Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The following ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary for improvements to various locations throughout the City.
The City of Columbus Department of Public Service, Division of Design and Construction, frequently must acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for the Resurfacing program and associated ADA Curb Ramp improvements throughout the City. To expedite the right-of-way acquisition process, the following legislation establishes a contingency fund in the amount of $150,000.00 for the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners, and acquire such parcels as they are identified.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding, in the amount of $150,000.00 is available and appropriated within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704. An amendment to the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget is necessary for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested so establishment of the necessary funds can proceed without delay, allowing for acquisition related activities to begin immediately upon identification of necessary parcels.
Title
To amend the 2024 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners, and expend those funds necessary to acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way in support of the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program; to authorize the expenditure of $150,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, frequently must acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for various capital improvement projects within the City; and
WHEREAS, a contingency fund in the amount of $150,000.00 is needed to be used by the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners, and acquire such parcels as they are identified in order to expedite the right-of-way acquisition process;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to allow acquisition related activities to begin immediately upon identification of necessary parcels, to ensure the safety of the traveling public 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 2024 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1907-2024 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P530282-100051 / Resurfacing - Resurfacing Projects (Voted Carryover) / $1,762,276.00 / ($150,000.00) / $1,612,276.00
7704 / P530282-100125 / Resurfacing - In House Design Right of Way Fund (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $150,000.00 / $150,000.00
SECTION 2. That the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be and is hereby authorized to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners, and expend those funds necessary to acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for various projects throughout the City as such parcels are identified.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $150,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund) in Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), Project P530282-100125 (Resurfacing - In House Design Right of Way Fund), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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.