Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to enter into professional services contracts with Paul Werth Associates in the amount of up to $300,000.00 for the Intersection - Cleveland Ave - Pedestrian Safety Outreach project.
Ordinance 1008-2018 authorized the Director of Public Service to submit applications for Highway Safety Program grant funds and to execute agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation necessary to accept any awarded grant funds. The Intersection - Cleveland Ave - Pedestrian Safety Outreach project was awarded funding in an amount up to $300,000.00 from the Highway Safety Program.
This project is a pedestrian safety outreach campaign with the goal of raising pedestrian safety awareness as well as highlighting safety improvements constructed within the Cleveland Avenue corridor, particularly the area between 5th Avenue and Lehner Road. There have been multiple crashes involving pedestrians, including several fatal crashes, within this corridor. In the 2012-2017 timeframe, there were 92 pedestrian crashes on Cleveland Avenue, including 3 fatalities.
This project will be a two-part safety outreach plan. The initial portion of the campaign will focus on reducing the number of crashes involving pedestrians on Cleveland Avenue by improving pedestrian safety awareness of people living and commuting in the corridor. A later component of the campaign, which aligns with the construction of pedestrian improvements, will focus on educating members of the public about specific pedestrian safety improvements constructed within the Cleveland Avenue corridor.
Materials for this campaign will need to be in a variety of formats and be able to be released to a variety of audiences. Expected audiences range from children to adults, with locations ranging from schools and libraries to religious organizations and carryouts.
The Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Intersection - Cleveland Ave - Pedestrian Safety Outreach contract. The project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Bonfire web sites from January 7, 2020, to February 6, 2020. The City received three responses. All proposals were deemed responsive and were fully evaluated when the Evaluation Committee met on February 19, 2020. The responding firms were:
Company Name City/State Majority/MBE/MBR/F1/AS1/PHC
Paul Werth Associates, Inc. Columbus, OH WBE
Murphy Epson, Inc. Columbus, OH WBE
Hicks Partners, LLC Columbus, OH MAJ
Paul Werth Associates received the highest score by the evaluation committee and will be awarded the Intersection - Cleveland Ave - Pedestrian Safety Outreach contract.
Searches in the Excluded Party List System (Federal) and the Findings for Recovery list (State) produced no findings against Paul Werth Associates Inc.
2. CONTRACT COMPLIANCE
Paul Werth Associates contract compliance number is CC004255 and expires 02/01/2021.
3. FISCAL IMPACT
This is a budgeted expense of $300,000.00 in a reimbursable grant from the Ohio Department of Transportation, Fund 2220 (Government General Grant Fund), Grant #G592001 (Cleveland Ave Ped Ed PID 111575). The grant will pay 100% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $300,000.00. City matching funds are not needed for this project. It is anticipated all project expenses will be eligible for reimbursement under the grant. It is also anticipated project expenses will not exceed $300,000.00.
4. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to expedite this contract to implement this public safety campaign as soon as possible.
Title
To appropriate funds within the General Government Grants Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to enter into professional services contracts with Paul Werth Associates for the Intersection - Cleveland Ave - Pedestrian Safety Outreach project; to authorize the expenditure of up to $300,000.00 from the General Government Grants Fund to pay for this contract; and to declare an emergency. ($300,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 1008-2018 authorized the Director of Public Service to submit applications for Highway Safety Program grant fund and to execute agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation necessary to accept any awarded grant funds; and
WHEREAS, the Intersection - Cleveland Ave - Pedestrian Safety Outreach project was awarded grant funding from the Highway Safety Program; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to enter into a professional services contract to provide for a Pedestrian Safety Outreach Campaign for the Cleveland Avenue corridor; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service, Office of Support Services, solicited Requests for Proposals for the Intersection - Cleveland Ave - Pedestrian Safety Outreach project; and
WHEREAS, Paul Werth Associates submitted the best overall proposal for this project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to enter into a contract with Paul Werth Associates for the provision of professional consulting services described above in the amount of up to $300,000.00; and
WHEREAS, funds must be appropriated within the General Government Grants Fund to pay for the project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into the contract with Paul Werth Associates in order to implement this public safety campaign as soon as possible, 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 and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, the sum of $300,000.00 is appropriated in Fund 2220 (General Government Grants), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project G592001 (Cleveland Ave Ped Ed PID 111575), 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 enter into professional services contracts with Paul Werth Associates at 10 North High Street, Suite 300, Columbus, Ohio 43215, for the Intersection - Cleveland Ave - Pedestrian Safety Outreach project in an amount up to $300,000.00.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $300,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2220 (General Government Grants Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project G592001 (Cleveland Ave Ped Ed PID 111575), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
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 for said project.
SECTION 7. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
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.