Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
In the course of effecting roadway improvements, it is sometimes necessary to force the relocation of utilities from privately held easements or place overhead utilities underground to promote public health, safety, and welfare including the economic development of the City.
The private utility company American Electric Power, Inc. (AEP) must place their overhead facilities underground for the Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 Interchange - Phase 2 Mound Street Connector project. The project will create a new gateway into downtown from I-70 Westbound at the intersection of Mound Street and Washington Avenue. The City intends that utility lines on the new urban avenues and gateway improvements will no longer be placed overhead. The City must fund this extra effort.
In order to prevent rework and therefore provide cost savings, this utility work will also place conduit for AEP and private communication utilities in anticipation of future project phases.
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against American Electric Power, Inc.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
American Electric Power, Inc. Contract Compliance number 314271000, expires 7/11/14.
3. FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $1,579,502.00 for utility relocation expenses. Funds for this expenditure are available within the Street & Highway G.O. Bond Fund. A temporary transfer of cash and budget authority is necessary to fund this reimbursement.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide reimbursement to AEP at the earliest possible time for costs incurred for the relocation of utilities as part of Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 Interchange - Phase 2 project in order to maintain the project schedule.
Title
To amend the 2012 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer cash and appropriation between projects with in the Streets & Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to reimburse AEP for utility relocation costs incurred in conjunction with Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 Interchange - Phase 2 project; to authorize the expenditure of $1,579,502.00 from the Street and Highway Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,579,502.00) (AMENDED BY ORD. 0488-2014 PASSED 3/24/2014)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is participating with The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) in the multi-year interstate reconstruction project in downtown Columbus to alleviate congestion and safety issues on the section of Interstate 70 and 71 in the downtown area; and
WHEREAS, as part of this project, work will be performed on the urban avenues and gateways from the Interstate into downtown; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to relocate utilities underground before this work is in progress; and
WHEREAS, reimbursement to this utility is necessary for expenses incurred by the utility for this relocation; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Department of Public Service to reimburse AEP for these costs, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service that it is necessary to provide funding for this reimbursement at the earliest possible time so as to maintain the project schedule, 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 2012 Capital Improvements Budget established within ordinance 0368-2012 be and hereby is amended to provide funding for utility relocations as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current CIB / CIB Change / Amended CIB
704 / 704999-100000 / Unallocated Balance Fd. 704 (Voted 2008) / $400,000 / ($400,000) / $0
704 / 530103-100005 / Fairwood Ave/Watkins Rd-Koebel Rd (Voted 2008) / $467,554 / ($467,554) / $0
704 / 590910-100002 / Sci Tech Corridor Improvements (Voted 2008) / $1,700,000 / ($711,948) / $988,052
704 / 530161-100097 / Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 East Interchange - Phase 2C (Voted 2008) / $0 / $1,579,502 / $1,579,502
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and hereby is authorized to transfer cash and appropriation in the amount of $1,579,502.00 within the Streets & Highways G.O. Bond Fund, no. 704, as follows:
TRANSFER FROM:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
704 / 704999-100000 / Unallocated Balance Fd. 704 / 06-6600 / 999704 / $400,000.00
704 / 530103-100005 / Fairwood Ave/Watkins Rd-Koebel Rd / 06-6600 / 740305 /467,554.00
704 / 590910-100002 / Sci Tech Corridor Improvements / 06-6600 / 749102 /711,948.00
TRANSFER TO:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 / OCA Code / Amount
704 / 530161-100097 / Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 East Interchange - Phase 2C / 06-6621 / 746197 / $1,579,502.00
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to pay utility relocation costs to AEP/Ohio Power, 777 Hopewell Dr., Health, Ohio, 43056, in the amount of $$1,579,502.00 for utility relocation costs incurred for undergrounding of utilities on the urban avenues of the downtown freeway reconstruction project, Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 Interchange - Phase 2 Mound Street Connector.
SECTION 4. That for the purpose of paying the cost of the utility relocation the sum of $1,579,502.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended for the Division of Design and Construction as follows Dept./Div. 59-12:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 / OCA Code / Amount
704 / 530161-100097 / Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 East Interchange - Phase 2C / 06-6621 / 746197 / $1,579,502.00
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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 the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 8. 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.