Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes payment for utility relocation work as needed by AT&T and other utilities (or companies hired by utilities to perform utility relocation work) for the Intersection Improvements-Hilliard Rome Road at Feder Road (FRA-CR03-12.96 PID 98557) project in an amount of up to $440,000.00.
The Department of Public Service is engaged in the Intersection Improvements-Hilliard Rome Road at Feder Road project. The Department of Public Service is currently finalizing construction plans and is prepared to authorize right-of-way acquisition pending passage of this funding legislation.
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.
The funding request for utilities relocation reimbursement is based upon estimates from the utilities. The utilities 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
The estimated cost of the utility relocation work is $440,000.00. The work is partially funded by a reimbursement grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) that has an 80/20 funding split of eligible costs, with ODOT providing the 80%. Grant number G591806 (Hilliard Rome Rd at Feder Rd 98557) was established for this grant. $352,000.00 will need to be appropriated within the grant for this expense.
The 20% local share cost of $88,000.00 is a budgeted expense within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund, Project P530086-100027 (Intersection Improvements-Hilliard Rome Road at Feder Road).
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency designation is requested to provide funding for utility reimbursements at the earliest possible time to maintain the project construction schedule.
Title
To appropriate $352,000.00 within the Federal Transportation Grant Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to pay utility relocation costs to various utilities for the Intersection Improvements-Hilliard Rome Road at Feder Road project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $352,000.00 from the Federal Transportation Grant Fund and up to $88,000.00 from the Streets and Highways Bond Fund for utility relocations for this project; and to declare an emergency. ($440,000.00)
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 begin; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for utility relocation expenses for the Intersection Improvements-Hilliard Rome Road at Feder Road project; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes funding in the amount of $440,000.00 for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, funds will need to be appropriated within the Federal Transportation Grant Fund, Fund 7765; 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 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 from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources unappropriated for any other purpose during the period ending December 31, 2019, the sum of $352,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grant Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Grant G591806 (Hilliard Rome Road at Feder Road PID 98557), in Object Class 06 Capital Outlay per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to reimburse utilities for utility relocation work, or to reimburse companies hired by utilities to perform utility relocation work, for the Intersection Improvements-Hilliard Rome Road at Feder Road project.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $352,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grant Fund), in Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Grant G591806 (Hilliard Rome Road at Feder Road PID 98557), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $88,000.00, 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 P530086-100027 (Intersection Improvements-Hilliard Rome Road at Feder Road), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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 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 7. 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 8. 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.