Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This legislation will authorize the Director of Public Utilities accept a $5,000.00 Ohio Environmental Education Fund Mini Grant and enter into an agreement with the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund for the purchase and installation of Green Infrastructure Interpretive Signage at sites along Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs.
Protecting the raw water sources for our drinking water is extremely important. In 2010, many green infrastructure best management practices are being installed around our drinking water reservoirs to help address stormwater issues that degrade our water sources. The Ohio Environmental Education Fund Mini Grant has been awarded to the Department of Public Utilities for the purchase and installation of interpretive signage at various locations throughout the green infrastructure projects being installed around Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs. This action will help protect the raw water supply by educating the citizens of Central Ohio about stormwater runoff issues, the steps we are taking to protect our water sources, and encouraging them to take steps at home to protect our watershed. The award amount is $5,000.00. The City's match requirement is $3,750.00 and will come from Division of Power and Water Build America Bond funds. With the grant funds and the City's required match the total project amount will be $8,750.00
2. EMERGENCY:
The grant award has been offered to the Department of Public Utilities and it is immediately necessary to accept the grant and appropriate the funds. The Department of Public Utilities is requesting City Council to deem this legislation an emergency measure to allow the Director to enter into the grant agreement as soon as possible.
3. FISCAL IMPACT:
There is a $3,750.00 match requirement for this grant. These matching funds will come from the Water Build America Bonds Fund, via internal transfer. This Ordinance also requests the authority for the City Auditor to appropriate the proceeds of said grant for purposes of funding this project work. The 2010 Capital Improvements Budget will also need to be amended.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Public Utilities accept and enter into a Ohio Environmental Education Fund Mini Grant Agreement with the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund for the purchase and installation of Green Infrastructure Interpretive Signage at sites along the Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs, to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $5,000.00 from the Ohio Environmental Education Grant Fund; to authorize a transfer within the Water Build America Bonds Fund for the 3,750.00 match requirement for the grant; to authorize an amendment to the 2010 Capital Improvements Budget; and to declare an emergency. ($8,750.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund has issued a grant in the amount of $5,000.00 to the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities for the purchase and installation of Green Infrastructure Interpretive Signage at sites along Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and enter into said grant agreement; to appropriate and expend the funds; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for this Council to authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds within the Water Build America Bonds Fund to meet the grant match requirement of $3,750.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2010 Capital Improvements Budget for purposes of providing sufficient funding and expenditure authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Utilities is required to be authorized by Council to enter into the grant agreement; to accept the grant money; and appropriate the bond funds necessary for the required match; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to accept and enter into the grant agreement so the terms and conditions of the grant agreement between the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund are accomplished; for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; 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 and directed accept a grant in the amount of $5,000.00 and enter into a grant agreement with the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund for the purchase and installation of Green Infrastructure Interpretive Signage at sites along Griggs and Hoover Reservoirs; and to expend $3,750.00 from the Water Build America Bonds fund for the match requirement of the grant.
Section 2. That the Department of Public Utilities has committed to administer the grant through grant coordination, grant reporting, grant fund pay requests, and contract administration services.
Section 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Education Grant Fund, 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 ending December 31, 2010, the sum of $5,000.00 shall be appropriated to the Department of Public Utilities, Department 60-09, as follows:
Grant Title: ___________________ | OCA Code: | Object Level 3: 6621 | Amount: $5,000.00.
Section 4. That for the purpose of paying the cost of the aforementioned grant project contract, the expenditure of $5,000.00 is hereby authorized within the Division 60-09 | 620 Water Grant Fund | OCA Code: | Object Level 3: 6621 | Amount: $5,000.00.
Section 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer $3,750.00 within the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power and Water, Water Build America Bonds Fund, Fund No. 609, Dept./Div. No. 60-09, Object Level Three 6621, as follows:
Fund No. | Project No. | Project Name | OCA Code | Change
609 | 690236-100021 (carryover) | River South Phase II | 623621 | -$3,750.00
609 | 690411-100000 (carryover) | Watershed Misc. Imp. Facilities | 609411 | +$3,750.00
Section 6. That the 2010 Capital Improvements Budget is hereby amended as follows:
Fund No. | Proj. No. | Proj. Name | Current Authority | Revised Authority | Change
609 | 690236-100021 (carryover) | River South Phase II | $2,364,983 | $2,361,233 | -$3,750.00
609 | 690411-100000 (carryover) | Watershed Misc. Imp. Facilities | $385,017 | $388,767 | +$3,750.00
Section 7. That for the purpose of paying the costs associated with the required match for the grant project, the expenditure of $3,750.00 is hereby authorized within the Division 60-09 | Fund No: 609 | Water Build America Bonds Fund | Project No: 690411-100000 (carryover) | OCA Code: 609411 | Object Level 3: 6621 | Amount: : $3,750.00.
Section 8. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance 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 no longer required for said project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project account by monies from more than one source.
Section 9. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish proper project accounting numbers as appropriate.
Section 10. 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 11. 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 approved nor vetoes the same.