Explanation
Background: The City of Columbus currently is in contract with the Lincoln Theater Association to renovate the Lincoln Theater at 771 East Long Street, an historic landmark in the City's King-Lincoln District. The Lincoln Theater Association will use $8 million, jointly contributed by the City and Franklin County, to renovate the theater to accommodate more than 500 seats, a state of the art recording environment and separate jazz gallery. An addition will be built onto the rear of the theater in the recently vacated Boone Alley. Overhead and underground utilities must be moved to accommodate the addition and its basement. The estimated cost of relocating all utilities is $200,000. The Department of Development has committed to funding the relocation in order to meet the construction schedule set for a September 2008 theater opening.
Emergency Justification: Utilities must be relocated before the start of construction. Construction must start by September 2007 in order to stay on time and on budget.
Fiscal Impact: $200,000 is available in the 2007 Capital Improvement Budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to reimburse the Department of Public Utilities and various public utility companies for up to $200,000 to relocate utilities to allow construction of the renovation of the Lincoln Theater; to authorize the expenditure of $200,000 from Fund 735; and to declare an emergency. ($200,000)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is currently in contract with the Lincoln Theater Association to renovate this historic landmark in the City's King-Lincoln District; and
WHEREAS, an addition will be constructed onto the rear of the theater on the recently vacated Boone Alley; and
WHEREAS, the relocation of above- and below-ground utilities will be necessary to accommodate construction of a basement to the addition; and
WHEREAS; the Department of Development has committed to funding these relocations so construction can start quickly and an opening date of September 2008 can be met; and
WHEREAS; an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the expenditure of funds, all for the immediate preservation of 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 Director of Development be authorized to expend funds to reimburse the Department of Public Utilities and various private utility companies for up to $200,000 for purposes of relocating the necessary utilities to accommodate the construction of a rear addition to the Lincoln Theater.
Section 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of up to $200,000 from the Development Department, Division No. 44-01, Fund No. 735, Project No. 441738 King-Lincoln District Acquisition, OCA Code 441738, Object Level Three 6680 is hereby authorized.
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 for 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.