Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, is engaged in the Pedestrian Safety Improvement - Whittier Street Sidewalks - Lockbourne Rd to Fairwood Ave. project. Improvements include constructing approximately 2,675 linear feet of new sidewalks on north and south sides of Whittier Street between Lockbourne Road and the alley east of Fairwood Avenue.
This legislation establishes $80,000.00 for City Attorney - Real Estate Division for the acquisitions related to this project and authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Pedestrian Safety Improvement- Whittier Street Sidewalks project.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $80,000.00 are budgeted and available for this project in the Streets and Highways Bond Fund within the Department of Public Service.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide right-of-way acquisition funding and prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service's Capital Improvement Program.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to contract for professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Pedestrian Safety Improvement - Whittier Street Sidewalks - Lockbourne Rd to Fairwood Ave. project; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the expenditure of $80,000.00 within the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($80,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is engaged in Pedestrian Safety Improvement - Whittier Street Sidewalks - Lockbourne Rd to Fairwood Ave. project; and
WHEREAS, this project will construct sidewalks on the north and south sides of Whittier Street between Lockbourne Road and the alley east of Fairwood Avenue; and
WHEREAS, the following legislation authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to expend $80,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to allow the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights needed for this project; and
WHEREAS, funds in the amount of $80,000.00 are available for this project in the Streets and Highways Bond Fund within the Department of Public Service; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is necessary to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to contract for professional services, to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way needed to complete this project and to authorize the expenditure of the funds needed to pay for the right of way acquisition expenses associated with this project to prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service's Capital Improvement Program for the 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 City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be, and hereby is, authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to certain parcels of real estate, to contract for professional services, and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way needed to complete the Pedestrian Safety Improvement - Whittier Street Sidewalks - Lockbourne Rd to Fairwood Ave. project.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose of paying the cost of this contract the sum of up to $80,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 590105 - 100079 / Pedestrian Safety Improvement - Whittier Street Sidewalks - Lockbourne Rd to Fairwood Ave / 06-6601 / 740579 / $80,000.00
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 6. 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.