Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The City of Columbus, Department of Public Service is engaged in the Hilliard-Rome Road Improvement Project. This project consists of the widening by addition of (3) new traffic lanes and reconstruction of approximately 1.19 miles Hilliard-Rome Road from Westchester Wood Boulevard to south of Roberts Road as well as utility relocation.
As part of the project 1.2 miles of 5 foot wide sidewalk and handicap ramps at all appropriate locations including intersections, service drives and driveways will be added or reconstructed on both the east and west sides of the road. Bikeway features within the project include 10 foot wide signed bike lanes along both the east and west sides of Hilliard Rome Road on the entire length of the project. There are 6 bus stops or transit routes within the limits of the project. The addition of sidewalk within the project limits complies with the recommendation of the Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan. Pedestrian generators and destinations impacting the proposed project include multiple retail shops. Pedestrian Quality of Service analyses show a marked improvement in the score by adding sidewalks and ADA ramps. As part of this project landscape trees will also be included on both east and west side of the roadway.
Successful completion of this project requires that the City acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to various properties located along the project corridor and that the City participate in the relocation of various utilities.
Ordinance 0366-2007, passed April 23, 2007, authorized the City Attorney's Real Estate Division to hire professional services and to expend $1,250,000.00 on right-of-way acquisition for this project. After receipt of appraisals and beginning negotiations for the necessary property acquisitions the City Attorney's Real Estate Division requested an additional $350,000.00. Expenditure of this additional amount was authorized pursuant to Ordinance 1046-2008, passed July 7, 2008. The City Attorney's Real Estate Division has successfully completed acquisition of 80% of the necessary properties and recently requested an additional $225,000.00 to pay settlement costs, court costs, federally mandated relocation costs and staff costs to finalize acquisition of the remaining parcels.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
This is a Federal/State/City participation project with 80% of the total right-of-way acquisition costs being paid for with Federal/State funds and 20% of the total costs being paid from City funds. Monies to pay 100% these additional acquisition costs are available within the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund for these acquisition expenses. As these funds are expended by the City Attorney's Real Estate Division, the Department of Public Service will seek reimbursement out of Federal/State funds for 80% of the total dollars spent.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to finalize acquisition of the right-of-way needed for this project so that utility relocation and construction of this improvement can proceed as currently scheduled.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to expend an additional $225,000.00 to finalize acquisition of the property interests needed for the Hilliard-Rome Road Improvement Project from the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund; to authorize the transfer of cash and appropriation within the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($225,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, is engaged in the Hilliard-Rome Road Improvement Project; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this project is to widen and reconstruct approximately 1.19 miles of Hilliard-Rome Road from Westchester Wood Boulevard to south of Roberts Road; and
WHEREAS, this project includes the addition of three (3) new traffic lanes, sidewalks, tree lawns, bike lanes and utility relocation; and
WHEREAS, successful completion of this project requires that the City acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to various properties located along the project corridor; and
WHEREAS, total project costs, including design engineering, land acquisition, utility relocation and construction are estimated to be $14.8 million; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0366-2007, passed April 23, 2007, authorized the City Attorney's Real Estate Division to hire professional services and to expend $1,250,000.00 on right-of-way acquisition for this project; and
WHEREAS, after receipt of property appraisals, Ordinance 1046-2008, passed July 7, 2008, authorized the City Attorney's Real Estate Division to expend an additional $350,000.00 on right-of-way acquisitions; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney's Real Estate Division recently requested and additional $225,000.00 to finalize acquisition of all parcels needed for this project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to expend the additional funds needed to finalize acquisition related activities for this improvement project so that utility relocation and construction can begin as currently scheduled thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore; and
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division be and is hereby authorized to continue those activities necessary to finalize acquisition of the property rights required for the Hilliard-Rome Road Improvement project.
Section 2. To move cash and appropriation between Grants within Fund 765 as follows:
From
Fund / Project # or Grant# / Grant /Grant Name/ OCA Code/OL3/Amount
765 / Fed-State Highway Eng. / 561001 / Hard Rd B / 591285 / 6600 / $225,000.00
To
Fund / Project # or Grant# / Grant /Grant Name/ OCA Code/OL3/Amount
765 / Fed-State Highway Eng. / 561005 / Hilliard-Rome Road / 591286 / 6600 / $225,000.00
Section 3. That for the purpose of paying those costs necessary to finalize right-of-way acquisition the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be and is hereby authorized to expend an additional $225,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary as follows:
Fund / Grant# / Grant Name/ OCA Code/OL3/Amount
765 / 561005 / Hilliard-Rome Rd. / 591286 / 6601 / $225,000.00
Section 4. 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 5. 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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.