Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and enter into a grant agreement for the construction of the Camp Chase Rail Trail - Sullivant Avenue to Georgesville Road.
Background: In March of 2016 the department was awarded grant funding for this project from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Clean Ohio Trails Fund in the amount of $430,000.00. This ordinance will also authorize the appropriation of said grants funds and matching funds to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund. The City match, in the amount of $135,550, will come from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund.
The Camp Chase Trail is also the route of the nationally significant Ohio to Erie Trail, connecting Columbus to Cincinnati and Cleveland. This 0.4 mile section of trail will begin along the south side of Sullivant Avenue, from the current end of the trail, to Georgesville Road. Then proceed north, along the east side of Georgesville Road, from Sullivant Avenue to connect back to the trail heading east towards downtown. Improvements will include the addition of curb and gutter stormwater improvements, and pedestrian/cycling signalization improvements at the crossings of Georgesville Road and Sullivant Avenue.
The Camp Chase Trail is one of the city’s most significant regional trails. Development of the trail began 10 years ago, and over 14 miles of trail have been completed. This is the final segment of the trail, and will open the entire 15 miles of the path, from Madison County to the Hilltop community.
Principal Parties:
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
2045 Morse Road, E-2, Columbus, OH 43229
Mary Fitch 614-265-6477
CC# 31-6402047
Emergency Justification: The legislation is requested to be emergency due to the schedule deadlines imposed by the grant agreement.
Community Input Issues: The Department has conducted extensive public involvement in the Hilltop and Westgate communities during the past two years to develop the project. Prior legislation by City Council authorized the construction of the central city segment of the Camp Chase Trail, and the first phase construction of the Wilson Road Park Trail Head.
Area(s) Affected: Hilltop, Westgate, Georgian Heights, Lincoln Park West
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the mission of the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving access to trails and greenways corridors. Improving the environmental health of the city’s waterways; improving recreational access; providing long term protection corridors for trail development; improving regional east/west trail connectivity to the city’s trail network.
Fiscal Impact: $430,000.00 in grant funds will be accepted and appropriated in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283. $135,550.00 is budgeted and available in the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this grant match. There is a total of $565,550.00 available for this project with the grant and matching funds.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant in the amount of $430,000.00 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and enter into a grant agreement for the construction of the Camp Chase Rail Trail - Sullivant Avenue to Georgesville Road; to authorize the transfer of $135,550.00 in matching funds from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702, to authorize the appropriation of $565,550.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283; and to declare an emergency. ($565,550.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and direct the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and enter into a grant agreement for the construction of the Camp Chase Rail Trail - Sullivant Avenue to Georgesville Road; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and appropriate grants funds and matching funds to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to accept the grant and enter into a grant agreement with the ODNR in order to meet the schedule deadlines imposed by the grant agreement; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant in the amount of $430,000.00 and enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the Camp Chase Rail Trail.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016, the sum of $430,000.00 is appropriated to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. Appropriation effective upon receipt of executed grant agreement.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $135,550.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within Fund 7702 Recreation and Parks Bond Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the 2016 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 0960-2016 is hereby amended as
follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this legislation and future projects.
CURRENT:
Fund 7702; P510316-100000; Greenways Projects; $249,541 (Voted Carryover)
Fund 7702; P510900-100000; Camp Chase Rail Trail Grant; $0 (Voted Carryover)
Cancellation of PO011989 to Fund 7702; P510316-100000; $6,930 (Voted Carryover)
AMENDED TO:
Fund 7702; P510316-100000; Greenways Projects; $120,921 (Voted Carryover)
Fund 7702; P510900-100000; Camp Chase Rail Trail Grant; $135,550 (Voted Carryover)
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. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 9. 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.