Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service, or a designee, to enter into a reimbursement agreement, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary, with the Indiana & Ohio Railway Company (“IORY”), a subsidiary of Genessee & Wyoming, Inc., and to encumber and expend funds to compensate IORY for services rendered during the engineering phase of the UIRF - Eakin Road SUP project.
The aforementioned effort will culminate in the installation of a shared use path along the north side of Eakin Road from South Wayne Avenue to Whitethorne Avenue and along the south side of Eakin Road from Whitethorne Avenue to Harrisburg Pike (US 62). The project crosses the bridge over Early Run, which will require modification to accommodate a 10’ shared use path.
That scope of work dictates that IORY, which operates within the project limits, review and approve engineering plans, design plans, construction specifications, and drawings, and other documents and to perform other services necessary to the successful completion of the project in order to identify and mitigate potential conflicts between rail operations and public infrastructure in proximity to railway corridors. To that end, this legislation seeks to authorize the Director of Public Service to execute agreements with IORY, which presently is owned and operated by Genessee & Wyoming, Inc., and to compensate IORY for said services.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $32,298.00 is available for this project in the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704, within the Department of Public Service. An amendment to the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget and a transfer of cash is necessary to provide sufficient cash and budget authority for the requisite expenditure.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to facilitate the execution of the requisite agreement before year-end so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the completion and acceptance of design plans.
Title
To amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service, or a designee, to enter into agreements with Indiana & Ohio Railway Company, a subsidiary of Genessee & Wyoming, Inc., relative to the UIRF - Eakin Road SUP project; to authorize the encumbrance and expenditure of up to $32,298.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($32,298.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is administering the UIRF - Eakin Road SUP project, which will culminate in the installation of a shared use path along the north side of Eakin Road from South Wayne Avenue to Whitethorne Avenue and along the south side of Eakin Road from Whitethorne Avenue to Harrisburg Pike (US 62); and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned effort requires cooperation from the Indiana & Ohio Railway Company (“IORY”), which operates within the project limits; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Department of Public Service to engage IORY to review and approve engineering and design plans, construction specifications and drawings, and other documents and to perform other services necessary to the successful completion of the project in order to identify and mitigate potential conflicts between rail operations and public infrastructure in proximity to railway corridors; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the execution of a reimbursement agreement, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary, between the Department and IORY, a subsidiary of Genessee & Wyoming, Inc., and the encumbrance and expenditure of up to $32,298.00, relative to the UIRF - Eakin Road SUP project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize a transfer of cash within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund for the purposes of providing sufficient cash for the aforementioned project expenditure; 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 before year-end so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the completion and acceptance of design plans, all for the immediate preservation of 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 2024 Capital Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance 1907-2024 be and is hereby amended to provide sufficient budget authority for the expenditure as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
7704 / P530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $178,431.00 / ($32,298.00) / $146,133.00
7704 / P440005-102232 / UIRF - Eakin Road SUP (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $32,298.00 / $32,298.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $32,298.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 59-12 (Design and Construction), Project P530161-100000 (Roadway Improvements), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay), to Dept-Div 59-12 (Design and Construction), Project P440005-102232 (UIRF - Eakin Road SUP), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to execute a reimbursement agreement, and any amendments or modifications thereto as may be necessary, with the Indiana & Ohio Railway Company, a subsidiary of Genessee & Wyoming, Inc., for the purpose of authorizing that entity to review and approve engineering and design plans, construction specifications and drawings, and other documents and to perform work necessary to the successful completion of the UIRF - Eakin Road SUP project.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $32,298.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project P440005-102232 (UIRF - Eakin Road SUP), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this Ordinance.
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 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.