Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
Per Columbus City Code Chapter 905, property owners are responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of all sidewalks, shared-use paths, and driveway entrances within the abutting right-of-way or easement to their property. In response to complaints received through the City’s 311 service, the Department of Public Service will investigate the condition of sidewalks, shared-use paths, and driveway entrances. A Notice of Violation letter requiring repairs to be made will be issued if it is determined these items need to be repaired.
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and City Council have established funding for the Sidewalk Repair Grant Program. The purpose of this program is to provide grant money to low income residential property owners and small business owners located within a Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization district to help them pay for the required repairs. Successful grant applicants will receive up to $1,500.00 to help make the repairs. The grant money will usually be paid direct to the contractor that made the repairs. The property owner will only be paid directly if they made the repairs on their own. The property owner will be responsible for paying any remaining balance due for the repairs.
This legislation authorizes the expenditure of up to $550,000.00 to establish funding to issue grant payments. This legislation also authorizes payment of grant money to various property owners awarded a grant under the Sidewalk Repair Grant Program that make their own repairs, or authorizes payment of grant funds direct to the various contractors that made the repairs if the awarded property owner chooses to hire a contractor to make the repairs.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the Sidewalk Repair Grant Program is available within the Streets and Highways Improvement Bond Fund as part of the Department of Public Service’s 2016 Capital Improvement Budget.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow this work to proceed in order to eliminate possible safety issues thereby promoting motorist and pedestrian safety.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to make grant payments under the Sidewalk Repair Grant Program; to authorize the expenditure of up to $550,000.00 within the Streets and Highways Improvement Bond Fund for this purpose; and to declare an emergency. ($550,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Code Chapter 905 states property owners are responsible for the proper maintenance and repair of all sidewalks, shared-use paths, and driveway entrances within the abutting right-of-way or easement to their property; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service will investigate the condition of sidewalks, shared-use paths, and driveway entrances in response to complaints received through the City’s 311 service; and
WHEREAS, a Notice of Violation letter requiring repairs to be made will be issued if it is determined these items need to be repaired; and
WHEREAS, the Sidewalk Repair Grant Program has been established to assist low income residential property owners and small business owners located within a Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization district to pay for the required repairs; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of funds for this program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize payment of grant money to various property owners awarded a grant under the Sidewalk Repair Grant Program that make their own repairs, or authorize payment of grant funds direct to the various contractors that made the repairs if the awarded property owner chooses to hire a contractor to make the repairs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Infrastructure Management in that it is immediately necessary to authorize this expenditure so the Sidewalk Repair Grant program can proceed in order to ensure the safety of the travelling public, 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 make grant payments to various property owners awarded a grant under the Sidewalk Repair Grant Program that make their own repairs, or is authorized to make payment of grant funds direct to the various contractors that made the repairs if the awarded property owner chooses to hire a contractor to make the repairs.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $550,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 Streets and Highways Improvement Bond Fund in object 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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 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.