Explanation
To accept the grant awarded to the Recreation and Parks Department and enter into contract with the Ohio Public Works Commission for the Clean Ohio grant program and appropriate the funds for acquisition. Grant title: Lower Big Walnut-Lockbourne Preservation CCFAF. The award is $306,000.00. The City of Columbus' share is $102,000.00. The total cost is $408,000.00 for the acquisition of parkland.
The Ohio Public Works Commission awarded $306,000.00 as a part of the Clean Ohio Grant program.
This grant is for the acquisition of property in the Lower Big Walnut Creek corridor to preserve high quality habitat and preserve the Natural buffer in the floodplain, which aids in flood abatement.
The floodplain is maintained for no loss of flood storage function, so that the habitat is preserved, and so that the wooded buffer/trees are preserved to assist in air filtration and flooding. This corridor acquisition supports trail development, which had the highest rating recreational activity in the CRPD 2003 survey. The Clean Ohio grant program preserves valuable greenspace in communities and aids sustainability.
The Stream Corridor preservation is a core function of the department and a priority since the 1974 River Corridor study. Letters of support were submitted with the grant from Friends of Big Walnut Creek Watershed Group, and the project has the support of the Central Ohio Greenways Committee and the Natural Resources Advisory Council of MORPC. Recreation and Parks is part of the Central Ohio Greenways program and preserving river corridors is a priority of this organization.
This ordinance will enable the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant and enter into an agreement with the State of Ohio - Ohio Public Works Commission, and provide for the appropriation of said funds to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund. Funding has been awarded to purchase future parkland known as the "Lower Big Walnut Creek". The target completion date for this project is December 31, 2010.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible. Up-to-date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management. Emergency action is also necessary to have funding available for necessary expenditures.
Total project cost estimated is to be $408,000.00. A match of $102,000.00 is required from the Recreation and Parks Department. The required local match will be provided from the Recreation and Parks Capital Improvement program dollars.
Fiscal Impact:
$306,000.00 in grant funding will be used for the parkland acquisition. The fiscal impact of this ordinance will be to reduce the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund's unappropriated balance by $306,000.00. The expenditure of $306,000.00 is budgeted in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to accept a grant in the amount of $306,000.00 from and enter into an agreement with the State of Ohio - Ohio Public Works Commission for the Clean Ohio grant program; to appropriate $306,000.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($306,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Recreation and Parks be and is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant in the amount of $306,000.00 and enter into an agreement with the State of Ohio - Ohio Public Works Commission for land acquisition known as Lower Big Walnut Creek; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Recreation and Parks in that it is immediately necessary to accept this grant to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible. Up-to-date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be and he is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant in the amount of $306,000.00 and enter into an agreement with the State of Ohio - Ohio Public Works Commission for land acquisition known as Lower Big Walnut Creek.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund No. 764, 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, 2010, the sum of $306,000.00 is appropriated to the Recreation and Parks Department, Department No. 51-01, as follows:
Fund Type; Grant, Dept No.; 51-01, Fund No.; 764, Grant No.; to be established by the Auditor's Office, Obj Lvl 3; 6601, OCA Code; to be established by the Auditor's Office, Amount; $306,000.00
SECTION 3. That the monies in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Recreation and Parks, 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.