Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to pay utility relocation work by Columbia Gas, American Electric Power, and other utilities up to the amount of $350,000 for the Hard Road Phase A project.
The Public Service Department, Design and Construction Division, is engaged in the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hard Road Phase A project. This project involves widening Hard Road from Sawmill Road to Smoky Row Road. Project improvements include pavement, sidewalks, bike lanes, street lighting, construction and replacement of traffic signals, and utility relocations. This project complies with the recommendation of the Pedestrian Thoroughfare Plan as it encourages pedestrian and bicycle travel with the installation of the sidewalks, curb ramps and bike lanes.
In the course of effecting roadway improvements it is sometimes necessary to force the relocation of utilities from privately held easements. These relocations are in areas where the City has previously allowed utilities, but due to this project there is a need to relocate them at the City's expense. This ordinance authorizes payment for utility relocation work by Columbia Gas, American Electric Power, and other utilities up to the amount of $350,000.00.
Funding for this project will be provided by a grant awarded by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (80%) and by the City (20%). The City's share of the utility relocation expense is $70,000.00 ($350,000.00 x .20). Ultimately, the Ohio Department of Transportation will reimburse the difference ($280,000.00) to the City.
Searches in the System for Award Management (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Columbia Gas or American Electric Power.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
The contract compliance number for Columbia Gas is 310673990 and expires 03/31/15. The contract compliance number for American Electric Power is 134922641 and expires 03/01/2014.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
The City has been awarded a grant by the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission for this project. The City will provide the local match for this expense in the amount of $70,000.00. This funding is budgeted and available within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Number 704. These funds will be transferred to the Hard Road Phase A grant in the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund, Number 765. The entire expense of $350,000.00 will then be appropriated and expended within the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund for the purpose of funding these utility relocation expenses.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The roadway improvements contemplated by this project are essential to the safety of those individuals living and traveling within this area. Emergency action is requested in that it is necessary to relocate utilities as quickly possible so that construction can begin on schedule.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to transfer funds and appropriation within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to authorize and direct the City Auditor to transfer funds between the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund; to appropriate and authorize the expenditure of $350,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary for utility relocations for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hard Road Phase A project from the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($350,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Design and Construction Division, is engaged in the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hard Road Phase A project; and
WHEREAS, this project will be administered by the City of Columbus with eighty percent (80%) of the total right-of-way costs being paid with a Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission grant and twenty percent (20%) being paid by the City; and
WHEREAS, this external funding is received on a reimbursement basis; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to relocate utilities as part of this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer and appropriation of funds to pay for these acquisition-related expenses; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Division of Design and Construction, in that it is necessary to relocate utilities as quickly possible so that construction can begin on schedule, 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 City Auditor be and is hereby authorized to transfer cash and appropriation within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Number 704, as follows:
From:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA Code / Amount
704 / 530103-100038 / Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hard Road Phase A/Sawmill Road - Smoky Row Road / 06-6600 / 740338 / $70,000.00
To:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 530103-100038 / Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hard Road Phase A/Sawmill Road - Smoky Row Road / 10-5501 / 740338 / $70,000.00
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized to transfer funds between the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Number 704, and the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund, Number 765, as follows:
Transfer from:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 530103-100038 / Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hard Road Phase A/Sawmill Road - Smoky Row Road / 10-5501 / 740338 / $70,000.00
Transfer to:
Fund / Grant / Grant Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
765 / 598095-100000 / Hard Road Phase A / 80-0886 / 598095 / $70,000.00
SECTION 3. That $350,000.00 is hereby appropriated within Fund 765, the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund, Dept-Div. 59-12, Division of Design and Construction as follows:
Fund / Grant / Grant Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
765 / 598095-100000 / Hard Road Phase A / 06-6631 / 598095 / $350,000.00
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Service be and is hereby authorized to expend $350,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary from the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund to pay those costs relative to the relocation of utilities needed for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hard Road Phase A project as follows:
Fund / Grant / Grant Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
765 / 598095-100000 / Hard Road Phase A / 06-6631 / 598095 / $350,000.00
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
Section 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
Section 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer the unencumbered balance in a project account to the unallocated balance account within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies are no longer required for said project.
SECTION 8. 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.