock Road Connector Acquisition (Voted Carryover) / $1 / $1 / ($1) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P512058-100000 / Alum Creek Trail Connectors - Mock Road Greenway (Voted Carryover) / $2,600,000 / $2,600,000 / $711,460 / $3,311,460 / $3,311,460
SECTION 7. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $3,917,709.16, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is 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.