Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to establish funding for the City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to acquire needed right of way for the Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals (540007-100029) project.
The Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals project limits are along Neil Avenue from Goodale Avenue to 11th Avenue. This project will upgrade the existing traffic signal system for the Neil Avenue corridor that is more than 40 years old to a newer traffic signal system by installing new mast arm signals, traffic signal controllers and fiber optic cables. The project will provide connectivity to the future central communication system that is being constructed by the Traffic Signal Installation - Columbus Traffic Signal System (CTSS) project and preserve and improve signal coordination by installing fiber optic cable from Goodale Avenue to 11th Avenue.
The construction plans have been finalized and the Department of Public Service is prepared to authorize right of way acquisition pending passage of this funding legislation. Acquisition related expenses are currently estimated to be $80,000.00.
2. Fiscal Impact
Funds for this expenditure are available within the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund, No. 704. An amendment to the 2013 Capital Improvements fund is necessary for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure and will be reimburse after the 2013 Bond Sale.
3. Emergency Justification
The traffic signal upgrade improvements contemplated by this project are essential to the safety of those individuals living and traveling within this area. Failure to complete right of way acquisition in a timely manner will delay the construction if this traffic signal upgrade improvements project. Emergency action is requested to allow right of way acquisition to begin as soon as possible.
Title
To amend the 2013 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer cash and appropriation between projects within the Streets & Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the City Attorney's Real Estate Division to contract for professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals project; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to negotiate with property owners and to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the expenditure of $80,000.00 from the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($80,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service is engaged in the Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals project; and
WHEREAS, the project limits are from Goodale Avenue to 11th Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this project is to upgrade the existing traffic signal system for the Neil Avenue corridor by installing new mast arm signals, traffic signal controllers, fiber optic cables and ADA ramps and connectivity to the future central communication system that is being constructed by the CTSS project and preserve and improve signal coordination from Goodale Avenue to 11th Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals project improvements contemplated by this project are essential to the safety of those individuals living and traveling within this area; and
WHEREAS, construction plans have been finalized and the Department of Public Service is prepared to authorize right of way acquisition pending passage of this funding legislation; and
WHEREAS, acquisition related expenses are currently estimated to be $80,000.00; and
WHEREAS, the following legislation authorizes the City Attorney's Real Estate Division to expend $80,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to acquire those rights of way needed for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2013 Capital Improvements Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that failure to complete right of way acquisition in a timely manner will delay the construction of this Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals project therefore it is immediately necessary to authorize City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to acquire those rights of way needed for this project and to authorize the expenditure of the funds required to complete right of way acquisition 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 2013 Capital Improvement Budget established within ordinance 0645-2013 be and hereby is amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / CIB / Change / CIB as Amended
704 / 530060-100000 / Neil Avenue Area Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $460,000.00 / ($80,000.00) / $380,000.00
704 / 540007-100029 / Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $80,000.00 / $80,000.00
704 / 530060-100000 / Neil Avenue Area Improvements (Voted 2008) / $0.00 / $80,000.00 / $80,000.00 704 / 540007-100029 / Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals (Voted 2008) / $265,000.00 / ($80,000.00) / $185,000.00
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized to transfer cash and appropriation within the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund, No. 704, as follows:
Transfer from:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 530060-100000 / Neil Avenue Area Improvements / 06-6600 / 591260 / $80,000.00
Transfer to:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 540007-100029 / Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals / 06-6600 / 740729 / $80,000.00
SECTION 3. That the City Attorneys' Office, Real Estate Division, be and is hereby authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals project.
SECTION 4. That for the purpose of paying the cost to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals project, the sum of $80,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Streets & Highways G.O. Bond Fund, No. 704, for the Division of Design and Construction, Dept.-Div. 59-12, as follows:
Fund / Project Detail / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 540007-100029 / Traffic Signal Installation - Neil Avenue Signals / 06-6601 / 740729 / $80,000.00
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 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.