Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This legislation authorizes payment for utility relocation work by American Electric Power, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Delco Water, and other utilities, or companies contracted by the utilities to perform utility relocation work on their behalf, in an amount up to $70,000.00.
The Department of Public Service is engaged in the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Polaris Parkway project. Project work includes: widening Polaris Parkway from I-71 to Old Worthington Road; constructing a 5-foot wide sidewalk on the west side of Orion Place and on the north side of Polaris Parkway; constructing a 10-foot wide shared use path on the south side of Polaris Parkway, on the east side of Orion Place, and on the south side of Olde Worthington Road.
In the course of effecting roadway improvements it is sometimes necessary to force the relocation of utilities from privately held easements or place overhead utilities underground to promote the public health, safety and welfare, including the economic development of the City. These relocations are in areas where the City has previously allowed utilities. Due to this project there is a need to relocate the utilities, and the relocation is done at the City's expense.
Ordinance 3107-2018 authorized the expenditure of up to $944,375.00 for utility relocation costs for this project. The ordinance stated the funding request for the utility relocation cost was based upon estimates from the utilities, and the utility companies would invoice the City for actual costs incurred in relocating the utilities. It further stated the amount needed may exceed the amount requested in the ordinance, and another ordinance would be submitted by the Department of Public Service if additional funds were needed to complete the relocations. The estimates proved to be low, so this ordinance is requesting Council approval to spend the additional funds to complete the relocations.
It is not expected funding beyond this $70,000.00 will be needed to complete the utility relocations for this project. However, the $70,000.00 requested by this ordinance is based on estimates from the utility companies and contains a contingency amount. If unexpected problems are encountered in completing the utility relocations and additional funds are needed, another ordinance will be submitted requesting Council approval for additional funding.
2. FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a budgeted expense. Funding is available through a reimbursable grant in the Federal Transportation Grants Fund, Fund 7765, grant # G591606 (Polaris Parkway PID 95549). It is necessary to appropriate within the grant for this expenditure. The grant pays 80% of the cost with the City’s local match amount as 20%. The City’s local match amount is budgeted and appropriated within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704, Project P530103-100051 (Arterial Street Rehabilitation -Polaris Parkway).
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Public Service is requesting emergency designation so as to provide funding for utility reimbursements at the earliest possible time to maintain the project construction schedule.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of funds within the Federal Transportation Grants Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to pay utility relocation costs to various utilities for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Polaris Parkway project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $14,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and up to $56,000.00 from the Federal Transportation Grants Fund for utility relocations for this project; and to declare an emergency. ($70,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is concerned with the use of the various rights-of-way areas in the City as such rights-of-way areas represent a valuable and limited resource that must be utilized to promote the public health, safety and welfare, including the economic development of the City; and
WHEREAS, utility relocations must be completed before construction can begin; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for utility relocation expenses for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation-Polaris Parkway project; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3107-2018 authorized the expenditure of up to $944,375.00 for utility relocation costs for this project; and
WHEREAS, additional funding is needed to complete the utility relocations; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes funding in the amount of up to $70,000.00 for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of funds within the Federal Transportation Grants Fund for this expenditure; and
WHEREAS, funds will be expended from the Federal Transportation Grants Fund and from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to make payment for utility relocation expenses at the earliest possible time to prevent construction delays, 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 from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the sum of $56,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grants), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Grant G591606 (Polaris Parkway PID 95549), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to reimburse American Electric Power, Columbia Gas of Ohio, Delco Water, and other utilities, or companies contracted by the utilities to perform utility relocation work on their behalf, in an amount up to $70,000.00 to relocate utilities for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Polaris Parkway project.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $56,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grants Fund), in Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project G591606 (Polaris Parkway PID 95549), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $14,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), in Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project P530103-100051 (Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Polaris Parkway), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 8. That, for the reasons stated in this ordinance's preamble, which are made a part of this ordinance, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and is effective and in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten (10) days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this ordinance.