Explanation
BACKGROUND: Pursuant to ordinance No. 1278-06, passed by Columbus City Council on September 11, 2006, the Department of Development applied for, and was awarded, a Clean Ohio grant of $102,000.00 from the Ohio Department of Development to perform Phase 2 environmental assessment at the Kimball Midwest site at 580 West Goodale in Columbus.
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize an agreement between the Columbus Department of Development and the Ohio Department of Development to receive and administer the grant and to authorize the developer, JDS Goodale, LLC to apply the grant funding toward the environmental assessment work at the project site.
JDS Goodale, LLC acquired the 4.2 acre site in March 2006 with the intention of razing the minor buildings on the site, redeveloping the three (3) story concrete structure and incorporating it into the project plans. With the tracts located within the "Downtown" district, and its proximity to the downtown area, the site lends itself to urban downtown living. The site is situated along the Olentangy River and has an unobstructed view of the downtown skyline. Current development plans show the construction of a 325-car parking facility, which incorporates the existing structure, to support the construction of about 250 apartments that would range in size from 500 square foot efficiencies to 1,200 square foot, two (2) bedroom units. The total estimated development cost will be in excess of $25 million dollars.
Both an environmental Phase 1 and Limited Phase 2 investigation were performed in 2004. This Phase 2 assessment will complete the Phase 2 process that was not completed by another corporate entity in 2004.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency to commence the Clean Ohio grant process immediately.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this legislation is provided by a Clean Ohio Revitalizaton Fund grant from the Ohio Department of Development in the amount of $102,000.00.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Development to receive and administer Clean Ohio grant funds in an amount of $102,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of $102,000.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize and direct the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to enter into an agreement with JDS Goodale, LLC to apply said grant funding for Phase 2 environmental work at the Kimball Midwest property at 580 West Goodale in Columbus, to authorize the expenditure of $102,000.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($102,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio Clean Ohio Program will award $40 million per year, for five years, to communities throughout Ohio for the purpose of clean up and redevelopment of contaminated or abandoned properties known as "brownfields"; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus contains brownfield properties which may qualify for Clean Ohio clean up and redevelopment grant funding; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has been involved with brownfield redevelopment since 1999 through its administration of the Columbus Brownfield Redevelopment Program and its associated task force; and
WHEREAS, Clean Ohio grant funding will greatly compliment the efforts of the Columbus Department of Development in helping to clean up and redevelop brownfield properties in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Department of Development has identified a brownfield property, which is eligible for the Clean Ohio grant assistance fund, at the Kimball Midwest property where environmental assessment is required before redevelopment can occur; and
WHEREAS, the City was successful in its application to the State of Ohio for a Clean Ohio Assistant Fund grant of $102,000.00 to perform demolition, soil cleanup work and asbestos clean up work at the Kimball Midwest property; and
WHEREAS, Agreements with the Ohio Department of Development and JDS Goodale, LLC are required in order for the City to receive, administer and apply the Clean Ohio grant of $102,000.00 and;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Columbus Department of Development to enter into agreements with the Ohio Department of Development and JDS Goodale, LLC, for Clean Ohio assistance funding in order to commence the Clean Ohio grant process immediately, all for the preservation of 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 the Columbus Department of Development is authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Development to receive and administer Clean Ohio Revitalization grant funds in the amount of $102,000.00 for environmental assessment clean up at the Kimball Midwest property.
Section 2. That the sum of $102,000.00 be and is hereby appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, Grant No. 447024, 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 ending December 31, 2007, to the Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, Grant 447024, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3336, OCA Code 447024.
Section 3. That the Director of the Columbus Department of Development is authorized to enter into an agreement with JDS Goodale, LLC in the amount of $102,000.00 for environmental clean up work at the Kimball Midwest property.
Section 4. That for the purpose stated in Section 3, the expenditure of $102,000.00 is hereby authorized from the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, Grant No. 447024, Department of Development, Economic Development Division, Division No. 44-02, Object Level Three, 3336, OCA Code 447024.
Section 5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, the 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.