Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission for the 2020 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 14, East Broad Street Preserve Project. This ordinance will also authorize the appropriation of grant and matching funds. The grant amount is $181,275.00 and the local match amount is $60,425.00.
In March of 2020, the Department applied for Clean Ohio Funds to acquire green space in the Far East community, along Big Walnut Creek at 5199 East Broad Street, as authorized by Ordinance 0432-2020. In July of 2020, the Department received notice that the grant was approved. This Ordinance will allow the Director to enter into the grant agreement, accept the funding, and appropriate the funds.
Big Walnut Creek is considered one of the highest water quality major water courses in Central Ohio. For several years, acquisition in the central section of the stream has been a focus of Recreation and Parks in order to preserve valuable riparian corridor. The purpose of the project is to acquire a significant 36.4 acre tract of natural land along the east bank of Big Walnut Creek on the south side of East Broad Street. Over 3,000 linear feet of Big Walnut Creek flows past the site. Acquiring the land provides substantial long term preservation for water quality, forest preservation, protection of habitat, and public access. In 2019, Recreation and Parks acquired with Clean Ohio Funds for an adjacent 22 acres of mature forest, ravine, and wetlands on the east boundary of this project.
Principal Parties:
Ohio Public Works Commission
65 E. State Street, Suite 312
Columbus, OH 43215
Nathaniel Vogt 614-233-4183
Contract Compliance Number, Tax ID: 005089, 31-1334820
Expiration Date: N/A (State of Ohio Agency)
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is being requested so that the Director can immediately sign the grant agreement, get the funding into place, and complete the acquisition negotiations.
Benefits to the Public: This acquisition protects of the city’s high quality waterways, greenway corridors, ravines, and urban forests. The project is within a rapidly urbanizing area of the city and preservation of key natural sites is one of the main missions of Recreation and Parks. Conservation of this site relies heavily upon outside funding assistance to achieve these benefits.
Community Input/Issues: During the past decade, residents in these communities, and the city at large, have expressed strong priority for more protected stream corridors, headwater tributaries, access to nature, walking paths, and urban forest conservation. This project received support from the area commission and the owners are willing sellers.
Area(s) Affected: Far East (58)
Master Plan Relation: This acquisition will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by protecting the environmental health and resilience of the city’s waterways, providing long term protection to corridors for walking, biking, and outdoor experiences. It will also improve equitable access to trails and greenways.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance will authorize the appropriation of $181,275.00 in grant funds in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283. This ordinance will also authorize a grant match of $60,425.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702. $60,425.00 is budgeted and available in the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of the grant match. There is a total of $241,700.00 available for this acquisition. Future legislation will be prepared to expend these funds once acquisition negotiations have been completed.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission for the 2020 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 14, East Broad Street Preserve Project and accept a grant in the amount of $181,275.00 with a minimum local match of $60,425.00; to authorize the appropriation of $181,275.00 in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283; to authorize the amendment of the 2019 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance; to authorize the transfer of $60,425.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($241,700.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 0432-2020 authorized the Director of Recreation and Parks to apply for funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission’s (OPWC) Clean Ohio Trails Fund and the OPWC has awarded the City of Columbus a grant for the 2020 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 14, East Broad Street Preserve Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant in the amount of $181,275.00 and enter into an agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission for the 2020 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Round 14 - East Broad Street Preserve Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $181,275.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize that the 2019 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1326-2019 be amended in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this legislation and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $60,425.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; 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 to immediately sign the grant agreement, get the funding into place, and complete the acquisition negotiations, all for the preservation of public peace, property, health, welfare, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks is authorized and directed to accept a grant and enter into an agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission for the East Broad Street Preserve Project. The amount of the grant is $181,275.00 and requires a minimum of $60,425.00 in City matching funds. There is a total of $241,700.00 available for this acquisition. Future legislation will be prepared to expend these funds once acquisition negotiations have been completed.
SECTION 2. 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 ending December 31, 2020, the sum of $181,275.00 is appropriated to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. Appropriation effective upon receipt of executed grant agreement.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 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 the transfer of $60,425.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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 7702; P513003-100000; Columbus City Schools Acquisitions 2020 (SIT Supported) / $0 / $340,000 / $340,000 (to match cash)
Fund 7702; P513003-100000; Columbus City Schools Acquisitions 2020 (SIT Supported) / $340,000 / ($60,425) / $279,575
Fund 7702; P510919-513000; East Broad Street Preserve Grant Match (SIT Supported) / $0 / $60,425 / $60,425
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.