Explanation:
1. BACKGROUND:
The Franklin County Board of Commissioners (Franklin County) is currently engaged in the construction of a new courthouse at 369-375 South High Street. The County has agreed to incorporate streetscape improvements around the courthouse as a part of their construction project. These streetscape improvements are consistent with those being planned and installed in conjunction with the City's River South Improvements projects.
Section 901.01(f) of Columbus City Codes, 1959, currently requires entities wishing to make such roadway improvements to enter into "Agreements to Improve Streets" with the Director of Public Service and to provide to the City a surety bond, or letter of credit, equal to the amount estimated to complete each of these roadway improvements.
However, as a public entity, Franklin County is also required to obtain a surety bond, or letter of credit, from their contractor(s) for all proposed work, including work within the public right-of-way on City streets. Therefore, the current requirements of the City and Franklin County would result in these proposed public roadway improvements being bonded twice, thereby doubling Franklin County's cost for ensuring this work is completed in a satisfactory manner.
In an effort to eliminate this additional expense, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to waive the surety bonding/letter of credit requirements associated with Section 901.01(f) of Columbus City Code, 1959, for public roadway improvements associated with the Franklin County Courthouse construction project and this agreement shall remain in effect for so long as Franklin County remains in compliance with the following conditions:
1. In lieu of surety bonding/letter of credit, Franklin County shall, as a part of "Agreements to Improve Streets," certify that it shall not release its contractor's construction bond for the Franklin County Courthouse Project until such time that the Ci...
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