Explanation
The City of Columbus, Finance and Management Department, Fleet Management Division, has been awarded a grant from the United States Department of Energy through the local Clean Cities Coalition designee, Clean Fuels Ohio. The funding opportunity is titled "Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector", Area of Interest 4, and was created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to fund cost-shared projects that expand the use of alternative fueled vehicles and advanced technology vehicles as well as the installation or acquisition of infrastructure necessary to directly support an alternative fueled vehicle or advanced technology vehicle.
Local governments must be in partnership with an active designated Clean Cities Coalition in order to be eligible for funds. Clean Fuels Ohio is the Clean Cities Coalition designee for Columbus. Clean Fuels Ohio was the grant applicant and will serve as the fiduciary for grant funds. The City of Columbus is a partner in the grant and will be responsible for the administration of its portion of grant funds received. Ordinance #0651-2009 (passed on May 4, 2009) authorized the Finance and Management Director to enter into partnership with Clean Fuels Ohio for the purpose of applying for this grant. This ordinance is now needed to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio and to accept and appropriate $1,273,250 in grant money to fund Fleet Management's portion of this project for the period February 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011.
This is a two-year project, beginning in 2010 and continuing through 2011. The project is comprised of 3 interrelated areas: equipment purchases, training of mechanics, and construction. Equipment purchases require a 25% match, contractual services (training) and construction require a 50% partner match. Fleet Management's equipment purchases include six (6) heavy duty CNG vehicles and five (5) hybrid heavy duty vehicles to be located in the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Refuse Collection and the Division of Mobility Options. The grant funds 75% of the incremental cost to make a vehicle alternative fueled or hybrid. The City is responsible for the base cost of the vehicle. Contractual services involve the training of mechanics in CNG and hybrid vehicle maintenance as well as special training needed for the specific equipment being purchased. Fleet Management's construction portion of the grant award will fund the design and construction of a CNG fueling station to be located at the current Fleet Management main facility at 4211 Groves Road as well as facility modifications to buildings at Groves Road and Fairwood Ave. that are expected to house CNG vehicles.
Fiscal Impact: The total cost of this project is $4,442,500 (equipment purchases $2,856,000, contractual services $9,500 and construction $1,577,000). The City's contribution includes our match ($953,250) plus the base price of the vehicles ($2,216,000) for a total of $3,169,250. The federal award totals $1,273,250. The matching portion for the construction and contractual services will be budgeted in Fleet Management's 2010 and 2011 operating and capital budgets. Vehicle purchases have been budgeted in divisions' 2010 and 2011 capital and operating budgets.
Emergency action is requested to expedite the project and stay within the timeframes required by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Title
To authorize the Finance and Management Director to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio to accept a grant award from the United States Department of Energy, through Clean Fuels Ohio, for the program titled "Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector"; to authorize the appropriation of $1,273,250.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Department of Finance and Management; and to declare an emergency. ($1,273,250.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City has been awarded a grant in the amount of $1,273,250 from the United States Department of Energy, through Clean Fuels Ohio, for the program titled "Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector" for the period of February 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011 ; and
WHEREAS, Columbus must be in contract with Clean Fuels Ohio in order to accept this grant award; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus for the Department of Finance and Management to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio in order to accept this grant and appropriate these funds from the U.S. Department of Energy; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio to accept and appropriate a grant from the United States Department of Energy in order to preserve 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 Finance and Management Director is hereby authorized and directed to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio in order to accept a grant award from the United States Department of Energy through Clean Fuels Ohio for the program titled "Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector" for the period February 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grant Fund, Subfund No. 220, and from any and all sources estimated to come into said fund and unappropriated for any other purpose during the period ending December 31, 2011, the sum of $1,273,250 is appropriated in the Department of Finance and Management, Fleet Management Division, as follows: Dept-Div: 45-05, OL1: 06; Fund: 220, OCA Code: XXXXXX, Grant Number XXXXXX.
SECTION 3. That the monies in Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Finance and Management Director; and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. 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.