Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The following ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road project in the Greater Hilltop Planning Area (53).
The Department of Public Service is engaged in the Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road project. The project will consist of adding right turn lanes on Georgesville Road and Hall Road, resurfacing the length of the widening, adding a shared use path, improving drainage and storm sewers, replacing the existing traffic signal and constructing a stormwater basin.
Ordinance 0507-2017 authorized the Director of Public Service, on behalf of the City of Columbus, to execute Highway Safety Program grant agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation, accept and expend grant funds, and issue refunds if necessary for this project.
Ordinance 2547-2021 authorized the encumbrance and expenditure of funding in the amount of up to $217,550.00 to acquire right-of-way needed to complete the project. This ordinance is authorizing an additional $338,804.24 to acquire the right-of-way needed to complete the project. 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
Funding for this project is available in the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704. An amendment to the 2023 Capital Improvement Budget and a transfer of funds and appropriation is necessary to establish sufficient budget authority for these expenditures. Amendments to the 2023 Capital Improvement Budget are contingent upon approval of the 2023 Capital Improvement Budget. Funds are appropriated.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested in order to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary in order to complete needed improvements at the earliest possible time to meet the requirements of the Ohio Department of Transportation funding award for construction to avoid penalty and to ensure the safety of the traveling public.
Title
To amend the 2023 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the transfer of funds and appropriation within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; 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 Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road project; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $338,804.24 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($338,804.24)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is engaged in the Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road project; and
WHEREAS, the project will include adding right turn lanes on Georgesville Road and Hall Road, resurfacing the length of the widening, adding a shared use path, improving drainage and storm sewers, replacing the existing traffic signal and constructing a stormwater basin; 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, ordinance 2547-2021 authorized funding in the amount of up to $217,550.00 for that purpose
WHEREAS, right-of-way acquisition cost, including professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), staff and land costs, have been estimated to be an additional $338,804.24; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2023 Capital Improvement Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for Council to authorize a transfer of funds and appropriation within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, to establish sufficient cash to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to expend $338,804.24, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the necessary right-of-way acquisition for the project to prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service's Capital Improvement Program, to ensure the safety of the traveling public 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 2023 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1711-2023 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P540002-100112 / Bikeway Development - Worthington Woods Blvd Shared Use Path (Sancus to Deer Creek) (Voted Carryover) / $3,300,000.00 / $222,733.00 / $3,522,733.00 (to match cash)
7704 / P590955-920030 / CelebrateOne Sidewalk - Hilltop (Springmont) (Voted Carryover) / $1,742,000.00 / $116,071.00 / $1,858,071.00 (to match cash)
7704 / P540002-100112 / Bikeway Development - Worthington Woods Blvd Shared Use Path (Sancus to Deer Creek) (Voted Carryover) / $3,522,733.00 / ($222,733.00) / $3,300,000.00
7704 / P590955-920030 / CelebrateOne Sidewalk - Hilltop (Springmont) (Voted Carryover) / $1,858,071.00 / ($116,071.00) / $1,742,000.00
7704 / P530086-100041 / Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road (Voted Carryover) / $539,170.00 / $338,804.00 / $877,974.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $222,733.24, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), Project P540002-100112 (Bikeway Development - Worthington Woods Blvd Shared Use Path (Sancus to Deer Creek)), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530086-100041 (Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $116,071.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), Project P590955-920030 (CelebrateOne Sidewalk - Hilltop (Springmont)), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530086-100041 (Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way needed to complete the Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road project in an amount up to $338,804.24.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $338,804.24, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Street & Highway Improvement Bond Fund) in Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530086-100041 (Intersection Improvements - Georgesville Road at Hall Road), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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.