Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This legislation will authorize the Department of Finance and Management to enter into a contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. to explore operating and capital project financing options for the Downtown Columbus Neighborhood Circulator (Streetcar) project. This action follows completion of a formal competitive bid process.
In response to solicitation number SA002459, six Offerors submitted proposals that opened at the Purchasing Office on June 14, 2007. An evaluation committee consisting of City employees and representatives from various stakeholder agencies (the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, the Central Ohio Transit Authority, and the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission) providing five votes complied with all aspects of City Code 329.14. After scoring all of the proposals individually, discussing the merits of each, and ranking the proposals according to set evaluation criteria, the selection committee short-listed three firms to interview: Parsons Brinkerhoff, HDR Engineering, and AECOM Consulting. The selection committee, after careful review, selected HDR Engineering, Inc. as the best candidate based on the breadth of their experience and the quality of their proposal.
The proposed Downtown Columbus Neighborhoods Circulator is a modern streetcar system that will serve as an important alternative mode of transportation for downtown employees, visitors to the City, conventioneers, and residents of city neighborhoods seeking to travel among destination centers along the major routes of the Circulator. It will help the City meet its objective of revitalizing downtown Columbus by increasing economic investment and providing a solution to the parking and mobility problems currently impeding downtown's resurgence. The transportation project will also connect near-downtown neighborhoods such as Italian Village, the Short North, the Brewery District, German Village, the Arena District, Victorian Village and The Ohio State University campus area with downtown.
HDR Engineering will provide an analysis to help the City plan for the financing of the Downtown Columbus Neighborhoods Circulator project. The maximum anticipated cost for this analysis is $100,000.00. A report is expected from HDR Engineering, Inc. within 180 days from the time the contract is entered into by both parties.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this contract are budgeted and available within the General Fund, Department of Finance and Management Citywide Account.
EMERGENCY
There is an immediate need to establish a contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. to initiate and complete an exploration of operating and capital project financing options for the Downtown Columbus Neighborhood Circulator (Streetcar) project.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE NUMBER: 47-068-0568 Expires: 08/15/2008
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to transfer $100,000.00 within the General Fund of the Department of Finance and Management, to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. to explore operating and capital project financing options for the Downtown Columbus Neighborhood Circulator (Streetcar) project, to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the General Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, this legislation will authorize the Department of Finance and Management to enter into a contract with HDR Engineering, Inc. to explore operating and capital project financing options for the Downtown Columbus Neighborhood Circulator (Streetcar) project, and
WHEREAS, the selection committee, after careful review, selected HDR Engineering, Inc. as the best candidate based on the breadth of their experience and the quality of their proposal, and
WHEREAS, the proposed Downtown Columbus Neighborhoods Circulator is a modern streetcar system that will serve as an important alternative mode of transportation for downtown employees, visitors to the City, conventioneers, and residents of city neighborhoods seeking to travel among destination centers along the major routes of the Circulator, and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned project will help the City meet its objective of revitalizing downtown Columbus by increasing economic investment and providing a solution to the parking and mobility problems currently impeding downtown's resurgence, and
WHEREAS, the transportation project will also connect near-downtown neighborhoods such as Italian Village, the Short North, the Brewery District, German Village, the Arena District, Victorian Village and The Ohio State University campus area with downtown, and
WHEREAS, the maximum anticipated cost for this analysis is $100,000.00, which is budgeted and available in the Finance Citywide Account, and
WHEREAS, a final report is expected from HDR Engineering, Inc. within 180 days from the time the contract is entered into by both parties, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to authorize this contract, 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 Auditor be and hereby is authorized and directed to transfer $100,000.00 within the general fund, fund no. 010, Department of Finance and Management as follows:
FROM:
Dept/div : 45-01
Object level 1: 10
Object level 3 5501
OCA: 904508
Amount: $100,000.00
TO:
Dept/div : 45-50
Object level 1: 03
Object level 3 3336
OCA: 450035
Amount: $100,000.00
SECTION 2: That the Director of the Department of Finance and Management be and his hereby authorized to establish a contract for the purchase of professional services from HDR Engineering, Inc. to assist in exploring operating and capital project financing options for the Downtown Columbus Neighborhood Circulator (Streetcar) project.
SECTION 3: That for the purpose so stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $100,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized to be expended from:
Dept/Div: 45-50
Fund: 010
OCA Code: 450035
Object level 1: 03
Object level 3: 3336
SECTION 4: 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.