Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This legislation authorizes payment for utility relocation work by American Electric Power, Columbus FiberNet, Spectrum, Verizon, WOW, and other utilities as needed in an amount up to $3,935,000.00.
The Public Service Department is engaged in the Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID - High Street Improvements Phase 2 and Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID - High Street Improvements Phase 3 projects. Project work includes roadway and streetscape improvements to North High Street from Poplar Avenue to King/E. 7th Avenue. Project improvements include sidewalk on both sides of High Street, planter beds and street trees, lighting and signal upgrades, storm improvements, and undergrounding of both private and public overhead utilities.
In the course of effecting roadway improvements, it is sometimes necessary to force the relocation of utilities from privately held easements or place overhead utilities underground to promote the public health, safety, and welfare, including the economic development of the City. It is necessary to move utilities to complete this project. This funding request for utilities relocation reimbursement is based upon estimates from the utilities. The utility companies will invoice the City for actual costs incurred in relocating the utilities. 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 relocations.
2. FISCAL IMPACT:
This is a budgeted expense. Funding for this contract is available within the Department of Public Service Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, and within the Department of Public Utilities Fund 6303, the Electricity G.O. Bonds Fund. A transfer of funds within the Electricity G.O. Bonds Fund and an amendment to the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget will be required to establish sufficient budget authority for the project.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Public Service is requesting emergency designation so as to provide funding for utility reimbursements at the earliest possible time to maintain the project construction schedule.
Title
To amend the 2018 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize a transfer of up to $100,000.00 within the Electricity General Obligation Bond Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to pay utility relocation costs to various utilities for the Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID - High Street Improvements Phase 2 and Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID - High Street Improvements Phase 3 projects; to authorize the expenditure of up to $3,935,000.00 for utility relocations for this project from the Streets & Highways Bond Fund and from the Electricity General Obligation Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($3,935,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is concerned with the use of the various right-of-way areas in the City as such right-of-way areas represent a valuable and limited resource that must be utilized to promote the public health, safety and welfare including the economic development of the City; and
WHEREAS, utility relocations must be completed before construction can begin; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for utility relocation expenses for the Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID - High Street Improvements Phase 2 and Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID - High Street Improvements Phase 3 projects; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes funding in the amount of $3,935,000.00 for that purpose; 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, it is necessary to transfer funds within the Electricity G.O. Bonds Fund for the Division of Power to provide sufficient cash in the appropriate project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize payment for utility relocation expenses to maintain the project construction schedule, 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
6303 / P670866-100000 / Dublin-Granville/Deewood/Maple Canyon SL (Carryover) / $82,820.00 / $7,875.00 / $90,695.00 (to match cash)
6303 /P670866-100000 / Dublin-Granville/Deewood/Maple Canyon SL (Carryover) / $90,695.00 / ($90,695.00) / $0.00
6303 / P670774-100000 / Street Light 3-Wire Conversion (Carryover) / $9,772.00 / ($9,305.00) / $467.00
6303 / P670881-100000 / DOP Large Scale Development (Carryover) / $300,000.00 / $100,000.00 / $400,000.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $90,694.61, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 6303 (Electricity G.O. Bonds Fund), from Dept-Div 6007 (Division of Power), Project P670866-100000 (Dublin-Granville/Deewood/Maple Canyon SL Imp's), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay); and the transfer of $9,305.39, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 6303 (Electricity G.O. Bonds Fund), from Dept-Div 6007 (Division of Power), Project P670774-100000 (Street Light 3-Wire Conversion Pilot), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay); per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to reimburse utility relocation costs to American Electric Power, WOW, Charter, Verizon, Columbus Fibernet, and other utilities as necessary, for the Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID - High Street Improvements Phase 2 and Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID - High Street Improvements Phase 3 projects.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $1,735,000.00, 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 P530053 - 100003 (Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID -- High Street Improvements Phase 3), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $2,100,000.00, 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 P530053 - 100002 (Downtown Streetscape - Short North SID -- High Street Improvements Phase 2), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 6303 (Electricity G.O. Bonds Fund), in Dept-Div 6007 (Division of Power), Project P670881-100000 (DOP Large Scale Development), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. That for the reasons stated in this ordinance's preamble, which are made a part of this ordinance, this ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and is effective and in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten (10) days after its passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes this ordinance.