Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc. for safety improvements to the Lower Olentangy Boat Ramp. The work would remove the wood pilings, a large tree lodged within the second bridge opening, and remnant concrete rubble and dangerous debris from the low head dam. This work will also include a reshaping of the gravel/cobble bed material to a more stable channel shape that will divert flow from its current direct path at the bridge pier.
Background: The Lower Olentangy Boat Ramp is one of the city’s oldest boating access points in the downtown area. Located just north of Spring and Long Streets, near the confluence of the Olentangy River and Scioto River, the boat ramp has been used for special events, public canoe and kayak access, and police water patrol boats for Red, White, and Boom. In 2015, the removal of the Main Street dam on the Scioto River, creating the Scioto Greenways, substantially lowered the water level of the confluence area of the Olentangy and Scioto rivers. The lowered water elevation caused erosion at the Spring/Long Streets Bridge and the boat ramp. This erosion has exposed historic wood pilings, the northeast bridge pier, and a deteriorated low head dam originally used by the vacated City of Columbus Power Plant located at 620 West Nationwide Boulevard. These current conditions are extremely hazardous to all recreational river traffic as well as public access from the boat ramp. The improvements to the boat ramp will support the mission of the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by providing safe and easily accessible boating opportunities along Columbus’ major waterways. Increasing the safety of recreational use of the city’s waterways provides more opportunities for residents to kayak, canoe, fish, and bird. All of these activities are important components of a healthy lifestyle and provide important conservation of the Olentangy’s natural stream character.
Planning Area: 18
The costs for this project will be $39,000.00 with a contingency of $3,900.00 for a total of $42,900.00.
The Department of Recreation and Parks is requesting the waiver of formal bidding provisions due to the fact that the work being performed is of a specialized nature. The contractor must be certified in river channel permitting and construction activity. Due to the seasonal restrictions of river access, the formal bidding procedure would have caused a delay in the contracting of work and the safety improvements would not be completed by summer 2016.
Principal Parties:
Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc.
2905 Klondike Road
Delaware, OH 43015
Nancy Seger 614-832-9626
Contract Compliance #31-4427282
Exp Date: 4/15/17
Columbus Employees: 10+
Emergency Justification: This legislation is requested to be considered emergency due to the seasonal water levels of the Olentangy River. During the winter months, the river is more accessible by heavy equipment, and recreational use by the public is not a danger. By spring season, the dam releases of the Olentangy will raise the water elevation, prohibiting access to perform the safety improvements.
Fiscal Impact: $42,900.00 is budgeted and available in the Recreation and Parks Special Purpose Fund 2223 to meet the financial obligations of this contract.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc. for boat ramp safety improvements; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Codes; to authorize the expenditure of $39,000.00 with a contingency of $3,900.00 for a total of $42,900.00 from the Recreation and Parks Special Purpose Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($42,900.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and director the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc. for safety improvements to the Lower Olentangy Boat Ramp; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the formal bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code 329 and contract with Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc. for boat ramp safety improvements; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $39,000.00 with a contingency of $3,900.00 for a total of $42,900.00 from the Recreation and Parks Special Purpose Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into said contract due to the seasonal water levels of the Olentangy River which affects the preservation of public health, peace, property and safety; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. The Director of Recreation and Parks be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into contract with Oxbow River & Stream Restoration, Inc. for boat ramp safety improvements.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
SECTION 3. To authorize the expenditure of $39,000.00 with a contingency of $3,900.00 for a total of $42,900.00 from the Recreation and Parks Special Purpose Fund.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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 7. For the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $42,900.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Special Purpose Fund 2223 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment.
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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.