Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to amend Ordinance 0460-2013 in order to correct wording in the original ordinance. The original wording accurately described the intent of the ordinance but inadvertently used language that is too restrictive and will add cost to the project by requiring rework.
The purpose of Ordinance 0460-2013 was to reimburse American Electric Power, Inc., (AEP) to move their overhead facilities underground for the Roadway Improvements - I70/71 Interchange project. In order to prevent rework and therefore provide cost savings for the City, the intent of 0460-2013 was also to allow AEP and private communication utilities to place additional facilities underground in anticipation of future project phases.
Ordinance 0460-2013 references Phase 2 of the I70/71 Interchange project and states conduit will be placed in anticipation of future project phases. It should not have referenced a specific phase of the I70/71 Interchange project, and the word "facilities" should have been used instead of "conduit". These two wording corrections will be made with the passage of this ordinance. This will allow the originally intended work to be completed, preventing future rework, and saving the City the cost of the future rework.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no additional project cost to the City to make these changes.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow work to proceed per the construction schedule of this major Interstate roadway improvement project.
Title
To amend Ordinance 0460-2013 to clarify language and to prevent possible rework in the I70/71 Interchange project; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 0460-2013 authorized reimbursement of AEP for utility relocation costs incurred in conjunction with Roadway Improvements - I70/71 Interchange - Phase 2 Mound Street Connector project and authorized conduit to be placed to prevent rework in anticipation of future project phases; and
WHEREAS, after the passage of Ordinance 0460-2013 and the commencement of work it was discovered that a specific phase of the project should not have been referenced in the ordinance, and the word facilities instead of the more restrictive word conduit should have been used to describe the work to be performed to prevent future rework; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend Ordinance 0460-2013 to remove the references to Phase 2, Phase 2 Mound Street Connector, and the word conduit; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Division of Design and Construction, so that construction can proceed as scheduled for this major Interstate roadway improvement project, 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 Ordinance 0460-2013 be and hereby is amended as follows:
(background)
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 public health, safety, and welfare including the economic development of the City.
The private utility company American Electric Power, Inc., (AEP) must place their overhead facilities underground for the Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 Interchange - Phase 2 Mound Street Connector project. The project will create a new gateway into downtown from I-70 Westbound at the intersection of Mound Street and Washington Avenue. The City intends that utility lines on the new urban avenues and gateway improvements will no longer be placed overhead. The City must fund this extra effort.
In order to prevent rework and therefore provide cost savings, this utility work will also place conduit facilities for AEP and private communication utilities in anticipation of future project phases.
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against American Electric Power, Inc.
(emergency designation)
Emergency action is requested to provide reimbursement to AEP at the earliest possible time for costs incurred for the relocation of utilities as part of Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 Interchange - Phase 2 project in order to maintain the project schedule.
(title)
To amend the 2012 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer cash and appropriation between projects within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to reimburse AEP for utility relocation costs incurred in conjunction with Roadway Improvements - I70/71 Interchange Phase 2 project; to authorize the expenditure of $1,579,502.00 from the Street and Highway Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,579,502.00)
(section 3)
That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to pay utility relocation costs to AEP/Ohio Power, 777 Hopewell Dr., Health, Ohio, 43056, in the amount of $$1,579,502.00 for utility relocation costs incurred for undergrounding of utilities on the urban avenues of the downtown freeway reconstruction project and for placing facilities for AEP and private communication utilities in anticipation of future project phases of the Roadway Improvements - I-70/71 Interchange - Phase 2 Mound Street Connector project.
SECTION 2: 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.