Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation 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 Bikeway Development Sullivant/Georgesville Camp Chase Trail Connector project.
The Department of Public Service is currently engaged in the Bikeway Development Sullivant/Georgesville Camp Chase Trail Connector project, which encompasses a 0.4 mile section of trail that 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 to connect back to the trail heading east towards downtown. The Department of Public Service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize right of way acquisition pending passage of this legislation
The Recreation and Parks 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.
Ordinance 1069-2016, passed May 2, 2016, authorized initial acquisition funding for this project in the amount of $200,000.00. The initial acquisition legislation authorized the City Attorney to contract for professional services and to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to real property necessary to the project, with the understanding that more funding may be required in the future.
It is now necessary that the City Attorney's Office expend an additional $125,000.00 in order to pay for costs relative to the acquisition of right of way necessary to the Bikeway Development Sullivant/Georgesville Camp Chase Trail Connector project.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $125,000.00 are available for this project in the Recreation & Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702 within the Department of Recreation & Parks.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide necessary right of way acquisition funding and to meet the deadlines of state grant funding secured by Recreation and Parks.
Title
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 Bikeway Development Sullivant/Georgesville Camp Chase Trail Connector 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 $125,000.00 from the Recreation & Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702 ; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, in cooperation with the Department of Development, is engaged in the Bikeway Development Sullivant/Georgesville Camp Chase Trail Connector project; and
WHEREAS, this project will provide a shared use path, including curbs, and storm sewer; and
WHEREAS, initial acquisition funding for this project, in the amount of $200,000.00, was authorized pursuant to Ordinance No. 1069-2016, passed May 2, 2016; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to expend $125,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to hire professional services and to negotiate with property owners to acquire the various property rights necessary to complete the Bikeway Development Sullivant/Georgesville Camp Chase Trail Connector project, with the understanding that more funding may be required in the future; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Recreation & Parks in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney's office to contract for services so that funding can be made available for the necessary right of way acquisition for the project, 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 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 Bikeway Development Sullivant/Georgesville Camp Chase Trail Connector project.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose of paying the cost of this contract the sum of up to $125,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Recreation & Parks Bond Fund, Fund 7702 as per the attached spreadsheet.
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.