Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify the existing contract with Claire Weisz Architects LLP DBA WXY Architecture & Urban Design to provide professional services associated with the Linden Green Line Project. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is $3,600,000.00.
The Linden Green Line will be a 58-acre linear park through one of Central Ohio’s most underserved areas, serving over 131,000 nearby residents. The original contract for preliminary engineering established the vision and framework for the project, including design concepts, access, and connectivity strategies. It also determined strategic recreational focal points, permitting strategies, and an economic development study. The framework was supported through a robust community engagement process which included public workshops, a public survey, and canvassing. These efforts also established the phasing of the project.
This modification will support continued design and engineering services for both phases of the project to meet grant timing requirements. Phase 1, for the area from Maloney Park to Westerville Road and Kilbourne Run Park to Cooper Park, will include final detailed design, preparation of construction documents, and completion of all required permits for bidding. Phase 2, for the area from Westerville Road to Kilbourne Run Park, includes design plans through 30 percent and completion of environmental tasks necessary for federal clearance. A future planned modification is anticipated in the fall of 2027 to complete the remaining detailed design and construction documentation for Phase 2. It will also provide construction administration services for both Phase 1 and Phase 2.
The original project completion date of the project was October 2, 2028. The modified project completion date, as a result of the proposed modification, will be October 2, 2028.
Amount of Additional Funds: $3,600,000.00
Why Additional Services Were Not Foreseen: These services were anticipated as part of the project progression. The level of effort required could not be fully defined during the initial contract scope and fee negotiation. A modification between preliminary engineering and detailed design is standard for projects of this type and was planned to advance the next phase of work.
Why It Is Not In The Best Interest For The City To Award Additional Services Through Another Procurement Process: It is in the best interest of the City to continue services under the existing contract. The current consultant has detailed knowledge of the project and its requirements. This approach is more efficient and avoids additional time and cost associated with a new procurement process.
How The Price For The Additional Services Was Determined: The price for additional services was determined through a negotiated scope using the established hourly rates in the original contract.
Principal Parties:
Claire Weisz Architects LLP DBA WXY Architecture & Urban Design
25 Park Place, 5th Floor
New York, New York 10007
Claire Weisz, (212) 219-1953
Contract Compliance Number: 052756
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: June 9, 2027
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to ensure that Phase 1 construction plans are ready for bidding by fall 2027 and Phase 2 construction plans are ready for bidding by fall 2028 in order to comply with grant requirements.
Benefits to the Public: This project will provide seven linear miles and 58 acres of trail and park space to the Linden and Northland Communities. It will impact over 131,000 people within a ten-minute walking and cycling distance. The project will connect with residential neighborhoods, providing safe pedestrian and bicycle routes. This connectivity will increase access to nature and park amenities.
Community Input/Issues: Two public workshops were conducted with over 100 community members participating. An online survey captured feedback from more than 258 residents. The project team will conduct two additional public engagement sessions, one in April and one in June 2026.
Area(s) Affected: Citywide (99)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving system connectivity, allowing more direct access to natural experiences, recreational opportunities, parks, amenities, and local attractions.
Fiscal Impact: The expenditure of $900,000.00 was legislated for the Linden Green Line Project by Ordinance 2387-2025. This ordinance will provide funding that will modify the previously authorized amount by $3,600,000.00. $3,600,000.00 is budgeted from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7712 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 to meet the financial obligations of this contract modification. The aggregate total amount authorized, including this modification, is $4,500,000.00. $2,426,452.90 of the funds, from within Voted Bond Fund 7712, will not be available to the Recreation and Parks Department until the proceeds of the 2025-2026 bond sale are available at a future date. Therefore, it is necessary to certify the required funds against the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099. Upon the sale of bonds, this will be reimbursed.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with Claire Weisz Architects LLP DBA WXY Architecture & Urban Design for the Linden Green Line Project; to authorize the appropriation of $743,948.51 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $ 1,103,927.24 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund and Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $2,426,452.90 between the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $2,426,452.90 in the Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2025 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $3,600,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund and Permanent Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,600,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to modify an existing contract with Claire Weisz Architects LLP DBA WXY Architecture & Urban Design for the Linden Green Line Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $743,948.51 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $1,103,927.24 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7712 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, the City anticipates incurring certain Original Expenditures (as defined in Section 1.150-2(c) of the Treasury Regulations (the "Treasury Regulations") promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with respect to the construction of the project described in this ordinance (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $2,426,452.90 between the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7712; and
WHEREAS, funds will need to be appropriated within the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099 and within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7712; and
WHEREAS, the City will reimburse the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099; and
WHEREAS, this transfer should be considered as a temporary funding method; and
WHEREAS, the aggregated principal amount of obligations which the City will issue to finance this project is presently expected not to exceed $2,426,452.90; 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 $3,600,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7712 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 modify an existing contract with Claire Weisz Architects LLP DBA WXY Architecture & Urban Design, Inc.in order to ensure that Phase 1 construction plans are ready for bidding by fall 2027 and Phase 2 construction plans are ready for bidding by fall 2028 in order to comply with grant requirements, 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 a contract with Claire Weisz Architects DBA WXY Architecture + Urban Design for the Linden Green Line 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 $743,948.51 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 $1,103,927.24 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7712 and 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 7702 / P517007-100000 / Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center - Interior Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $1,053,169 / $133,632 / ($133,632) / $919,537 / $0 (to match cash)
Fund 7712 / P517007-100000 / Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center - Interior Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $133,632 / $133,632 / $133,632 (to match cash)
Fund 7747 / P510735-100000 / CC Northland - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $194,137 / $194,137 / $52,717 / $246,854 / $246,854 (to match cash)
Fund 7747 / P510741-100000 / CC Northeast - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $1,017,531 / $1,017,531 / ($520,436) / $497,095 / $497,095 (to match cash)
Fund 7712 / P512043-100000 / Indoor Aquatics Center (Voted Carryover) / $213,941 / $213,941 / ($213,941) / $0 / $0
Fund 7712 / P517007-100000 / Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center - Interior Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $$133,632 / $133,632 / ($133,632) / $0 / $0
Fund 7712 / P512053-100000 / Mason Run Park Development (Voted 2022 ITSA Supported) / $3,100,000 / $$3,100,000 / ($2,500,000) / $600,000 / $600,000
Fund 7747 / P510058-100000 / Parkland Dedication - North Linden (Carryover) / $323 / $323 / ($323) / $0 / $0
Fund 7747 / P510060-100000 / Parkland Dedication - Northland (Carryover) / $11,301 / $11,301 / ($11,301) / $0 / $0
Fund 7747 / P510064-100000 / Parkland Dedication - South Linden (Carryover) / $783 / $783 / ($782) / $1 / $1
Fund 7747 / P510735-100000 / CC Northland - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $246,854 / $246,854 / ($246,854) / $0 / $0
Fund 7747 / P510741-100000 / CC Northeast - Parkland Dedication (Carryover) / $497,095 / $497,095 / ($497,095) / $0 / $0
Fund 7712 / P512034-100000 / Linden Green Line (Voted Carryover) / $142,000 / $69,620 / $347,573 / $489,573 / $417,193
Fund 7712 / P512034-100000 / Linden Green Line (Voted 2022 ITSA Supported) / $0 / $0 / $2,500,000 / $2,500,000 / $2,500,000
Fund 7747 / P512034-100000 / Linden Green Line (Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $756,355 / $756,355 / $756,355
SECTION 8. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said funds from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, the sum of $2,426,452.90 is appropriated in General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, in Object Class 10 Transfer Out Operating, and in Fund 7712, Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 9. That the transfer of $2,426,452.90 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099, and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7712, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 10. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer said funds to the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7712, at such time as is deemed necessary by the City Auditor, and to expend said funds, or so much thereof as may be necessary.
SECTION 11. That upon obtaining other funds from the 2025-2026 Bond Sale for the City of Columbus, the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to repay the General Fund 1000, Income Tax Set Aside Subfund 100099 the amount transferred under Section 9.
SECTION 12. That the City intends that this ordinance constitutes an "official intent" for purposes of Section 1.150 2(e) of the Treasury Regulations, and that the City reasonably expects to reimburse itself for certain Original Expenditures incurred with respect to the Project from the proceeds of obligations to be issued by the City in a principal amount currently estimated to be $2,426,452.90 (the "Obligations"). The City intends to make a reimbursement allocation on its books for the Original Expenditures not later than eighteen months following the later to occur of the date of the Original Expenditure to be reimbursed or the date the Project for which such Original Expenditures were made is "placed in service" within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.150 2(c). Upon the issuance of the Obligations, the proceeds of such Obligations shall be used to reimburse the fund from which the advance for costs of the Project will be made.
SECTION 13. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $3,600,000.00, 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 7712 and Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 14. 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.