Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure correction in the amount of $207,318.75 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Grant Fund 2283 to the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to balance the Clean Ohio - Refugee Road, Mason Run Preservation grant and close it out prior to year end.
In February of 2021, the Recreation and Parks Department applied for Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Clean Ohio Conservation Funds towards fee simple acquisition of three sites in Columbus as part of the Refugee Road, Mason Run Preservation Project. The grant was awarded in the amount of $1,008,000.00 with a local match amount of $432,000.00, for a total of $1,440,000.00. The grant was accepted and appropriated per Ordinance 2312-2021. Ordinance 2694-2021 later authorized the City Attorney to acquire and accept certain fee simple title and lesser real estate located at Refugee Road, Hamilton Road Rear, and Kimberly Parkway. The acquisitions were completed in 2022 and created a 78 acre conservation area and future community park in one of the last undeveloped woodlands in the Mid East Community.
The planning of the space included restored natural areas, creating a series of paths and trails through the woodlands. These paths and trails will provide both passive recreation within the park and improved community connectivity from Kimberly Parkway to Hamilton Road and the Eastland Mall Property. In an effort to provide more active park amenities per input from the community, additional active amenities were added to the plans for the space, including multipurpose sports fields, hard courts, play spaces, fitness spaces, and parking. These additional active amenities required 17.5 acres of space that, per the terms of the conservation grant, was no longer eligible for grant funding reimbursement. As a result, $207,318.75 of the costs of the acquisitions need to be expenditure corrected to come from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund in lieu of the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund.
Benefits to the Public: This project will provide hard courts, playgrounds, and other active recreation amenities that the community has requested.
Community Input Issues: Extensive engagement efforts having taken place with the Eastland for Everyone Community Plan. There will also be additional open houses and opportunities for further input as the design progresses.
Area(s) Affected: Mid East (57)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by nurturing an active and healthy community.
Fiscal Impact: $207,318.75 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this expenditure correction. This ordinance is contingent on the deposit of bond sale proceeds from the 2025 General Obligation Bond Sale for the City of Columbus.
Title
To authorize an expenditure correction of $207,318.75 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Grant Fund to the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund to balance the Clean Ohio - Refugee Road, Mason Run Preservation grant and close it out prior to year end; to authorize the transfer of $37,412.14 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; and to authorize the expenditure of $207,318.75 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund. ($207,318.75)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to execute an expenditure correction of $207,318.75 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 to the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to balance the Clean Ohio - Refugee Road, Mason Run Preservation grant and close it out prior to year end; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent on the deposit of the bond sale proceeds from the 2025 General Obligation Bond Sale for the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $37,412.14 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $207,318.75 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is necessary to authorize this expenditure correction; NOW, THEREFORE; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. The expenditure of $207,318.75 is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to be applied toward capital eligible costs of land acquisition paid from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 with an expenditure correction.
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. This ordinance is contingent on the deposit of the bond sale proceeds from the 2025 General Obligation Bond Sale for the City of Columbus.
SECTION 6. That the transfer of $37,412.14 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 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 / P510922-513000 / OPWC - Refugee Road, Mason Run Preservation, Cherrybottom Park Expansion Grant Match (Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $37,412 / $37,412 / $37,412 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510922-513000 / OPWC - Refugee Road, Mason Run Preservation, Cherrybottom Park Expansion Grant Match (Carryover) / $37,412 / $37,412 / ($37,412) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P512053-100000 / Mason Run Park Development (Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $37,412 / $37,412 / $37,412
SECTION 6. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $207,318.75, 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 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.