Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The 2006 Capital Improvements Budget includes funding for a university district joint policing center. This policing center is a joint effort between the city of Columbus and Ohio State University (OSU). The purpose of this ordinance is to memorialize the financial responsibilities of each of the parties in regard to costs associated with site acquisition, design and construction of the facility per the attached intergovernmental agreement. The city will be required to invoice the university and OSU will promptly reimburse the city whenever a progress payment is due. The agreement also specifies the responsibilities of each of the parties in regard to operating and maintenance costs for the facility once completed. Per the intergovernmental agreement, total project costs shall not exceed $3.8 million with costs split equally between the city and OSU. Operating and maintenance costs will be proportioned based on assigned square footage. In addition, the university will pay 50% of the operating and maintenance costs associated with any space assigned to community groups housed in the facility. The ordinance also allows for temporary transfers to occur, if needed, to cover project payments until reimbursements from OSU are deposited by the city. In addition, the ordinance directs project payments from OSU to be deposited into the proper fund and project.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The city's share of funding for this project is budgeted in the 2006 CIB at $1.9 million. Per the terms of this intergovernmental agreement, OSU will reimburse the city for expenses associated with the project up to $1.9 million. The total budget for the project is $3.8 million.
EMERGENCY: This ordinance is presented as an emergency measure so that reimbursement of project costs to the city by Ohio State University can begin immediately.
Title
To authorize the Directors of the Finance and Management and Public Safety Departments to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Ohio State University for the funding and construction of a University District Joint Policing Center, to authorize the City Auditor to make temporary transfers and repayments, if necessary, from and to the special income tax fund, fund 430, to cover project costs, to direct the deposit of reimbursements from the university into the public safety voted bond fund, fund 701; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus and the Ohio State University wish to further enhance the security in the University District by the construction and operation of a new Neighborhood Policing Center; and
WHEREAS, a construction cost estimate of $3.8 million has been established for the project with the City of Columbus and the Ohio State University each committing $1.9 million to the project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to memorialize the attached intergovernmental agreement between the City of Columbus and the Ohio State University thereby establishing the financial responsibilities of each of the parties in regard to costs associated with site acquisition, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the facility; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to establish a temporary mechanism to ensure that adequate funds are available in the necessary project account in the public safety voted bond fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the city of Columbus, in that it is immediately necessary to memorialize this intergovernmental agreement so that reimbursement can begin at the earliest possible date, now therefore:
BE IT ORDNAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Directors of the Finance and Management and Public Safety Departments are hereby authorized to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Ohio State University for the funding and construction of a University District Joint Policing Center.
SECTION 2. The City Auditor in his discretion, is authorized to make temporary transfers of cash from the special income tax fund, Fund 430, in a total amount not to exceed $1,900,000.00, to the public safety voted bond fund, Fund 701, project number 330031, OSU Neighborhood Policing Center, to allow payment of necessary capital expenses from the later fund in the event of temporary cash shortages in that fund and project. These transfers are only to be made to address short-term cash flow issues, and they shall be repaid to Fund 430 upon the City Auditor determining that sufficient funds for such payment exist within fund 701, project 330031. Repayment of such temporary transfers shall be a priority for Fund 701, and it is the intention of this provision that all temporary transfers be repaid at the earliest possible time.
SECTION 3. All funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated.
SECTION 4. The City Auditor is hereby directed and authorized to deposit all payments related to the OSU Joint Policing Center received from the Ohio State University as reimbursement for costs associated with site acquisition, design and construction into the safety voted bond fund, fund 701, project number 330031, OSU Neighborhood Policing Center.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its adoption and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.