Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with Smoot Construction Company of Ohio to provide construction services associated with the Hoover Amenities Project. The modification amount is $1,592,754.93, with a contingency of $545,000.00, for a total of $2,137,754.93 being authorized by this ordinance.
The Hoover Amenities project is located at two distinct locations around Hoover Reservoir. The boat launch ramp can be found near the intersection of Sunbury Road and Walnut Street at 7940 South Sunbury Road in Westerville. The Mudflats Boardwalk is located at the north end of the reservoir and is located near the intersection of Columbus Street and Front Street in Galena. The boat launch ramp is an existing feature that will require demolition and removal. The boardwalk was demolished last year during the low water level season.
The Recreation and Parks Department is receiving a grant of $1,500,000.00 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources that will go toward the boat ramp removal and reconstruction. The Columbus Department of Water and Power is contributing up to $950,000.00 in funds for shoreline stabilization and parking lot repaving at the boat ramp. The Recreation and Parks Department is delivering this project using a Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) format and this modification will allow progress to the next phase of this project.
The original completion date of the project was April 17, 2025. The modified project completion date, as a result of the proposed modification, is June 13, 2026.
Amount of Additional Funds: $2,137,54.93
Why Additional Services Were Not Foreseen: This modification was foreseen due to the nature of Construction Manager at Risk contracts. This modification covers the scope for construction of the project.
Why It Is Not In The Best Interest For The City To Award Additional Services Through Another Procurement Process: All of the scope associated with this vendor's contract modification was planned as part of the original project scope. The project was broken into phases and contract modifications to align with the Construction Manager at Risk project delivery method.
How The Price For The Additional Services Was Determined: The price for additional services was determined by the vendor providing anticipated construction costs for the construction team.
Principal Parties:
Smoot Construction Company of Ohio
1907 Leonard Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43219
Greg Palmer, (614) 253-9000
Contract Compliance Number: 004871
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: March 6, 2026
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested so that work can be completed during the low water season of September 2025 through April 2026.
Benefits to the Public: The reservoirs provide countless recreational opportunities to several hundred thousand Columbus residents per year for activities that include birding, hiking, boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and more. The three amenities included in this project will provide additional opportunities to experience the reservoir and will also promote improved participant accessibility.
Community Input/Issues: Multiple concerned citizens have reached out to the Accessibility Office for the City of Columbus. Their complaint was that Recreation and Parks does not allow fishing from any of the dock walkways due to accessibility issues for those individuals utilizing the boat ramps and marinas for boating.
Area(s) Affected: Citywide (99)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by making needed upgrades to infrastructure.
Fiscal Impact: The expenditure of $3,000,000.00 was legislated for the Hoover Amenities Project by Ordinance 0722-2024. This ordinance will provide funding that will modify the previously authorized amount by $2,137,754.93. $2,137,754.93 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, to meet the financial obligations of this expenditure. The aggregate total amount authorized, including this modification, is $5,137,754.93. Funds are appropriated and available within the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, for this expenditure. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget is needed to align budget authority with the proper project. A transfer of cash and appropriation between projects within the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with Smoot Construction Company of Ohio for the Hoover Amenities Project; to authorize an amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize a transfer of cash and appropriation within the Water Bond Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $2,137,754.93 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund and the Water Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($2,137,754.93)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with Smoot Construction Company of Ohio to add additional funding for the Hoover Amenities Project; 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 amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to align budget authority with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, a transfer of cash and appropriation within the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, is needed to align cash and appropriation with the proper project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend funds from the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, to pay for the contracted work; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $2,137,754.93 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006; 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 an existing contract with Smoot Construction Company of Ohio in order for the work to be completed during the low water season of September 2025 through April 2026, all for the immediate 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 modify an existing contract Smoot Construction Company of Ohio for the Hoover Amenities 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 $637,754.93, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within the Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient budget authority for this project:
Fund / Project Number / Project Name (Funding Source) / Current Authority / Revised Authority / Change
6006 / 690236-100000 / Water Main Rehabilitation (Voted Water Carryover) / $53,748 / $$1,053,748 / $1,000,000 (To match cash)
6006 / 690236-100000 / Water Main Rehabilitation (Voted Water Carryover) / $1,053,748 / $415,993 / ($637,755)
6006 / 690411-100000 / Watershed Misc. Improv. Facilities (Voted Water Carryover) / $0 / $637,755 / $637,755
SECTION 7. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $2,137,754.93, or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Water Bond Fund, Fund 6006, 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 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.