Explanation
Background: The Division of Police Precinct 1, Far North Substation, is presently located at the corner of Karl and Morse Roads within the same building as Fire Station 24. The Karl Road site is over one mile from the geographic service area of Precinct 1 which is bounded to the north by the Columbus Corporation Limit, to the east by Cleveland Avenue, to the south by State Route 161, and to the west by State Route 315. This far north area has undergone significant commercial and residential growth over the past several years. In 2015, the Division of Police received nearly 22,000 calls for service in Precinct 1. The City has looked at numerous properties in the Polaris Parkway area over the past several years in an attempt to find a suitable location for a Far North Substation but none proved to be suitable.
A property containing approximately 3.79 acres of land located on Sancus Boulevard has been identified that is ideally located to serve as the site for a new substation for Precinct 1. The site, identified as Franklin County Tax Parcel 610-231154, is located in approximately the middle of the geographic boundaries of the Precinct 1 service area.
This legislation authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to execute those documents necessary to purchase that 3.79 acres of real property from the Board of Trustees of the Worthington Library and to expend up to $400,000.00 for all costs associated with said acquisition. Purchase contingencies include satisfactory review or completion of: Environmental Site Assessments (Phase I ESA and if necessary, Phase II) and geotechnical assessments of the soil. This ordinance is presented as an emergency measure.
Fiscal Impact: The Department of Finance and Management and Department of Public Safety has determined that funding for this project is available within the 2016 Public Safety G.O. Bond Fund.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow this acquisition to proceed in agreement with the closing transaction deadlines and other terms of the purchase contract, including the requirement that legislation be approved by Council on or before May 23, 2016 and to allow for the professional design of the substation building and site improvements to proceed without delay to allow for timely construction and occupancy by Division of Police at the earliest feasible date.
Title
To amend the 2016 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer funds within the Public Safety G.O. Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Finance and Management, on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, to execute those documents necessary to purchase that real property located on Sancus Boulevard, identified as Franklin County Tax Parcel 610-231154, for the construction of a new police substation; to authorize the expenditure of up to $400,000.00 from the Public Safety G.O. Bond Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($400,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Finance and Management on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, desires to enter into a purchase contract, between the City and the Board of Trustees of the Worthington Library for purchase of that real property located on Sancus Boulevard, identified as Franklin County Tax Parcel 610-231154; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Police Far North Substation that serves Precinct 1, is presently located at the corner of Karl and Morse Roads within the same building as Fire Station 24 over one mile from the geographic service area of Precinct 1; and
WHEREAS, the service area of Precinct 1 has experienced significant residential and commercial growth over the past several years resulting in a significant increase in calls to the Division of Police for service; and
WHEREAS, the purchase of this 3.79 acres of real property, located in approximately the middle of the geographic boundaries of the Precinct 1 service area, will allow for the construction of a new Far North Substation to permit faster response times, increase police visibility in the surrounding residential and commercial areas, thereby enhancing safety and security; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend up to $400,000.00 for all costs associated with said acquisition so that this acquisition may proceed in a timely manner in compliance with the terms of the purchase contract, and to allow for the professional design of the substation building and site improvements; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2016 Capital Improvement Budget and to transfer cash between projects; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management, on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, to execute those documents necessary to purchase that real property located on Sancus Boulevard from the Board of Trustees of the Worthington Library and to proceed without delay allowing for timely construction and occupancy by Division of Police at the earliest feasible date for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Finance and Management, on behalf of the Department of Public Safety be, and hereby is, authorized to execute those documents, as approved by the Department of Law, Real Estate Division, necessary for the purchase of that real property located on Sancus Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio, and identified as Franklin County Tax Parcel 610-231154.
SECTION 2. That the 2016 CIB be amended as follows:
Project Name: Self Contained Breathing Apparatus - Voted Carryover| Project ID Number: P340116-100001 | Current Authority: $359,969 | Revised Authority: $0|Difference: ($359,969)
Project Name: Police Facility Renovation - Voted Carryover| Project ID Number: P330021-100000 | Current Authority: $211,032| Revised Authority: $171,001 Difference: ($40,031)
Project Name: Police Far North Substation - Voted Carryover| Project ID Number: P330040-100000| Current Authority: $0| Revised Authority: $400,000 |Difference: $400,000
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $400,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within Fund 7701 Public Safety G.O. Bond Fund per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance. See attachment “Ordinance 1358-2016 Funding”.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $400,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized in Fund 7701 Public Safety G.O. Bond Fund in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance. See attachment “Ordinance 1358-2016 Funding”.
SECTION 5. 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 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.