Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the City Auditor to appropriate $3,321,328.00 within the Smart City Private Grant Fund.
In 2016, the City of Columbus, acting through the Department of Public Service, pursued and won a $10 million grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan Inc.) in connection with the Smart City Challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The purpose of that award is to enable the City to lay a practical path to replacing carbon-based fuel consumption through critical system improvements that increase safety, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance mobility.
Ordinance 1863-2016 authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with and to accept grant monies and other resources from Vulcan Inc., which are to be distributed to the City over the course of four years. This legislation authorizes the Department of Public Service to appropriate the second installment of Vulcan grant funding, which will support the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan. Separate legislation will be submitted for Council's approval to expend the appropriated funds.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $3,321,328.00 is available in Fund 7768 Smart City Private Grant Fund within the Department of Public Service for project expenditures related to the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide for the timely encumbrance and expenditure of grant funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Phase II Grant Agreement.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to appropriate $3,321,328.00 in Fund 7768 Smart City Private Grant Fund within the Department of Public Service for various expenses related to the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2016, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan, Inc.) awarded the City of Columbus a $10 million grant for the purpose of replacing carbon-based fuel consumption through critical system improvements that increase safety, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance mobility; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1863-2016 authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with and to accept grant monies and other resources from Vulcan Inc., which are to be distributed to the City over the course of four years; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the City Auditor to appropriate the second installment of Vulcan grant funds, which will support the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan; 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 aforementioned appropriation so that grant funds will be available for use in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation Phase II Grant Agreement preventing unnecessary delays in the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan, 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, 2017, the sum of $3,321,328.00 is appropriated in Fund 7768 Smart City Private Grant Fund in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay 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.