Explanation
This legislation is required of the City to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) agreement with the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). Created in 2000, the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) counters the loss of ecological function and biological diversity that jeopardizes the health of Ohio’s water resources. This program uses interest monies from WPCLF “Sponsor” Project loans to fund both preservation and restoration of aquatic habitat to accomplish this goal.
The WRRSP project, identified in Section 1 as the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s Clover Groff, Phase 3 Project, WRRSP AIMS Number: 4616, was designated by the Department of Public Utilities for sponsorship through a WRRSP Sponsorship Letter of Intent, dated January 6, 2015 for funding approval for Program Year 2015 through the Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Program. The designated Sewerage and Drainage Division Project, identified in Section 2., will serve as the Sponsor Project for the Recreation and Parks Department’s WRRSP Project. The Clover Groff, Phase 3 Project is listed on the Ohio EPA 2015 WRRSP Project Priority List as an Intended Project for funding this year. The sponsoring Sewerage and Drainage Division Project is also listed on the Intended Projects List for Ohio EPA funding through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) this year.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City will save money by receiving an interest rate discount on the WPCLF Loan financing the Division of Sewerage and Drainage’s Sponsor Project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority; and to designate a Division of Sewerage and Drainage Project as the Sponsor Project for the WRRSP.
Body
WHEREAS, on January 6, 2015 the Director of Public Utilities submitted a Sponsorship Letter of Intent to the Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance expressing the City's intent to sponsor a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Project for Program Year 2015 funding, and thereby designated a Division of Sewerage and Drainage Capital Improvements Project as the WRRSP Sponsor Project for the WRRSP; and
WHEREAS, the City, as a WRRSP Sponsor, will save money by receiving an interest rate discount on the WPCLF Sponsor Project Loan which will reduce its total loan repayments below that which would be required without sponsoring the WRRSP; and
WHEREAS, this legislation must be approved by City Council and a certified copy must be submitted to the Ohio EPA in order to enter into the WRRSP Agreement with the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority; 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 a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program Agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority, for the following project:
Columbus Department of Recreation and Parks, Clover Groff, Phase 3 Project; WRRSP AIMS No. 4616; $1,707,025.00.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Utilities be, and hereby is, authorized to designate the following Division of Sewerage and Drainage Project as the Sponsor Project for the WRRSP project as herein described in Section 1 of this Ordinance. The WRRSP Sponsor Projects is as follows:
Blacklick Creek Sanitary Interceptor Sewer; CIP No. 650034-100006; WPCLF No. CS390274-0183
SECTION 3. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.