Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with RAMA Consulting in an amount up to $200,000.00 for the Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation project.
The intent of this project is to provide the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, additional resources for a facilitation process in which the selected firm will work with the community, the City of Columbus, and other stakeholders in order to identify the desired outcomes and establish the best plan to proceed with accomplishing a balanced approach to parking in the Short North neighborhood. The selected firm will also assist with ushering the newly proposed Short North parking plan through the legislative approval process.
In the spring of 2017 the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, presented a parking plan for the Short North neighborhood. The plan proposed widespread changes to visitor, residential and business permits; established new boundaries for paid parking; and updated enforcement practices based on a parking study completed in 2015 and the desires of a neighborhood working group. Unable to reach a resolution on the proposed parking changes that was satisfactory to neighborhood stakeholders, the Department chose to re-evaluate the proposed plan. The Department of Public Service seeks to retain a qualified firm to facilitate a community led process that starts with the proposed plan and re-evaluates the desired outcomes of both the City and that of the residents, businesses and visitors of the Short North area.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited a Request for Proposals for the Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation project. This project was formally advertised through the City's Vendor Services site from October 30, 2017, to December 21, 2017. The City received four (4) responses. All proposals were deemed compliant and were fully evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on January 4, 2018.
Company Name City/State Majority/MBE/MBR/F1/AS1/PHC
RAMA Consulting Columbus, OH MBE
Planning NEXT Columbus, OH MAJ
Public Square Initiatives Columbus, OH MAJ
Griffin Communications, LLC Columbus, OH MAJ
RAMA Consulting received the highest score by the evaluation committee and will be awarded the Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation contract.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against RAMA Consulting.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
RAMA Consulting’s contract compliance number is M1A47970-103157 and expires 3/31/2018.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this contract is available within Fund 7766, the Street and Highway Improvements (Non-Bond) Fund. An amendment to the 2017 Capital Improvement Budget is required to establish sufficient budget authority for the project.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to expedite this contract to address citizen concerns about parking in the Short North Area as soon as possible.
Title
To amend the 2017 Capital Improvement Budget; to appropriate funds within the Street and Highway Improvements (Non-Bond) Fund; to authorize the transfer of funds and appropriation within the Street & Highway Improvements (Non-Bond) Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a professional services contract with RAMA Consulting for the Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $200,000.00 from the Street & Highway Improvements (Non-Bond) Fund to pay for this contract; and to declare an emergency. ($200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide for a facilitation process in which the selected firm will work with the community to identify the desired outcomes and establish the best plan to proceed with accomplishing a balanced approach to parking in the Short North neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation project; and
WHEREAS, RAMA Consulting responded to the Request for Proposal and was scored the highest by the evaluation committee for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a contract with RAMA Consulting for the provision of professional services described above in the amount of up to $200,000.00; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2017 Capital Improvement Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for Council to authorize a transfer of funds within Fund 7766, the Street and Highway Improvements (Non- Bond) Fund, to establish sufficient cash to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into a contract with RAMA Consulting for the Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation project to address citizen concerns about parking in the Short North Area as soon as possible, 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 the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1124-2017 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7766 / P766999-100000 / 59-03 Unallocated Balance Fd. 766 (Street & Highway Imp Carryover) / $1,297,398.00 / ($200,000.00) / $1,097,398.00
7766 / P530161-100206 / Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation (Street & Highway Imp Carryover) /$0.00 / $200,000.00 / $200,000.00
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, the sum of $200,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7766 (Street & Highway Improvements (Non-Bond) Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project P530161-100206 (Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation), in object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7766 (Street & Highway Improvements (Non-Bond) Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project P766999-100000 (59-03 Unallocated Balance Fd. 766), object class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project P530161-100206 (Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation), object class 06 (Capital Outlay).
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Service be, and hereby is, authorized to enter into a professional services contract with RAMA Consulting at 897 East 11th Avenue, Suite 100, Columbus, Ohio, 43211, for the Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation project in an amount up to $200,000.00.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7766 (Street & Highway Improvements (Non-Bond) Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project P530161-100206 (Roadway Improvements - Short North Parking Strategic Facilitation), object class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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 9. 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 passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.