Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to accept insurance settlement proceeds associated with damage to a City-owned bike shelter near Broad Street and Third Street
The bike shelter was damaged as the result of a vehicular incident in 2025. The asset is City-owned infrastructure. At the time the claim was being pursued, the Capital Crossroads and
Discovery Special Improvement Districts (SID) were in the process of dissolving and continued coordinating certain matters relating to downtown infrastructure. A prior bikeway infrastructure improvements and maintenance agreement between the City and the Capital Crossroads Special Improvement District had expired on December 31, 2012, and was not automatically renewed.
During the transition and dissolution period, the SID coordinated with its insurance carrier regarding the damaged bike shelter and secured settlement proceeds intended to compensate for the loss of the City-owned asset. The proceeds are associated with damage to City infrastructure, it is necessary to authorize the City to formally accept the funds, appropriate them to the proper fund, and expend them for a public purpose consistent with the intended use of the settlement.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of insurance settlement proceeds in the amount of $36,468.00 for the damaged bike shelter within the Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Fund, Fund 2265.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to allow the City to promptly accept the insurance settlement proceeds so that the funds can be deposited immediately by the City Treasurer
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to accept insurance settlement proceeds related to damage to a City-owned bike shelter in the amount of $36,468.00 within the Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus owns certain bikeway infrastructure, including a bike shelter near Broad Street and Third Street; and
WHEREAS, the bike shelter was damaged as a result of a vehicular incident in 2025; and
WHEREAS, the Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts coordinated certain maintenance and administrative activities related to downtown infrastructure and pursued an insurance claim associated with the damaged bike shelter; and
WHEREAS, the SID secured settlement proceeds in the amount of $36,468.00 intended to compensate for damage to the City-owned asset; and
WHEREAS, the SID has since dissolved and ceased operations, and the City is the proper recipient of the insurance proceeds associated with the damaged infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the acceptance of these funds; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to accept said funds so that the City Treasurer can deposit the funds for the immediate preservation of 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 Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to accept insurance settlement proceeds in the amount of $36,468.00 related to damage to a City-owned bike shelter.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes necessary to ensure that the funds are properly accounted for and recorded.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which are 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.