Explanation
BACKGROUND: In 1998 City Council adopted the Riverfront Vision land use and development plan. The Whittier Reach section of the plan established the redevelopment of the Whittier Peninsula as an objective. A Memorandum of Understanding, approved by City Council and signed May 2, 2003, between the City, Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, and Audubon Ohio endorsed the development of a park and nature center on a portion of the Whittier Peninsula. City Council authorized the Director of Recreation and Parks, via Ordinance 0074-2005, to enter into a 25 year lease agreement with the Franklin County Metro Parks for approximately fifty percent (50%) of the Whittier Peninsula for the development of a new park and parkland and to sublease a portion of the park property to Audubon Ohio for the development of a nature center. To allow Metro Parks to begin work on the Whittier Peninsula Park it is necessary to relocate Columbus Recreation and Parks Department administrative office space off of the Whittier Peninsula. In order to house its operations relocating from Whittier and also from 240 Greenlawn Avenue, and allow for space for offices for some Department of Technology staff, the Recreation and Parks Department proposed to acquire leasehold interests and renovate the former Deaf School building located at 400 East Town Street.
An opportunity has presented itself that allows the City to purchase an alternative building and site at 1111 East Broad Street. The 1111 East Broad Street building contains more than twice the useable space of the 400 East Town building and has 585 parking spaces to support the building occupancy. The 400 East Town building has only 139 parking spaces which requires that the City build a parking facility to provide adequate parking to support the occupancy of the building. The purchase cost and estimated internal improvements for the 1111 East Broad building are substantially less than the cost of the 400 East Town project, and the current operating costs for the 1111 East Broad building will be funded by the tenancy of non-city related operations. The 1111 East Broad Street building will allow for the location of all staff proposed for the 400 East Town project. In addition, it will provide space for the location of various additional City functions not required to be located in the Central Business District.
The City of Columbus (hereinafter "City") desires to purchase that real property commonly known as 1111 East Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio 43205, for use in City operations. This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to execute those documents necessary to purchase the aforementioned real property and to expend $5,150,000.00 for costs relevant to its acquisition. It repeals prior legislation (Ordinance #0523-2006) which authorized acquisition of Capital South Urban Redevelopment Corporation's interests in the 400 East Town Street property.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds will be transferred and expended from existing capital projects related to 400 East Town Street in order to fund this purchase. It is anticipated that the final costs of this project will be within the amount originally budgeted for the 400 East Town Street project without the necessity to add the additional funding requested for that project.
EMERGENCY JUSTIFICATION: Emergency action is requested to allow the purchase of the subject real property without delay in order to comply with the terms of the purchase agreement.
Title
To repeal Ordinance 0523-2006, to cancel AC025607, to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a contract to purchase property at 1111 East Broad Street, to authorize a transfer of $500,000 within the Information Services Bond Fund, to authorize the expenditure of $4,650,000 from the Voted 1999/2004 Parks and Recreation Bond Fund, to authorize the expenditure of $500,000 from the Information Services Bond Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($5,150,000)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus desires to purchase the property at 1111 East Broad Street in order to house operations being removed from Whittier Peninsula in connection with its redevelopment; and
WHEREAS, the City can purchase said property and prepare it for city departments at a substantial reduction in cost from that currently proposed for the alternative represented by 400 East Town Street; and
WHEREAS, the property at 1111 East Broad has twice the useable space as that of 400 East Town Street and much more available parking, allowing for the possibility of locating additional city operations there with operating costs being covered by leased space; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to repeal Ordinance 0523-2006, passed April 27, 2006, and to cancel AC 025607, and
WHEREAS; an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Finance and Management Director to enter into a contract for the acquisition of 1111 East Broad Street in order to meet the terms of the purchase agreement, 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 Ordinance 0523-2006, passed April 27, 2006 be and hereby is repealed, and AC 025607 is hereby cancelled.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Finance and Management be and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract to purchase property at 1111 East Broad Street.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $500,000, is hereby authorized within Information Services Bond Fund, Fund No. 514, Subfund 002, Dept. 47-02, from Project No. 470039, OCA 470032 to Project 510041, OCA 470141.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $4,650,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from the Voted 1999/2004 Parks and Recreation Bond Fund, Fund No. 702, Dept. 51-01, Project No. 510041, OL3 6601, OCA 644526.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $500,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized from the Information Services Bond Fund, Fund No. 514, Subfund 002, Dept. 47-02, Project No. 510041, OL3 6601, OCA 470141.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project amount 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; except that no transfer shall be so made from a project account funded by monies from more than one source.
SECTION 7. 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.