Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with Tri County Tower, LLC for removal, decommissioning, and disposal of an existing radio tower and design and construction of a new tower on property owned by the City of Columbus at 6502 E. Broad St.
The Department of Public Safety currently has a radio tower mounted on top of a water tank at 6502 E. Broad St. The Department of Public Utilities, Division of Water, plans to repaint the water tank in 2025. The Department of Public Safety will be required to remove their radio tower from atop the water tank as part of this planned project. When comparing costs of renting a temporary radio tower and eventually mounting the existing tower back on the water tank vs. constructing a new radio tower, the Department of Public Safety determined that it will be more cost effective in the long run to construct a new radio tower. This radio tower is part of the Division of Support Services' telecommunications network which provides critical 800 MHz communication services throughout the City of Columbus for public safety forces.
A committee comprised of employees from the Department of Public Safety's Director's Office and Division of Support Services solicited quotes from various qualified vendors for this project. Tri County Tower, LLC quoted a total cost of $373,224.30, which includes $90,000.00 in contingency funding, which may be needed depending upon the results of the core sampling and soil analysis. Hayden Tower Service quoted a total cost of $449,339.00. Motorola quoted a total cost of $793,568.00.
Bid Information - This purchase is recommended to be made with a waiver of formal bidding requirements, due to the deadline for project completion and the vast difference in pricing between the quotes received.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is requested because of the need to get this agreement implemented as soon as possible due to the upcoming painting project.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $373,224.30 to enter into an agreement with Tri County Tower, LLC. Funds are available in the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund for this purpose.
Title
To amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the transfer of funds within the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701; to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with Tri County Tower, LLC for removal of an existing radio tower and design and construction of a new radio tower; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $373,224.30 from the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($373,224.30)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Service needs to remove its existing radio tower from the top of the water tank located at 6502 E. Broad St. due to an upcoming painting project; and
WHEREAS, a committee of Department of Public Safety employees solicited quotes and determined that it will be more cost-effective in the long run to build a replacement radio tower rather than to rent a temporary tower and incur removal and reattachment costs; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Public Safety seeks authorization from City Council to enter into an agreement with Tri County Tower, LLC for removal, decommissioning, and disposal of an existing radio tower and design and construction of a new radio tower on property owned by the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services recommends that it is in the City's best interest to waive the competitive bidding procedures of Chapter 329 of the City Code to allow for this agreement in order to take advantage of competitive pricing and ensure completion of the radio tower removal in advance of the painting project; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in the Department of Public Safety's 2024 Capital Improvement Budget, Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701, for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to transfer funds within the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701, and also to amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget in order to properly align appropriations with projected expenditures; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an expenditure from the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701, for this project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Support Services, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into an agreement for the removal, decommissioning, and disposal of an existing radio tower and design and construction of a new tower on property owned by the City of Columbus so not to delay the upcoming painting project, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, safety, and welfare; and now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget be amended in Fund 7701, as follows, to establish proper authority for this purchase:
Fund | Project Name & Funding Source | Project Number | Current Authority | Revised Authority | Difference
7701 | Impound Lot Resurfacing (Voted Carryover) | P330066-100006 | $12,136,871.00 | $11,763,646.70 | ($373,224.30)
7701 | Police & Fire Communications Systems (Voted Carryover) | P320001-100000 | $724,387.00 | $1,097,611.30 | $373,224.30
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is authorized to transfer cash and appropriation totaling $373,224.30 within the Safety G.O. Bonds Fund, Fund 7701 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this legislation.
SECTION 3. That the Public Safety Director is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with Tri County Tower, LLC for removal, decommissioning, and disposal of an existing radio tower and design and construction of a new tower on property owned by the City of Columbus at 6502 E. Broad St.
SECTION 4. That this Council finds it is in the City's best interest to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the City Code to allow the aforementioned purchase from Tri County Tower, LLC.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $373,224.30, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from Fund 7701 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for any contract or contract modification associated with the expenditure of the funds referenced in Section 5 above.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part thereof, 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.