Explanation
The City of Columbus is engaged in the Henderson Road Improvement project. The purpose of this project is to reconstruct Henderson Road on the existing alignment and width from the east side of the bridge over the Olentangy River to High Street. The project will also include the widening of the existing bridge over the river to better accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Initial funding in the amount of $100,000.00 established pursuant to Ordinance 0807-2002 allowed the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services and begin acquisition of necessary rights-of-way. At this time it is necessary to increase the funding to allow acquisition-related activities to continue. This legislation authorizes the City Attorney to expend an additional $237,500.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary for the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for this project. Funds for the acquisition of any parcel(s) otherwise needed for a potential south-bound High Street to west-bound Henderson Road turn lane at the northwest corner of the High Street/Henderson Road intersection are not included within this authorization.
Fiscal Impact: Additional acquisition-related expenses are currently estimated to be $237,500.00 for this project. Monies to pay for these costs are budgeted at $247,500.00 and are available within the arterial street rehabilitation project in the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund with the summer bond sale; the $10,000.00 savings will be available for other capital-improvement purposes.
Rights-of-way acquisition and utility relocation activities traditionally require two (2) years to complete. Construction of this project is slated to begin in early 2006.
Emergency action is requested to allow rights-of-way acquisition-related activities being undertaken by the City Attorney's Real Estate Division to continue without interruption so that construction can begin as currently scheduled.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to expend an additional $237,500.00 for acquisition-related activities including the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Henderson Road Improvement project for the Transportation Division from the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($237,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is engaged in the Henderson Road Improvement project; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this project is to reconstruct Henderson Road on the existing alignment and width from the east side of the bridge over the Olentangy River to High Street and widen the existing bridge over the river to better accommodate bicycle and pedestrian traffic; and
WHEREAS, initial funding in the amount of $100,000.00 established pursuant to Ordinance 0807-2002 allowed the City Attorney's Real Estate Division, to hire professional services and begin acquisition of necessary rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, at this time it is necessary to increase the funding to allow acquisition-related activities to continue; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the City Attorney to expend an additional $237,500.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary for acquisition-related activities; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in the arterial street rehabilitation project within the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund to pay for said acquisition related costs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to expend the additional funds necessary to continue acquisition-related activities for the Henderson Road Improvement project so that construction can begin as currently scheduled, 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 City Attorney be and is hereby authorized to continue acquisition-related activities necessary to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to those parcels needed for the Henderson Road Improvement project and to expend those funds required to pay acquisition-related costs.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose of paying for said costs an additional $237,500.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary be and hereby is authorized to be expended from Fund 704, the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund, Department No. 59-09, Transportation Division, Object Level One Code 06, Object Level Three Code 6601, OCA Code 644385 and Project 530103.
SECTION 3. 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.