Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) is accepting Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Round 28 applications for the Local Transportation Improvement Program (LTIP) and State Capital Improvement Program (SCIP). 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 Director of Finance and Management 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 Director of Public Service to submit applications and to execute project agreements for approved projects. The legislation will also authorize the Director of Finance and Management and City Auditor, as appropriate, to sign for funding use certification, local match availability, and to certify loan portion repayment.
2. EXPECTED PROJECTS
The Department of Public Service plans to submit applications for the following projects:
Hard Road Phase A/Sawmill Road to Smoky Row Road: This project will widen Hard Road from two lanes to five lanes. The length of the project is approximately 1.2 miles from Sawmill Road to 387 feet west of Smoky Row Road. This project will include full depth roadway replacement, sidewalks, provisions for bicycle traffic, curb, storm sewer, traffic signals, street lighting and landscaping. The construction of this project will receive Federal Funding. This remaining phase will match this segment with the other 2 segments that have already been or are in the construction phase of widening. This project has been awarded ODOT grant funds in the amount of $8,264,000, PID 17585.
Smoky Row Road: This project includes construction of 3.4 miles of sidewalk, pavement widening for the addition of turn lanes and signal improvements on Smoky Row Road between Hard Road and Smoky View Boulevard.
Morse Road: This project will be the first phase of the Morse Road project originally defined within the Preserve TIF Reimbursement Agreement. This project will widen Morse Road to a 3-lane section from Trellis Lane/Underwood Farms Boulevard to a point approximately 1,400 feet west of Johnstown Road. The next phase will be from Hamilton Road to Trellis Lane/Underwood Farms. Design, acquisition, and construction will be funded through bonds against the Preserve TIF. The City of Gahanna and private developers will make lump sum contributions to the project.
(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 Director of Public Service.)
3. 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 $22,656,000.00, 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. 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.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to meet the application schedule for these grants.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to submit applications for Round 28 of the Local Transportation Improvement Program and State Capital Improvement Program and to execute project agreement forms for approved projects for the Department of Public Service on behalf of the City of Columbus; to authorize the Director of Finance and Management 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 28 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, 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 Department of Public Service in that it is necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to submit these applications on the schedule required by MORPC, 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 Director of Public Service 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 Department of Public Service for the Local Transportation Improvement Program and State Capital Improvement Program projects, and that the Director of Public Service and Director of Finance and Management 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 Department of Public Service for projects as awarded under the State Capital Improvement Program; and now therefore the Director of Finance and Management 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 28 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 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.