Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The following ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division to hire professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard project in the South Linden Planning Area (45).
The Department of Public service is engaged in the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard project. This project consists of improvements to existing sidewalk and curb along 17th Avenue from the I-71 southbound ramps to just west of Billiter Boulevard. Improvements include replacing the existing sidewalk, curb, driveways, ADA curb ramps, and resurfacing 17th Avenue. Traffic signals at the I-71 northbound ramps, Hamilton Avenue, and Cleveland Avenue will be replaced. Curb extensions will be constructed to protect parking. Surface drainage will be improved with modifications to the storm sewer. Existing water service lines containing lead or galvanized materials shall be replaced. Preliminary engineering will determine the sidewalk width, final locations and surface materials for the curb extensions, and where marked crosswalks are needed.
The cost to acquire the rights-of-way needed to complete the project is estimated at $600,000.00. If the cost to acquire the needed rights-of-way should exceed this estimate, additional legislation will be submitted to Council requesting the needed funding.
The Department of Public Service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize rights-of-way acquisition pending passage of this funding legislation.
Ordinance 2534-2022 authorized the Director of Public Service, on behalf of the City of Columbus, to submit applications to and execute grant agreements with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission relative to the MORPC Attributable Funds Program, accept and expend awarded grant funds, and issue refunds, if necessary, for the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard project.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
A portion of this project is a reimbursable budgeted expense of $480,000.00 within the Federal Transportation Grant Fund, Fund 7765, Grant #G592608 (FRA-17th Avenue 119833). Funds need to be appropriated.
The remaining balance of $120,000.00 is available within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704. An amendment to the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to and a transfer of funds is necessary to establish sufficient budget authority for the project.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to complete the project in a timely manner to allow acquisition in September and prevent delays in the project schedule and meet deadlines for the MORPC Attributable Funds Program funding award and timeline for construction to avoid penalty and to preserve the safety of the traveling public. ODOT reserves the right to move this project into a future sale year if the LPA does not adhere to the established project schedule, regardless of any funding commitments.
Title
To amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget; to appropriate funds within the Federal Transportation Grants Fund; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to contract for professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard project; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds between projects within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $600,000.00 from the Streets & Highways Bond Fund and the Federal Transportation Grants Fund for the project; to repay any unused grant funds at the end of the grant period to pay for the project; and to declare an emergency. ($600,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is engaged in the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard project; and
WHEREAS, this project consists of improvements to existing sidewalk and curb along 17th Avenue from the I-71 southbound ramps to just west of Billiter Boulevard. Improvements include replacing the existing sidewalk, curb, driveways, ADA curb ramps, and resurfacing 17th Avenue. Traffic signals at the I-71 northbound ramps, Hamilton Avenue, and Cleveland Avenue will be replaced. Curb extensions will be constructed to protect parking. Surface drainage will be improved with modifications to the storm sewer. Existing water service lines containing lead or galvanized materials shall be replaced. Preliminary engineering will determine the sidewalk width, final locations and surface materials for the curb extensions, and where marked crosswalks are needed; and
WHEREAS, successful completion of this project necessitates the City acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to various properties located along the project corridors as additional rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, right-of-way acquisition cost, including professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), staff and land costs, have been estimated to total $600,000.00; and
WHEREAS, Federal Transportation grant funds will be used to pay for a portion of this project; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the Federal Transportation Grants Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2025 Capital Improvement Budget to establish authority within the correct project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize a transfer of funds within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, to establish sufficient cash to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes funding in the amount of $120,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to expend $600,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that ODOT reserves the right to move this project into a future sale year if the LPA does not adhere to the established project schedule, therefore, it is immediately necessary to authorize the necessary right-of-way acquisition for the project to secure funding to allow acquisition in September and prevent delays in the project schedule and meet deadlines for the MORPC Attributable Funds Program funding award and timeline for construction to avoid penalty and to preserve the safety of the traveling public, for the immediate preservation of 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 2025 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1790-2025 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P531080 - 100000 / Roadway - LinkUS - Main Category (Voted Carryover) / $2,844,189.00 / ($120,000.00) / $2,724,189.00
7704 / P590105-100474 / Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard / $400,000.00 / $120,000.00 / $520,000.00
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies 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 ended December 31, 2026, the sum of $ 7,559,525.40 is appropriated in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grant Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project G592608 (FRA-17th Avenue 119833), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $120,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P531080 - 100000 (Roadway - LinkUS - Main Category), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P590105-100474 (Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be, and hereby is, authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to certain parcels of real estate, to contract for professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.), and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way needed to complete the Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard project in an amount up to $600,000.00.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $480,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grant Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), G592608 (FRA-17th Avenue 119833), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $120,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P590105-100474 (Pedestrian Safety - 17th Ave - I71 to Billiter Boulevard), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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 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 10. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 11. 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.