Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance 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 Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Road Shared Use Path project.
The purpose of this project is to construct a shared use path, including curb ramps, on the east side of Waggoner Road from Broad Street to Chapel Stone Road, located in the Far East Community Planning Area. Successful completion of this project necessitates that the City acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to various properties along the project corridor as additional rights-of-way.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this project is budgeted in the 2016 Capital Improvements Budget. A transfer of funds is necessary as a temporary funding source until the 2016 bond sale proceeds are received.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide necessary right-of-way acquisition funding and prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program.
Title
To amend the 2016 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer cash and appropriation between projects within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; 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 Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Road Shared Use Path 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 $225,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($225,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is engaged in the Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Road Shared Use Path project; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this project is to construct a shared use path on the east side of Wagonner Road from Broad Street to Chapel Stone Road; and
WHEREAS, successful completion of this project necessitates the City acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to various properties located along the project corridor as additional rights-of-way; and
WHEREAS, right-of-way acquisition cost, including professional services, staff and land costs, have been estimated to total $225,000.00; 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 to prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program, 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 2016 Capital Improvement Budget authorized by Ordinance 0960-2016 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
7704 / P540002-100035 / Bikeway Development - Olentangy to Alum Creek East-West Connector Phase 2 (Voted Carryover) / $284,299.00 / ($171,720.00) / $112,579.00
7704 / P590105-100071 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Shared Use Path - Broad Street to Chapel Stone Road (Voted Carryover) / $53,281.00 / $171,720.00 / $225,001.00
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
7704 / P590105-100071 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Shared Use Path - Broad Street to Chapel Stone Road (Voted 2013 Debt SIT Supported) / $1,400,000.00 / ($171,720.00) / $1,228,280.00
7704 / P540002-100035 / Bikeway Development - Olentangy to Alum Creek East-West Connector Phase 2 (Voted 2013 Debt SIT Supported) / $0.00 / $171,720.00 / $171,720.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $171,720.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within Fund 7704 Streets and Highways G.O. Bond Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Road Shared Use Path project.
SECTION 4. That for the purpose of paying those costs relative to the acquisition of right-of-ways needed for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Road Shared Use Path project the sum of up to $225,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Streets and Highways G.O. Bond Fund, Fund 7704, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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.