Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Finance and Management Director to establish purchase orders to purchase Towing Services of City Owned Vehicles on behalf of the Fleet Management Division, in order to maintain City vehicles; and these purchase orders will be issued from Universal Term Contracts previously established by the City of Columbus, Purchasing Office. This ordinance also authorizes the transfer of $750,000.00 between object classes within the Fleet Management Operating Budget to ensure sufficient appropriation within the correct object of expense.
Eitels Towing Services, Inc., CC# 004490, Vendor# 004490 PA006581 - City Vehicle Towing Services UTC - expires 8/31/2026
Emergency action is requested so that towing services for the City's vehicles fleet can continue with little interruption and to ensure that purchase orders can be established to ensure an uninterrupted supply of automotive parts and service, thereby keeping City owned vehicles in operation, including Police, Fire, and Refuse Collection vehicles.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $125,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund from previously established Universal Term Contracts for towing services related to City vehicles. This ordinance also authorizes transfer of $750,000.00 between object classes within the Fleet Management Operating Budget to ensure sufficient appropriation within the correct object of expense.
$250,000.00 was spent in 2024
$100,000.00 was spent in 2023
$100,000.00 was spent in 2022
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to establish various purchase orders for towing services of City Owned Vehicles from Eitels Towing Services, Inc. on behalf of the Fleet Management Division, per the terms and conditions of various previously established Universal Term Contracts; to authorize the expenditure of $125,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund; and to authorize the transfer of $750,000.00 between object classes within the Fleet Management Operating Budget; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Finance and Management Department, Fleet Management Division, has a need to purchase towing services for vehicles operated by the City; and
WHEREAS, Eitels Towing Services, Inc. successfully bid and was awarded contract PA006581 - City Vehicle Towing Services UTC, expires 8/31/26; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer $750,000.00 from object class 02 of the Department of Finance, Fleet Management Divisions 2025 budget to object class 03 to ensure funding availability; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $125,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund; and funding for this purchase is budgeted and available within the Fleet Management Operating Fund after the transfer; and
WHEREAS, various Universal Term Contracts (UTC) have been established through the formal competitive bidding process of the Purchasing Office for vehicle parts and service; and
WHEREAS, the Finance and Management Department, Fleet Management Division, has a need to purchase parts and service for vehicles operated by the City; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to associate all General Budget Reservations resulting from this ordinance with the Universal Term Contract Purchase Agreements; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance, Fleet Management Division in that it is immediately necessary to to perform this transfer so that funds are available for projected expenses related to the maintenance and repair of the City’s fleet vehicles including Police, Fire, and Refuse Collection and to authorize the Director to establish various purchase orders for City Vehicle Towing Services on behalf of the Fleet Management Division with Eitels Towing Services, Inc., in order to maintain City vehicles and such that the fleet can continue to operate with little 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 Finance and Management is hereby authorized to issue purchase orders for the Fleet Management Division, per the terms and conditions of established Universal Term Contracts for City Vehicle Towing Services, as follows:
Eitel’s Towing Services, Inc., CC# 004490, Vendor# 004490 PA006581 - City Vehicle Towing Services UTC - expires 8/31/2026
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $125,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized in Fund 5200 Fleet Management Operating Fund in object class 03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 2237-2025 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 3. That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management be and is hereby authorized to associate all General Budget Reservations resulting from this ordinance with the appropriate Universal Term Contract Purchase Agreements for the purchase of parts and services.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $750,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 5200 Fleet Management Operating Fund between Object Class 02- Materials & Supplies and Object Class 03 - Contractual Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $750,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in Section 3, is hereby authorized in Fund 5200 Fleet Management Operating Fund in object class 03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 2237-2025 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 6. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of Finance and Management, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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.