Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Davey Resource Group for the Street Trees - CDBG Site Assessment and Inventory 2020 Project. The contract amount is $217,500.00, with a contingency of $21,750.00, for a total of $239,250.00 authorized by this ordinance. The funding for this contract is being provided by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in accordance with the 2020 Annual Action Plan as approved by Council.
The Recreation and Parks Department is currently developing the City’s first Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP). The current public tree inventory was last completed in 1996 and current data and inventories are critical to the strategic management of City trees. The inventory will collect information on specific trees’ location, species, size, and condition while identifying viable planting locations for additional street trees. With accurate information on the public tree population and viable tree planting sites in neighborhoods, City Forestry will be able to improve tree care and plant additional street trees. The project is set to commence in October 2020 and be completed in March 2021.
Trees provide tangible benefits to Columbus residents. Tree-lined streets beautify Columbus while increasing community interaction with and access to nature. They clean our air, reduce heat, and absorb stormwater. Columbus has the 8th most intense urban heat island effect of major US cities, impacting health, energy use, and water quality. The recently published Columbus Climate Action Plan recommends planting trees as a solution. On March 4, 2020, over 135 residents attended the “Let’s Talk Trees” public open house to provide input on the Urban Forestry Master Plan. One of the ways they could provide feedback was placing dots on a map where they wanted to see trees planted. Additionally, over 300 residents responded to an online comment form, open from February 1, 2020 to April 15, 2020. The residents of Columbus strongly support the planting of more trees in our neighborhoods.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (ODI designation status):
Proposals were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on September 11, 2020 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on September 21, 2020. This project was also picked up by various local and regional plan rooms and distributed to their membership. Proposals were received from the following companies:
Davey Resource Group (MAJ)
Russell Tree Experts (MAJ)
Wallace Pancher Group (MAJ)
In accordance with Columbus City Code 329, a selection team evaluated the proposals and recommended Davey Resource Group be selected to perform the work. The firm was chosen based on their referenced projects, experience, qualifications, availability, timeline, and project approach. Professional service contracts are quality based selections. Costs were not requested and were not part of the evaluation criteria.
Principal Parties:
Davey Resource Group
1500 Mantua Street, Kent, OH 44240
Shirley Vaughn, 330-329-8274
Contract Compliance Number, Tax ID: 027546, 82-1948528
June 10, 2022
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested so that the Recreation and Parks Department can complete the project per the timeline requirements of the CDBG funding, having the project done by the spring of 2021.
Benefits to the Public: Street trees provide numerous environmental, health, and energy efficiency benefits to residents.
Community Input/Issues: More than 135 residents attended a public open house to provide input on the Urban Forestry Master Plan and more than 300 residents submitted feedback electronically. Many comments referred to the management of public trees and the need for additional tree plantings
Area(s) Affected: Milo-Grogan (48), North Central (49), Southwest (59), South Side (63), Far South (64), Citywide (99)
Master Plan Relation: This project supports the Recreation and Parks Departments’ Master Plan by conserving and enhancing the city’s natural resources, protecting the overall environmental health for current and future generations.
Fiscal Impact: $239,250.00 is budgeted and available from within the CDBG Fund 2248 to meet the financial obligations of this contract.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into to enter into contract with Davey Resource Group for the Street Trees - CDBG Site Assessment and Inventory 2020 Project; to authorize the appropriation of $239,250.00 within the CDBG Fund and in accordance with the 2020 Annual Action Plan as approved by Council; to authorize the expenditure of $239,250.00 from the CDBG Fund 2248; and to declare an emergency. ($239,250.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Davey Resource Group for the Street Trees - CDBG Site Assessment and Inventory 2020 Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $239,250.00 within the CDBG Fund 2248 and in accordance with the 2020 Annual Action Plan as approved by Council; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $239,250.00 from the CDBG Fund 2248; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into this contract so that the department can complete the project per the timeline requirements of the CDBG funding, 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 be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Davey Resource Group for the Street Trees - CDBG Site Assessment and Inventory 2020 Project.
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 $239,250.00 is authorized within the CDBG Fund 2248 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance and in accordance with the 2020 Annual Action Plan as approved by Council.
SECTION 6. For the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $239,250.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from CDBG Fund 2248 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
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.