Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to accept grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources NatureWorks Fund for the Audubon Park Improvements project and enter into contract with the State of Ohio, Department of Natural Resources for the construction of an open shelter, playground, loop walk, and stormwater BMP at Audubon Park located between Hudson Street and Weber Road, east of I-71. The project will also renovate the existing basketball courts located in the park. The grant amount is $75,017.00 with the City of Columbus being responsible for a match amount of at least $144,983.00.
Additionally, this ordinance shall authorize the City of Columbus to be bound by the terms of the Grant Agreement as they relate to the property, including the obligation that the property must be operated and maintained solely for public recreation or natural resource purposes for Fifteen (15) calendar years from the first month following the request for final reimbursement. A notice of the grant agreement shall be recorded with Franklin County.
Audubon Park is 6.34 acre Neighborhood Park located at 2770 Audubon Road (43211). The park currently features an outdated playground and shelter, also has basketball courts that are in need of repair. This project will renovate or replace each of these features and provide a new 1/3 mile asphalt loop walk. These improvements will serve the residents of the North Linden Area by providing a needed and easily accessible neighborhood recreation space.
Principal Parties:
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
2045 Morse Road, E-2, Columbus, OH 43229
Mary Fitch 614-265-6477
CC#: 31-6402047
Emergency Justification: This legislation will need to be emergency in order to accept the grant agreement with the time frame requested by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Benefits to the Public: Improving Audubon Park will benefit the surrounding community by providing a neighborhood park within walking distance of a large portion of the North Linden Area. Applying for funding through the NatureWorks Grant will benefit the City by reducing the capital burden of the park development while also meeting the goals of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in its administration of the grant.
Community Input Issues: Beginning in 2016, Planning and Design staff began working with the community to develop a master plan for Audubon Park. This coordination included multiple meetings with the North Linden Area Commission, as well as meetings with park neighbors held on site. Input gathered at these meetings was used to create and refine the plans for park improvements. As the project moves forward, the community will continue to be engaged as plans are refined and finalized.
Area(s) Affected: Planning Area 11
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the mission of the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by making facilities within a park accessible to pedestrians, locating neighborhood parks within one half mile of all neighborhoods, and updating a minimum of five parks per year.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance will authorize the appropriation of $75,017.00 in grant funds in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283. This ordinance will also authorize a grant match of $144,983.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702. $144,983.00 is budgeted and available in the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of the grant match. There is a total of $220,000.00 available for this project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept and enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the Audubon Park Improvements project; to authorize the appropriation of $75,017.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer $144,983.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to amend the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget; and to declare an emergency. ($220,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant in the amount of $75,017.00 and enter into a contract with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the Audubon Park Improvements project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2017 Capital Improvements Budget in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this legislation and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $75,017.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the City Auditor to transfer $144,983.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into said grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to fulfill the schedule required by the granting authority; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks is authorized and directed to accept a grant in the amount of $75,017.00 and enter into a contract with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the Audubon Park Improvements project.
SECTION 2. 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 ending December 31, 2017, the sum of $75,017.00 is appropriated to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. Appropriation effective upon receipt of executed grant agreement.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $144,983.00 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 4. 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; P440006-100000; UIRF Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $209,932 / $18,468 / $228,400 (to match cash)
Fund 7702; P440006-100000; UIRF Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $228,400 / ($144,983) / $83,417
Fund 7702; P440006-900002; UIRF - Audubon Park Improvements - Natureworks - Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $144,983 / $144,983
SECTION 5. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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.