Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into an agreement with and contribute funding to the Franklin County Engineer’s Office to support the completion of feasibility studies related to the LinkUS initiative.
LinkUS is a collaborative transportation and growth plan developed by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and the Columbus Partnership, which seeks to expand transit and to create more walkable communities in Central Ohio, increasing opportunities for residents. Together, MORPC and its regional partners have identified more than 80 projects aimed at creating more than 150 miles of new sidewalks, bikeways, and trails across the region within the first five years of implementation.
In a letter dated November 21, 2023, to MORPC, the Department of Public Service expressed support for an application by the Franklin County Engineer’s Office seeking $320,000 in MORPC Attributable Funds to study the feasibility of certain Transit-Supportive Infrastructure (TSI) projects recommended for completion as part of LinkUS. The Department of Public Service also committed to contribute up to $80,000 to the Franklin County Engineer’s Office for that purpose.
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the execution of a contribution or reimbursement agreement between the Department of Public Service and the Franklin County Engineer’s Office related to the LinkUS TSI Feasibility Studies and the encumbrance and expenditure of capital funding to pay the City’s proportional share of the actual cost of those studies.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $79,051.00 is available and appropriated for this project in the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704, within the Department of Public Service. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget and a transfer of funds is necessary to align spending with the proper project.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to enable the City to make payment to the Franklin County Engineer’s Office on or before November 28, 2025.
Title
To amend the 2025 Capital Improvement budget; to authorize the transfer of funds within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a contribution or reimbursement agreement with the Franklin County Engineer’s Office and to provide funding to the same relative to the completion of the LinkUS TSI Feasibility Studies; to authorize the expenditure of $79,051.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($79,051.00)
Body
WHEREAS, LinkUS is a collaborative transportation and growth plan developed by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and the Columbus Partnership, which seeks to expand transit and to create more walkable communities in Central Ohio, increasing opportunities for residents; and
WHEREAS, MORPC and its regional partners have identified more than 80 projects aimed at creating more than 150 miles of new sidewalks, bikeways, and trails across the region within the first five years of implementation; and
WHEREAS, in 2023, the Department of Public Service expressed support for an application by the Franklin County Engineer’s Office seeking $320,000 in MORPC Attributable Funds to study the feasibility of certain Transit-Supportive Infrastructure (TSI) projects recommended for completion as part of LinkUS and committed to contribute up to $80,000 to the Franklin County Engineer’s Office for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, this legislation seeks to authorize the execution of a contribution or reimbursement agreement between the Department of Public Service and the Franklin County Engineer’s Office related to the LinkUS TSI Feasibility Studies and the expenditure of capital funding to pay the City’s proportional share of the actual cost of those studies; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to establish authority within the correct project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for Council to authorize a transfer of funds within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, to establish sufficient cash to pay for the project; 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 execute the requisite agreement by the parties to enable the City to make payment to the Franklin County Engineer’s Office on or before November 28, 2025; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P530161 - 100000 / Roadway Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $136,522.00 / ($79,051.00) / $57,471.00
7704 / P531080 - 100000 / Roadway - LinkUS - Main Category (Voted Carryover) / $3,700,000.00 / $79,051.00 / $3,779,051.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $79,051.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530161 - 100000 (Roadway Improvements ), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531080 - 100000 (Roadway - LinkUS - Main Category), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to enter into a contribution or reimbursement agreement, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary, with the Franklin County Engineer’s Office and to provide funding in the amount of $79,051.00 to the same relative to the completion of the LinkUS TSI Feasibility Studies.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $79,051.00, 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 P531080 - 100000 (Roadway - LinkUS - Main Category), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 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 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.