Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The City of Columbus Department of Public Service, Division of Design and Construction, frequently must acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for Design and Construction projects including Traffic Signal improvements throughout the City. To expedite the right of way acquisition process, the following legislation establishes a contingency fund in the amount of $100,000.00 for the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), negotiate with property owners, and acquire such parcels as they are identified.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $100,000.00 is available in Fund 7748, General Permanent Improvement Fund. Funds need to be appropriated.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to prevent delays in the construction of the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners, and acquire right-of-way in support of the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program; to authorize the City Auditor to appropriate $100,000.00 within the General Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the expenditure of up to $100,000.00 from the General Permanent Improvement Fund for this purpose; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, frequently must acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for various capital improvement projects within the City; and
WHEREAS, a contingency fund in the amount of $100,000.00 is needed to be used by the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), negotiate with property owners, and acquire such parcels as they are identified in order to expedite the right-of-way acquisition process; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the City Auditor to appropriate $100,000.00 within the General Permanent Improvement Fund; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to expend $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the aforementioned improvements; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to establish the contingency fund to prevent delays in the construction of the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program, 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 from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2026, the sum of $100,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7748 General Perm Imp Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), in object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be and is hereby authorized to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), negotiate with property owners, and expend those funds necessary to acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for various projects throughout the City as such parcels are identified.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7748 (General Perm Imp Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 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 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.