Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes payment for utility relocation work by American Electric Power, AT&T, Spectrum (aka Time Warner), Windstream, and other utilities and/or companies the utilities contract to perform the utility relocation work for them, in an amount up to $250,000.00 for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Rd SUP - Broad St to Chapel Stone project.
The Public Service Department is engaged in the Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Rd SUP - Broad St to Chapel Stone project. Project work includes a shared use path from Broad Street to Chapel Stone Road on the east side of Waggoner Road requiring some right-of-way acquisition. A two-way left turn lane is to be installed between Arbor Rose Way and Dolmen Drive. Waggoner Road will also be resurfaced.
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 public health, safety, and welfare, including the economic development of the City. It is necessary to move utilities to complete this project. Council previously approved Ordinance 1389-2016 on 6/6/16 in the amount of $60,000.00 for utility reimbursements for this project, which is insufficient to complete the work, and additional funding is required.
The funding request for utilities relocation reimbursement is based upon estimates from the utilities. The utilities, or companies the utilities contract to perform the work for them, 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
Funding for this work is available within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, in voted carryover funds under project numbers P590105-100000 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements) and P590105-100005 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Sidewalk Program). An amendment to the 2018 Capital Improvement Budget is required to establish sufficient budget authority for the project.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Public Service is requesting emergency designation 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 the Director of Public Service to pay utility relocation costs to various utilities for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Rd SUP - Broad St to Chapel Stone project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $250,000.00 for utility relocations for this project from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is concerned with the use of the various rights-of-way areas in the City as such rights-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 be completed; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for utility relocation expenses for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Rd SUP - Broad St to Chapel Stone project; and
WHEREAS, Council previously approved Ordinance 1389-2016 on 6/6/16 in the amount of $60,000.00 for utility reimbursements for this project; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes additional funding in the amount of $250,000.00 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, 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 at the earliest possible time to prevent construction delays, 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 / P590105-100000 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements (Voted Carryover) / $173,338.00 / ($173,338.00) / $0.00
7704 / P590105-100005 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Sidewalk Program (Voted Carryover) / $150,000.00 / ($76,662.00) / $73,338.00
7704 / P590105-100071 / Pedestrian Safety Improvements -Waggoner Rd SUP - Broad St to Chapel Stone (Voted Carryover) /$0.00 / $250,000.00 / $250,000.00
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to reimburse utilities for utility relocation costs to American Electric Power, AT&T, Spectrum (aka Time Warner), Windstream, and other utilities and/or companies the utilities contract to perform the utility relocation work for them, for the Pedestrian Safety Improvements - Waggoner Rd SUP - Broad St to Chapel Stone project.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $250,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), in Dept-Div 5911 (Division of Infrastructure Management), Project P590105-100071 (Pedestrian Safety Improvements -Waggoner Rd SUP - Broad St to Chapel Stone), 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 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.