Explanation
1. BACKGROUND: This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Utilities accept up to $1,000.00 from the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District for the purchase and installation of Green Infrastructure Interpretive Signage at sites along Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs, to authorize an appropriation of $1,000 and to declare and emergency.
The Franklin Soil and Water conservation District has offered to donate up to $1,000 to the Department of Public Utilities to assist in the purchase and installation of interpretive signage at various locations within the green infrastructure projects being installed around Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs. This action will help protect the raw water supply by educating the citizens of Central Ohio about our stormwater issues, the steps we are taking to protect our water sources, and encouraging them to take steps at home to protect our watershed.
Protecting the raw water sources for our drinking water is extremely important. In 2010 and 2011, many green infrastructure components and best management practices have been installed and implemented around our drinking water reservoirs to help address stormwater issues that degrade our water sources. Grant funding through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency will allow for the installation of interpretive signage at many of these sites to educate citizens of Central Ohio about the stormwater issues we face, how the City of Columbus is addressing some of those issues, and what actions the public can do to help solve some of the problems.
2. EMERGENCY: This generous donation from the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District has been offered to the Department of Public Utilities and it is immediately necessary to accept the donation and appropriate the funds. The Department of Public Utilities is requesting that this Ordinance be handled in an emergency manner in order to accept and encumber the donation prior to the end of the year so the funds will be available to be expended at the same time as the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency OEEF Mini-grant already awarded and authorized, through Ordinance 1284-2010, for this project.
3. FISCAL IMPACT: Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District has offered to provide up to $1,000.00 funding for this project. Ordinance 1284-2010 authorizes and directs the Director of Public Utilities to accept and enter into a grant agreement in the amount of $8,750.00. This additional source of funding of up to $1,000.00 from the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District will be applied to costs incurred above the total grant amount of $8,750.00. ($1,000.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Public Utilities to accept a donation from Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District in the amount of up to $1,000.00; to provide for the appropriation and expenditure of said funds from the unappropriated balance of the Water Grants Fund; to authorize the expenditure in an amount no greater than $1,000.00 within the Water Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District has offered to donate up to $1,000.00 toward the purchase and installation of interpretive signage at various locations within the green infrastructure projects being installed around Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for this Council to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to accept and appropriate the amount up to $1,000.00 from Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities will be purchasing and installing the majority of the signage through an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency OEEF Mini grant awarded and authorized by Ordinance 1284-2010; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Power and Water, Department of Public Utilities, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to accept and appropriate up to $1,000.00 from the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District so that the funds can be expended at the same time as the balance of the grant funds awarded for this project; 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 Director of the Department of Public Utilities be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to accept and appropriate a donation of up to $1,000.00 from the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District for the purchase and installation of Green Infrastructure Interpretive Signage at sites along Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs.
SECTION 2. That the Department of Public Utilities has committed to expend the donation for the purchase and installation of Green Infrastructure Interpretive Signage at sites along Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose of the purchase and installation of Green Infrastructure Interpretive Signage at sites along Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs, the appropriation and expenditure of up to $1,000.00 is hereby authorized within the Division 60-09 | 620 Water Grant Fund | OCA Code: 601002 | Grant No. 601002 | Object Level 3: 6621 | Amount: $1,000.00
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance within the same fund upon receipt of the certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies no longer required for said project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project account by monies from more than one souce.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish proper project accounting numbers as appropriate.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 approved nor vetoes the same.