Explanation
Background: This ordinance will authorize the City Auditor to set up a certificate in the amount of $190,000.00 for labor, materials, and equipment in conjunction with necessary improvements to the Scioto Mile Fountain in Bicentennial Park and the surrounding area managed by the Recreation and Parks Department. Improvements may include, but are not limited to, items such as lighting, hard surfaces, drainage, piping, valves, signage, and emergency repairs. Contracts will be entered into in compliance with the procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.
Benefits to the Public: Bicentennial Park serves as the centerpiece for some of the City’s most vital downtown programming, including the Columbus Arts Festival, Rhythm on the River, the FountainSide series, and the Jazz & Rib Fest. It is also the setting for notable collaborations with partners such as the Columbus Jazz Orchestra/Jazz Arts Group and BalletMet Columbus.
Community Input Issues: The community has expressed the desire for well-kept and updated amenities through public workshops, social media, and direct contact with the department.
Area(s) Affected: The entire City of Columbus and beyond is affected by having the funding in place to act efficiently on issues that impact this important amenity.
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the mission of the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by helping to ensure that amenities remain safe, updated, and user friendly.
Fiscal Impact: $190,000.00 is required and budgeted in the Voted Recreation and Parks Bond Fund to meet the financial obligations of these various expenditures.
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to ensure that needed improvements are not delayed, allowing issues to be addressed in a timely manner, prior to the upcoming fountain season, and keeping the impact on fountain access to a minimum.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to set up a certificate in the amount of $190,000.00 for various expenditures for labor, material and equipment in conjunction with improvements to the Scioto Mile Fountain and surrounding area managed by the Recreation and Parks Department; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer $190,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to amend the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $190,000.00 from the Voted Recreation and Parks Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($190,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the City Auditor to set up a certificate in the amount of $190,000.00 for various expenditures in conjunction with improvements to the Scioto Mile Fountain and surrounding area managed by the Recreation and Parks Department; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to ensure that needed improvements are not delayed, allowing issues to be addressed in a timely manner, prior to the upcoming fountain season, and keeping the impact on fountain access to a minimum; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is authorized to set up a certificate in the amount of $190,000.00 for the purchase of labor, materials and equipment in conjunction with improvements to the Scioto Mile Fountain and surrounding area managed by the Recreation and Parks Department.
SECTION 2. That any such contracts will be entered into in compliance with the procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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 6. That the transfer of $190,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1124-2017 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this legislation and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
Fund 7702; P510017-100000; Park & Playground Development (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $150,000 / $150,000 (to match cash)
Fund 7702; P510018-100000; Hard Surface Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $1 / $40,000 / $40,000 (to match cash)
Fund 7702; P510017-100000; Park & Playground Development (Voted Carryover) / $150,000 / ($150,000) / $0
Fund 7702; P510018-100000; Hard Surface Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $40,001 / ($40,000) / $1
Fund 7702; P510718-100000; Scioto Mile Fountain Upgrades (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $190,000 / $190,000
SECTION 8. That the expenditure of $190,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Voted Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 9. That this Council hereby recognizes that this ordinance does not identify specific contractors or vendors for the expenditure purposes authorized herein and hereby delegates sole and final contracting decisions relative to the determination of lowest, best, most responsive and most responsible vendor(s) to the Director of Recreation and Parks and/or the Director of Finance and Management.
SECTION 10. 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.