Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - James Road project.
The City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, is engaged in the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - James Road project. This project is located within the Eastmoor/Walnut Ridge community planning area. The project includes intersection improvements at James Road and Livingston Avenue; widening of James Road from four lanes to five lanes to include a two-way left turn lane or dedicated left turn lanes; pavement reconstruction; sidewalk and curb replacement; bike facilities; ADA accommodations; storm water and water line improvements; and traffic control, street lighting, and public and private utility work as needed. The project limits are James Road from Livingston Avenue to Main Street. The length of the project is approximately 0.68 miles.
Initial acquisition funding for this project in the amount of $235,000.00 was authorized pursuant to Ordinance No. 2390-2013, passed October 21, 2013. This legislation authorized the City Attorney to contract for professional services and to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to real property necessary to the project, with the understanding that more funding may be required in the future. It is now necessary that the City Attorney's office be authorized to expend an additional $500,000.00 in order to pay for costs relative to the acquisition of right-of-way necessary to the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - James Road project.
The Department of Public Service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize right-of-way acquisition pending passage of this funding legislation.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $500,000.00 are available for this project in the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund within the Department of Public Service.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide necessary right-of-way acquisition funding and prevent unnecessary delays in the Departments of Public Service's Capital Improvement Program
Title
To authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to contract for professional services relative to the acquisition of fee simple title and lesser interests in and to property needed for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - James Road project; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way necessary to complete this project; to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bonds Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service is engaged in the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - James Road project; and
WHEREAS, this project will construct widening of James Road from four lanes to five lanes to include a two-way left turn lane or dedicated left turn lanes; pavement reconstruction; sidewalk and curb replacement; bike facilities; ADA accommodations; storm water and water line improvements; and traffic control, street lighting; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office Real Estate Division to expend $500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - James Road project; and
WHEREAS, initial acquisition funding for this project, in the amount of $230,000.00, was authorized pursuant to Ordinance No. 2390-2013, passed October 21, 2013, with the understanding that more funding may be required in the future; and
WHEREAS, it is now necessary that the City Attorney's office be authorized to expend an additional $500,000.00 in order to pay for costs relative to the completion of right-of-way necessary to the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - James Road project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that this ordinance should be authorized immediately so that funding can be made available for the necessary right-of-way acquisition for the project, 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 Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be, and hereby is, authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to certain parcels of real estate, to contract for professional services, and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the additional rights of way needed to complete the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - James Road project.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose of paying the cost of this contract the sum of up to $500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Streets and Highways Bonds Fund as follows:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 530103-100014 / Arterial Street Rehabilitation - James Road / 06-6601 / 710314 / $500,000.00
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 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.
SECTION 6. 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.