Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the City Auditor to appropriate $1,491,250.00 within the Smart Cities Challenge Grant Fund.
On June 23, 2016, the USDOT awarded the City of Columbus up to $40 million in federal funds to assist in implementation of the City’s proposal to demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies and applications can be used to reduce congestion, keep travelers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities, and support economic vitality.
Due to the terms and conditions of the USDOT cooperative agreement for this program, financial support for the Smart City Challenge Program will be awarded in annual funding phases. USDOT has appropriated $15 million to be available for City use during the first year of the project. It is necessary for the Department of Public Service to appropriate funds so the USDOT funds currently available can be expended. Previous legislation appropriated funds to establish consultant contracts for this program. This legislation is appropriating funds for the estimated first year cost of the program for City personnel, equipment, supplies, and travel.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $1,491,250.00 is available in Fund 7768 USDOT Grant -- Smart City for this project expenditure.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested so the funds are available as needed so as not to cause a delay in the Smart City Challenge project.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to appropriate $1,491,250.00 within the Smart City grant fund for the estimated first year cost of the program for City personnel, equipment, supplies, and travel; and to declare an emergency. ($1,491,250.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2016, the USDOT awarded the City of Columbus up to $40 million in federal funds to assist in implementation of the City’s proposal to demonstrate how advanced data and intelligent transportation systems (ITS) technologies and applications that can be used to reduce congestion, keep travelers safe, protect the environment, respond to climate change, connect underserved communities, and support economic vitality as part of the Smart City Challenge program; and
WHEREAS, USDOT has appropriated $15 million to reimburse the City for first year expenses of the Smart City Challenge program per the USDOT Cooperative Agreement; and
WHEREAS, funding in the amount of $9,475,000.00 remains unappropriated for the project in Federal grant funds from the USDOT; and
WHEREAS, these USDOT funds need to be appropriated by Public Service before they can be expended; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize an appropriation of funds so they will be immediately available for use so as not to cause a delay in the Smart City Challenge 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 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 $1,491,250.00 is appropriated in Fund 7768 Smart City in Object Class 01 Personnel, Object Class 02 Material and Supplies, and Object Class 03 Purchased Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. 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 3. 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 4. 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.