Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the City Auditor to transfer appropriation within the Smart City Private Grant Fund from the Department of Public Service to the Department of Public Utilities for the purpose of providing additional funds for the Green Power Purchase Agreement program.
In 2016, the City of Columbus, acting through the Department of Public Service, pursued and won a $10 million grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan) in connection with the Smart City Challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The purpose of that award is to enable the City to lay a practical path to replacing carbon-based fuel consumption through critical system improvements that increase safety, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance mobility.
Ordinance 1863-2016 authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with and to accept grant monies and other resources from Vulcan which are to be distributed to the City over the course of four years.
Ordinance 1193-2017 authorized the appropriation of $3,321,328.00 within the Smart City Private Grant Fund to support the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan as part of the Vulcan grant. As part of this appropriation, $90,000 was dedicated to the support of the Department of Public Utilities Green Power Program.
Ordinance 1901-2017 authorized the Public Service Director to transfer signature authority to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present and future Smart Columbus, Smart City Challenge, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation contracts, documents, and projects.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
This is a budgeted expense in the amount of $90,000.00 within the Smart City Private Grant Fund, Fund 7768. Appropriation needs to be transferred within the Smart City Private Grant Fund from the Department of Public Service to the Department of Public Utilities to allow the Department of Public Utilities to expend the funds. Public Utilities will submit separate legislation to expend the funds.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to provide for the timely execution of the transfer so the deliverables required by the Paul G. Allen Philanthropies grant award can be met, avoiding delays which could jeopardize future funding of the Vulcan project.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer appropriation within the Smart City Private Grant Fund from the Department of Public Service to the Department of Public Utilities; and to declare an emergency. ($90,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan) awarded the City of Columbus a $10 million grant for the purpose of replacing carbon-based fuel consumption through critical system improvements that increase safety, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance mobility; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 1863-2016 authorized the Director of Public Service to enter into agreements with and to accept grant monies and other resources from Vulcan, which are to be distributed to the City over the course of four years; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 1193-2017 authorized the City Auditor to appropriate the latest installment of Vulcan grant funds, which will support the implementation of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance Number 1901-2017 authorized the Public Service Director to transfer signature authority to the Chief Innovation Officer or the Chief Innovation Officer's designee for all past, present and future Smart Columbus, Smart City Challenge, Paul G Allen Family Foundation contracts, documents, and projects; and
WHEREAS, funding in the amount of $90,000.00 has been budgeted for the program to provide additional funds for the Green Power Purchase Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Division of Power has satisfied the requirements to receive the grant funds in the amount of $90,000.00 by purchasing green power each month as a part of its total power requirements; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance will transfer appropriation from the Department of Public Service to the Department of Public Utilities in order to allow Public Utilities to receive and spend funds from the Smart City Private Grant Fund in support of the Smart Columbus Electrification Plan; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service, Smart City Program, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a transfer of the funds and appropriations to the Division of Power to meet timelines and terms and conditions established in the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation (Vulcan) grant agreement, 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 transfer of appropriation in the amount of $90,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7768 (Smart City Private Grant Fund) from Dept-Div 59-12 (Division of Design and Construction), Grant G591611 (Private Grant Smart City), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 60-07 (Division of Power), Grant G591611 (Private Grant Smart City), Object Class 02 (Materials and Supplies) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the funds are hereby deemed appropriated and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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.