Explanation
This legislation is required of the City in order to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) agreement with the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). Created in 2000, the Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) counters the loss of ecological function and biological diversity that jeopardizes the health of Ohio’s water resources. This program uses interest monies from WPCLF “Sponsor” Project loans to fund both preservation and restoration of aquatic habitat to accomplish this goal.
The WRRSP project, identified in Section 1 as the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District's Hellbranch Meadows Stream and Wetland Restoration, WRRSP Ohio EPA AIMS Number: 5665, was designated by the Department of Public Utilities for sponsorship through a WRRSP Sponsorship Letter of Intent, dated December 10, 2015 for funding approval for Program Year 2016 through the Ohio Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Program. The designated Sewerage and Drainage Division Project, identified in Section 2., will serve as the Sponsor Project for the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District's WRRSP Project. The Hellbranch Meadows Stream and Wetland Restoration Project is listed on the Ohio EPA 2016 WRRSP Project Priority List as an Intended Project for funding in 2016. The sponsoring Sewerage and Drainage Division Project is also listed on the Intended Projects List for Ohio EPA funding through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) in 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City will save money by receiving an interest rate discount on the WPCLF Loan financing the Division of Sewerage and Drainage’s Sponsor Project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority; and to designate a Division of Sewerage and Drainage Project as the Sponsor Project for the WRRSP.
Body
WHEREAS, on December 10, 2015 the Director of Public Utilities submitted a Sponsorship Letter of Intent to the Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance expressing the City's intent to sponsor a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Project for Program Year 2016 funding, and thereby designated a Division of Sewerage and Drainage Capital Improvements Project as the WRRSP Sponsor Project for the WRRSP; and
WHEREAS, the City, as a WRRSP Sponsor, will save money by receiving an interest rate discount on the WPCLF Sponsor Project Loan which will reduce its total loan repayments below that which would be required without sponsoring the WRRSP; and
WHEREAS, this legislation must be approved by City Council and a certified copy must be submitted to the Ohio EPA in order to enter into the WRRSP Agreement with the Ohio EPA and the Ohio Water Development Authority; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director to execute a WRRSP Agreement with the Ohio EPA and Ohio WDA; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be, and hereby is, authorized to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program Agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority, for the following project:
Franklin Soil and Water Conservatin District, Hellbranch Meadows Stream and Wetland Restoration Project; WRRSP AIMS No. 5665; $2,919,820.00.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Utilities be, and hereby is, authorized to designate the following Division of Sewerage and Drainage Project as the Sponsor Project for the WRRSP project as herein described in Section 1 of this Ordinance. The WRRSP Sponsor Project is as follows:
Lockbourne Intermodal Subtrunk (LIS) Sewer Project; CIP No. 650491-100002; WPCLF No. CS390274-0214
SECTION 3. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.