Explanation
Background: In 1998 City Council adopted the Riverfront Vision land use and development plan, which includes the redevelopment of the Whittier Peninsula. The Franklin County Metro Parks department has plans to develop a park and nature center in conjunction with Audubon Ohio on a portion of the Whittier Peninsula. The development of the park necessitates that the City operations of the Parking Violations Bureau and the Impound Lot be relocated to a new site. A 53.598 acre parcel of land, approximately four miles from downtown has been chosen as the relocation site, as it exists, is currently unimproved and inaccessible from public roadways. Pursuant to Ordinance No. 2045-2007, the City entered into a contract to purchase site. As a condition precedent to the City's purchase of the property Columbus Limestone, Inc. is obligated to improve the property to provide access, utilities, water, sewer, lighting, grading, and gravel lot cover to meet the City's requirements. In order to extend utilities to the site utility easements are required. Therefore, it is necessary to authorize the City Attorney to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests, contract for professional services, and to expend the monies for payment of acquisition costs in connection with the Impound Lot Project.
Fiscal Impact: The Department of Finance and Management,Real Estate Management Office, has determined funding for this project will be from the Construction Management Capital Improvement Fund.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow for the immediate acquisition of those easements necessary to the project in order to avoid delay to the construction of the new impoundment lot.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests, contract for professional services, and to expend $20,000.00 from the Construction Management Capital Improvement Fund for costs in connection with the Impound Lot Project and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the Riverfront Vision adopted by City Council in 1998 established the land use and development goals and objectives for the Whittier Peninsula; and
WHEREAS, City Council, by Ordinance 0074-2005, passed January 26, 2005, authorized Franklin County Metro Parks to develop a park and nature center in conjunction with Audubon Ohio on a portion of the Whittier Peninsula; and
WHEREAS, the development of the park, nature center and other potential development projects necessitates that the City operations of the Parking Violations Bureau and the Impound Lot be relocated to a new site; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Ordinance No. 2045-2007 the City of Columbus agreed to purchase 53.598 acre tract of real property, as improved, from Columbus Limestone, Inc., located at 399 Frank Road, Columbus, Ohio 43207, for use in City operations being moved from Whittier Peninsula; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to obtain utility easements to extend utility service to the site; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management, Real Estate Management Office, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to certain parcels of real estate and to contract for the aforesaid professional services necessary in connection with said project for the preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the City Attorney be, and hereby is, authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to certain parcels of real estate and to contract for the professional services necessary in connection with Impound Lot Project, Project #570034.
Section 2. That the expenditure of $20,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized as follows:
Dept/Div: 45-50; Fund: 733; Project: 570030; OCA Code: 733000; OL3: 6601; AC#: 027694
Section 3. That for the reasons 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 its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.