Explanation
Background: In February of 2014 Council approved legislation to contract $4.1 million to demolish residential structures under the Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative. This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify and extend contracts established under the legislation; to enter into an agreement with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation to receive additional funds from the Moving Ohio Forward, Phase 2 Program (MOF 2); appropriate and expend $291,462 the City will receive under Phase 2; authorize the expenditure of $1,245,501 from the 2013 Housing Preservation Fund and the General Government Grant Fund. The modifications are necessary to meet a new deadline established by the second phase of the program, to prepare for a possible extension of the first phase of the program and to authorize the expenditure of previously authorized funds.
Fiscal Impact: Funds are available in the General Government Grant Fund, Moving Ohio Forward Grant and the Development Taxable Bond Fund.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to complete the work within the grant deadline.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into an agreement with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation to receive additional funds under the Moving Ohio Forward Grant Program; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development, or designee, to modify and extend contracts with various contractors to perform asbestos testing, asbestos remediation, demolition, and deconstruction services on blighted structures; to amend the 2014 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the appropriation of $291,462.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize the transfer of $70,000.00 within the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $627,624.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize the transfer $550,000.00 within the Development Taxable Bond Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $909,339.00 from the Development Taxable Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,536,963.00)
Body
WHEREAS, in 2012, Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced the Vacant and Abandon Properties Initiative, a comprehensive plan to address vacant and abandoned properties, that includes a goal of demolishing hundreds of structures; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Land Bank Program has receive title to over three hundred parcels by tax foreclosure, most of which are in need of demolition within the first few months of 2014; and
WHEREAS, the City entered into a grant agreement, to receive matching funds, with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation for $5.8 million dollars for demolition and the grant expenditure deadline is May 31, 2014; and
WHEREAS, the Attorney General of the State of Ohio has allocated additional funds under a phase 2 of Moving Ohio Forward Program; and
WHEREAS, the City must demolish the properties received by tax foreclosure within a very short timeframe to meet the grant deadline; and
WHEREAS, the City and the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation made a request to the Ohio Attorney General to extend the County's grant agreement; and
WHEREAS, the City established multiple contracts to perform asbestos testing, abatement, demolition and deconstruction work; and
WHEREAS, the following companies have the qualifications and licenses necessary to perform the volume of work required to meet the grant deadline: Watson General Contracting (contract compliance number: 311429409, expiration: 1/18/2015), Ransom Company (contract compliance number: 269401266, expiration: 8/3/2014, MBE), Egner Construction (contract compliance number: 010853960, expiration: 1/22/2015), Superior Enterprises Unlimited, LLC (contract compliance number: 452716791, expiration: 1/9/2016, MBE), Colvin Gravel Company (contract compliance number: 314441189, expiration: 1/3/2016), S.G. Loewendick & Sons, Inc. (contract compliance number: 314420502, expiration: 8/13/15), DSS Services, LLC (contract compliance number: 263454889, expiration: 9/3/14, AFA), R3, Inc. (contract compliance number: 113746960, expiration: 5/16/14, AFA), Hina Environmental Solutions, LLC (contract compliance number: 261342009, expiration: 11/27/2014, FBE); and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to modify and extend said contracts with various contractors in order to complete the work within the grant deadline, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Central Ohio Community Improvement Corporation to receive up to $291,462 under the Moving Ohio Forward Grant Program, Phase I. The funds will be used to reimburse the City for eligible costs associated with the demolition of residential structures.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Development, or designee, is hereby authorized to modify and extend contracts with the following contractors to perform asbestos testing, asbestos remediation, demolition, and deconstruction services on blighted structures:
Ransom Company
Watson General Contracting
Egner ConstructionSuperior Enterprises Unlimited, LLC.
Colvin Gravel Company
S. G. Loewendick & Sons, Inc.
DSS Services, LLC
R3, Inc.
Hina Environmental Solutions, LLC
SECTION 3. That the 2014 Capital Improvements Budget, authorized by ordinance 0683-2014, be amended to provide sufficient authority for this project as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current C.I.B. / Amendment Amount / Amended C.I.B.
739/782004-100002/Vacant/Abandoned Demolition & Remed-Commercial/ $50,000/($50,000)/$0
739/782001-100005/Hsng Pres/Home Again/LBP Renovation/$500,000/($500,000)/$0
739/782004-100000/Vacant Housing Demolition/$2,412,635/$550,000/$2,962,635
SECTION 4. That the sum of $291,462.00 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, Grant 441205, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources appropriated and un-appropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, to the Department of Development, Administration Division, Division 44-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3292, OCA 441205.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer $70,000 within the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 200, Grant 441205 as follows:
From:
Object Level One / OCA / Object Level Three
01/ 441205 / 1101
To:
Object Level One / OCA / Object Level Three
03 / 441205 / 3292
SECTION 6. That for the purpose stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $627,624 from the Development Department, Division 44-01, Fund 220, Grant 441205, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3292, OCA Code 441205 be hereby authorized.
SECTION 7. That the transfer of cash ($550,000) be and is hereby authorized as follows:
From:
Fund/Project/Project Name/OL 01-03/OCA/Amount
739 / 782004-100002 / Vacant/Abandoned Demolition and Remediation Commercial / 06-6600 / 739042 / $50,000
Fund/Project/Project Name/OL 01-03/OCA/Amount
739 / 782001-100005 / Housing Preservation/Home Again/ Land Bank Program Renovation / 06-6600 / 739015 / $500,000
To:
Fund/Project/Project Name/OL 01-03/OCA/Amount
739 / 782004-100000 / Vacant Housing Demolition /06-6635 / 739040 / $550,000
SECTION 8. That for the purpose stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $909,339 from the Development Department, Division 44-01, Development Taxable Bond Fund, Fund 739, Project 782004-100000, Object Level One 06, Object Level Three 6635, OCA Code 739040 is hereby authorized.
SECTION 9. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 10. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for any contract or contract modification associated with the expenditure of the funds in Sections 6 and 8 above.
SECTION 11. 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 12. 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 passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.