Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Designing Local LTD for the Sullivant Gardens Park Improvements Project. The contract amount is $50,960.00 with a contingency of $48,040.00, for a total of $99,000.00 being authorized by this ordinance.
Located in the Franklinton Community, Sullivant Gardens Park has been a 3.829 acre community park since 1974. It was expanded in 2019, when the land to be improved by this project was acquired, bringing the total area to 5.329 acres. The improvements to this 1.5 acre area on the east side of the park will provide safe accessible sports programming space and active park amenities. These amenities include multipurpose athletic fields and natural areas. Additional improvements include a new parking area. Once the design is complete, Recreation and Parks anticipates that construction will begin in early 2027.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (Office of Diversity and Inclusion designation status): Proposals were advertised to firms that were pre-qualified through the bi-annual Request for Statement of Qualification (RSFQ) process, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on October 22, 2024, and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on November 19, 2024. Request for proposals were received by the following companies:
Designing Local LTD: $50,960.00
Of note, professional services contracts are quality based selections and not based on price. Costs were not requested nor were they part of this evaluation.
In accordance with City Code, a selection team evaluated the proposals and recommended Designing Local LTD be selected to perform the work. The firm was chosen based on their referenced projects, experience, qualifications, availability, timeline and project approach.
Principal Parties:
Designing Local LTD
20 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Matthew Leasure, (614) 839-7178
Contract Compliance Number: 020995
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: June 18, 2026
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested so that design work can be completed by October 2026 in order to meet the schedule requirements of the ODNR NatureWorks Grant that is funding part of the construction portion of the project, allowing the project to be in contract for construction by December 31, 2026.
Benefits to the Public: This project will provide multipurpose athletic fields, improve access to natural areas, and offer expanded parking.
Community Input/Issues: The community has expressed a desire for improvements on the site that are accessible to the surrounding neighborhood.
Area(s) Affected: Franklinton (54), Southwest (59)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving access to Recreation and Parks facilities for public use and keeping those facilities in safe operating condition. It will also support the Master Plan by nurturing an active and healthy community.
Fiscal Impact: $99,000.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 to meet the financial obligations of this expenditure.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Designing Local LTD for the Sullivant Gardens Park Improvements Project; to appropriation of $86.36 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $11,952.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund and Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $99,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($99,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Designing Local LTD for the Sullivant Gardens Park Improvements Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $86.36 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $11,952.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $99,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Designing Local LTD so that design work can be completed by October 2026 in order to meet the schedule requirements of the ODNR NatureWorks Grant that is funding part of the construction portion of the project, allowing the project to be in contract for construction by December 31, 2026, all for the 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 Recreation and Parks Department be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Designing Local LTD for the Sullivant Gardens Park Improvements Project.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. 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 5. That the appropriation of $86.36 is authorized within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the transfer of $11,952.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1790-2025 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this ordinance and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current Revised Authority / Current Remaining Authority / Change / Amended Revised Authority / Amended Remaining Authority
Fund 7702 / P440006-102231 / UIRF - Franklinton Active Parkways (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $14,248 / $14,248 / $14,248 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P440006-102231 / UIRF - Franklinton Active Parkways (Voted Carryover) / $14,248 / $14,248 / ($11,866) / $2,382 / $2,382
Fund 7747 / P510051-100000 / Parkland Dedication - Franklinton (Carryover) / $87 / $87 / ($87) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511079-100000 / Sullivant Gardens Field Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $87,048 / $87,048 / $11,866 / $98,914 / $98,914
Fund 7747 / P511079-100000 / Sullivant Gardens Field Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $87 / $87 / $87
SECTION 8. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $99,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 9. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is 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.