Explanation
Background: In the course of effecting roadway improvements, it is sometimes necessary to force the relocation of utilities from privately held easements. These relocations are in areas where the City has previously allowed utilities, but due to this project there is a need to relocate them at the City's expense. Utility relocation estimates are normally included in the budget for each project, but occasionally estimates are insufficient and not always in the city's control. The City of Columbus is currently engaged in an aggressive construction schedule on numerous projects throughout the City. Various utilities need to perform relocation work in conjunction with some of these projects. This legislation authorizes payment for force account work to be paid for various utilities on several projects including but not limited to Roberts Road and COTA Sidewalks based on the estimated costs to relocate utilities for the projects. This legislation also provides a source of funding for other utility relocations yet to be named in order to provide for quick turnaround of these relocations once the utility and project are determined.
City Council recognizes that this ordinance does not identify the contractor(s) to whom the contract(s) will be awarded and understands that its passage will give the Public Service Director the final decision in determination for such contract(s). This Council is satisfied it is in the best interests of the City to delegate this contracting decision.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $100,000.00 for utility relocation expenses. Funds for this expenditure are available within the Streets and Highway Improvement Fund. Funds for the COTA Sidewalks Projects will be transferred to the Federal State Highway Engineering Fund and expended within that fund and are reimbursable at an 80/20 rate. Funds for Roberts Road and other Projects will be expended from the Streets and Highway Improvement Fund.
Emergency action is requested so that design and relocation work may commence in the remaining 2007 construction season.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director to reimburse Various utilities for utility relocation costs incurred in conjunction with the Roberts Road, COTA Sidewalks, and various other roadway improvement projects; to authorize the transfer of Funds in the amount of $6,000.00 from the Streets and Highway Improvement Fund to the Federal State Highway Engineering Fund; to appropriate $6,000.00 within the Federal State Highway Engineering Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $6,000.00 from the Federal State Highway Engineering Fund and $94,000.00 from the Streets and Highway Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is vitally 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, the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, requires that utility relocation work for the Roberts Road, COTA Sidewalks and various other projects be performed by AEP, Columbia Gas, and various other utilities; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Public Service Department, Transportation Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize this expenditure of funds to reimburse utility companies for utility relocations as necessary so that design and relocation work may commence in the remaining 2007 construction season, 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 Public Service Director be and hereby is authorized to pay utility relocation costs to American Electric Power, Columbia Gas, and various other utilities for the Roberts Road, COTA Sidewalks, and various other projects.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and hereby is authorized to transfer $6,000.00 within Fund 766 as follows:
TRANSFER FROM:
Fund / Fund Name / Project Number / Project / Project Name / Object Level 01/03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
766 / Streets and Highway Improvement Fund / 530161 / Roadway Improvements / 06/6600 / 642728 / $6,000.00
TRANSFER TO:
Fund / Fund Name / Project Number / Project / Project Name / Object Level 01/03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
766 / Streets and Highway Improvement Fund / 530161 / Roadway Improvements / 10/5501 / 642728 / $6,000.00
Total Transfer To: $6,000.00
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor be and hereby is authorized to transfer $6,000.00 between Funds as follows:
TRANSFER FROM:
Fund / Fund Name / Project Number / Project / Object Level 01/03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
766 / Streets and Highway Improvement Fund / 530161 / Roadway Improvements / 10/5501 / 642728 / $6,000.00
Total Transfer From: $6,000.00
TRANSFER TO:
Fund / Fund Name / Grant Number / Grant / Object Level 01/03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
765 / Federal-State Highway Engineering Fund / 595010 / COTA Sidewalks / 80/0886 / 595010 / $6,000.00
Total Transfer To: $6,000.00
SECTION 4. That from the unappropriated monies in the Federal-State Highway Engineering Fund, Fund 765, and from the monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007, the sum of $6,000.00 be and hereby is appropriated to the Transportation Division, Dept/Div. No. 59-09, Object Level One Code 06, Object Level Three Code 6631, OCA 595010 and Grant 595010.
SECTION 5. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 4 shall be paid upon order of the Public Service Director and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 6. That for the purpose of paying the cost of the utility relocation the sum of $100,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended for the Transportation Division as follows Dept./Div. 59-09 Transportation Division:
Fund / Fund Name / Grant Number / Grant / Object Level 01/03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
765 / Federal-State Highway Engineering Fund / 595010 / COTA Sidewalks / 06/6631 / 595010 / $6,000.00
Fund / Fund Name / Project Number / Project / Object Level 01/03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
766 / Streets and Highway Improvement Fund / 530161 / Roadway Improvements / 06/6631 / 642728 / $94,000.00
SECTION 7. City Council recognizes that this ordinance does not identify the contractor(s) to whom the contract(s) will be awarded and understands that its passage will give the Public Service Director the final decision in determination for such contract(s). This Council is satisfied it is in the best interests of the City to delegate this contracting decision.
SECTION 8. 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 9. 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.