Explanation
Background: Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton &Tilton, Inc. (EMH&T) is relocating and expanding its Gahanna headquarters to a currently vacant site in Columbus. The 10-acre site is positioned along New Albany Road East where the company plans to have over 100,000 square feet of space constructed. The new facility is anticipated to cost over $12 million to construct and, in addition, EMH&T plans to directly invest over $1.1 million in new machinery and equipment. Due to over 1,200 existing jobs in that corridor and the addition of EMH&T's 414 jobs to be created and retained, a new traffic signal near the company's site will be necessary. The total infrastructure investment for this improvement is $270,000. The State of Ohio has granted $216,000, or 80%, in Roadwork Development (629) Account assistance. The City of Columbus has committed to funding the balance of the project ($54,000 plus design costs) as well as offering an Enterprise Zone tax exemption on real and personal property taxes associated with the project.
Fiscal Impact: $35,000 is available in Capital Fund 742, Miscellaneous Economic Development, for this project.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to complete the signal design work together with the building site design work to contain costs.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a Reimbursement Agreement with Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton & Tilton, Inc. for traffic signal design services on New Albany Road East; to authorize the expenditure of $35,000 from the Development Limited Bond Fund; to waive the formal professional service contracts process of Chapter 329 of the City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($35,000)
Body
WHEREAS, EMH&T is relocating its Gahanna headquarters to a vacant site in Columbus where a 100,000 square foot, $12 million facility will be constructed; and
WHEREAS, the additional jobs from EMH&T plus the existing jobs in this corridor have warranted an additional traffic signal; and
WHEREAS, a new traffic signal must be designed for installation for this site, and
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio has committed to funding 80% of the installation of such signal with Roadway Development (629) Account funds; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Development has committed to 20% of the installation plus design costs as well as an Enterprise Zone tax exemption on real and personal property; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a Reimbursement Agreement with Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton & Tilton, Inc. for traffic signal design services on New Albany Road East thereby preserving 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 enter into a Reimbursement Agreement contract for Thirty Five Thousand Dollars ($35,000.00) with Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton & Tilton, Inc. to design the installation of a new traffic signal at their new location on New Albany Road East.
Section 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of up to $35,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized from Fund No. 742 Development Limited Bond Fund, Project No. 440104 Miscellaneous Economic Development, OCA Code 643106, Object Level Three 6680.
Section 3. That the formal consultant selection process provisions of Chapter 329 of the City Code be and are hereby
waived.
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.