Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Michael Schuster Associates, Inc. DBA MSA Design for the Northeast Indoor Aquatics Center - Phase 1a Project. The contract amount being authorized by this ordinance is $2,000,000.00.
The 2020 Aquatics Capital Improvement Plan (ACIP) paved the way and identified the needs for a new indoor aquatic facility. This document presented a comprehensive long-term plan that evaluates and prioritizes improvements to the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s aquatic programs and facilities to better serve the community.
The ACIP summarized that swimming is a vital life skill that offers health and wellbeing. Pools are a strong root of neighborhood pride that offers opportunities to exercise, gather, and connect. It is also important to note that 64% of African American and 45% of Hispanic children have low or no swimming ability. Children within these groups of the same age are statistically 5.5 times more likely to drown than their white counterparts. Drowning remains in the top five reasons for unintentional injury resulting in death from birth to age 54.
The Northeast Indoor Aquatics Center will be located on a parcel that fronts Agler Road between Sunbury Road and Cassady Avenue. Currently, the Recreation and Parks Department is in negotiations with Columbus City Schools (CCS) for the transfer and annexation of approximately 11 acres for the construction of this aquatic center.
It is the intent that CCS students will have use of the Indoor Aquatics Center during the school day, as well as after school in support of athletic program. Columbus City Schools and the Recreation and Parks Department are committed to this partnership serving as a model for future projects.
Although the final building has not been finalized, the Recreation and Parks Department has identified the project to be approximately a 75,000 square foot facility. It will include an a eight lane Olympic-size competition pool, community multi-use space, warm water therapy pool, diving pool, leisure pool, spectator space, and supporting space.
The aquatic center and athletic fields are Phase 1 of a multiphase project. Phase 2 of this project will include construction of the replacement of Howard Community Center and a joint athletic complex to be used with CCS. Phase 3 is the development of a school campus by CCS. This project will focus on Phase 1. However, an overall site master plan is required to identify a phased development strategy for the entire 32.4 acre site.
Project completion is currently projected for late 2028. In addition to this request, three additional modifications with design professionals are anticipated to complete the project. This request includes schematic design of the center, preliminary engineering, and master planning for all three phases of this development, including traffic and storm water management. Additionally, it includes preliminary structural design and geotechnical engineering for the improvements. A land transfer and annexation of the 11 acre site from CCS, in conjunction with Mifflin Township, to the City of Columbus where the aquatic center will be built is also included.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (Office of Diversity and Inclusion designation status): Proposals were advertised to firms that were pre-qualified through the bi-annual Request for Statement of Qualification (RSFQ) process, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on August 9, 2024 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on September 24, 2024. Request for proposals were received by the following companies:
Mood Nolan (MBE)
BSHM (MAJ)
Michael Schuster Associates, Inc. DBA MSA Design (MAJ)
Schooley Caldwell (MBE)
The Collaborative (MAJ)
Brandsetter Carroll (MAJ)
Myers and Associates (MAJ)
Prime AE (MAJ)
WSA (MAJ)
Of note, professional services contracts are quality based selections and not based on price. Costs were not requested nor were they part of this evaluation.
In accordance with City Code, a selection team evaluated the proposals and recommended Michael Schuster Associates, Inc. DBA MSA Design be selected to perform the work. The firm was chosen based on their referenced projects, experience, qualifications, availability, timeline, and project approach.
As part of their bid, Michael Schuster Associates, Inc. DBA MSA Design has proposed the following vendors to fulfill the Office of Diversity and Inclusion project goal:
CTL, Inc. (MBE)
OA Spencer (MBE)
Murphy Epson/Civic Uplift (WBE)
Advanced Engineering Consultants (MBE)
Certification of the MBE’s and WBE’s being proposed are in good standing at the time the bid is being awarded.
Principal Parties:
Michael Schuster Associates, Inc. DBA MSA Design
15 West Cherry Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Keith Hall; (614) 300-3357
Contract Compliance Number: 004817
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: September 24, 2026
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested so that the design professionals can begin pursuing grant funding for the roadway improvements and allow the department to maximize opportunities for sponsorships once the preliminary plans are in place.
Benefits to the Public: This project will offer extensive programming opportunities for the community and will be used to house programming that no longer has space at the existing aquatics center.
Community Input/Issues: As part of this work, communities, residents, and organizations will be engaged to help determine programming needs, revenue generating needs, and the needs of the immediate area impacted by this project. The community has expressed strong desire for additional aquatic facilities for recreation and teaching swimming fundamentals.
Area(s) Affected: Northeast (41)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by providing needed space for programs that serve Columbus Residents.
Fiscal Impact: $2,000,000.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 to meet the financial obligations of this contract.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Michael Schuster Associates, Inc. DBA MSA Design for the Northeast Indoor Aquatics Center - Phase 1a Project; to authorize the appropriation of $2,000,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $2,000,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $2,000,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($2,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Michael Schuster Associates, Inc. DBA MSA Design for the Northeast Indoor Aquatics Center - Phase 1a Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $2,000,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $2,000,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1907-2024 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $2,000,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks 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 enter into contract with Michael Schuster Associates, Inc. DBA MSA Design so that the design professionals can begin pursuing grant funding for the roadway improvements and allow the department to maximize opportunities for sponsorships once the preliminary plans are in place, 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 enter into contract with Michael Schuster Associates, Inc. DBA MSA Design for the Northeast Indoor Aquatics Center - Phase 1a 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 $2,000,000.00 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 $2,000,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the 2024 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1907-2024 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 7747 / P512004-100000 / Community Sports Park (Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $4,597,807 / $4,597,807 / $4,597,807 (to match cash)
Fund 7747 / P512004-100000 / Community Sports Park (Carryover) / $4,597,807 / $4,597,807 / ($2,000,000) / $2,597,807 / $2,597,807
Fund 7747 / P512043-100000 / Indoor Aquatics Center (Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $2,000,000 / $2,000,000 / $2,000,000
SECTION 8. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $2,000,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 9. 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.