Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
The Public Service Department, Design and Construction Division, is engaged in the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Alum Creek Drive-Frebis to Refugee project.
This project is the improvement of Alum Creek Drive by widening and reconstruction of the two lane roadway to a five lane roadway with two-way left turn lanes. In addition the plan includes installing a ten-foot shared-use path on the east side and a five foot sidewalk on the west side of Alum Creek.
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 legislation authorizes payment for utility relocation work by AT&T, Columbia Gas and other utilities up to the amount of $350,000.00.
The Ohio Department of Transportation will cover the majority of the costs for the project (80%) and the City is responsible for the remainder (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. City Council recognizes that this ordinance does not identify the utilities who will receive the reimbursements and understands that its passage will give the Director of Public Service the final decision in determination for such reimbursements. This council is satisfied it is in the best interests of the city to delegate this reimbursement decision.
2. FISCAL IMPACT:
The city received a grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation 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. This legislation transfers funds to the Alum Creek Drive-Frebis to Refugee grant in the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund, Number 765. The legislation appropriates and expends the entire expense $350,000.00 within the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund for the purpose of funding these utility relocation expenses.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Public Service is requesting emergency designation so as to provide funding for utility reimbursements at the earliest possible time for reimbursing utilities as necessary and to maintain proper accounting practices.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to pay utility relocation costs to various utilities for capital improvement projects; 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 - Alum Creek Drive-Frebis to Refugee project from the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($350,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is concerned with the use of the various rights-of-way areas in the city as such rights-of-way areas represent a valuable and limited resource that must be utilized to promote the public health, safety and welfare including the economic development of the city; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for utility relocation expenses for yet to be determined projects in order to provide for quick turnaround of utility relocation work; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes funding in the amount of $350,000.00 for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize payment for miscellaneous utility relocation expenses at the earliest possible time, 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 hereby is authorized to pay utility relocation costs to various utilities for Capital Improvement projects to be determined.
SECTION 2. 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 / 530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements (Voted Carryover) / 06-6600 / 590046 / $70,000.00
To:
Fund / Project / Project Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
704 / 530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements (Voted Carryover) / 10-5501 / 590046 / $70,000.00
SECTION 3. 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 / 530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements / 10-5501 / 590046 / $70,000.00
Transfer to:
Fund / Grant / Grant Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
765 / 591306-100000 / Alum Creek Drive-Frebis to Refugee (PID 85017) / 80-0886 / 591306 / $70,000.00
SECTION 4. 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 / 591306-100000 / Alum Creek Drive-Frebis to Refugee (PID 85017) / 06-6631 / 591306 / $350,000.00
SECTION 5. 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 - Alum Creek Drive-Frebis to Refugee project as follows:
Fund / Grant / Grant Name / O.L. 01-03 Codes / OCA / Amount
765 / 591306-100000 / Alum Creek Drive-Frebis to Refugee (PID 85017) / 06-6631 / 591306 / $350,000.00
SECTION 6. City Council recognizes that this ordinance does not identify the utilities to whom the reimbursements will be awarded and understands that its passage will give the Director of Public Service the final decision in determination for such reimbursements. This Council is satisfied it is in the best interests of the City to delegate this reimbursement decision.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. 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.