Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to execute a grant agreement with Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) for the purpose of paying CML for costs associated with property interests conveyed by CML to the City in association with the 2020 Vision Plan projects in Columbus.
The City and CML entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on February 5, 2016, for the purpose of outlining the plans and certain commitments of both parties relating to the coordination, funding, design, construction, and maintenance of public infrastructure improvements in an amount of up to $3,790,000.00 in support of CML’s 2020 Vision Plan projects in Columbus. Ordinance 3084-2016 authorized a modification of the MOU to include payment for costs associated with various property interests, including easements, right-of-way acquisitions and real property. This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Service to execute a grant agreement with CML, in an amount not-to-exceed $1,903,755.22, for payment of these costs.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $1,903,755.22 is budgeted in the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund and the Development Taxable Bonds Fund to meet the financial obligations of this agreement.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
The Department of Public Service is requesting this ordinance to be considered an emergency measure in order to allow the Columbus Metropolitan Library to maintain its project schedules and community commitments.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Service to execute a grant agreement with Columbus Metropolitan Library, in an amount not-to-exceed $1,903,755.22, to pay for costs associated with property interests conveyed to the City relating to public infrastructure improvements in support of the 2020 Vision Plan; and to declare an emergency. ($1,903,755.22)
Body
WHEREAS, on February 5, 2016, the City and the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the purposes of outlining the plans and certain commitments relating to the coordination, funding, design, construction, and maintenance of public infrastructure improvements in support of CML’s 2020 Vision Plan projects in Columbus (the “Columbus Projects”); and
WHEREAS, the MOU made a commitment in an amount up to $3,790,000.00 from the City to CML for design and construction costs associated with the Columbus Projects; and
WHEREAS, on December 12, 2016, Columbus City Council approved Ordinance No. 3084-2016 authorizing a modification to the MOU to include payment for costs associated with the property interests conveyed to the City in association with said projects; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into a grant agreement with CML in the amount of up to $1,903,755.22 to pay for those property interests; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize said grant agreement to maintain the project schedules and meet community commitments; thereby immediately 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 enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Metropolitan Library to pay for costs associated with property interests conveyed to the City as it relates to the redevelopment or new construction of libraries in Columbus, in an amount not-to-exceed $1,903,755.22.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $1,528,755.22, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 Streets and Highways G.O. Bond Fund in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $375,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7739 Development Taxable Bonds 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.