Explanation
1.BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with The Ohio State University (OSU) for the joint Roadway Improvements - Cannon Drive Relocation project, to accept contributions from OSU, and to provide refunds to OSU after the project and final accounting is complete, if necessary.
Ordinance 2511-2011 authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into a design reimbursement agreement with Ohio State University (OSU) for the Roadway Improvements - Cannon Drive Relocation project. Under this agreement, OSU owned the contract with EMH&T and the city reimbursed OSU for preliminary engineering services for the project.
Ordinance 1656-2014 authorized the Director of Public Service to waive competitive bidding and enter directly into contract with EMH&T for detailed design services for the Roadway Improvements - Cannon Drive Relocation project. The Department anticipates seeking City Council approval to modify this contract at a later date.
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to accept contributions from OSU for the forthcoming design services contract modification, enter into a contribution agreement for design services, including modifications as necessary, and to enter into future construction contribution agreement(s) as appropriate.
The proposed relocation of Cannon Drive will improve the north-south transportation corridor between King Avenue and Lane Avenue, providing better access to the university including critical care facilities within the Medical Campus, and opening up approximately 12 acres for development. The project will extend between King Avenue and John Herrick Drive, a total roadway length of approximately 2,820 feet, with improvements including a landscaped median for access management along Cannon Drive. Roadway extensions of Medical Center Drive, 10th Avenue, 12th Avenue, and John Herrick Drive will be required to connect to the realigned Cannon Drive. In addition, the project includes the development of a realigned access roadway to connect the new Cannon Drive with Battelle Drive accessing the medical campus.
The relocation of Cannon Drive includes the realignment of the existing Franklin Main sanitary sewer north of King Avenue, as well as the consolidation of other public and private utilities within the new roadway corridor. These improvements facilitate future operation and maintenance. The realignment of Cannon Drive will create development parcels along the east side of Cannon Drive providing a significant economic benefit to the community. In addition, an open space corridor adjacent to the Olentangy River will provide connectivity to the bikepath along the river. Other tangible benefits of the project include flood protection and stormwater management.
2. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The Department of Public Service requests emergency designation in order to allow for immediate execution of the design contribution agreement in order to maintain the project schedule.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
The design cost estimated at $3,335,424.36, with OSU contributing $1,557,712.18 and the City contributing $1,775,712.18. There is a difference in the OSU and City contributions because of the $220,000 needed for a permit that OSU is fronting the costs for.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with The Ohio State University (OSU) for the joint Roadway Improvements - Cannon Drive Relocation project; to accept contributions from OSU; to provide refunds to OSU, if necessary, after the project is complete and final accounting is done; and declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with The Ohio State University (OSU) for the joint Roadway Improvements - Cannon Drive Relocation project, to accept contributions from OSU, and to provide refunds to OSU, if necessary, after the project is complete and final accounting is done; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into these agreements with OSU in order maintain the project 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 Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to enter into agreements with The Ohio State University (OSU) for the joint Roadway Improvements - Cannon Drive Relocation project; to accept contributions from OSU; and to provide refunds to OSU, if necessary, after the project is complete and final accounting is done.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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.