Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the modification of a grant agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) related to an Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) grant that was awarded and accepted by the City of Columbus pursuant to Ordinance 1164-2018, passed on June 4, 2018. This grant agreement was entered into by the Director of Finance and Management on behalf of the Department of Public Service.
The purpose of these grant proceeds is to partially fund the purchase of compressed natural gas up-fitting parts and services for sixteen (16) Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuse collection vehicles for use by the Department of Public Service. The original grant reimbursement award totaled $371,584.00.
After passage of Ordinance 1164-2018, it was determined that the CNG up-fitting costs for each vehicle were higher than expected. As such, the Ohio EPA agreed to modify the original grant agreement and provide additional grant funding in an amount equal to $2,318.00. Therefore the revised total grant award is $373,902.00.
The refuse trucks to be purchased and up-fit will be Automated Side Loaders (ASLs) and will be servicing residential routes in Columbus to be utilized on both 90 gallon (front/street pick-up) and 300 gallon (alley collections) container routes. The Department of Public Service anticipates these trucks being ordered by the end of 2018 and put into service during the last quarter of 2019. Submittal of final invoices for reimbursement must be made within eighteen months from the date the AFV grant agreement is executed with the Ohio EPA, unless a six-month extension has been requested and approved.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes the acceptance and appropriation of an additional $2,318.00 in Ohio EPA grant monies.
Emergency action is requested to meet criteria within the Ohio EPA Grant Contract which stipulates that the vehicles must be ordered within 90 days of the grant agreement execution.
Title
To authorize the Finance and Management Director to modify an existing grant agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and to accept $2,318.00 in additional grant proceeds; to authorize the appropriation of $2,318.00 in additional grant proceeds from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency ($2,318.00).
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency issued a grant solicitation through the new Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Conversion Grant program that will award $5 million in grants to reimburse Ohio owners of large diesel or gasoline vehicles for a portion of the cost of replacing or converting the vehicle to run on compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or propane autogas (LPG); and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1164-2018 authorized the Director of Finance and Management to apply for, enter into, and accept $371,584.00 in grant funds for an Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Conversion Grant, which passed on June 4, 2018; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio EPA has modified the grant contract to increase the grant award by $2,318.00 to $373,902.00.
WHEREAS, funding through the AFV grant would help fund Columbus’ alternative fueled vehicles and advance our commitment to Compressed Natural Gas; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management, Fleet Management Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to modify an existing grant agreement with the Ohio EPA and to accept, and appropriate, $2,318.00 in additional grant funds from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency 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 Finance and Management Director, on behalf of the Department of Public Service, is hereby authorized to modify an existing grant agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA) related to the Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Conversion program and accept $2,318.00 in additional grant proceeds.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grant Fund No. 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $2,318.00 is hereby appropriated to the Department of Public Service, according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Finance and Management and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. 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, if applicable, may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originate in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. 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 6. That for 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, nor ten days after passage, if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.