Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This legislation is to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a Participation Agreement with Board of Franklin County Commissioners. The Participation Agreement will memorialize the intention of the City and the County (the parties) to jointly participate in a comprehensive assessment of the County’s utility assets.
It is the parties’ intention to jointly select a consultant using the City’s Request For Proposals (RFP) process, as detailed in Columbus City Code Section 329, for professional services. It is further the parties’ intention to each finance one half of the costs of said consultant, which the parties anticipate will not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000) ($500,000 from the City and $500,000 from the County).
The Participation Agreement does not authorize the Department to enter into a contract with a consultant. Any future contract will require approval and appropriation by Council.
2. EMERGENCY:
Emergency status is not requested.
3. FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this ordinance.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a Participation Agreement for a Comprehensive County Utility Assessment Project with Franklin County.($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Franklin County owns and operates sewage collection and water distribution systems that are connected to and served by the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, Franklin county owns and operates a wastewater plant (Darbydale) and a water plant (Timberlake) that are not connected to Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the City and County (the parties) would like to obtain a thorough analysis of the County’s utility systems; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to contract with a consultant to provide this comprehensive analysis; and
WHEREAS, the parties desire to enter into a Participation Agreement that will memorialize the parties intention to jointly select a consultant using the City’s RFP process; and
whereas, the costs for hiring the consultant for this initiative are estimated to be approximately $1,000,000.00; and
WHEREAS, the parties recognize that the costs for the hiring of the consultant should be shared equally by the parties; and
WHEREAS, the parties acknowledge that the entering into a contract with the consultant will require additional approval and appropriation by City Council, now therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into a Participation Agreement with Franklin County. The purpose of the Participation Agreement will be to memorialize the intention of the City and County to jointly participate in a comprehensive assessment of the County’s utility assets.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.