Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City is required to conduct Environmental Review Records for each U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded project located in the City to determine whether they meet federal, state, and local environmental standards.
The Department of Finance and Management utilized a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to identify and assess qualified firms for providing environmental review services. Proposals were submitted in response to RFQ030905 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code pertaining to professional services contracts, through which process Evans Mechwart Hambleton & Tilton Inc. (EMH&T) received the highest overall score. RFQ030905 also stated that the proposal may be renewed annually for a period up to five (5) years.
This ordinance is necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a contract with a multi-year renewal option for environmental review services for the period of January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026 and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program (HOME-ARP) funds for this purpose.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance will authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $20,000.00 from the HOME-ARP Fund (Fund 2201).
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contract so that Evans Mechwart Hambleton & Tilton Inc. (EMH&T); will have the ability to assist the Department of Finance and Management with preparing environmental review records and avoid disruption in providing such services to comply with federal requirements, and for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into a contract with: Evans Mechwart Hambleton & Tilton Inc. (EMH&T); to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $20,000.00 of HOME-ARP funds; and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is an entitlement community and a Participating Jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the City is a current recipient of various HUD Community Planning Division (CPD) grant funds; and
WHEREAS, an environmental review is the process of reviewing a project and its potential environmental impacts to determine whether it meets federal, state, and local environmental standards; and
WHEREAS, the environmental review process is required for all City of Columbus HUD-assisted projects to ensure that proposed projects do not negatively impact the surrounding environment and that the property sites will not have an adverse environmental or health effect on end users; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Finance and Management utilized a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process to identify and assess qualified firms for providing environmental review services; and
WHEREAS, proposals were submitted in response to RFQ030905 in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code pertaining to professional services contracts, through which process EMH&T received the highest overall score; and
WHEREAS, RFQ030905 stated that the proposal may be renewed annually for a period of up to five (5) years; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a contract with EMH&T for environmental review services to assist the City in preparing Environmental Review Records for HOME-ARP projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $20,000.00 in HOME-ARP funds for the purpose of the contract; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contract so that EMH&T will have the ability to assist the Department of Finance and Management with preparing environmental review records and avoid disruption in providing such services to comply with federal requirements, all 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 the Director of the Department of Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into contract with EMH&T, with an option to renew said contract annually for a period up to five (5) years, and with expenses authorized to be reimbursed back to and including January 1, 2026.
SECTION 2. That the appropriation and expenditure of $20,000.00 is authorized within the HOME-ARP Fund 2201 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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.