Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into an Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator (EVC-RAA) Site Host Improvement, Access, and Maintenance Agreement (“Site Host Agreement”), or a similar instrument, with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (“MORPC”), or a designee or an authorized agent, to facilitate the repair and/or replacement and maintenance of electric vehicle charging facilities (“Charging Equipment”) at the Astor Parking Garage.
In March 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration awarded MORPC $2 million in federal funding to repair or replace broken or unavailable Charging Equipment throughout the Central Ohio region. MORPC has allocated a portion of that funding to repair and replace non-operational Charging Equipment located in the Astor Parking Garage, currently owned and operated by the Department of Public Service, Division of Mobility and Parking Services.
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the execution of a Site Host Agreement between MORPC and the Department of Public Service to facilitate the aforementioned improvements. Pursuant to that agreement, MORPC also will maintain the Charging Equipment for five (5) years after those facilities are operational.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no anticipated cost to the City as a result of executing of the Site Host Agreement.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to enable the Director of Public Service to execute the requisite agreement on or about May 15, 2026.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into an Electric Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator Site Host Improvement, Access, and Maintenance Agreement, or a similar instrument, with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, or a designee or an authorized agent; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration recently awarded MORPC $2 million to repair or replace existing broken or unavailable Charging Equipment throughout the Central Ohio region; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Division of Mobility and Parking Services owns the Astor Parking Garage, at which there is non-operational electric vehicle charging facilities, or Charging Equipment; and
WHEREAS, MORPC has proposed repairing or replacing the aforementioned Charging Equipment, and maintaining the same for a period of five (5) years once operational, necessitating the execution of a Site Host Agreement between MORPC, or a designee, and the Department of Public Service to facilitate those improvements; 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 passage of this legislation to enable the Director of Public Service to execute the requisite agreement on or about May 15, 2026, all for the immediate preservation of public health, peace, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service is hereby authorized to enter into Vehicle Charger Reliability and Accessibility Accelerator (EVC-RAA) Site Host Improvement, Access, and Maintenance Agreement (the “Site Host Agreement”), or a similar instrument, along with any future amendments or modifications thereto, with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (“MORPC”), or a designee or an authorized agent, to facilitate the repair and/or replacement and maintenance of electric vehicle charging facilities (“Charging Equipment”) at the Astor Parking Garage.
SECTION 2. 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.