Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Support Services, to enter into a contract with Rinehart Tower Services Inc. to provide lighting upgrades to aging or failing tower lighting on City of Columbus owned radio towers. Due to the height of the towers and their proximity to air traffic, all City of Columbus owned radio towers fall under an FAA requirement for aircraft obstacle collision and avoidance. Currently, one radio tower lighting system is failing intermittently and requires a complete replacement. An additional tower is still using bulb technology where bulbs have failed in the past and are beginning to fail at a higher rate. This upgrade will save costs on energy and reduce the frequency of failure of the lights.
Bidding information: A bid waiver is being requested for this project as this contractor has had previous experience with our tower sites adding and removing of equipment and there is an immediate need to address the failing lighting system on the towers.
Contract Compliance: Contract Compliance Number #CC005046, expires April 1, 2021
Emergency Designation: Emergency designation is requested to ensure that the City's radio towers are in compliance with the FAA.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the Safety Director to enter into contract with Rinehart Tower Services Inc to upgrade lighting on the City's radio towers. Funds budgeted in Public Safety's Voted Bond Funds will be used for this project.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Support Services, to enter into a contract with Rinehart Tower Services Inc. for the upgrades of lighting on the radio towers throughout the City; to waive the competitive bidding requirement of the City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $53,499.19 from Public Safety's Capital Improvement Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($53,499.19)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, has a need for lighting upgrades on the existing radio towers throughout the City; and,
WHEREAS, renovation is required on the existing radio towers to be in accordance with the FAA; and,
WHEREAS, funds are budgeted and available in the Department of Public Safety's 2019 Capital Improvement Budget; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Support Services, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into said contract with Rinehart Tower Services Inc. for the upgrades of the radio towers throughout the City in order for them to operate without interruption, thereby preserving the public peace, health, property, safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Safety, on behalf of the Division of Support Services, be and is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with Rinehart Tower Services Inc. for the upgrades of lighting on the radio towers throughout the City.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $53,499.19, or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in SECTION 1, be and is hereby authorized from Fund 7701 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That this Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding requirements of City Code to allow execution of the aforementioned contract.
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.
SECTION 7. 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.