Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power and Water, and Columbus Southern Power dba American Electric Power (AEP) own and operate electricity distribution systems throughout the City of Columbus and through a joint use agreement have attached their facilities to poles own by the other party.
Ordinance 0944-2008, passed July 7, 2008, authorized the Director of Public Utilities to execute a construction contract with U.S. Utility Contractor Co. for the North High Street Circuit Conversion Project, Phase I, for the Division of Power and Water. In Phase I of the conversion project, U.S. Utilitty will be installing new cable from Glencoe Road to Leland Avenue. Phase I includes forty-four (44) poles owned by the City of Columbus and thirty-seven (37) poles owned by AEP. The contractor will be attaching cable to poles owned by the City of Columbus as well as the poles owned by American Electric Power . The attachments to AEP poles must conform to AEP clearance standards. In some cases this may require replacement of poles and/or rearrangement of existing attached electrical and communication facilities. This work needs to be coordinated while our contractor is installing Phase I of the High Street Conversion. In order to expedite the process, AEP will handle the transfer of AEP and communication facilities and will bill the City for the labor costs incurred. Since AEP has agreed to absorb the cost of materials and will handle the removal of AEP facilities as well as communication facilities owned by others at the same time, it has been determined that this would be the fastest and most cost effective method. The 2008 cost for Phase I is estimated at $55,000.00
There are approximately 152 total poles affected by the North High Street Circuit Conversion Project, Phases I and II. The design for Phase II is in process and will be bid next year. There are approximately seventy-one (71) poles in Phase II, most of which are owned by AEP. The City owns only a few of the poles on this part of the line. The total number of poles requiring relocation of attachments is presently being engineered and there will be a need to present legislation during 2009 to fund Phase II of this project. It is estimated that the cost for the pole attachment transfers and/or rearrangements for Phase II will be $100,000. The planned modification of the contract will be entered into only after consideration and passage of legislation by City Council.
Columbus Southern Power dba American Electric Power is the source for this service since they are the owner of the poles in question, therefore, the provisions of Columbus City Code Section 329 as it relates to competitive bidding is requested to be waived. Their contract compliance number is 314154203, expiration 11/26/09 (Majority).
Fiscal Impact: There is sufficient budget authority in the Electricity Operating Fund for this expenditure.
Emergency action is requested as this service must be coordinated with the construction of the North High Street Circuit Conversion Project, Phase I, authorized by Ordinance Number 0944-2008, passed July 7, 2008.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into an agreement to reimburse Columbus Southern Power dba American Electric Power (AEP) for the cost to transfer and/or rearrange electrical and communication facilities attached to poles owned by AEP as may be necessary to complete the North High Street, Phase I, Circuit Conversion Project; to waive the provisions of the Columbus City Code relating to competitive bidding; to authorize the expenditure of $55,000.00 from the Electricity Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($55,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power and Water, and Columbus Southern Power dba American Electric Power (AEP) own and operate electric distribution systems throughout the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, through a joint use agreement, the City and AEP have attached their facilities to poles owned by the other party; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 0944-2008, passed July 7, 2008, authorized the Director of Public Utilities to execute a construction contract for the North High Street Circuit Conversion Project, Phase I; and
WHEREAS, to complete the aforesaid project, it is necessary to coordinate the transfer and/or rearrangement of electrical and communication facilities attached to poles owned by AEP to meet AEP clearance standards; and
WHEREAS, AEP, as owner and operator of said poles, is the sole provider for the required services and therefore the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code Section 329 are being waived; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power and Water, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into an agreement with AEP to reimburse for labor costs incurred in transferring and/or rearrangement of AEP and communication facilities as may be necessary to complete the North High Street Conversion, Phase I, 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 Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement, in an amount not to exceed $55,000.00, to reimburse Columbus Southern Power dba American Electric Power Company (AEP), for labor costs incurred in transferring and /or rearranging AEP and other communication facilities attached to poles owned by AEP to comply with AEP clearance requirements as may be necessary to complete the North High Street Circuit Conversion, Phase I.
SECTION 2. That the provisions of Columbus City Codes, 1959, Section 329.06, Competitive Bidding, are hereby waived for said agreement.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $55,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the Electricity Operating Fund 550, Division No. 60-07, OCA 600783, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336.
SECTION 4. That this Council finds it in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the provisions of Columbus city Code Section 329 as it relates to competitive bidding.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.