Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance declares City Council's determination for the City to proceed with the construction of the streetscape improvements along the south side of Nationwide Boulevard between North Front Street and North High Street, the north and south sides of and in the median of Nationwide Boulevard between North High Street and North 4th Street, and parcels at the intersection of Nationwide Boulevard and North High Street north to the south edge of the railroad bridge in Downtown Columbus (known as the Roadway Improvements - Nationwide Boulevard Improvements project), a portion of which will be funded by levying special assessments on the Special Benefit District described in the Petition attached to Resolution No. 0077X-2014.
The special assessments will be collected over 10 years in an amount equaling $190,000.00 annually. Subsequent to the passage of this ordinance by City Council, the Director of Public Service will seek authorization to award the construction contract for construction of these improvements to the lowest, best, responsive, and responsible bidder and to provide for payment of construction inspection services.
The estimated costs for design, construction, and inspection of the improvements are $4,300,594.09.
The design cost for the improvements is estimated to be $354,508.71 and have been funded by City funds.
The construction cost for the improvements is estimated to be $3,587,350.35.
The inspection cost for the improvements is estimated to be $358,735.04.
The City anticipates paying for the construction and inspection of the improvements with funds from:
$206,815.53 remaining in a five-year funding allocation to the Downtown SID
$525,000 from 2014 Downtown SID allocation
$2,345,000 from Streets and Highways 2014 Capital Improvement Budget
$465,330.54 from 2014 3P Projects allocation
$403,939.32 from Columbus Coated Fabrics Weinland Park Phase 3A (a request will be made to reimburse this in 2015)
The notice to proceed with construction of the improvements is estimated to be issued on June 30, 2014.
Resolution 0077X-2014 was passed by Council on May 12, 2014, declaring the necessity to construct and approve plans, specifications, estimates and profiles for the Roadway Improvements - Nationwide Boulevard Improvements Project, as required by Section 166 of the City Charter for purposes of establishing the method of assessment, the mode of payment, the number of annual installments, and the portion of the cost to be borne by the City. An Assessment Report was filed on May 19, 2014, by the City Engineer with the City Clerk's office. The Assessment Report lists the estimated assessment amount for each lot, the name of the property owner, and the Franklin County Auditor's Parcel Number.
The City Clerk has issued individual notices to each property owner informing them of their estimated assessment in accordance with Section 170 of the City Charter. Property owners were notified by certified mail sent out on May 16, 2014. Public notices were published in the City Bulletin on May 17 and 24, 2014, and in the Daily Reporter on May 21, 2014. There were no objections received for the Roadway Improvements - Nationwide Boulevard Improvements project Assessment.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
No funding is required for this ordinance.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency legislation is requested in order to award the construction contract and issue a notice to proceed with construction on June 30, 2014, in order to maintain the project schedule and meet community commitments.
Title
To declare the determination of City Council to proceed with constructing streetscape improvements along the south side of Nationwide Boulevard between North Front Street and North High Street, the north and south sides of and in the median of Nationwide Boulevard between North High Street and North 4th Street, and parcels at the intersection of Nationwide Boulevard and High street north to the south edge of the railroad bridge in Downtown Columbus, and determining that such action is necessary, and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, this Council previously adopted Resolution 0077X-2014 (the "Resolution of Necessity") on May 12, 2014, which declared the necessity of 1) constructing streetscape improvements and 2) levying a special assessment on the parcels along the south side of Nationwide Boulevard between North Front Street and North High Street, the north and south sides of and in the median of Nationwide Boulevard between North High Street and North 4th Street, and parcels at the intersection of Nationwide Boulevard and High Street north to the south edge of the railroad bridge in Downtown Columbus (known as the Roadway Improvements - Nationwide Boulevard Improvements project), all as shown on the Plans and Specifications on file in the office of the Director of the Department of Public Service (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, the Resolution of Necessity declared the necessity of levying Special Assessments on the Assessed Parcels in proportion to the special benefits conferred upon such Assessed Parcels from the Project in order to pay for a portion of the cost and expense of the Project totaling $1,900,000.00; and
WHEREAS, property owners were notified of an assessment through certified mailings and public notices through the City Bulletin and the Daily Reporter and there were no objections to the Roadway Improvements - Nationwide Boulevard Improvements project assessments; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, in that it is immediately necessary for this Council to declare the determination to proceed with construction of the Project improvements in order to award the construction contract and issue a notice to proceed with construction on June 30, 2014, in order to maintain the project schedule and meet community commitments. NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to each term in the Petition attached as Exhibit A to the Resolution of Necessity.
SECTION 2. That it is the determination of the City Council that the City proceed with the construction of the Roadway Improvements - Nationwide Boulevard Improvements project, as declared necessary within Resolution 0077X-2014 passed May 12, 2014, in accordance with the Plans, Specifications and Profiles identified as Drawing No. 3091 E, on file in the office of the Director of Public Service
SECTION 3. That the estimated Special Assessments totaling $1,900,000.00, shall be assessed in accordance with the Resolution of Necessity, and such Special Assessments shall be assessed in the manner set forth in the Resolution of Necessity in proportion to the special benefits conferred upon the Assessed Parcels from the Project.
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.