Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners, and acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for various projects within the City.
In the course of effecting roadway improvements, 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 $110,000.00.
The funding request for right-of-way acquisition will be determined on a parcel by parcel basis when such parcels are identified. The amount needed may exceed the amount requested in this ordinance. Additional legislation will be submitted by the Department of Public Service if additional funds are needed to complete the right-of-way acquisitions.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Fund 7704. An amendment to the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget is necessary to establish sufficient authority for the proper project number.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow acquisition-related activities to begin immediately upon identification of necessary parcels, preventing delays to construction projects.
Title
To amend the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the City Attorney's Office to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners, and to expend up to $110,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund to acquire such parcels as they are identified; and to declare an emergency. ($110,000.00)
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, right-of-way acquisition must be completed before construction can begin; and
WHEREAS, a contingency fund in the amount of $110,000.00 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, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2018 Capital Improvement Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is necessary for acquisition-related activities to begin immediately upon identification of necessary parcels, preventing delays to construction projects, 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 2018 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1010-2018 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / C.I.B. / Change / C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $1,895,982.00 / ($110,000.00) / $1,785,982.00
7704 / P530161-100072 / Roadway Improvements - Miscellaneous Right-of-Way Acquisition (Voted Carryover) / $300.00 / $110,000.00 / $110,300.00
7704 / P530161-100072 / Roadway Improvements - Miscellaneous Right-of-Way Acquisition (Voted 2016 Debt SIT Supported) / $100,000.00 / ($100,000.00) / $0.00
7704 / P440104-100027 / Miscellaneous Economic Development - Creative Campus Phase 2 (Voted 2016 Debt SIT Supported) / $7,300,000.00 / ($10,000.00) / $7,290,000.00
7704 / P530161-100000 / Roadway Improvements (Voted 2016 Debt SIT Supported) / 0.00 / $110,000.00 / $110,000.00
SECTION 2. 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 3. That the expenditure of $110,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), in Dept-Div 5912 (Division of Design and Construction), Project P530161-100072 (Roadway Improvements - Miscellaneous Right-of-Way Acquisition), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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.