Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Berens Tree & Excavating LLC for the Big Walnut Tree Clearing - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Project. The contract amount is $ 37,500.00, with a contingency of $12,500.00, for a total of $50,000.00. An additional $2,500.00 is being authorized for interdepartmental inspections and fees for a total of $52,500.00 being authorized by this ordinance.
The southern reach of the Big Walnut Trail is developing into one of the most scenic and accessible greenways in Central Ohio. The trail will provide thousands of residents of the Mid East and South East Communities with access to the trail network within a few minutes.
This southern 2.5 mile trail segment will begin at its current terminus at Winchester Pike and will travel along the greenway corridor to Helsel Park. It will continue to South Hamilton Road and Refugee Road. The segment will end at Nafzger Park. There are connections planned to the Blacklick Estates and Eastland Neighborhoods. Additional connections are also planned for the Cross Creek Village and Walnut Heights Neighborhoods.
This contract is for tree clearing for phase one of the trail project from Helsel Park to Nafzger Park. The work needs to be completed before March 31, 2026 to comply with Indiana Bat habitat protection requirements.
Phase One trail construction is anticipated to start in the summer of 2026 and should be completed by summer 2027. Phase Two trail construction from Winchester Pike to Helsel Park is anticipated to start in summer 2027 and should be completed by summer 2028.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (Office of Diversity and Inclusion designation status):
Bids were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on December 2, 2025 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on December 23, 2025. Bids were received from the following companies:
Hardwick Tree Care, LLC: $58,500.00
Oberlander's Tree & Landscape Ltd: $67,750.00
Russell Tree Experts Ltd: $118,800.00
MBI Tree Service: $114,439.00
Berens Tree & Excavating LLC: $52,500.00
Duffy Tree Care: $74,000.00
After reviewing the bids that were submitted, it was determined that Berens Tree & Excavating LLC were the lowest and most responsive bidder. Berens Tree & Excavating LLC and all proposed subcontractors have met code requirements with respect to prequalification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
Principal Parties:
Berens Tree & Excavating LLC
846 Third Street Northwest
Massillon, Ohio, 44647
Joseph Berens, (330) 418-8724
Contract Compliance Number: 044269
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: December 11, 2027
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to allow tree clearing to occur before March 31, 2026 to comply with Indiana Bat habitat protection requirements.
Benefits to the Public: Access to trails and key destinations is one of the top-rated priorities identified by Columbus residents. This project will provide significant connectivity for more than 7,000 residents in southeast communities that currently have no local or regional trail access. The project will overcome major pedestrian and cycling barriers for access to parks, jobs, and schools.
Community Input/Issues: Letters of support were received from the community and from trail users. Additional letters were received from civic associations, Central Ohio Greenways, and the Greater South East Area Commission. Extensive community outreach has been conducted and will continue throughout the project.
Area(s) Affected: South East (65)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving access to trails and greenway corridors. It will provide equitable and safe access to the trail system for underserved communities.
Fiscal Impact: $52,500.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this expenditure.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Berens Tree & Excavating, LLC for the Big Walnut Tree Clearing - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Project; to authorize the transfer of $52,500.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $52,500.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($52,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Berens Tree & Excavating LLC for the Big Walnut Tree Clearing - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $52,500.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $52,500.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Berens Tree & Excavating LLC in order to allow tree clearing to occur before March 31, 2026, to comply with Indiana Bat habitat protection requirements, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare and, NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Berens Tree & Excavating LLC for the Big Walnut Tree Clearing - Helsel Park to Nafzger Park Project.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. 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 5. That the transfer of $52,500.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this ordinance and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current Revised Authority / Current Remaining Authority / Change / Amended Revised Authority / Amended Remaining Authority
Fund 7702 / P510310-100001 / Greenways - Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Connector (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $244 / $244 / $244 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510917-512000 / Stockbridge Urban Forest Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $3,493 / $3,493 / $3,493 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510927-513000 / OPWC - West Franklinton Greenspace Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $72,844 / $1 / $348 / $73,192 / $349 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511000-100000 / Renovation - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $185,093 / $35,093 / $247 / $185,340 / $35,340 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511007-202425 / Hard Surface Improvements 2024-2025 (Voted Carryover) / $179,683 / $179,683 / ($179,682) / $1 / $1 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511007-202503 / Hard Surface Improvements - Busch Park Drive (Voted Carryover) / $843,403 / $843,403 / ($838,721) / $4,682 / $4,682 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511054-100000 / Building Maintenance Equipment (Voted Carryover) / $281,000 / $0 / $15,274 / $296,274 / $15,274 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510310-100001 / Greenways - Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Connector (Voted Carryover) / $244 / $244 / ($244) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P510917-512000 / Stockbridge Urban Forest Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $3,493 / $3,493 / ($3,493) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P510927-513000 / OPWC - West Franklinton Greenspace Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $73,192 / $349 / ($349) / $72,843 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511000-100000 / Renovation - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $185,340 / $35,340 / ($35,340) / $150,000 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511007-202425 / Hard Surface Improvements 2024-2025 (Voted Carryover) / $1 / $1 / ($1) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511007-202503 / Hard Surface Improvements - Busch Park Drive (Voted Carryover) / $4,682 / $4,682 / ($4,682) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511054-100000 / Building Maintenance Equipment (Voted Carryover) / $296,274 / $15,274 / ($8,391) / $287,883 / $6,883
Fund 7702 / P512036-100000 / Big Walnut Trail - Winchester Pike to Nafzger Park (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $52,500 / $52,500 / $52,500
SECTION 7. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $52,500.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is 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.