Explanation
Background:
This project will acquire a property along Big Walnut Creek, on Noe-Bixby Road, near Nafzger Park. This legislation request will enable the Director to sign the grant agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission and for the appropriation of grant and matching funds. Land acquisition expenditure legislation will be created separately at a later date after negotiations by the Real Estate Office. The project consists of fee simple acquisition of 35 acres of land along the Big Walnut Creek stream corridor. Over 1,150 feet of stream corridor will be preserved. The Big Walnut Creek-Refugee Preservation project will preserve a critical stand of forested floodplain along Big Walnut Creek, on the city's southeast side near Noe Bixby and Refugee Roads. The site will provide a continuous preservation corridor for over 4.5 miles of the stream from Three Creeks Park to Nafzger Park. The project provides natural area preservation of high quality habitat in a dense urban neighborhood.
Emergency Justification:
Emergency action is requested to enter in the grant agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission and to fulfill the schedule required by the granting authority.
The fiscal impact of this ordinance will be to accept and appropriate grant funds in the amount of $173,000.00. The City will contribute $74,000.00 toward the match for a total project cost of $247,000.00. The City match will come from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant and enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission in the amount of $173,000.00 for the Big Walnut Creek-Refugee Preservation Project; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer $74,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 702; to authorize the appropriation of $247,000.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 286; and to declare an emergency. ($247,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Public Works Commission has awarded the City of Columbus grant funding in the amount of $173,000 for the Big Walnut Creek-Refugee Preservation Project.
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with the Ohio Public Works Commission to accept grant funds; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the City Auditor to transfer and appropriate funds within Recreation and Parks Fund 702; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to accept said grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission to fulfill the schedule required by the granting authority;
NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be and he is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant in the amount of $173,000.00 and enter into a contract with the Ohio Public Works Commission.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 286, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, the sum of $173,000.00 is appropriated to the Recreation and Parks Department, Department No. 51-01, as follows:
Appropriation effective upon receipt of executed grant agreement
GRANT TITLE: Big Walnut Creek-Refugee Preservation project; GRANT NUMBER: to be assigned by City Auditor's office; OCA CODE: to be assigned by City Auditor's office; OBJECT LEVEL 3: 6601; AMOUNT: $173,000.00
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations of $74,000.00 within Fund 702 as follows:
From:
$74,000.00 Project 510112-100121 (Land Acquisition) , OCA#712121, Obj Level 3# 6601
To:
$74,000.00 Project 510112-100121 (Land Acquisition) , OCA#712121, Obj Level 3# 5501
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer cash and appropriation in the amount of $74,000.00 as follows:
From:
$74,000.00 Project 510112-100121 (Land Acquisition) , OCA#712121, Obj Level 3# 5501
To:
Big Walnut Creek-Refugee Preservation project; GRANT NUMBER: to be assigned by City Auditor's office; OCA CODE: to be assigned by City Auditor's office; AMOUNT: $74,000.00 Obj. Level 3 #0886
SECTION 5. 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; except that no transfer shall be so made from a project account funded by monies from more than one source.
SECTION 6. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 7. 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 legislation
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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.