Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the City Attorney’s Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Roadway Improvements - Livingston Avenue Phase C - Fifth Street to Kennedy Drive project.
The Department of Public Service is currently engaged in the Roadway Improvements - Livingston Avenue Phase C - Fifth Street to Kennedy Drive project, which encompasses various improvements to Livingston Avenue from the eastern property line extended of Livingston Methodist Episcopal Church to Kennedy Drive. Planned improvements include reconstructing and widening the roadway; widening Grant Avenue to accommodate a second southbound left turn lane at Livingston Avenue; and resurfacing Grant Avenue from Livingston Avenue to the southern limit of the bridge over I-70/I-71 approach slab, located in the Near South area (CPA 22). Bike lanes, curb extensions where parking is permitted, and a new sidewalk will be constructed; new storm sewer, street lighting, water lines, and streetscape improvements will be installed; and all aerial utilities will be relocated underground.
The Department of Public Service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize right-of-way acquisition pending passage of this legislation.
Ordinance 2407-2016, passed October 3, 2016, authorized initial acquisition funding for this project, in the amount of $250,000.00. The initial acquisition legislation authorized the City Attorney to contract for professional services and to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to real property necessary to the project, with the understanding that more funding may be required in the future.
It is now necessary to authorize the encumbrance and expenditure of an additional $200,000.00 in order to pay for costs relative to the acquisition of right-of-way necessary to the Roadway Improvements - Livingston Avenue Phase C - Fifth Street to Kennedy Drive project.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $200,000.00 are available for this project in the Streets and Highways Bond Fund within the Department of Public Service. An amendment to the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget is necessary to provide sufficient budget authority for the appropriate project.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested so as to provide necessary right-of-way acquisition funding and prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program.
Title
To amend the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer cash and appropriation between projects within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, 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 Roadway Improvements - Livingston Avenue Phase C - Fifth Street to Kennedy Drive project; to authorize the City Attorney’s Office, Real Estate Division, to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the expenditure of $200,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is engaged in the Roadway Improvements - Livingston Avenue Phase C - Fifth Street to Kennedy Drive project, which encompasses various improvements to Livingston Avenue and Grant Avenue; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the City Attorney’s Office to expend $200,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to contract for professional services and to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to real property necessary to the project, with the understanding that more funding may be required in the future; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2017 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 it is immediately necessary to authorize the above actions so that funding can be made available for the necessary right-of-way acquisition for the project, 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 2017 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by Ordinance 1124-2017 be and hereby is amended to provide sufficient budget authority for the appropriate project authorized within this ordinance as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
7704 / P530161-100161 / Roadway Improvements - 18th Street - I-70 to Main Street (Voted Carryover) / $230,000.00 / ($200,000.00) / $30,000.00
7704 / P530161-100166 / Roadway Improvements - Livingston Avenue Phase C - Fifth Street to Kennedy Drive (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $200,000.00 / $200,000.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within Fund 7704 Streets and Highways Bond Fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Attorney’s Office, Real Estate Division, be and hereby is authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to certain parcels of real estate, to contract for professional services, and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way needed to complete the Roadway Improvements - Livingston Avenue Phase C - Fifth Street to Kennedy Drive project in an amount of up to $200.000.00.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 Streets and Highways Bond Fund in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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.