Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
To authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to enter into Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program agreements with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the Chagrin River Corridor Preservation project; to execute documents necessary to enter into these sponsorship agreements; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
The State of Ohio created the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) to provide financial assistance for water resource protection and improvement actions. This program is jointly administered by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). Columbus Water & Power, with City Council approval, uses the WPCLF to fund many of its sanitary and storm water projects. The OEPA created the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (“WRRSP”) within the WPCLF for the effective perpetual protection and maintenance of Ohio’s high-quality aquatic ecosystem resources. An applicant applying to the WPCLF for financing of a water quality improvement project may also sponsor a qualifying WRRSP project to be undertaken by itself or by an entity with the ability to implement the WRRSP project. The WRRSP program works by providing funds, through WPCLF loans, to finance the implementation of projects that protect or restore water resources. As loans are repaid to the WPCLF, the repayment goes primarily towards outstanding debt service and other bond obligations as well as returning money to the fund for future loan awards. A very small portion of this loan repayment is designated for use on WRRSP projects. There is no cost to a sponsoring organization such as Columbus Water & Power to sponsor a WRRSP project, and the sponsoring organization receives a reduction in the interest rate charged on their sponsoring WPCLF loan.
ODNR and the OEPA contacted Columbus Water & Power about sponsoring the Chagrin River Corridor Preservation project. The Chagrin River Corridor Preservation project’s purpose is to develop a contiguous protected riparian corridor along the Chagrin River state-designated Scenic River, for the purpose of protecting its high water quality, exceptional biological diversity, natural character and rare and endangered species. This project involves the acquisition of two parcels: the Patricia Pavlish tract (25.96 acres; hereafter, “Pavlish tract”) and Mark Williams tract (19.62 acres; hereafter, “Williams tract”). The Pavlish tract is located in Waite Hill, OH with frontage on the undesignated section of the Chagrin, adjacent to land currently protected by Western Reserve Land Conservancy and the City of Willoughby. The Williams tract is located in Willoughby Hills, OH with frontage on the undesignated section of the Chagrin mainstem, adjacent to the Hach Otis State Nature Preserve (owned by the Cleveland Audubon Society) as well as land protected by the Cleveland Audubon Society directly across the river. Both properties in their entirety would be subject to an environmental covenant with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). The project cost is paid by ODNR with WRRSP funds. ODNR will also be administering the project.
The WPCLF financed project Columbus Water & Power proposes to use for this sponsorship is the Blueprint Miller Kelton - Kent/Fairwood Permeable Pavers, CIP 650870-162002 . Bids for this project open 7/29/2026. Ordinance 2313-2026 requesting City Council's approval to award the contract and expend funds for construction was passed by City Council on 9/28/2026. It is anticipated this project will provide the coverage OEPA requires to be able to sponsor this amount of WRRSP projects and provide the maximum interest rate discount to Columbus Water & Power for sponsoring projects. If not, Columbus Water & Power has additional projects that can be used to provide the required spend ratio.
The loan for the Blueprint Miller Kelton - Kent/Fairwood Permeable Pavers is expected to be approved at the OWDA October Board meeting. Columbus Water & Power will need to provide OEPA a letter of intent to sponsor the Chagrin River Corridor Preservation project and execute a sponsorship agreement with ODNR for the project. Columbus Water & Power staff will review invoices ODNR submits for payment on this project to ensure they are for project qualifying expenses, and these invoices are then sent to OEPA for review before being submitted to OWDA for payment.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no cost to the City or Columbus Water & Power to sponsor the Chagrin River Corridor Preservation project. Columbus Water & Power expects to receive a 0.10 interest rate discount on the 20-year loan that will fund the construction cost of the Blueprint Miller Kelton - Kent/Fairwood Permeable Pavers, CIP 650870-162002.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency designation is requested as this ordinance must be effective so that sponsorship documents can be executed in time to allow processing prior to the Ohio Water Development Authority's October Board meeting, which is when the loan for the Blueprint Miller Kelton - Kent/Fairwood Permeable Pavers is expected to be approved, so Columbus Water & Power will receive the interest rate discount for the 20-year loan for this project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to enter into Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program agreements with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the Chagrin River Corridor Preservation project; to execute documents necessary to enter into these sponsorship agreements; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus Water & Power seeks to construct the Blueprint Miller Kelton - Kent/Fairwood Permeable Pavers, CIP 650870-162002; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Water & Power intends to apply for Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) funding for the construction of the Blueprint Miller Kelton - Kent/Fairwood Permeable Pavers, CIP 650870-162002; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities and the City of Columbus Council recognizes the importance of and supports the conservation and enhancement of natural resources such as the water way and wetland conservation and the protection of native fauna and organisms, Chagrin River Corridor Preservation project will protect through the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Project; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Water & Power intends to participate in the WRRSP in association with the WPCLF to assist the ODNR in the acquisition and protection of the Chagrin River Corridor Preservation Project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Water & Power in that this ordinance must be effective so sponsorship documents can be executed in time to allow processing prior to the Ohio Water Development Authority's October Board meeting, which is when the loan for the Blueprint Miller Kelton - Kent/Fairwood Permeable Pavers is expected to be approved, so Columbus Water & Power will receive the interest rate discount for the 20-year loan for this project, for the immediate 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 City Council authorizes the Director of Columbus Water & Power to participate in the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program in association with the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund the Chagrin River Corridor Preservation project and to execute those documents needed to participate in the sponsorship program for the Chagrin River Corridor Preservation project.
SECTION 2. That City of Columbus Council hereby finds and determines that all formal actions relative to the passage of this resolution were taken in an open meeting of this Council, and that all deliberations of this Council and of its committees, if any, which resulted in formal action, were taken in meetings open to the public, in full compliance with applicable legal requirements, including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is made a part hereof, this Ordinance is 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this Ordinance.