Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Ironsite, Inc. for the Three Creeks Wetland Restoration Project. The contract amount is $872,111.57, with a contingency of $82,888.43, for a total of $955,000.00. An additional $2,500.00 is being authorized for interdepartmental inspections and fees for a total of $957,500.00 being authorized by this ordinance.
Three Creeks Park is a 1,097-acre park in the Far South Community and is jointly managed by the City of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks. This project will create a 24-acre wetland within a 30-acre restored area of the park, north of Watkins Road and to the east of the Alum Creek Trail. This will involve constructing the wetland, landscaping, and sewer work. This project will improve water quality, flood control, and wildlife habitat. It will also support the Urban Forestry Master Plan goals and provide additional recreation opportunities through a natural walking path in the wetlands.
The Recreation and Parks Department received $850,000.00 in grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' (ODNR) H2Ohio program to fund a wetland restoration. Construction is anticipated to start in October 2025 and be substantially completed in spring 2026. All punch list items are to be complete by summer 2026.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (Office of Diversity and Inclusion designation status):
Bids were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on August 5, 2025 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on August 26, 2025. Bids were received from the following companies:
Ironsite, Inc.
V3 Construction
After reviewing the bids that were submitted, it was determined that Ironsite Inc. was the lowest and most responsive bidder. Ironsite Inc. and all proposed subcontractors have met code requirements with respect to prequalification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
Principal Parties:
Ironsite, Inc.
72 Holmes Street
Galena, Ohio 43021
Ada Facemyer, (740) 965-4616
Contract Compliance Number: 005926
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: August 26, 2027
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested so that construction activities can be started as soon as possible in order to meet the March 31, 2026 grant spending deadline.
Benefits to the Public: The wetland restoration will provide improvements to water quality, flood control, the wildlife habitat, and tree canopy. This project will also activate a currently inactive part of the park for public use.
Community Input/Issues: Recreation and Parks engaged the Far South Area Commission and the Williams Creek Homeowners' Association in July 2023. Both groups provided letters of support for the grant application in August 2023 and will be involved in the design of the project.
Area(s) Affected: Far South (64)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by expanding offerings and amenities to appeal to a more diversified audience and user groups. It will also continue open space and preservation effort while helping to achieve the City’s tree canopy goal.
Fiscal Impact: $957,500.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 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 Ironsite, Inc. for the Three Creeks Wetland Restoration Project; to authorize the appropriation of $107,500.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $107,500.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $957,500.00 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund and Permanent Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($957,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Ironsite, Inc. for the Three Creeks Wetland Restoration Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $107,500.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $107,500.00 within the Recreation and Parks 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 $957,500.00 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; 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 Ironsite, Inc. so that construction activities can be started as soon as possible in order to meet the March 31, 2026 grant spending deadline, 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 enter into contract with Ironsite, Inc. for the Three Creeks Wetland Restoration 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 $107,500.00 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 $107,500.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the 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 7747 / P510764-100000 / CC Far South - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $741,138 / 741,138 / ($407,175) / $333,963 / $333,963 (to match cash)
Fund 7747 / P510764-100000 / CC Far South - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $333,963 / $333,963 / ($107,500) / $226,463 / $226,463
Fund 7747 / P512040-100000 / Three Creeks Restoration (Carryover) / $4,080 / $1 / $107,500 / $111,580 / $107,501
SECTION 8. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $957,500.00 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 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.