Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The City of Columbus is committed to paying the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) an annual fee for vital services in the area of intergovernmental relations, transportation planning and programming, grantsmanship, legislative review and information exchange. This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $462,863.29 for the annual membership fee (dues) for the City for 2017. MORPC established the fee based on population per an earlier agreement with the city and is not negotiable. The rate for 2017 is $.5375 per capita based on an estimated population of 861,141 as of January 1, 2017.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $462,863.29 are budgeted and available for this expenditure in the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund. MORPC dues for 2015 and 2016 were $409,151.00 and $425,834.24, respectively. This ordinance is contingent on the passage of 2017 budget.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested for this legislation because the first quarterly installment of the membership fee is due in January. This expense cannot be legislated in advance of the passage of the 2017 budget.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to pay the city's annual membership dues to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission for the Department of Public Service, Division of Design & Construction; to authorize the expenditure of $462,863.29 from the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($462,863.29)
Body
WHEREAS, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) provides the City of Columbus and other member communities with vital services in the area of intergovernmental relations, transportation planning and programming, grantsmanship, legislative review and information exchange; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is a government member of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission; and
WHEREAS, the city's membership fee for MORPC in 2017 is $462,863.29; and
WHEREAS, the first quarter payment is due in January; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Division of Design & Construction, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the payment of the MORPC dues because the first quarterly installment is due this month, 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 pay dues for the city's annual membership to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, 111 Liberty Street Suite 100, Columbus, Ohio 43215 in the amount of $462,863.29 or so much thereof as may be needed from the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund, Fund 2265 per the accounting codes attached 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 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 5. 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.