..Explanation
The City of Columbus is engaged in the Lockbourne Road Roadway Improvements project. The purpose of this project is to widen and improve Lockbourne Road from Groveport Road north to State Route 104. Improvements planned for this project include new pavement, curb, gutter, improved storm drainage, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant ramps and sidewalks. The properties located along this project are a mixture of commercial, residential and institutional, including churches, schools and a City Recreation Center. This legislation authorizes the City Attorney to contract for professional services, to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in property needed for this project and to expend the money necessary for payment of acquisition costs in connection with this project.
Fiscal Impact: The Transportation Division budgeted $624,000 in the 2004 Capital Improvements Budget for acquisition related expenses and reimbursements to other city divisions for the Lockbourne Road project. This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $600,000.00. Ordinance 1001-2004 expends $23,972.00 of the remaining funds budgeted for a design contract modification for the same project.
Right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation activities traditionally require two (2) years to complete. Construction of this improvement project is slated to begin in early 2006.
Emergency action is requested to allow right-of-way acquisition-related activities to begin without delay so that construction can begin as currently scheduled.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to contract for professional services; to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Lockbourne Road Roadway Improvements project for the Transportation Division; to expend $600,000.00 from the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund for acquisition costs related to this project, and to declare an emergency. ($600,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is engaged in the Lockbourne Road Roadway Improvements project; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this project is to widen and improve Lockbourne Road from Groveport Road north to State Route 104 with the installation of new pavement, curb, gutter, improved storm drainage, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant ramps and sidewalks; and
WHEREAS, acquisition related expenses are currently estimated to be $600,000.00 for this project; and
WHEREAS, funds are available in the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund to pay for acquisition-related costs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to those parcels needed for the Lockbourne Road Roadway Improvements project and to expend those funds required to pay acquisition-related costs, 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 City Attorney be and is hereby authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to those parcels needed for the Lockbourne Road Roadway Improvement project and to expend those funds required for acquisition-related costs.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose of paying for said costs the sum of $600,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and hereby is authorized to be expended from Fund 704, the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund, Department No. 59-09, Transportation Division, Object Level One Code 06, Object Level Three Code 6601, OCA Code 644385 and Project 530103.
SECTION 3. 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..