Explanation
This ordinance is to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into a contract with MKSK, Inc. to perform a city-wide analysis and update plan for the city’s Parkland Dedication Ordinance.
Background: The Parkland Dedication Ordinance (PDO) was originally adopted as part of the Columbus Code. Recreation and Parks is charged with oversight of the PDO. For several years the city has recognized that the two-decade old PDO established significant zoning exemptions, application limitations, and an outdated impact fee structure, making it inadequate to serve the needs of its residents.
At 900,000 residents Columbus is the 14th largest city in the nation. Its pattern of growth, unique to the Midwest, is expected to continue with an additional 300,000 residents anticipated by 2050. In prior decades, Columbus’ growth history was been characterized by territorial expansion, a pattern which has been changing in the past few years. A more balanced pattern has emerged, with infill development playing a central role. In 2019 the Department completed a 5 year Land Plan analyzing the city’s current parkland and trail inventory, coupled with projected population growth areas and the challenges and opportunities lying ahead to provide high quality, accessible parks and trails. The PDO was identified as inadequate to meet the open space needs envisioned by the city’s growth patterns.
In December of 2019, the Department published a Request for Proposals to research the zoning process of the ordinance, including exemptions, limitations, and fee structure, and to recommend revisions to the PDO to better position Columbus as a national leader in urban parks, greenways, and natural areas.
Formal Requests for Proposals were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on December 18, 2019, and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on January 14, 2020. Proposals were received from the following companies:
Company Status
MKSK Inc. MAJ
Sub Consultants as a part of the team
Dr. John Crompton, Professor Texas A&M
Janet L. Jordan. Moody Nolan
In accordance with City Code 329, a selection team evaluated the proposals and recommended to the Director of Recreation and Parks to contract with MKSK and their team to complete an update to the Parkland Dedication Ordinance. The firm was chosen based on their extensive reference projects, experience, qualifications, availability, timeline, and project approach.
MKSK, Inc. will lead the engagement process with a diverse range of stakeholders, including environmental organizations, city departments, residents, private development, which are affected by the parkland dedication code.
The timeline of the project is set to commence in March of 2020 through November of 2020.
Principal Parties:
MKSK, Inc.
462 South Ludlow Alley
Columbus, Ohio 43212
614-621-2796
Contact:
Brian Kinzelman
bkinzelman@mkskstudios.com
Contract Compliance #: 83-2731940
Emergency Justification: An emergency is being requested to enter into said contracts to complete the amendments to the zoning code by November 30, 2020 as part of the Mayor’s Sustainable Columbus 2020 Initiative.
Benefits to the Public: Parks provide significant benefits to Columbus residents. It is a core mission of the city to provide parkland equitably throughout the city and within the 10 minute access for nearby residents. Currently only 9% of the land use in Columbus is parkland, well below recommended national average. Amendments to the Parkland Dedication Ordinance will provide a tool to offset the intensity of development and preserve open space in Columbus.
Community Input/Issues: The project has received support from the city at large, as they have expressed strong priority for more parkland, park improvements and protected environmentally sensitive areas for conservation. Developers have emphasized the need for consistency and equitability in the application of the Parkland Dedication Ordinance.
Area(s) Affected: All communities
Master Plan Relation: Conserving, protecting, and enhancing the city’s natural resources and overall environmental health for this and future generations.
Fiscal Impact: $73,480.00 is budgeted and available in the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 to meet the financial obligations of these contracts.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a contract with MKSK, Inc. to perform a city-wide analysis and update plan for the city’s Parkland Dedication Ordinance; to authorize the appropriation of $15,734.61 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the transfer of $73,480.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to amend the 2019 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1326-2019; to authorize the expenditure of $73,480.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Permanent Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($73,480.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a contract with MKSK, Inc. to perform a city-wide analysis and update plan for the city’s Parkland Dedication Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $15,734.61 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $108,709.00 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2019 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1326-2019; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $73,480.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Permanent Improvement Fund 7747; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a contract with MKSK, Inc. in order to complete the amendments to the zoning code by November 30, 2020 as part of the Mayor’s Sustainable Columbus 2020 Initiative, 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 Recreation and Parks be, and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with MKSK, Inc. to perform a city-wide analysis and update plan for the city’s Parkland Dedication Ordinance.
SECTION 2. 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 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 the appropriation of $15,734.61 is authorized within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the transfer of $73,480.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the 2019 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1326-2019 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this ordinance and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
Fund 7747; P510042-100000; Parkland Dedication - Clintonville (Carryover) / $162,543 / ($3,040) / $159,503
Fund 7747; P510043-100000; Parkland Dedication - Downtown (Carryover) / $2,522 / ($47) / $2,475
Fund 7747; P510044-100000; Parkland Dedication - Eastland/Brice (Carryover) / $34,323 / ($642) / $33,681
Fund 7747; P510046-100000; Parkland Dedication - Far East (Carryover) / $53,144 / ($994) / $52,150
Fund 7747; P510047-100000; Parkland Dedication - Far North (Carryover) / $1,074,116 / ($20,086) / $1,054,030
Fund 7747; P510048-100000; Parkland Dedication - Far Northwest (Carryover) / $243,403 / ($4,552) / $238,851
Fund 7747; P510049-100000; Parkland Dedication - Far South (Carryover) / $2,217 / ($41) / $2,176
Fund 7747; P510050-100000; Parkland Dedication - Far West (Carryover) / $183,254 / ($3,427) / $179,827
Fund 7747; P510051-100000; Parkland Dedication - Franklinton (Carryover) / $89 / ($2) / $87
Fund 7747; P510052-100000; Parkland Dedication - Greenlawn/Frank Rd (Carryover) / $4,611 / ($86) / $4,525
Fund 7747; P510053-100000; Parkland Dedication - Hayden Run (Carryover) / $314,061 / ($5,873) / $308,188
Fund 7747; P510055-100000; Parkland Dedication - Near East (Carryover) / $106,605 / ($1,994) / $104,611
Fund 7747; P510056-100000; Parkland Dedication - Near North/University (Carryover) / $197,030 / ($3,684) / $193,346
Fund 7747; P510057-100000; Parkland Dedication - Near South (Carryover) / $3,346 / ($63) / $3,283
Fund 7747; P510058-100000; Parkland Dedication - North Linden (Carryover) / $333 / ($6) / $327
Fund 7747; P510059-100000; Parkland Dedication - Northeast (Carryover) / $975 / ($18) / $957
Fund 7747; P510060-100000; Parkland Dedication - Northland (Carryover) / $25,209 / ($471) / $24,738
Fund 7747; P510061-100000; Parkland Dedication - Northwest (Carryover) / $34,736 / ($650) / $34,086
Fund 7747; P510062-100000; Parkland Dedication - Rickenbacker (Carryover) / $31,880 / ($596) / $31,284
Fund 7747; P510063-100000; Parkland Dedication - Rocky Fork-Blacklick (Carryover) / $541,346 / ($10,123) / $531,223
Fund 7747; P510064-100000; Parkland Dedication - South Linden (Carryover) / $806 / ($15) / $791
Fund 7747; P510065-100000; Parkland Dedication - Southeast (Carryover) / $49,513 / ($926) / $48,587
Fund 7747; P510066-100000; Parkland Dedication - West Olentangy (Carryover) / $78,750 / ($1,473) / $77,277
Fund 7747; P510067-100000; Parkland Dedication - West Scioto (Carryover) / $186,810 / ($3,493) / $183,317
Fund 7747; P510068-100000; Parkland Dedication - Westland (Carryover) / $587,622 / ($10,989) / $576,633
Fund 7747; P747999-100000; Unallocated Balance Fund 7747 (Carryover) / $476,720 / ($190) / $476,530
Fund 7747; P517747-100000; Parkland Dedication Ordinance Improvements Plan (Carryover) / $0 / $73,481 / $73,481
SECTION 8. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $73,480.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Permanent Improvement Fund 7747 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 9. 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.