Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this legislation is to enable the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to modify and increase the contract for professional services for conducting a department-wide environmental audit with GSP/OH Inc., an affiliate of Gresham, Smith and Partners.
The audit has reviewed applicable federal and state environmental laws and rules and city of Columbus codes for utility facilities and operations, conducted data and on-siteaudits at all facilities, and has recommended corrective actions to be taken with continued support from the Regulatory Compliance Unit. Additional funding is required to complete auditing tasks not originally identified in the contract specifications. These include an investigation of the McKinley Avenue Quarry, establishing a data document and scanning system, a study of waste materials at a water treatment plant, and audits at sites not originally identified in the contract scope. The added funding requested also includes $15,000.00 in contingency funds to cover any unforseen problems that may arise as the audits are complated. Any unused contingency funding would be cancelled if not used.
The work to be performed is a logical extension of the work being done by the consultant and is necessary to complete the department's environmental audit.
SUPPLIER: GSP/OH, Inc., an affiliate of Gresham, Smith and Partners CC #621736493, (Expires 04/09/2008)
FISCAL IMPACT: $65,000.00 is needed and available for this service.
Emergency legislation is being requested to avoid interruption in schedules and timelines of the audit.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to modify a contract with GSP/OH, Inc., an affiliate of Gresham, Smith and Partners for an Environmental Audit for the Department of Public Utilities, to authorize the expenditure of $1,300.00 from the Electricity Operating Fund, $23,400.00 from the Water Operating Fund, $23,400.00 from the Sewer System Operating Fund and $16,900.00 from the Stormwater Operating Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($65,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities is conducting a department-wide environmental audit to review applicable federal and state environmental laws and rules for utility facilities and operations, to conduct audits at all facilities, and delivery a final report, including recommendations for establishing regulatory compliance best practices to be managed and continued by the Regulatory Compliance Unit, and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public requests authorization to modify the environmental audit contract with Gresham, Smith and Partners to allow for payment for tasks not originally included in the contract specifications, and
WHEREAS, these additional services include an investigation of the McKinley Avenue Quarry, establishing a data document and scanning system, a study of waste materials at a water treatment plants, and audits at sites not originally identified in the contract scope, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, in that it is immediately necessary to modify the environmental audit contract with Gresham, Smith and Partners to allow for payment for tasks not originally included in the contract specifications to avoid interruption in schedules and timelines of the audit for the immediate 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 Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to modify the contract with Gresham, Smith and Partners for an Environmental Audit
Section 2. That the expenditure of $65,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, be and the same hereby is authorized as follows:
Fund No. 550-Electricity
OCA 600700
Object Level 1: 03
Object Level 03: 3336
Amount: $1,300.00
Fund No. 600-Water
OCA 601849
Object Level 1: 03
Object Level 03: 3336
Amount: $23,400.00
Fund No. 650-Sewers
OCA 605006
Object Level 1: 03
Object Level 03: 3336
Amount: $23,400.00
Fund No. 675-Stormwater
OCA 675002
Object Level 1: 03
Object Level 03: 3336
Amount: $16,900.00
TOTAL: $65,000.00
Section 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, where is hereby made a part hereof, this Ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure, which 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.