Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. to provide professional services associated with the Big Walnut Trail - Little Turtle to Cherrybottom Park, Alum Creek Trail Project. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is $239,953.57.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) awarded $5.6 million in federal funding for construction of a 2.5 mile extension of the Big Walnut Trail, connecting the Little Turtle Community to Sunbury Road, Cherrybottom Park, and the Alum Creek Trail. As a condition of the grant, the City is responsible for completing the project design. Construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2026. The original contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. covered preliminary engineering and a feasibility study. The study included public engagement, corridor analysis, environmental inventory, and preliminary cost estimating. The previous contract modification advanced the project through detailed design and permitting.
This second contract modification will provide professional services during construction and address design items outside the original detailed design scope. These services are necessary to maintain the project schedule, ensure compliance with federal funding requirements, and deliver a high-quality regional trail serving more than 15,000 residents. The original project completion date of the project was October 1, 2026. The modified project completion date, as a result of the proposed modification, will remain October 1, 2026.
Amount of Additional Funds: $239,953.57
Why Additional Services Were Not Foreseen: This modification includes expected construction administration and additional design services for items that were not included in the previous modification. During the detailed design process, additional project elements became necessary to satisfy permit requirements. There also became a need for addressing existing conditions discovered during the design process that will reduce overall construction costs. Including these services now ensures regulatory compliance, avoids costly delays or change orders, and supports a more effective construction process.
Why It Is Not In The Best Interest For The City To Award Additional Services Through Another Procurement Process: Awarding additional services through another procurement process would not be feasible given Arcadis U.S., Inc. is the official engineer of record for this project. They have the project knowledge to perform these additional services most cost-efficiently and within the current schedule requirements.
How The Price For The Additional Services Was Determined: Pricing for additional services was determined through using hourly rates established in the original contract. These rates were then multiplied by anticipated hours estimated for the proposed tasks.
Principal Parties:
Arcadis U.S., Inc.
7575 Huntington Park Drive, Suite 130
Columbus, Ohio 43235
Brian Moore, (614) 747-6036
Contract Compliance Number: 009409
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: January 21, 2027
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to meet the requirements and schedule of the federal grant to complete the additional project design scope by June 1, 2026. .
Benefits to the Public: Access to trails and key destinations are top rated priorities requested by Columbus residents. The northeast neighborhoods have no regional trail access and this project will provide connectivity for over 15,000 residents. It will also connect the community to major employment centers with an estimated 40,000 jobs, six parks, and over 24 miles of the existing Alum Creek trail.
Community Input/Issues: The department has received letters of support from Central Ohio Greenways, civic associations, the Northland Area Coalition, and trail users citywide.
Area(s) Affected: Rocky Fork-Blacklick (33)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving equitable access to trails and greenways corridors. It will also provide a safe east to west connection for nearby neighborhoods to the regional trail network.
Fiscal Impact: The expenditure of $2,245,033.87 was legislated for the Big Walnut Trail - Little Turtle to Cherrybottom Park, Alum Creek Trail Project by Ordinances 0654-2022 and 2570-2023. This ordinance will provide funding that will modify the previously authorized amount by $239,953.57. $239,953.57 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this contract modification. The aggregate total amount authorized, including this modification, is $2,484,987.44.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. for the Big Walnut Trail - Little Turtle to Cherrybottom Park, Alum Creek Trail Project; to authorize the transfer of $239,953.57 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $239,953.57 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($239,953.57)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. to provide professional services associated with the Big Walnut Trail - Little Turtle to Cherrybottom Park, Alum Creek Trail Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $239,953.57 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 $239,953.57 from the Recreation and Parks 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 modify an existing contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. in order to meet the requirements and schedule of the federal grant to complete the additional project design scope by June 1, 2026, all for the 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 modify an existing contract with Arcadis U.S., Inc. for the Big Walnut Trail - Little Turtle to Cherrybottom Park, Alum Creek Trail 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 $239,953.57 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 / P511001-100000 / Renovation - Cost Allocation (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $26,378 / $26,378 / $26,378 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511011-100000 / Maintenance Equipment - Parks (Voted Carryover) / $723,001 / $1 / $12,999 / $736,000 / $13,000 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511013-202324 / Playground Renovations 2023-2024 (Voted Carryover) / $1,039,334 / $689,334 / ($689,333) / $1 / $1 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511019-100000 / Glenwood and Windsor Pools (Voted Carryover) / $92,754 / $92,754 / $61,850 / $154,604 / $154,604 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511034-202301 / Main Entry Signage Program 2023 (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $4,146 / $4,146 / $4,146 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511040-202102 / HVAC Upgrades 2020-2022 (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $8 / $8 / $8 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511042-100000 / 1511 Alum Industrial Improvements - Phase 3 (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $11 / $11 / $11 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511043-100000 / Lighting Improvements 2022 (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $35,620 / $35,620 / $35,620 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511044-100000 / Bicentennial Park Scioto Mile Fountain Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $2,341 / $2,341 / $2,341 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511053-100000 / Site Furnishings 2022 (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $3,999 / $3,999 / $3,999 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511001-100000 / Renovation - Cost Allocation (Voted Carryover) / $26,378 / $26,378 / ($26,378) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511011-100000 / Maintenance Equipment - Parks (Voted Carryover) / $736,000 / $13,000 / ($13,000) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511013-202324 / Playground Renovations 2023-2024 (Voted Carryover) / $1 / $1 / ($1) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511019-100000 / Glenwood and Windsor Pools (Voted Carryover) / $154,604 / $154,604 / ($154,604) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511034-202301 / Main Entry Signage Program 2023 (Voted Carryover) / $4,146 / $4,146 / ($4,146) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511040-202102 / HVAC Upgrades 2020-2022 (Voted Carryover) / $8 / $8 / ($8) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511042-100000 / 1511 Alum Industrial Improvements - Phase 3 (Voted Carryover) / $11 / $11 / ($11) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511043-100000 / Lighting Improvements 2022 (Voted Carryover) / $35,620 / $35,620 / ($35,620) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511044-100000 / Bicentennial Park Scioto Mile Fountain Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $2,341 / $2,341 / ($2,341) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511048-100000 / Minor Facility Renovations 2022 (Voted Carryover) / $2,000 / $2,000 / ($2,000) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511053-100000 / Site Furnishings 2022 (Voted Carryover) / $3,999 / $3,999 / ($1,845) / $2,154 / $2,154
Fund 7702 / P512028-100000 / Big Walnut Trail - Little Turtle to Cherry Bottom Park, Alum Creek Trail (Voted Carryover); $0 / $0 / $239,953 / $239,953 / $239,953
SECTION 7. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $239,953.57, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks 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.