Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The following 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 Intersection Improvements-Main Street at McNaughton Road, FRA US 40 22.16 (PID Number 97197) project.
The Department of Public Service is currently engaged in the Intersection Improvements-Main Street at McNaughton Road project, which encompasses widening for an eastbound right turn lane on Main Street, reconstruct existing traffic signal, implement stormwater BMP and construct sidewalks on both sides of Main Street, in the Far East Community Planning Area (CPA 21). The Department of Public Service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize right-of-way acquisition pending passage of this legislation.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $244,800.00 are available through an ODOT Safety Funds Grant in the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund, Fund # 7765. The remaining funding needed for this phase of the project is available in the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704, within the Department of Public Service's 2016 Capital Improvement Budget.
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 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 Intersection Improvements-Main Street at McNaughton Road project; to appropriate funds within the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund; 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 up to $500,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund and the Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is engaged in the Intersection Improvements-Main Street at McNaughten Road project; and
WHEREAS, this project will make improvements to the intersection of Main Street and McNaughton Road that will provide additional capacity and improve safety for both motorists and pedestrians; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to expend $500,000.00 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 Intersection Improvements-Main Street at McNaughton Road project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the above actions 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 Intersection Improvements-Main Street at McNaughton Road project.
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 ended December 31, 2016, the sum of $244,800.00 is appropriated in Fund 7765 Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $500,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund No. 7704 Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund in object class 06 Capital Outlay, and in Fund 7765 Fed-State Highway Engineering Fund in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 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 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 7. 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.