Explanation
In compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act, the State of Ohio monitors streams and rivers and prepares standards for achieving target water quality levels. These targets are used to guide state and local actions and inform such regulations as the City's NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit. A water quality report and target standards have been prepared for Blacklick Creek by OEPA.
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has received a three year grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to conduct a Watershed Action Plan for the Blacklick Creek Watershed. The Plan is intended to identify problems, opportunities, and priorities associated for the waterway in collaboration with local jurisdictions and stakeholders. Similar plans have been developed for the Big Walnut, Olentangy, Alum Creek and Rocky Fork watersheds. In addition to providing consistent direction on how best to protect and improve water quality, these plans allow local communities to be more competitive for grant dollars to fund watershed improvements.
The ODNR funding provides $105,000 over three years. In order to conduct the project, additional local funding of $135,000 is needed by MORPC. The Blacklick Watershed includes 17 local governments and approximately 83,000 residents. MORPC has established a local share rate of 50 cents per capita per year. Columbus residents account for 28,403 or approximately 34% of the planning area total. The Columbus share of the local cost is $14,000 per year over three years for a total contribution of $42,000. This legislation authorizes the expenditure of these monies from Water and Sanitary Sewer Enterprise funds within the Department of Public Utilities. The plan schedule calls for a completed draft by the end of 2009 followed by submission to the State of Ohio for review and endorsement.
The Blacklick Creek Watershed Action Plan will provide recommendations for protecting and improving water quality among the jurisdictions that make up the area. A completed and endorsed plan will improve the likelihood that Columbus and other communities will be successful in obtaining grant funds for watershed improvements.
SUPPLIER: Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (31-1009675) Non-Profit
FISCAL IMPACT: The payment is for $42,000.00 and funds are available for this expenditure. Also, this ordinance authorizes the transfer of funds between Object Levels with Water System Operating Fund, to accommodate the expenditure authorized by this ordinance.
No similar expenditures in 2006 or 2007.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into an agreement with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) for the Division of Power and Water and the Division of Sewerage and Drainage to conduct a Watershed Action Plan for the Blacklick Creek Watershed; to authorize and direct the City Auditor to transfer $21,000.00 between Object Levels within the Water System Operating Fund; and to authorize the expenditure of $21,000.00 from the Sewer System Operating Fund and $21,000.00 from the Water System Operating Fund. ($42,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Power and Water has a need to transfer $21,000.00 between Object Levels in the 2008 Water System Operating Fund's Budget. Funds for this transfer have been identified and are available in the Object Level One: 06; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into an agreement with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) to conduct a Watershed Action Plan for the Blacklick Creek Watershed; and
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio monitors rivers and streams and prepares standards for achieving target water quality levels in compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act; and
WHEREAS, a water quality report and target standards have been prepared for Blacklick Creek; and
WHEREAS, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) has received a three year grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to conduct a Watershed Action Plan for the Blacklick Creek Watershed; and
WHEREAS, the Plan is intended to identify problems, opportunities, and priorities associated for the waterway in collaboration with local jurisdictions and stakeholders; and
WHEREAS, such plans provide direction regarding the protection and improvement of water quality and also allow local communities to be more competitive for grant dollars to fund watershed improvements; and
WHEREAS, ODNR funding provides $105,000 over three years with an additional $135,000 needed by MORPC from local funding among the 17 local governments comprising the watershed based planning area population; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus' share of the local funding is $14,000 per year over three years for a total contribution of $42,000; for the preservation of public health, peace, property and safety now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
Section 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement between the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), and the City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities.
Section 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $21,000.00 between object levels within the 2008 Water System Operating Fund's Budget as follows:
From: Div.: 60-09| Fund: 600 | OCA Code: 602730 | Object Level One: 06| Object Level Three: 6000|
Amount: $21,000.00
To: Div.: 60-09| Fund: 600 | OCA Code: 602029| Object Level One: 03| Object Level Three: 3407|
Amount: $21,000.00
Section 3. That to cover the proportionate share of these services, the expenditure of $42,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and is hereby authorized as follows:
Sewer System Operating Fund 650
Department No. 60-05
OCA Code 605006
Object Level Three 3407
Amount: $21,000.00
Water System Operating Fund 600
Department No. 60-09
OCA Code 602029
Object Level Three 3407
Amount: $21,000.00
Section 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period alla