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File #: 0197-2025    Version: 1
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 1/16/2025 In control: Public Service & Transportation Committee
On agenda: 2/3/2025 Final action: 2/5/2025
Title: To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contract with Vaisala Inc. to purchase Mobile Road Weather Information Sensors to monitor weather and to aid in decision making during snow and ice events; to authorize the waiver of the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code; to authorize the appropriation of $100,000.00 in the Federal Transportation Grants Fund related to this purchase; to authorize the expenditure of up to $100,000.00 from and the Federal Transportation Grants Fund and up to $25,000.00 from the Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund contingent on passage of 0055-2025; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00)
Attachments: 1. Waiver Form.pdf, 2. Fully Signed Agreement 42011 with Summary.pdf, 3. Ord 0197-2025, Legislation template.pdf
Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into a contract with Vaisala Inc. for the purchase of Mobile Road Weather Information Sensors for the Department of Public Service, Division of Infrastructure Management. This ordinance also authorizes the appropriation of grant funds and expending of grant funds within the Federal Transportation Grants Fund, Fund 7765 and city funds within the Municipal Motor Vehicle Tax Fund, Fund 2266, contingent on the passage of Ordinance 0055-2025 for this purchase. The Division of Infrastructure Management will use Mobile Road Weather Information Sensors on snow and ice equipment to monitor weather and to aid in decision making during snow and ice events. These sensors take different types of readings, including the level of friction and grip in real time during snow and ice events. This provides critical data to allow better decisions on salt and material usage, plowing effectiveness, roadway safety, and speed recovery. This information can be used to save time and material costs, redirecting resources to where they are needed most.

Ordinance 2007-2024 authorized the Director of Public Service to formally apply for funding from ODOT for the FHWA STIC Incentive program grant funds and, if awarded, to accept the award on behalf of the Department of Public Service, to execute those documents necessary to accept the grant, to administer the grant funds, and to refund any unused funds to ODOT after the grant period ends if final accounting determines a refund is owed. The grant funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is related to the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) State Transportation Innovation Council (STIC) Incentive grant program for the Department of Public Service. Through this program, grant funding up to $100,000 per State per Federal fiscal year is made available to support or offset the costs of standardizing innovative practices in a Sta...

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