Explanation
The City of Columbus, Fleet Management Division, has been awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation titled "Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program", sponsored by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC). The goal of the project is to significantly reduce emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles. Ordinance #2130-2006 was passed on December 11, 2006, authorizing the Public Service Director at the time to apply for this grant. This ordinance is now needed to accept and appropriate $1,068,400 in grant money to fund Fleet Management's portion of this project, titled "Columbus Clean Air Fleet Project", for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2010.
This is a three-year project, beginning in 2008 and continuing through 2010. Four interrelated projects are part of this project and include emission reducing diesel retrofit purchases and installations, anti-idling equipment purchases and installation, CNG vehicle conversions and the construction of a CNG fueling station.
Fiscal Impact: The total cost of this project is $1,335,500 (diesel retrofits: $475,500, anti-idling: $108,400, CNG vehicle conversions: $451,600, CNG fueling station: $300,000). A twenty percent (20%) City match is required for this grant totaling $267,100. The Fleet Management resources that will be dedicated to managing/implementing this grant will be included in the Division's 2009 and 2010 operating budgets.
Emergency action is requested to expedite the project and stay within the timeframes required by ODOT.
Title
To authorize the Finance and Management Director to accept a grant award from the Ohio Department of Transportation, through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program funds for the Columbus Clean Air Fleet Project; to authorize the appropriation of $1,068,400 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Department of Finance and Management; and to declare an emergency. ($1,068,400)
Body
WHEREAS, the City has been awarded a grant in the amount of $1,068,400 from the Ohio Department of Transportation, through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, for a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program for the Columbus Clean Air Fleet Project for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2010 ; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus for the Department of Finance and Management to accept this grant and appropriate these funds from the Ohio Department of Transportation; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management that it is immediately necessary to accept and appropriate a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation to expedite the project and stay within the timeframes required by ODOT in order to preserve 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 Finance and Management Director is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award from the Ohio Department of Transportation through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program funds for the Columbus Clean Air Fleet Project for the period July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2010.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grant Fund, Subfund No. 220, and from any and all sources estimated to come into said fund and unappropriated for any other purpose during the period ending June 30, 2010, the sum of $1,068,400 is appropriated in the Department of Finance and Management, Fleet Management Division, as follows: Dept-Div: 45-05, OL31: 02; Fund: 220, OCA Code: 458086, Grant Number 458086.
SECTION 3. That the monies in Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Finance and Management Director; and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. 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 passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.