Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The City of Columbus, has been awarded a grant from the United States Department of Energy through the local Clean Cities Coalition designee, Clean Fuels Ohio. The funding opportunity is titled "Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector", Area of Interest 4, and was created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to fund cost-shared projects that expand the use of alternative fueled vehicles and advanced technology vehicles as well as the installation or acquisition of infrastructure necessary to directly support an alternative fueled vehicle or advanced technology vehicle.
Local governments must be in partnership with an active designated Clean Cities Coalition in order to be eligible for funds. Clean Fuels Ohio is the Clean Cities Coalition designee for Columbus. Clean Fuels Ohio was the grant applicant and will serve as the fiduciary for grant funds. The City of Columbus is a partner in the grant and will be responsible for the administration of its portion of grant funds received.
The City of Columbus has received approval from Clean Fuels Ohio to install two electric vehicle charging stations, to be partially reimbursed through their grant funds. The City will use the two charging stations to help educate the public on the developing opportunities for alternative fuel vehicles. This ordinance is now needed to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio and to accept the grant and funding for a project to design and construct 2 electric vehicle charging stations in the City of Columbus. These electric vehicle charging stations will be located on the west side of Park Street between Russell and Millay and in front of the Beacon building at 50 West Gay Street.
This ordinance will be the first of two ordinances relevant to installing two electric vehicle charging stations through the Clean Fuels Ohio grant. The second ordinance will modify an existing construction contract for the actual work. It will be necessary to modify an existing construction contract for this work to complete the installation in time to meet the grant funding obligations.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
This ordinance is needed to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio and to accept the grant and funding. Another ordinance will be submitted in the future for the construction of this project utilizing grant funds.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to expedite the project and stay within the timeframes required by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio to accept a grant award from the United States Department of Energy, through Clean Fuels Ohio, for the program titled "Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector"; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the City has been awarded a grant from the United States Department of Energy, through Clean Fuels Ohio, for the program titled "Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector"; and
WHEREAS, Columbus must be in contract with Clean Fuels Ohio in order to accept this grant award; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus for the Department of Public Service to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio and to accept this grant and appropriate these funds from the U.S. Department of Energy; and
WHEREAS, the funding from this grant will be utilized to design and construct 2 electric vehicle charging stations; one located on the west side of Park Street between Russell and Millay, and the other located in front of the Beacon Building at 50 West Gay Street; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio to accept and appropriate a grant from the United States Department of Energy in order to preserve 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 Director of Public Service is hereby authorized and directed to enter into contract with Clean Fuels Ohio and to accept a grant award from the United States Department of Energy through Clean Fuels Ohio for the program titled "Clean Cities FY09 Petroleum Reduction Technologies Projects for the Transportation Sector".
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.