Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with MurphyEpson for the provision of engagement and outreach services.
As an immediate follow up to the insight2050 Corridor Concepts report, the City of Columbus and COTA are partnering for a series of Mobility Innovation Tests. The city is evaluating innovative ways to move more people faster and testing those ideas. As a first test, COTA and the City deployed temporary transit enhancements on 3rd street downtown, based on the second place idea at last year’s Purple Aisle Transportation Innovation Weekend. By dedicating the curb lane to buses, bikes, and scooters, COTA saw a 25% time savings and closed their time range to traverse the corridor from 3-24 minutes to 2-10 minutes.
As part of the mobility innovation tests, the City will contract with MurphyEpson for communication services surrounding the execution of the second mobility innovation test.
The services MurphyEpson provided during the previous mobility innovation test helped form a template that can be re-used for future mobility innovation tests. As expected, this contract is cheaper because of that foundational work. Mobility Innovation tests are an ongoing series to improve our transportation system using the principles of tactical urbanism while shifting the transportation focus of Columbus residents.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to immediately contract with MurphyEpson in preparation for additional mobility innovation tests.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into contract with MurphyEpson for the provision of engagement and outreach services; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($20,029.00)
Body
WHEREAS, to follow up to the insight2050 Corridor Concepts report, the City of Columbus and COTA are partnering for a series of Mobility Innovation Tests; and
WHEREAS, as a first test, COTA and the City deployed temporary transit enhancements on 3rd street downtown, based on the second place idea at last year’s Purple Aisle Transportation Innovation Weekend; and
WHEREAS, COTA saw a 25% time savings and closed their time range to traverse the corridor from 3-24 minutes to 2-10 minutes; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a contract with MurphyEpson in preparation for additional mobility innovation tests; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service is hereby authorized to enter into contract with MurphyEpson for the provision of engagement and outreach services.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $20,029.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to the Department of Public Service per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $20,029.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 legislation.
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.