Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Roadway Improvements-Cannon Drive Relocation project.
The Department of Public Service is currently engaged in the Roadway Improvements-Cannon Drive Relocation project. The proposed relocation of Cannon Drive will improve the north-south transportation corridor between King Avenue and Lane Avenue, providing better access to the University including critical care facilities within the Medical Campus, and opening up approximately 12 acres for development. The project will extend between King Avenue and John Herrick Drive, a total roadway length of approximately 2,820 feet, with improvements including a landscaped median for access management along Cannon Drive. Roadway extensions of Medical Center Drive, 10th Avenue, 12th Avenue, and John Herrick Drive will be required to connect to the realigned Cannon Drive. A realigned access roadway will be developed to connect the new Cannon Drive with Battelle Drive accessing the medical campus.
The project is located in Community Planning Area 13 - Near North-University. The Department of Public Service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize right-of-way acquisition pending passage of this legislation.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $50,000.00 are available for this project in the 2016 Department of Public Service Bond Funds.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide necessary right-of-way acquisition funding and prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney's Office to contract for professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Roadway Improvements-Cannon Drive Relocation project; to authorize the City Attorney's Office to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $50,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is engaged in the Roadway Improvements-Cannon Drive Relocation project; and
WHEREAS, the proposed relocation of Cannon Drive will improve the north-south transportation corridor between King Avenue and Lane Avenue, providing better access to the University including critical care facilities within the Medical Campus, and opening up approximately 12 acres for development; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to expend $50,000.00 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 Roadway Improvements-Cannon Drive Relocation 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 above actions so that funding can be made available for the necessary right-of-way acquisition for the Roadway Improvements-Cannon Drive Relocation project, thereby preserving 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 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, and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way needed to complete the Roadway Improvements-Cannon Drive Relocation project.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of the sum of $50,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 Streets and Highways G.O. Bond Fund in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 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.