Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. for the Three Creeks Wetland Restoration Project. The contract amount is $142,584.86, with a contingency of $14,258.49, for a total of $156,843.35 being authorized by this ordinance.
Three Creeks Park is a 1,097 acre park in the Far South Community and is jointly managed by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department and Franklin County Metro Parks. Three Creeks Park was historically farmed, but wetlands have been developing over the past decade as the land has naturally converted from agricultural use. It is important that the Recreation and Parks Department restores the wetlands at Three Creeks Park, as approximately 90 percent of all wetlands in Ohio have been lost. Wetlands improve water quality, provide flood control, serve as critical habitat for a variety of wildlife, and capture carbon dioxide.
The project will create a 12-acre wetland within a 20-acre restored area, north of Watkins Road and to the east of the Alum Creek Trail. Additionally, this project will plant additional trees to support the Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP) and increase the canopy in the Far South Community, which has low canopy cover. The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department received grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) H2Ohio Program to fund a wetland restoration at Three Creeks Park. In addition to the H2Ohio Grant, the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department also acquired a donation from Google for tree plantings in the project area. Construction is anticipated to start in spring of 2025 and is expected to be complete by spring of 2026.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (Office of Diversity and Inclusion designation status): Bids were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with Columbus City Codes Chapter 329, on January 29, 2024 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on February 20, 2024. Proposals were received from the following companies:
Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (MAJ)
Burgess & Niple (MAJ)
The Mannik Smith Group, Inc. (MAJ)
Sustainable Streams, LLC. (MAJ)
Of note, professional services contracts are quality based selections and not based on price. Costs were not requested nor were they part of this evaluation.
In accordance with City Code, a selection team evaluated the proposals and recommended Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. be selected to perform the work. The firm was chosen based on their referenced projects, experience, qualifications, availability, timeline and project approach.
Principal Parties:
Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc.
250 West Old Wilson Bridge Road, Suite 250
Worthington, OH 43085
Bradley Petru, (614) 540-6633
Contract Compliance Number: 001963
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: 05/19/24
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to meet the grant design and construction deadline of March 31, 2026.
Benefits to the Public: This project will improve water quality, flood controls, and serve as a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. It will also provide access to additional recreation for the community.
Community Input/Issues: The community, Far South Area Commission, and the Williams Creek HOA has expressed support for the wetland restoration and will continue to be involved during the design phase of the project.
Area(s) Affected: Far South (64)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by conserving, protecting, and enhancing the City’s natural resources and overall environmental health, benefiting current and future generations of residents.
Fiscal Impact: $156,843.35 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and Special Purpose Fund 2223 to meet the financial obligations of this contract.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. for the Three Creeks Wetland Restoration Project; to authorize the transfer of $31,843.35 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2023 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $156,843.35 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund and Special Purpose Fund 2223; and to declare an emergency. ($156,843.35)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. to provide professional services for the Three Creeks Restoration Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $31,843.35 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2023 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1711-2023 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $156,843.35 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and Special Purpose Fund 2223; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. to meet the grant deadline for construction of March 31, 2026, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. for the Three Creeks Restoration Project.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. 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 5. That the transfer of $31,843.35 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the 2023 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1711-2023 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this ordinance and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current Revised Authority / Current Remaining Authority / Change / Amended Revised Authority / Amended Remaining Authority
Fund 7702 / P512017-100000 / John Burroughs Park Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / 102,465 / $102,465 / $102,465 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P512017-100000 / John Burroughs Park Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $102,465 / $102,465 / ($31,843) / $70,622 / $70,622
Fund 7702 / P512040-100000 / Three Creeks Restoration (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $31,843 / $31,843 / $31,843
SECTION 7. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $156,843.35 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and Special Purpose Fund 2223 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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.