Explanation
The City of Columbus is engaged in the Tuttle Crossing Boulevard Project. This project will reconstruct 0.70 miles of Tuttle Crossing Boulevard from Wilcox Road east to I-270. It will include installation of a raised median, a closed storm drainage system with curb and gutters, street lighting, bicycle paths and sidewalks. This is a Franklin County / City of Dublin / City of Columbus joint project with Columbus being responsible for the acquisition of any additional right-of-way and for the payment of utility relocation expenses within the Columbus corporate limits. In addition, construction costs for improvements within the City of Columbus deemed necessary by the City of Columbus will be the responsibility of the City of Columbus. Legislation will be presented to City Council in the future for reimburement to Franklin County for City of Columbus construction costs. Frankin County will bid and manage the construction of this project. Preliminary cost estimates for City of Columbus right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation total $750,000.00. It is anticipated that construction of this improvement project will commence in March 2007. The City of Dublin has already begun their right-of-way acquisition and it is now necessary for the City of Columbus to begin their acquisition to accommodate the anticipated construction schedule. This legislation encumbers $750,000.00 for preliminary right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation for the Tuttle Crossing Boulevard project and authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services relative to the acquisition of the necessary right-of-way, negotiate with the property owners and expend the funds required to acquire the necessary right-of-way.
Fiscal Impact: Monies to pay for these costs in the amount of $750,000.00 are budgeted and available within the Transportation Division's 2005 Capital Improvement Budget in the 1995, 1999, 2004 Voted Streets and Highways Fund in the Roadway Improvements project.
Emergency action is requested to allow the Real Estate Division to proceed to acquire the necessary right-of-way without as soon as possible to accommodate anticipated March 2007 construction.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to hire professional services relative to the acquisition of the necessary right-of-way, negotiate with the property owners and expend monies for acquisition-related activities including the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Tuttle Crossing Boulevard project for the Transportation Division; to authorize the expenditure of $750,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed from the 1995, 1999, 2004 Voted Streets and Highways Fund and to declare an emergency. ($750,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is engaged in the Tuttle Crossing Boulevard project; and
WHEREAS, this project will reconstruct 0.70 miles of Tuttle Crossing Boulevard from Wilcox Road east to I-270; and
WHEREAS, this is a Franklin County / City of Dublin / City of Columbus joint project with Columbus being responsible for acquisition of additional right-of-way and payment of utility relocation costs within the Columbus corporate limits; and
WHEREAS, construction of this improvement project is currently scheduled to begin in March 2007; and
WHEREAS, to accommodate this schedule all right-of-way acquisition must be completed by December 2006; and
WHEREAS, preliminary cost estimates for City of Columbus right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation total $750,000.00; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services relative to the acquisition of the necessary right-of-way, negotiate with the property owners and expend the funds necessary to acquire additional right-of-way for the Tuttle Crossing Boulevard project to accommodate anticipated March 2007 construction, 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 City Attorney be and hereby is authorized to hire professional services relative to the acquisition of the necessary right-of-way, negotiate with the property owners and expend the funds necessary to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to those parcels of additional right-of-way needed for the Tuttle Crossing Boulevard project and to expend those funds required to pay acquisition-related costs.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose of paying for said costs the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division is hereby authorized to expend $750,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary from Fund 704, the 1995, 1999, 2004 Voted Streets and Highways Fund, Department No. 59-09, Transportation Division, Object Level One Code 06, Object Level Three Code 6601, OCA Code 644385 and Project 530161.
SECTION 3. 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.