Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into an agreement with the Board of Commissioners of Franklin County, Ohio ("County") that will replace the current master meter contract with a standard full service agreement for water service for the Rickenbacker Service area defined in the agreement. In addition, the agreement provides that the City will provide water service to two residential subdivisions or parks located within the County totaling 345 units. The agreement also establishes a working group comprised of Columbus and County personnel to establish a new policy for providing city water service to areas within the county where public health concerns are an issue. The agreement includes amending the existing Rickenbacker Sewer Service Contract between the City and County wherein Columbus agrees to assume all responsibilities of the County for the Rickenbacker service area. Lastly, the agreement includes redrawing of certain district boundaries for sewage disposal.
Emergency action is requested to commence important modifications to the agreements for water and sewer service arrangements with the County and to implement important changes to sewer service areas.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no impact on the water and sewer service budget
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract with the Board of County Commissioners of Franklin County, Ohio to provide for amendments to existing agreements with the City of Columbus dealing with the provision of water and sewer services within Franklin County and to redraw certain district boundaries for sewage disposal; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the County and Columbus have engaged in negotiations to address longstanding issues relating to surplus sewer and water services to areas of the County not within the corporative boundaries of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, key considerations in these negotiations include environmental and public health concerns, economic development, orderly growth, cost-effective provision of services, tax base growth, and annexation; and
WHEREAS, this agreement is the result of ongoing dialogue between Columbus and the County to address these issues through intergovernmental cooperation; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilties in that it is immediately necessary to commence important modifications to the agreements for water and sewer service arrangements with the County and to implement important changes to sewer service areas for the preservation of public health, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SESTION 1. That the Contract substantially in the form attached hereto or on file with the Clerk, including exhibits thereto, are approved, and the Director of the Department of Public Utilities (the "Director") is hereby authorized to execute the Contract.
SECTION 2. That the Director is authorized to take all actions necessary to implement the Contract including executing the agreements for water and sewer service referenced in the Contract for 2011 and developing a new water service policy with the County for certain areas as referenced in the Contract.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.