Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with and to provide funding to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the FRA-70-12.68 project, PID 77372.
Located within the corporate limits of the City of Columbus, the aforementioned effort encompasses various improvements to I-70 from its eastern confluence with I-71 to the Grant Avenue Bridge and improvements to the ancillary streets and intersections, including construction of bridge caps on Bridge No. FRA-70-1405C (South High Street over I-70/71) and Bridge No. FRA-33-1747C (South Third Street over I-70/71), aesthetic enhancements to 3 bridges FRA-70-1395C (Front Street over I-70/71), FRA-70-1405C (High Street over I-70/71), and FRA-23-1075C (S. Fourth Street over I-70/71).
Ordinance 2364-2022 authorized the Director of Public Service to grant consent and propose cooperation with ODOT relative to FRA-70-12.68 project, PID 77372. This legislation seeks to grant the Director of Public Service the authority to execute any and all agreements with ODOT necessary to the completion of that project and to contribute $23,883,260.00 for that purpose. City Council previously authorized the encumbrance and expenditure of capital funding to support the local share of associated construction and inspection costs pursuant to ordinances 1157-2021, 1299-2022, and 1537-2023.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Auditor certificates ACPO006547, ACPO007797, and ACPO009194 have been established to facilitate payment to ODOT relative to the FRA-70-12.68 project, PID 77372 for the proportionate share of anticipated project costs attributable to the Department of Public Service.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to enable the Department of Public Service to execute and return the necessary contribution agreement along with the requisite payment to ODOT on or before November 24, 2023, in order to maintain the project schedule established by ODOT and to promote highway safety.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with and to provide funding to the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to the FRA-70-12.68 project, PID 77372; and to declare an emergency. ($23,883,260.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) proposes rebuilding the stretch of I-70 from its eastern confluence with I-71 to the Grant Avenue Bridge and making various improvements to the ancillary streets and intersections, including construction of bridge caps on Bridge No. FRA-70-1405C (South High Street over I-70/71) and Bridge No. FRA-33-1747C (South Third Street over I-70/71), aesthetic enhancements to 3 bridges FRA-70-1395C (Front Street over I-70/71), FRA-70-1405C (High Street over I-70/71), and FRA-23-1075C (S. Fourth Street over I-70/71); and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned project is located within the corporate boundaries of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2364-2022, which passed on January 30, 2023, authorized the Director of Public Service to grant consent and to agree to cooperate with ODOT relative to the FRA-70-12.68 project, PID 77372; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with and to make payment in the amount of $23,883,260.00 to ODOT relative to the aforementioned project; 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 passage of this legislation to enable the Department of Public Service to execute and return the necessary contribution agreement along with the requisite payment to ODOT on or before November 24, 2023,in order to maintain the schedule established by ODOT and to promote highway safety, 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 Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to enter into agreements with and to make payment to the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to FRA-70-12.68 project, PID 77372.
SECTION 2. That the Department of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to contribute up to $23,883,260.00 to the Ohio Department of Transportation to support the aforementioned project pursuant to Auditor certificates ACPO006547, ACPO007797, and ACPO009194.
SECTION 3. 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 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 ten days after passage if the mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.