Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to establish an encumbrance within the Special Income Tax Fund to pay 2020 waste disposal tipping fees for the Division of Refuse Collection and to expend funds to pay the tipping fees. This expense is necessary to safely and contractually dispose of the waste collected by the division in the course of pursuing its mission by providing residential refuse collection services to over 320,000 households weekly, picking up bulk items and illegally dumped items as needed, and to provide radiation remediation services to process quarantined loads at SWACO tipping sites.
The Department of Public Service has determined that $17,128,000.00 should be adequate for this purpose. This number is based upon an estimated waste stream of 319,000 tons in 2020. Actual tonnage is ultimately dependent on variables such as the weather, the actual number of households collected that cannot be specifically calculated at this time, and the unknown amount of bulk and illegally dumped items. If necessary, additional legislation will be submitted to increase funds at a later date.
Previous calendar years' actual tipping fee expenditures totaled $16,656,304.00 (2017), $16,763,000.00 (2018), and $16,767,000.00 in 2019. SWACO tipping fee rates are determined by SWACO's established rate setting process. Due to an existing contractual relationship where the City of Columbus participates in the rate setting process, the City is required to use SWACO waste disposal services. The vendors and waste disposal fees for tire disposal services, construction/demolition material disposal services, and radiation remediation services will be determined through the city's competitive bidding process.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
This 2020 expense is budgeted within the Special Income Tax Fund and is part of Ordinance 2927-2019 tabled by Council on 11/18/2019. This ordinance is contingent upon passage of the 2020 operating budget, and Ordinance 2927-2019 authorizing the use of Special Income Tax fund monies.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Ordinance 2927-2019 authorizing the use of Special Income Tax Fund money for waste disposal tipping purposes has to be approved by Council before this encumbrance can be established. Per the contract with SWACO, the City is subject to late fees for all invoices not paid within the due date. Emergency action is requested to avoid delays of payment to SWACO that could result in the city incurring interest penalties as specified within the contract.
Title
To authorize the expenditure of $17,128,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary from the Special Income Tax Fund to pay 2020 waste disposal tipping fees for the Division of Refuse Collection; to authorize the Director of Public Service to establish an encumbrance of $17,053,000.00 to pay refuse tipping fees to the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio for the Division of Refuse Collection pursuant to an existing lease agreement; to establish encumbrances up to $25,000.00 for tire disposal and construction/demolition material disposal; to establish an encumbrance up to $50,000.00 for radiation remediation services; and to declare an emergency. ($17,128,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Refuse Collection must encumber funds to continue refuse tipping at the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) facilities, pursuant to the lease agreement between the City and SWACO for those facilities, and must encumber funds for disposal of tires, construction/demolition material disposal, and radiation remediation services; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service has determined that $17,128,000.00 should be adequate for this purpose and is based upon an estimated waste stream of 319,000 tons in 2019; and
WHEREAS, actual tonnage is ultimately dependent on variables such as the weather, the actual number of households collected that cannot be specifically calculated at this time, and the unknown amount of bulk and illegally dumped items; and
WHEREAS, if necessary, additional legislation will be submitted to increase funds at a later date; and
WHEREAS, the vendors and waste disposal fees for tire disposal services, construction/demolition material disposal services, and radiation remediation services will be determined through the city's competitive bidding process; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Refuse Collection, Department of Public Service, in that it is immediately necessary to establish an encumbering document with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio for 2020 refuse disposal services to avoid incurring interest penalties due to late payments, 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 Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to establish an encumbrance of $17,053,000.00 with SWACO for 2020 refuse tipping services for the Division of Refuse Collection at the various rate charges assigned to each tipping location and any legal subsequently adjusted rates; and to establish an encumbrance of $25,000.00 for disposal of tires and construction/demolition material; and to establish an encumbrance of $50,000.00 for radiation remediation services.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $17,128,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 4430 (Special Income Tax Fund) in Object Class 03 (Purchased Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. Due to an existing contractual relationship where the City of Columbus participates in the rate setting process, the City is required to use SWACO waste disposal services, and all other contracts for tire disposal services, construction/demolition material disposal services, and radiation remediation services will be awarded in accordance with applicable provisions of Chapter 329.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor be and hereby is authorized to make any/all other accounting changes for the transactions discussed within this ordinance that are construed by the City Auditor to be reasonably consistent with the intent of 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 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.