Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a professional services contract with MKSK Inc., in an amount up to $100,000.00, to continue updating the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan, with an extended timeline for completion thru February 28th, 2027.
Original 2024 contract amount $ 250,000.00 3230-2024 PO483912
New 2026 contract amount $ 100,000.00
Total contracts amount $ 350,000.00
The Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan was adopted by the City of Columbus and partner jurisdictions in 2006. The central objective of the Plan is protecting the Big Darby Creek by balancing conservation and development in a manner that allows for responsible growth and long-term sustainability of the watershed.
This legislation allows the Department of Development to continue to engage the MKSK consulting firm for planning services in support of the update. MKSK was part of the consultant team that developed the current Accord document and is well positioned to undertake this task.
This legislation repeals ordinance 0273-2026 in its entirety, that would have modified the original contract. This new contract applies the same funding amount from ordinance 0273-2026, so no net change in funding is proposed. The authorized modification did not take place prior to the expiration of the contract and thus the original legislation needs to be repealed and establish a new contract.
A new contract is also necessary to ensure that the scope of services is updated to reflect the ongoing discussions with stakeholder and partner jurisdictions, and due to the expiration of the original contract.
Emergency action is requested in order to expedite bringing MKSK under contract for work done since the expiration of the original contract on February 28th 2026. This legislation would allow for expenses since March 1, 2026 to be covered by the new contract.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is available within the Columbus Water & Power, Sewer Operating Sanitary fund ($75,000.00), and the Neighborhood Economic Development (NED) fund ($25,000.00) and will be utilized from the existing ACPO012843 which will be updated to reflect the new ordinance number.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the MKSK Inc. vendor number is 028341 and vendor compliance expires on 11/5/2026.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a professional services contract with MKSK Inc. to continue a strategic update to the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan; to authorize the expenditure in an amount up to $75,000.00 from the Columbus Water & Power, Sewer Operating Sanitary fund and the expenditure in an amount up to $25,000.00 from the Neighborhood Economic Development (NED) fund previously established under Ordinance 0273-2026; to authorize expenses incurred prior to the execution of the purchase order; to waive the competitive biddings requirements under Columbus City Codes; to repeal ordinance 0273-2026 in its entirety; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a professional services contract with MKSK Inc. to continue a strategic update to the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan and to authorize the expenditure of up to $75,000.00 from the Columbus Water & Power, Sewer Operating Sanitary fund, and to authorize expenditure in an amount up to $25,000.00 from the Neighborhood Economic Development (NED) fund, for a total expenditure of $100,000.00 which will be utilizing the existing ACPO012843 from Ordinance 0273-2026; and
WHEREAS, the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan was adopted by the City of Columbus and partner jurisdictions in 2006; and
WHEREAS, this legislation allows the Department of Development to continue to engage the MKSK consulting firm for planning services in support of the update; and
WHEREAS, MKSK was part of the consultant team that developed the current Accord document and has provided crucial support during the original contract in 2025 and early 2026 and is uniquely positioned to continue this task; and
WHEREAS, the department did not fully execute the modification authorized previously by Ordinance 0273-2026 prior to the original contract expiration date and now will need to be repealed; and
WHEREAS, the department seeks to enter into a new agreement to continue the strategic update to the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the department is thereby requesting that competitive bidding be waived; and
WHEREAS, approval is requested for reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting March 1, 2026
WHEREAS, the contract will be for a period of twelve months; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a new contract with MKSK due to the contract expiring as of February 28th, 2026 as the previously authorized modification did not get executed prior to the expiration of the original agreement and services are still being rendered so therefore this will need to be approved as soon as possible to pay for said services, all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is authorized to enter into a professional services contract with MKSK, Inc. for a period of twelve months to continue the work of updating the Big Darby Accord Watershed Master Plan in an amount up to $100,000.00. Reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to execution of the purchase order, starting March 1, 2026, will be permitted.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $75,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 6100 (Sewer Operating Sanitary fund), from Dept-Div 60-05 (Sewers and Drains Division), Object class 03 (Services) which will be utilized from the existing ACPO012843 from the original ordinance 0273-2026.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $25,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 2237 (Neighborhood Economic Development (NED) fund), from Dept-Div 44-06 (Planning Division), Object class 03 (Services), which will be utilized from the existing ACPO012843 from the original ordinance 0273-2026.
SECTION 4. That City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of Columbus City Code to enter into this contract, and does hereby waive the same.
SECTION 5. That Ordinance 0273-2026 is hereby repealed in its entirery, however the existing ACPO012843 to be can utilized under this new ordinance number for accounting purposes.
SECTION 6. That 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 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all agreements or agreement modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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.