Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes funds in the amount of up to $50,000.00, to be spent by the City Attorney for expenses associated with acquiring the right-of-way needed for the Lower Olentangy Tunnel - Phase 1, C.I.P. No. 650724-100000.
The City of Columbus entered into two consent orders with the Ohio EPA in 2002 and 2004 to address sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). To comply, the city developed a long-term plan that evolved into Blueprint Columbus. This plan focuses on removing stormwater from the sanitary sewer system through various green infrastructure projects, which is a more integrated and community-focused approach than the original gray infrastructure-heavy plan. The Lower Olentangy Tunnel - Phase 1 project is one of the projects undertaken to comply with the consent orders.
The City’s Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) is engaged in the Lower Olentangy Tunnel - Phase 1, C.I.P. No. 650724-100000 (“Public Project”). This project is constructing a sewer tunnel in the Olentangy corridor for relief of the Olentangy combined sewer overflows and area Trunk Sewers, reducing CSOs to a typical year level of service. The tunnel will extend from the Henry Street Regulator (OARS shaft 6) to Tuttle Park. It will provide relief to the Olentangy Main, OSIS, Franklin Main, Clinton #3, and Kinnear Sub-Trunk sewers.
The City must acquire in good faith and accept certain fee simple and lesser real estate located in the vicinity of Tuttle Park and located 320 feet west of the intersection of Neil Ave and Hudson St. (collectively, “Real Estate”) for DPU to complete the Public Project. Accordingly, DPU requested the City Attorney to acquire the Real Estate in good faith and contract for associated professional services (e.g. surveys, title work, appraisals, etc.) for DPU to complete the Public Project timely. Exhibits are attached to this Ordinance showing the details of the needed easements.
The R...
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