Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to encumber and expend funds to compensate Norfolk Southern Railway Company for services rendered during the engineering phase of the Roadway - Leonard Ave Improvements under RR Bridge project.
The aforementioned effort encompasses various roadway, pedestrian, drainage, and lighting improvements under the Leonard Avenue railroad bridge in the vicinity of 5th and Woodland avenues. That scope of work necessitates that the Department of Public Service engage Norfolk Southern Railway Company to review and approve engineering plans, design plans, construction specifications, and drawings, and other documents and to perform other services necessary to the completion of the project in order to identify and mitigate potential conflicts between rail operations and public infrastructure in proximity to railway corridors. The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the encumbrance and expenditure of up to $24,500.00 to compensate Norfolk Southern Railway Company for said services.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $24,500.00 is available for this project in the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704, within the Department of Public Service. An amendment to the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget is to provide sufficient budget authority for the requisite expenditure.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to make requisite funding available within the next 30 days so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the completion and acceptance of design plans.
Title
To amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the encumbrance and expenditure of up to $24,500.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund relative to the Roadway - Leonard Ave Improvements under RR Bridge project; and to declare an emergency. ($24,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is administering the Roadway - Leonard Ave Improvements under RR Bridge project, which encompasses various roadway, pedestrian, drainage, and lighting improvements under the Leonard Avenue railroad bridge in the vicinity of 5th and Woodland avenues; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned effort requires cooperation from Norfolk Southern Railway Company, which operates within the proposed project limits; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Department of Public Service to engage Norfolk Southern Railway Company to review and approve engineering and design plans, construction specifications and drawings, and other documents and to perform other services necessary to the successful completion of the planned improvements; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this legislation is to authorize the encumbrance and expenditure of up to $24,500, which represents the estimated cost of those services; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget to provide sufficient budget authority for the requisite expenditure; 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 in order to make requisite funding available within the next 30 days so as to prevent unnecessary delays in the completion and acceptance of design plans, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance 1907-2024 be and is hereby amended to provide sufficient budget authority for the expenditure as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
7704 / P530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $202,931.00 / ($24,500.00) / $178,431.00
7704 / P530161-100221 / Roadway - Leonard Ave Improvements under RR Bridge (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $24,500.00 / $24,500.00
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $24,500.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project P530161-100221 (Roadway - Leonard Ave Improvements under RR Bridge), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this Ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this Ordinance.