Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with REALM Collaborative, LLC to provide professional services associated with the Busch Park Ball Diamond Improvements 2025 Project. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is $58,974.50, with a contingency of $7,500.00, for a total of $66,474.50
This project was originally for improving fields 3 and 4 at Anheuser-Busch Sports Park and the design is underway. This modification is to expand the project to include fields 1 and 2.
The opportunity presented itself for the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department to put in a bid to be the host city for the 2026 North American Gay Amateur Athletic Association's Gay Softball World Series. This tournament is the largest annual LGBTQ+ single-sport, week-long athletic competition in the world. This tournament would bring participants from 54 cities across North America to Columbus. In order to secure this high profile event for the city, this additional investment in the park is required prior to the start of the 2026 softball season.
Amount of Additional Funds: $66,474.50
Why Additional Services Were Not Foreseen: In July 2024, during an on-site visit between the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department and iPRIDE leadership, a discussion regarding additional playing locations for other national tournaments iPRIDE may wish to host was brought up. From this conversation, the decision was made to utilize funding to fully upgrade fields one through four at Busch Park and convert them to turf fields.
Why It Is Not In The Best Interest For The City To Award Additional Services Through Another Procurement Process: Any changes to the early spring 2026 deadline would greatly impact programming and other organizations that have utilized the Busch Park fields for many years. 2026 adult sports programming at Busch Park will begin mid-April and will entail softball and kickball leagues utilizing fields five days and nights per week. Based on previous years, there are more than 100 projected league games to be played at Busch Park during April in 2026. These games cannot be moved as Berliner Park will also be full with leagues during the week and tournaments on weekends. Additionally, there are multiple longstanding leagues that have been utilizing Busch Park exclusively for many years. These include Columbus Lesbian and Gay Softball Association, iPRIDE's local chapter, SkiClub, Restaurant League, and Northwest League. These groups often secure Busch Park as a site for their pre-season practice needs as well, which is not included in the league games total previously mentioned.
How The Price For The Additional Services Was Determined: The hourly rates previously established in the original contract were used the cost for the additional services.
Principal Parties:
REALM Collaborative, LLC
100 East Broad Street, Suite 1710
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Carmine Russo, (330) 324-3739
Contract Compliance Number: 021146
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: April 3, 2027
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order for design work to be completed by late summer 2025 and the construction phase completed by spring 2026.
Benefits to the Public: This project benefits the public by providing enhanced ball diamonds that will allow for additional programming and tournaments. The turf fields will allow for more games to be played on a high level surface without the impact weather brings to dirt fields.
Community Input/Issues: Input for this improvement project was primarily gathered through the Columbus Community Sports Park feasibility study conducted by Conventions, Sports and Leisure International and managed by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department.
Area(s) Affected: Northwest (34)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by helping to update sports related parks, expanding amenities to appeal to a more diversified audience, and updating five neighborhood parks per year.
Fiscal Impact: The expenditure of $98,409.37 was authorized for the Busch Ball Diamond Improvements 2025 Project contract by Ordinance 2486-2024. This ordinance will provide funding that will modify the previously authorized amount by $66,474.50. $66,474.50 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 to meet the financial obligations of this contract modification. The aggregate total amount authorized, including this modification, is $164,883.87.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with REALM Collaborative, LLC for the Busch Ball Diamond Improvements 2025 Project; to authorize the appropriation of $30,312.56 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $66,474.50 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund and Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $66,474.50 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund and Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($66,474.50)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with REALM Collaborative, LLC to provide professional services associated with the Busch Ball Diamond Improvements Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $30,312.56 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $66,474.50 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 and Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1907-2024 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $66,474.50 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 and 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 an existing contract with REALM Collaborative, LLC in order for design work to be completed by August 2025 and the construction phase completed by spring 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 with REALM Collaborative, LLC for the Busch Park Ball Diamond Improvements 2025 Project. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is $66,474.50.
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 $30,312.56 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 $66,474.50 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1907-2024 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 7702 / P510129-100000 / Franklin Park Adventure Center (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $6,311 / $6,311 / $6,311 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P511000-100000 / Renovation - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $500,000 / $0 / $34,369 / $534,369 / $34,369 (to match cash)
Fund 7747 / P510734-100000 / Northwest - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $30,313 / $30,313 / $30,313 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510129-100000 / Franklin Park Adventure Center (Voted Carryover) / $6,311 / $6,311 / ($6,311) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P511000-100000 / Renovation - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $534,369 / $34,369 / ($29,851) / $500,000 / $0
Fund 7747 / P510734-100000 / Northwest - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $30,313 / $30,313 / ($30,313) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P514029-100000 / Busch Park Ball Diamond Improvements 2025 (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $36,162 / $36,162 / $36,162
Fund 7747 / P514029-100000 / Busch Park Ball Diamond Improvements 2025 (Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $30,313 / $30,313 / $30,313
SECTION 8. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $66,474.50 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 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 9. That this ordinance, for the reasons stated in the preamble, which are made a part of this ordinance and fully incorporated for reference as if rewritten, is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after this ordinance’s passage and approval by the Mayor or ten (10) days after its adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.