Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the City Auditor to appropriate $1,060,000.00 within the Smart Cities Challenge Grant Fund.
On June 23, 2016, the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) awarded the City of Columbus up to $40 million in federal funds to assist in implementation of the City’s proposal to demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies and applications can be used to reduce congestion, keep travelers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities, and support economic vitality.
Due to the terms and conditions of the USDOT cooperative agreement for this program, financial support for the Smart City Challenge Program will be awarded in funding phases. USDOT has appropriated $15 million to be available for City use during the initial stage of the project. It is necessary for the Department of Public Service to appropriate funds so the USDOT funds currently available can be expended. Previous legislation appropriated funds to establish the initial consultant contracts for this program along with anticipated City costs for personnel, technology supplies, office supplies, and travel in year one of the project. This legislation is appropriating funds for estimated costs of the project for City personnel in year two of the project and additional consulting firms that are being added at the request of USDOT.
Ordinance 1901-2017 authorized the Public Service Director to transfer signature authority to the City's Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present, and future Smart Columbus, Smart City Challenge, and Paul G. Allen Family Foundation contracts, documents, and projects. The City's Chief Innovation Officer or designee will be approving this ordinance instead of the Director of Public Service.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $1,060,000.00 is available in Fund 7768 USDOT Gra...
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