Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The following legislation 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 Roadway Improvements - Short Street - Liberty to Sycamore Street project in the Brewery District Columbus Community Area (60).
The Department of Public service is engaged in the Roadway Improvements - Short Street - Liberty to Sycamore Street project. The project includes extending Short Street from Liberty Street south to make a connection with Sycamore Street. It also includes a 5 foot sidewalk on the east side of Short Street and an 8 foot shared use path on the west side of Short Street, with drainage improvements and pervious pavers.
The cost to acquire the right-of-way needed to complete the project is estimated at $100,000.00. If the cost to acquire the needed right-of-way should exceed this estimate, additional legislation will be submitted to Council requesting the needed funding.
The Department of Public service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize right-of-way acquisition pending passage of this funding legislation.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $100,000.00 are available for this project in Fund 7704, the Streets & Highways Bond Fund. An amendment to the 2019 Capital Improvements Budget is necessary to establish budget authority for the correct project. A transfer of cash between projects in Fund 7704 is necessary to establish cash in the correct project.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested so right-of-way can be acquired to allow construction to proceed as scheduled, preventing delays in the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program.
Title
To amend the 2019 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer cash between projects within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the City Attorney's Office to contract for professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Roadway Improvements - Short Street - Liberty to Sycamore Street project; to authorize the City Attorney's Office to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $100,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund for these acquisitions; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is engaged in the Roadway Improvements - Short Street - Liberty to Sycamore Street project; and
WHEREAS, the project will include extending Short Street from Liberty Street south to make a connection with Sycamore Street. It also includes a 5 foot sidewalk on the east side of Short Street and an 8 foot shared use path on the west side of Short Street, with drainage improvements and pervious pavers; and
WHEREAS, successful completion of this project necessitates the City acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to various properties located along the project corridor as additional rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, right-of-way acquisition cost, including professional services, staff and land costs, have been estimated to total $100,000.00; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes funding in the amount of up to $100,000.00 for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2019 Capital Improvements Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize a transfer of funds within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, to establish sufficient cash in the proper project to pay for the project; 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 Roadway Improvements - Short Street - Liberty to Sycamore Street project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to acquire the needed right-of-way so the project may proceed as scheduled, preventing delays in the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program., thereby preserving 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 2019 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1326-2019 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P440005-100000 / Urban Infrastructure Recovery Fund (Voted Carryover) / $1,323,249.00 / ($100,000.00) / $1,223,249.00
7704 / P530161-100184 / Roadway Improvements - Short Street - Liberty to Sycamore Street (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $100,000.00 / $100,000.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P440005-100000 (Urban Infrastructure), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530161-100184 (Roadway Improvements - Short Street - Liberty to Sycamore Street), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance
SECTION 3. 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 Roadway Improvements - Short Street - Liberty to Sycamore Street project in an amount up to $100,000.00.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Street & Highways Bond Fund) in Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530161-100184 (Roadway Improvements - Short Street - Liberty to Sycamore Street), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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.