Explanation
This ordinance is to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept and enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission and to appropriate the grant and matching funds for the 2018 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 12 project, East Linden Natural Area Protection. The project funding will authorize the City Attorney to spend the funds to acquire in good faith certain fee simple title and lesser real estate located at 2890 Bridgewalk Street, 0000 Wedge Street, and 000 Clubhouse Drive, Columbus, Ohio.
Background: The City’s Recreation and Parks Department (CRPD) is engaged in purchasing real estate located at 2890 Bridgewalk Street, Columbus, Ohio 43224 {Franklin county parcel number 010-005506}, 0000 Wedge Street, Columbus, Ohio 43211{Franklin county parcel numbers 010-073672, 190-001338, 010-073678, 010-073674, 010-073673}, and 000 Clubhouse Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43211. This is a platted subdivision that includes parcels 010-171957 to 010-171976, 010-171984 to 010-171200 and 010-184061. Exhibit A is attached for reference. The City must acquire in good faith and accept certain fee simple title and lesser real estate located at 2890 Bridgewalk Street, Columbus, Ohio 43224, 0000 Wedge Street, Columbus, Ohio 43211, and 000 Clubhouse Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43211. (collectively, “Real Estate”) in order for CRPD to complete the acquisition. Accordingly, CRPD requested the City Attorney to acquire the Real Estate in good faith and contract for associated professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) in order for CRPD to timely complete the acquisition of the property.
The East Linden neighborhood is one of the city’s most underserved areas for parks, open spaces, and natural areas. The purpose of the project is to acquire two separate sites fronting two ravine/tributary areas of Alum Creek near Agler Road. The Clean Ohio funding will be used to acquire 33.5 acres of wooded ravines and tributary corridor in the near northeast side of Columbus. Two properties are owned by a single owner and are listed for sale. Acquiring these sites provides significant long term preservation to water quality, forest preservation, and protection of natural habitat for a disinvested community. The sites are easily accessible, within a short walking distance from each other, with an estimated 11,000 people living within a 1 mile radius.
Principal Parties:
Ohio Public Works Commission
65 E. State Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Jennifer Kline, 614-7582-8118
CCN: 31-1334820
CC Expiration Date: N/A
Emergency Justification: An emergency is being requested due to the grant funding requiring a completion date of 12/31/2018 for acquisition. The preservation sites to be acquired with these funds are currently listed for sale, and the Department wishes to acquire them before they are not available.
Fiscal Impact: Fiscal Impact: This ordinance will authorize the appropriation of $438,200.00 in grant funds in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283. This ordinance will also authorize a grant match of $187,800.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702. $187,800.00 is budgeted and available in the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of the grant match. There is a total of $626,000.00 available for this real estate acquisition.
Benefits to the Public: The Public will benefit from the conservation of important urban forest area, ravines, and natural areas that provide a high quality network of greenways, wildlife corridors, and access.
Community Input/Issues: The communities have expressed priority for more protected stream corridors, access to nature, increased community pride, and increased healthy lifestyles offered by walking.
Area(s) Affected: East Linden community
Master Plan Relation: This grant will further the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by:
• Equity access to nature and outdoors for neighborhoods
• Improve access to trails and greenways corridors
• Improve the environmental health of the city’s waterways
• Improve recreational access to streams
• Providing long term protection corridors for water quality and trail development.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant and enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission in the amount of $438,200.00 for the 2018 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 12 project, East Linden Natural Area Protection; to authorize the appropriation of $438,200.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; to amend the 2018 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer $187,800.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the City Attorney to spend City funds to acquire and accept in good faith certain fee simple title and lesser real estate located at 2890 Bridgewalk Street, Columbus, Ohio 43224, 0000 Wedge Street, Columbus, Ohio 43211, and 000 Clubhouse Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43211 and contract for associated professional services in order for CRPD to timely complete the acquisition of the property; and to declare an emergency. ($626,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Public Works Commission has awarded the city of Columbus a grant for the 2018 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 12 project, East Linden Natural Area Protection; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission in the amount of $438,200.00 for the 2018 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 12 project, East Linden Natural Area Protection; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize that the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1010-2018 be amended in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this legislation and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $438,200.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, the City will enter into agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission for the 2018 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 12 project, East Linden Natural Area Protection; and
WHEREAS, the City intends for the City Attorney to acquire in good faith and accept the necessary fee simple title and lesser real estate at 2890 Bridgewalk Street, Columbus, Ohio 43224, 0000 Wedge Street, Columbus, Ohio 43211, and 000 Clubhouse Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43211 (collectively, “Real Estate”) in order for Recreation and Parks Department (CRPD) to complete the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City intends to spend funds from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Voted Bond Fund 7702 in order to acquire the Real Estate; and
WHEREAS, the City intends for the City Attorney to spend City funds to acquire the Real Estate in good faith and contract for associated professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.); and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to accept the grant and enter into an agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission due to the grant funding requiring a completion date of December 31, 2018 for acquisition, all for the 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 is authorized and directed to accept a grant in the amount of $438,200.00 and enter into a contract with the Ohio Public Works Commission for the 2018 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 12 project, East Linden Natural Area Protection.
SECTION 2. The City Attorney is authorized to acquire in good faith and accept certain fee simple title and lesser real estate located at 2890 Bridgewalk Street, Columbus, Ohio 43224, 0000 Wedge Street, Columbus, Ohio 43211, and 000 Clubhouse Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43211 (collectively, “Real Estate”) in order for the Recreation and Parks Department (CRPD) to timely complete East Linden Natural Area Protection project (“Public Project”).
SECTION 3. The City Attorney is authorized to contract for professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) associated with the Real Estate’s acquisition for the project.
SECTION 4. The City Attorney, in order to exercise the authority described in Sections Two (2) and Three (3) of this ordinance, is authorized to spend up to, Six Hundred Twenty-six Thousand and 00/100 U.S. Dollars ($626,000.00.) or as much as may be necessary, from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Voted Bond Fund 7702 according to the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, the sum of $438,200.00 is appropriated to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. Appropriation effective upon receipt of executed grant agreement.
SECTION 6. That the transfer of $187,800.00 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 7. That the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1010-2018 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this legislation and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
Fund 7702; P510316-100000; Greenways Projects (Voted Carryover) / $1,621,397 / ($187,800) / $1,433,597
Fund 7702; P510908-100000; Greenways - Clean Ohio - East Linden Natural Area Protection - Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $187,800 / $187,800
SECTION 8. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 9. 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 10. 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 11. 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 12. 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.