Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a contribution agreement, or similar instrument, with and to provide funding to the Columbus Metropolitan Library, a public library, relative to Phase II of the 2020 Vision Plan.
Described as “a multi-phased comprehensive blueprint that reinvents and revitalizes the entire 600,000 square feet maintained by the library”, the 2020 Vision Plan aims “to address and prioritize the needs of its aging locations and the evolving community demands upon them”. Phase I of “the aspirational building program” encompassed the renovation or reconstruction of 10 of 23 locations, and as part of that initial effort, the City agreed to contribute a maximum of $3,790,000.00 to support public infrastructure improvements at the following locations: Main Library, Northside Branch, Shepherd Branch, Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch, Driving Park Branch, Parsons Branch and Northern Lights Branch.
Phase II of the 2020 Vision Plan will culminate in the renovation or construction of four branches this year, and the City has agreed to contribute a maximum of $3,000,000.00 to subsidize a portion of the costs associated with renovating and expanding the existing Barnett and Linden branches and constructing a new Marion-Franklin Branch. This legislation seeks to authorize the execution of a contribution agreement, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary, between the Department of Public Service and the Columbus Metropolitan Library and the encumbrance and expenditure of capital funding for that purpose.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this project is available as follows: $1,800,000.00 within the Northland and Other Acquisitions Bond Fund and $1,200,000.00 within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to facilitate the execution of the requisite contribution agreement by the parties on or before September 30, 2025.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a contribution agreement with the Columbus Metropolitan Library and to provide funding to the same relative to Phase II of the 2020 Vision Plan to renovate and expand the existing Barnett and Linden library branch locations and to construct the new Marion-Franklin Branch; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,800,000.00 from the Northland and Other Acquisitions Bond Fund; to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,200,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Metropolitan Library has undertaken an “aspirational building program” known as the 2020 Vision Plan, which aims “to address and prioritize the needs of its aging locations and the evolving community demands upon them”; and
WHEREAS, Phase I of the 2020 Vision Plan encompassed the renovation or reconstruction of 10 of 23 Columbus Metropolitan Library locations, and as part of that initial effort, the City agreed to contribute a maximum of $3,790,000.00 to support public infrastructure improvements at the following locations: Main Library, Northside Branch, Shepherd Branch, Martin Luther King, Jr. Branch, Driving Park Branch, Parsons Branch and Northern Lights Branch; and
WHEREAS, Phase II of the 2020 Vision Plan will culminate in the renovation or construction of four branches this year, and the City has agreed to contribute a maximum of $3,000,000.00 to subsidize a portion of the costs associated with renovating and expanding the existing Barnett and Linden branches and constructing a new Marion-Franklin Branch; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance seeks to authorize the execution of a contribution agreement, and any amendments and modifications thereto as may be necessary, between the Department of Public Service and the Columbus Metropolitan Library and the encumbrance and expenditure of capital funding for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contribution agreement with the Columbus Metropolitan Library on or before September 30, 2025 to provide funding in accordance with Phase II of the 2020 Vision Plan to renovate and expand the existing Barnett and Linden branches and construct the new Marion-Franklin Branch, all 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 the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to enter into a contribution agreement, or similar instrument, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary with the Columbus Metropolitan Library and to provide funding in the amount of up to $3,000,000.00 to the same to facilitate the completion of Phase II of the 2020 Vision Plan, which will culminate in the renovation and expansion of the existing Barnett and Linden branches and the construction of a new Marion-Franklin Branch.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $600,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is authorized in Fund 7735 (Northland and Other Acquisitions Bond Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), Project P530165-100001 (Columbus Metropolitan Library - Linden Branch), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $400,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530165-100001 (Columbus Metropolitan Library - Linden Branch), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $600,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is authorized in Fund 7735 (Northland and Other Acquisitions Bond Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), Project P530165-100002 (Columbus Metropolitan Library - Marion-Franklin Branch), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $400,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530165-100002 (Columbus Metropolitan Library - Marion-Franklin Branch), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $600,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is authorized in Fund 7735 (Northland and Other Acquisitions Bond Fund), Dept-Div 4402 (Economic Development), Project P530165-100003 (Columbus Metropolitan Library - Barnett Branch), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the expenditure of $400,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and hereby is authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530165-100003 (Columbus Metropolitan Library - Barnett Branch), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That the funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 9. 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 10. 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 11. 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.