Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City’s Recreation and Parks Department (“CRPD”) is engaged in acquiring real estate for the Big Walnut Trail - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Project, Project ID 1004, (“Public Project”). The City must acquire in good faith and accept certain fee simple and lesser real estate located in the vicinity of S. Hamilton Road and Refugee Road (collectively, “Real Estate”) in order for CRPD to complete the Public Project. Accordingly, CRPD requested the City Attorney to acquire the Real Estate in good faith and contract for associated professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) in order for CRPD to timely complete the Public Project.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure of up to $55,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested to meet the April 2026 requirements of the COTA LinkUS grant funding in order to acquire the Real Estate and allow CRPD to timely complete the Public Project without unnecessary delay, which will preserve the public peace, health, property, safety and welfare.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to spend City funds to acquire and accept in good faith certain fee simple and lesser real estate located in the vicinity of S. Hamilton Road and Refugee Road, and contract for associated professional services in order for the Recreation and Parks Department to timely complete the acquisition of Real Estate for the Big Walnut Trail - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Project; to authorize the appropriation of $55,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $55,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund, to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $55,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($55,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City intends to improve the parkland infrastructure in the vicinity of S. Hamilton Road and Refugee Road by allowing the Recreation and Parks Department (“CRPD”) to engage in the acquisition of Real Estate for the Big Walnut Trail - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Project (“Public Project”); and
WHEREAS, the City intends for the City Attorney to acquire in good faith and accept the necessary fee simple and lesser real estate located in the vicinity of S. Hamilton Road and Refugee Road (“Real Estate”) in order for CRPD to complete the Public Project; and
WHEREAS, the City intends for the City Attorney to spend City funds to acquire the Real Estate in good faith and contract for associated professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.); and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $55,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $55,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for this Council to authorize the expenditure of up to Fifty-Five Thousand and 00/100 U.S. Dollars $55,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the Capital Improvements Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of CRPD in that it is immediately necessary in order to contract for associated professional services in order for the Recreation and Parks Department to timely complete the acquisition of Real Estate for the Big Walnut Trail - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Project right of way Acquisition, to comply with COTA grant funding timelines, and prevent unnecessary delay in completing the Public Project, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, welfare, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney is authorized to acquire in good faith and accept certain fee simple and lesser real estate located in the vicinity of S. Hamilton Road And Refugee Road (“Real Estate”) in order for the Recreation and Parks Department (“CRPD”) to timely complete the acquisition of the Real Estate for the Big Walnut Trail - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Project, (“Public Project”).
SECTION 2. That the City Attorney is authorized to contract for professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) associated with the Real Estate’s acquisition for the Public Project.
SECTION 3. That the appropriation of $55,000.00 is authorized within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the transfer of $55,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 7747 / P510765-100000 / South East - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $414,868 / $414,868 / ($217,177) / $197,691 / $197,691 (to match cash)
Fund 7747 / P510765-100000 / South East - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $197,691 / $197,691 / ($55,000) / $142,691 / $142,691
Fund 7747 / P513019-100000 / Big Walnut Trail - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Acquisition (Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $55,000 / $55,000 / $55,000
SECTION 6. That the City Attorney, in order to exercise the authority described in Sections One (1) and Two (2) of this ordinance, is authorized to spend up to Fifty-Five Thousand and 00/100 U.S. Dollars ($55,000.00), or as much as may be necessary, from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747, according to the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to establish any appropriate accounting codes once the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are deemed appropriated.
SECTION 8. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the Public Project’s account to the unallocated balance within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the director of the department administering the Public Project that the Public Project is complete and the monies are no longer required for the Public Project, except that no transfer can be made from a project account by monies from more than one source.
SECTION 9. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to establish any proper and appropriate project accounting numbers.
SECTION 10. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 11. That this ordinance, for the reasons stated in the preamble, which are made a part of this ordinance and fully incorporated for reference as if rewritten, is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after this ordinance’s adoption and approval by the Mayor or ten (10) days after its adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this ordinance.