Explanation
BACKGROUND
The Capital Line Project is the construction of a two-mile pathway along Gay, Fourth, and Rich Streets and across the Broad and Town Street bridges to the Scioto Peninsula (“Project”). This pathway, exclusive to bike and pedestrian traffic, offers an intentional route to City attractions, connecting amenities, greenspaces, job centers, and residential neighborhoods while catalyzing new economic investment along the path. The Project involves improvements within the City’s right of way, including streetscape, parking, and lighting.
This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, Inc. d/b/a Downtown Columbus, Inc. (“CDDC”) to bring the Project to fruition. Although this legislation seeks to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, CDDC has committed to engage in a competitive procurement process for the selection of construction contractors and subcontractors working on the public improvements and within the City’s right-of-way. Such procurement process shall comply with the procedures under Chapter 186 of the City Charter for public improvement contracts.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this ordinance.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, Inc. d/b/a Downtown Columbus, Inc. for the Capital Line Project; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Codes; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Director of Public Service to enter into an agreement with CDDC for the Project within the City’s right of way; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes to maintain the Project schedule and in light of CDDC’s significant experience with similar projects; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said agreement so that necessary financing can be secured, allowing work to begin immediately and maintaining the schedule for 2027 completion, all for the immediate preservation of 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 Director of the Department of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with CDDC for the effectuation of the Project within the City’s right of way.
SECTION 2. That this legislation does not authorize any expenditures; financial commitments of the City will be subject to future appropriations by Columbus City Council.
SECTION 3. That City Council hereby finds it in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes, and does hereby waive the same.
SECTION 4. 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 same.