Explanation
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is accepting Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Round 23 applications for the Local Transportation Improvement Program (LTIP) and State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP) through September 8, 2008. MORPC serves in a staff support capacity to the District Three (Franklin County) Public Works Integrating Committee (PWIC).
OPWC requires that a designated official be authorized to submit said applications and execute project agreements for approved projects. Additionally, OPWC is required to award a minimum of 20% of the SCIP funding as a no interest 20-year loan; in order to make City applications more favorable, some of the applications may include a request for a no interest loan. Therefore, the applications and ensuing agreements may also require a signature from the Finance and Management Director and City Auditor, as appropriate, to sign for funding use certification, local match availability, and to certify loan portion repayment.
This legislation will authorize the Public Service Director to submit applications and to execute project agreements for approved projects. The legislation will also authorize the Finance and Management Director and City Auditor, as appropriate, to sign for funding use certification, local match availability, and to certify loan portion repayment.
Fiscal Impact: Approval of this legislation will provide an opportunity to secure funds for various projects. The approximate available funding to the District Three Public Works Integrating Committee is likely over $20,000,000.00, and it is to be awarded in the form of grants and loans. As a part of the application for grant funds, the City will apply for a maximum of $3,000,000 in loans as necessary to make the applications more favorable to OPWC and the City.
Based on population, the City of Columbus' share can be 40%, more or less, of the total amount available. Funds for the City's share of these programs are included in the 2008 to 2013 Capital Improvement Plan. No financial participation is required at this time. City funds will be approved in the form of design contracts and/or construction contracts that will be or have been submitted for Council's approval.
Emergency action is requested to meet the September 8, 2008, project application submittal deadline.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director to submit applications for Round 23 of the Local Transportation Improvement Program and State Capital Improvement Program and to execute project agreement forms for approved projects for the Transportation Division on behalf of the City of Columbus, and to authorize the Finance and Management Director and City Auditor, as appropriate, to sign for funding use certification, local match availability, and to certify loan portion repayment; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Public Works Commission requires that the City of Columbus designate and authorize officials to submit Round 23 applications, execute project agreements, sign for funding use certification and local match availability, and to certify loan portion repayment for Local Transportation Improvement and State Capital Improvement Programs; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Division plans on submitting applications for the following projects:
• Rich Street Bridge. Bridge construction and roadway improvements. As part of overall downtown improvements in the area surrounding the Scioto River, the City intends to demolish the old Town Street Bridge and build a new bridge on the Rich Street alignment. Additionally, the project will provide for park improvements on the West Bank and perform required utility upgrades and roadway improvements on Second Street. The Part 1 Bridge cost is $26,293,429, the Part 2 Park cost is $1,892,398, and the Part 3 Second Street cost is approximately $4,500,000. The total project cost is $32,685,827; the City's application amount will be approximately $5,000,000 to $8,000,000.
• Hilliard Rome Road (I-70 to Roberts Road). The purpose of this project is to reduce congestion and increase safety. It also provides for pedestrian and bicycle mobility. Existing conditions include a former rural roadway with pavement extended and restriped in an effort to extend capacity as much as possible. The finished roadway will have new pavement, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, storm sewers, street lighting, and bike lanes. The total project cost is approximately: $10,963,000; the City's application amount will be approximately $5,000,000.
• RiverSouth Phase 2. This project consists of renewing the 100+ year old water and combined sewer lines, new water main, storm, sewer rehabilitation, electric, new signal interconnect, two-way traffic conversion for parts of Front Street, Rich Street and Main Street including resurfacing, striping, and signs, street lights, brick center turn lanes, combination street/signal poles at intersections, granite curbs, brick sidewalks with "green" bio-retention planter cells, amenities including landscaping, planters, metal benches, trash cans, bike racks, etc. It will provide for complete streets in the RiverSouth area. The total project cost is approximately: $18,000,000; the City's application amount will be approximately $5,000,000.
• (This listing is meant to be illustrative and is believed to be accurate and complete; however, last minute project additions and substitutions are at the discretion of the Public Service Director.)
WHEREAS, application amounts are approximate depending upon OPWC scoring criteria; and
WHEREAS, approved applications will require execution within 45 days of notification by the Ohio Public Works Commission; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Transportation Division in that passage of this legislation is required to be in place for the submittal of these applications to meet the September 8, 2008, project application submittal deadline, thereby preserving 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 Public Service Director be and is hereby authorized to submit applications and execute project agreements with the Ohio Public Works Commission on behalf of the City of Columbus Transportation Division for the Local Transportation Improvement Program and State Capital Improvement Program projects, and that the Public Service Director and Finance and Management Director be and are hereby authorized to submit loan documents and borrow money from the Ohio Public Works Commission on behalf of the City of Columbus Transportation Division for projects as awarded under the State Capital Improvement Program; and now therefore the Finance and Management Director and City Auditor, as appropriate, are authorized to sign any consequential promissory notes for a grand total of no more than $3,000,000 to certify Round 23 OPWC funding for the City's SCIP loan portion of any project that is awarded a 20-year no interest loan.
SECTION 2. That for the reason 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.