Explanation
The Public Service Department, Transportation Division, is engaged in the Morse Road Improvement project. The purpose of this project is to create a gateway into the Northland community by controlling vehicular access and circulation, enhancing landscaping, upgrading lighting and providing pedestrian access to the businesses and amenities located along the Morse Road corridor between Indianola Avenue and Cleveland Avenue. Improvements contemplated by this project are a landscaped median, curb and gutters, street trees, sidewalks, improved streetlights and traffic signals and pedestrian crossing upgrades at intersections. Acquisition-related activities for the Gateway and Phase 1 portions of this project (Indianola Avenue to Karl Road) have been completed. It is now necessary to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to contract for professional services, negotiate with property owners to acquire the necessary rights-of-way and expend funds for acquisition for Phase 2 (Karl Road to Cleveland Avenue). The City's design consultant has estimated the acquisition costs for this project phase to be approximately $1,000,000.
Fiscal Impact: The Transportation Division budgeted $1,050,000 in the 2005 Capital Improvements Budget for property acquisition related to the Morse Road Improvement Phase II project. Acutal funds will be available in the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund in the Morse Road Are Investment project from the Fall 2005 bond sale. This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $1 million.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to contract for professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Morse Road Improvement Phase 2 project for the Transportation Division, negotiate with the property owners and expend $1,000,000.00 from the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund for acquisition-related costs. ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, is engaged in the Morse Road Improvement project; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this project is to create a gateway into the Northland community by controlling vehicular access and circulation, enhancing landscaping, upgrading lighting and providing pedestrian access to the businesses and amenities located along the Morse Road corridor between Indianola Avenue and Cleveland Avenue; and
WHEREAS, improvements contemplated by this project are a landscaped median, curb and gutters, street trees, sidewalks, improved streetlights and traffic signals and pedestrian crossing upgrades at intersections; and
WHEREAS, acquisition-related activities for the Gateway and Phase 1 portions of this project have been completed; and
WHEREAS, acquisition related expenses for Phase 2 have been estimated to cost approximately $1,000,000.00 by the City's design consultant; now, therefore;
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division be and hereby is authorized to hire professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to real estate needed for Phase 2 of the Morse Road Improvement project, negotiate with the property owners to obtain the necessary rights-of-way and expend those funds necessary to pay the expenses related to these activities.
SECTION 2. That the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be and hereby is authorized to expend $1,000,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary from Fund 704, the 1995, 1999 Voted Streets and Highways Fund, Department No. 59-09, Transportation Division, Object Level One Code 06, Object Level Three Code 6601, OCA Code 644385 and Project 530052 to pay acquisition costs of rights-of-way required for the Morse Road Phase 2 Improvement project.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law. .