Explanation
BACKGROUND:
A portion of the Whittier Peninsula has been identified for reuse as a new, urban mixed-use neighborhood. The redevelopment of the Whittier Peninsula implements the goals and objectives of the Whittier Reach section of the Riverfront Vision, a land use and development plan adopted by Columbus City Council in 1998. At this time it is necessary to secure the services of a qualified professional appraiser to determine the fair market value of certain CSX Rail Road owned property located within the Whittier Peninsula. The CSX property is the last remaining privately owned property on the peninsula targeted for purchase by the City. The following is an ordinance to authorize the City Attorney to, contract for professional services, and to expend the monies for payment of those costs in connection with the Riverfront Vision Plan Project.
FISCAL IMPACT: It has been determined that the funds will come from the Miranova TIF - City Riverfront Vision Account (Ordinance #1578-98), adopted by Columbus City Council on June 29, 1998.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION:
Emergency action is requested to allow the appraisal of the subject parcel necessary for this project to proceed without delaying the project beyond its established time frame.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to contract for professional services and to expend $2,000.00 from the Miranova TIF Fund - City Riverfront Vision Account for costs in connection with acquisition of property on the Whittier Peninsula consistent with the redevelopment plan known as the Riverfront Vision Plan Project and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Riverfront Vision, adopted by Columbus City Council in 1998, is a land use and development plan that expresses the community's vision for nine-miles of river corridor that stretches along portions of the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers, from State Route 104 to Dodridge Street; and
WHEREAS, the Riverfront Vision establishes land use and development goals and objectives for the Whittier Peninsula and that these goals and objectives identify a combination of parkland and a new, mixed-use neighborhood development as appropriate redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the Riverfront Commons Corporation, as part of the Riverfront Vision Plan, recommend the City purchase certain privately owned property on the Whittier Peninsula for reuse as parkland and redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the last remaining privately owned property recommend to be purchased by the City for redevelopment purposes is a 12+/- acre tract owned by CSX; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to obtain an appraisal of the property in order to initiate negotiations for purchase into CSX; and
WHEREAS, the purchase of the property will be conditioned on a future ordinance of Council; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to contract for professional services, and to expend the monies for costs in connection with the Riverfront Vision Plan Project for the 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 City Attorney be, and hereby is to contract with Kenneth Wilson for the professional services necessary in connection with the Riverfront Vision Plan Project; and
Section 2. That from the unappropriated balance in the Miranova TIF Fund - City Riverfront Vision Account, Fund 406, and from any and all sources unallocated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2005, the sum of $2,000, be and hereby is appropriated to the Auditor's Office, Department 22-01, Project 440071, OCA #440071, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three #3336.
Section 3. That the expenditure of $2,000, or so much as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from the Auditor's Office, Department 22-01, Miranova TIF Fund - City Riverfront Vision Account, Fund 406, Project 440071, OCA 440071, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three #3336.
Section 4. That for the reasons state in the preamble hereto, which is herby 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.