Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
Need: The Ohio EPA requires this legislation which authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to execute 19 WPCLF loan agreements totaling approximately $80 million, for 19 Sewerage & Drainage Division projects. These Capital Improvements Projects, as identified in Section 1., are being financed through the Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF). This loan program is jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance, and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). The WPCLF provides below-market interest rate loans for municipal wastewater treatment improvements.
2. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: WPCLF loan applications are now being processed for 2006 CIP projects. This authorizing legislation must be submitted to the Ohio EPA as a part of each loan application and is a prerequisite for WPCLF loan agreement approval.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted Amount: There is sufficient budget authority in the 2006 Sewer System Operating Fund for application fee expenditures. These loans will be paid off over a 20-year period from sewerage system fees. Sewerage fee increases have been projected and planned in anticipation of these projects and loans.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to execute nineteen (19) Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Agreements with the Ohio Water Development Authority and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, for the financing of 19 Sewerage and Drainage Division projects, and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, in 2006 the City is scheduled to submit loan applications to the Ohio EPA under the Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF),to finance nineteen (19) Division of Sewerage and Drainage projects, which assistance will be of help in reducing total project costs to the City's sewerage customers; and
WHEREAS, the City is required to submit to the Ohio EPA a certified copy of the approved City Council legislation which authorizes the Director of the Public Utilities Department to execute the WPCLF agreements; and
WHEREAS, this legislation must be approved and a certified copy must be submitted to the Ohio EPA as part of the loan application and loan agreement approval process, therefore an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Department of Public Utilities, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to execute these nineteen (19) WPCLF Loan Fund Agreements with the State of Ohio for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, and safety; Now Therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be, and hereby is, authorized to execute nineteen (19) Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Agreements with the Ohio Water Development Authority and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, for the financing of the following Sewerage and Drainage Division projects:
1. CIP No. 650252.2B, Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant New Headworks, Phase 2B
2. CIP No. 650346, Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant Electrical System Upgrade (Supplemental)
3. CIP No. 650349.2, Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge Dewatering and Miscellaneous Improvements
4. CIP No. 650352, Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant New Headworks, Phase 2 (Loan 2)
5. CIP No. 650430.1B, Big Walnut Outfall Augmentation, Part B, Air Quality Control
6. CIP No. 650405.8, Early Ditch Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Remediation (Design)
7. CIP No. 650405.9, West Fifth Avenue Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Remediation (Design)
8. CIP No. 650405.11, Livingston/James Area Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Remediation (Design)
9. CIP No. 650618, Chestnut Street Combined Sewer Rehabilitation
10. CIP No. 650635, Livingston Avenue Sewer Improvements
11. CIP No. 650670, Beechwold/Foster Area Sanitary Improvements
12. CIP No. 650671, Crestview/Calumet Area Sanitary Improvements
13. CIP No. 650673, Upper Adena Brook Area Sanitary Improvements
14. CIP No. 650675, Clinton Heights/Colerain Area Sanitary Improvements
15. CIP No. 650679, Morse/Elks Area Sanitary Improvements
16. CIP No. 650681, Clintonville Main Rehabilitation
17. CIP No. 650684, Deland/Zellar Area Sanitary Improvements
18. CIP No. 650685, Como/Milton Area Sanitary Improvements
19. CIP No. 650704, OSIS Augmentation and Relief Sewer (Design)
Section 2. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is 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.