Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with American Structurepoint for professional design services for the Olentangy Trail - Northmoor to Clinton Como Project. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is $892,774.00.
The central 0.6 mile segment of the Olentangy Trail, between Northmoor Park and Clinton Como Park, was never completed, forcing users to leave the trail and use a 1 mile signed on-street route travelling on 5 different streets. The route is widely recognized as difficult to navigate, congested, narrow, and unsafe. The route includes constricted sections where combined two-way car and trail traffic is on 11 feet to 13 feet wide pavement. This project will complete this final trail gap by designing and constructing a crossing of the Olentangy River at Northmoor Park, travelling along the west bank of the river. At North Broadway, the trail will use an enhanced bike/pedestrian crosswalk and signal to the new Ohio Health Campus. The trail will then continue south and cross the river to Clinton Como Park where it rejoins the existing trail. Ordinance 1319-2020 authorized the contract for Stage 1 Preliminary Design. This modification will complete the Stage 2 Detailed Design phase of the project. The project is scheduled for construction in 2023.
The Olentangy Trail is Central Ohio’s most heavily used greenway trail. Recent trail count data shows over 4 million trail miles per year are traveled on this path. In 2018, Recreation and Parks applied for and received grant funding from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) to construct the final gap of the 14 mile Olentangy Trail, from Northmoor Park to Clinton Como Park. The grant funds and local match will be appropriated at a later date, when construction is ready to move forward, as the grant funding can only be used for construction.
Principal Parties:
American Structurepoint
2550 Corporate Exchange Drive
Columbus, OH 43231
Tom Hibbard, (614) 901-2235, thibbard@structurepoint.com
Contract Compliance Number, Tax ID: 007019, 35-1127317
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: July 1, 2023
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested as the MORPC grant funding schedule for this project requires that the consultant be into detailed design by the end of July of 2021, so that the project can be ready to construct in 2023.
Benefits to the Public: Cycling, walking, running, and active trail uses provide highly recognized year round benefits to urban lifestyles. Access to trails and to key destinations is one of the top rated active transportation priorities noted by Columbus residents. Over 30,000 residents, 100 businesses, 6 parks, and 15 schools are within the trailshed of this project.
Community Input/Issues: The department received letters of support from the community, the Clintonville Area Commission, Ohio Health, private developers, and citywide from trail users. A public open house was held in early 2021, with over 230 attendees. The public involvement provided 5 alternative alignments for the path. Over 450 comments were also received via website, letters, emails, and voicemails.
Area(s) Affected: Olentangy West (38), Clintonville (39) - All Columbus and regional trail users will benefit from these improvements
Master Plan Relation: This project supports the department’s Master Plan by improving access to trails and greenways corridors. It provides safe east/west connections for nearby neighborhoods to the regional trail network.
Fiscal Impact: The expenditure of $271,252.00 was legislated for the Olentangy Trail - Northmoor to Clinton Como Project by Ordinance 1319-2020. This ordinance will provide funding that will modify the previously authorized amount by $892,774.00. $892,774.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this contract modification. The aggregate total amount authorized, including this modification, is $1,164,026.00
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with American Structurepoint for the Olentangy Trail - Northmoor to Clinton Como Project; to authorize the transfer of $892,774.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund, to authorize the amendment of the 2020 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $892,774.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($892,774.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with American Structurepoint for the Olentangy Trail - Northmoor to Clinton Como Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $892,774.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2020 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 2521-2020 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $892,774.00 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 modify this contract as the MORPC grant funding schedule for this project requires that the consultant be into detailed design by the end of July of 2021, so that the project can be ready to construct in 2023, 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 Recreation and Parks be and is hereby authorized to modify an existing contract with American Structurepoint for the Olentangy Trail - Northmoor to Clinton Como 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 transfer of $892,774.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the 2020 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 2521-2020 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this ordinance and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
Fund 7702; P512000-100000; New Development - Misc. (SIT Supported); $4,162,886 / ($892,774) / $3,270,112
Fund 7702; P512018-100000; Olentangy Trail - Northmoor to Clinton Como (SIT Supported) / $0 / $892,774 / $892,774
SECTION 7. For the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $892,774.00 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 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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.