Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The City of Columbus Department of Public Service frequently must acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right of way for various projects within the City. To expedite the right of way acquisition process the following legislation establishes a contingency fund, in the amount of $100,000.00, for the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners and acquire such parcels as they are identified.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available within the Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund to establish a contingency fund that will be used by the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to acquire miscellaneous small parcels of right of way needed for the successful completion of various projects throughout the City. An amendment to the 2016 Capital Improvements Budget is necessary to establish sufficient authority for the proper project number.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested so establishment of the necessary monies can proceed without delay allowing for acquisition-related activities to begin immediately upon identification of necessary parcels.
Title
To amend the 2016 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the Auditor to transfer funds within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners and expend those funds necessary to acquire such parcels as they are identified; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus Department of Public Service frequently must acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for various projects within the city; and
WHEREAS, a contingency fund in the amount of $100,000.00, is needed to be used by the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners and acquire such parcels as they are identified in order to expedite the right of way acquisition process; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to establish the contingency fund so acquisition-related activities can begin immediately, 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 2016 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 0960-2016 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /Amended
7704 / P530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements (Voted 2013 Debt SIT Supported) / $970,000.00 / ($100,000.00) / $870,000.00
7704 / P530161-100072 / Roadway Improvements - Miscellaneous Right of Way Acquisition (Voted 2013 Debt SIT Supported) / $300.00 / $100,000.00 / $100,300.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within Fund 7704 Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, be and is hereby authorized to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners and expend those funds necessary to acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right of way for various projects throughout the city as such parcels are identified.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of the sum of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 Streets and Highways G.O. Bonds Fund in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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.