Explanation
Background: The Westgate neighborhoods are located on the north and south sides of West Broad Street between the cross streets of Hague and Derrer Road. Stakeholders in these communities have long desired a new streetscape on West Broad Street similar to the Hilltop Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization (NCR) district streetscape immediately to its east. Stakeholder discussions with Columbus City Council yielded an allocation of capital funds to the Development Department to gather input on streetscape design from the community, gain consensus, and develop design concepts.
The Neighborhood Design Center (NDC) is currently conducting the same type of work in the area just east of Westgate on West Broad Street from Hague to Terrace. Since the scope of work would be identical it seemed cost effective to expand the NDC’s work to include Westgate neighborhoods. An additional 13 blocks represents the Westgate area.
NDC submitted a proposal to the Development Department outlining the services to be rendered for a fee of up to $12,000.00. The Development Department feels it is necessary to enter into a contract with the Neighborhood Design Center so that work will be expedited due to surveys already being designed and tested, the process of gathering consensus is being practiced just east of the Westgate neighborhood and the NDC is already familiar with the Westgate neighborhood groups.
Fiscal Impact: $12,000.00 is available in the 2015 Capital Improvement Budget in Fund 704 Streets and Highways.
Emergency Justification: This ordinance is submitted as an emergency measure to satisfy commitments made to the Westgate community.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with the Neighborhood Design Center for up to $12,000 to gather neighborhood consensus on streetscape design concepts for the Westgate Neighborhood; to authorize the expenditure of $12,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to waive competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($12,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Westgate neighborhood desires a new and attractive streetscape on West Broad Street from Hague to Derrer Road; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council allocated capital funds to produce design concepts for a new streetscape; and
WHEREAS, the NDC is currently conducting the same type of work in the area just east of Westgate and has proposed a similar scope of work for Westgate for a fee of $12,000; and
WHEREAS, it is in the City's best interest to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 to enter into this agreement; and
WHEREAS; the City has committed to funding these services and the Development Department sees that it is necessary to enter into a contract with the Neighborhood Design Center to provide these services; and
WHEREAS; an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Directo to enter into an agreement with Neighborhood Design Center in order to keep the time commitments made to the Westgate community and 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 Development be authorized to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with the Neighborhood Design Center for up to $12,000 for purposes of gathering input and gaining consensus on design concepts for a new streetscape on West Broad Street in the Westgate neighborhood.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of up to $12,000.00 from the Department of Public Service, Division 59-12, Fund 704, Project 530058-100008 Streetscape Improvement Commercial Corridor, OCA Code 745808, Object Level Three 6621 is hereby authorized.
SECTION 3. That this Council finds it in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the City Code to enter into this agreement.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for any contract or contract modification associated with this Ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 7. That for 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.