Explanation
This legislation is required of the City in order to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Agreement with Appalachia Ohio Alliance (AOA) in order to implement two Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA)-approved environmental protection and restoration projects. Created in 2000, OEPA’s Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) was established to counter the loss of ecological function and biological diversity that jeopardizes the health of Ohio’s water resources. The WRRSP program, administered by the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA) uses interest monies from Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF) “Sponsor Project” loans to fund OEPA-approved projects to accomplish this goal.
The WRRSP projects to be implemented as a result of this WRRSP Sponsorship Agreement are identified in Section 1 as the Appalachia Ohio Alliance’s: Big Darby Creek Conservation Corridor Scioto River Flyway Initiative Project (Carter and Confluence Properties) and the Fleming Bend Protection and Restoration Project - Scioto River Flyway Corridor Initiative. Both projects were designated by the Department of Public Utilities for sponsorship through a WRRSP Sponsorship Letter of Intent, dated April 23, 2020 for funding approval for Program Year 2021 through the WPCLF Program. Either or both of the designated Sewerage and Drainage Division Projects, identified in Section 2. will serve as the Sponsor Projects for the Appalachia Ohio Alliance projects. Both projects are listed on the Ohio EPA 2021 WRRSP Project Priority List as an Intended Project for funding in 2021. The sponsoring Sewerage and Drainage Division Projects are also listed on the Intended Projects List for Ohio EPA funding through the WPCLF in 2021. The City may elect to sponsor both WRRSP projects under one or both of the projects identified in Section 2.
Ordinance 1064-2020 passed City Council on June 1, 2020 and authorized the Director of Public Utilities to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority. Subsequently, it was determined that the WRRSP agreement should be executed between the City and the Appalachia Ohio Alliance.
FISCAL IMPACT: The City will save money by receiving an interest rate discount on the WPCLF Loan financing the Division of Sewerage and Drainage’s Sponsor Project.
Title
To amend Section 1 of ordinance number 1064-2020 to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Agreement with the Appalachia Ohio Alliance; and to designate a Division of Sewerage and Drainage Project as the Sponsor Project for the WRRSP.
Body
WHEREAS, on April 23, 2020, the Director of Public Utilities submitted a Sponsorship Letter of Intent to the Ohio EPA Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance expressing the City's intent to sponsor two Appalachia Ohio Alliance Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Projects for Program Year 2021 funding, and thereby designated two Division of Sewerage and Drainage Capital Improvements Projects as the potential WRRSP Sponsor Projects for the WRRSPs; and
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2020 Ordinance 1064-2020 passed authorizing the Director of Public Utilities to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program (WRRSP) Agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Ohio Water Development Authority; however it was later determined the agreement should be executed between the City and the Appalachia Ohio Alliance; and
WHEREAS, the City, as a WRRSP Sponsor, will save money by receiving an interest rate discount on the WPCLF Sponsor Project Loan which will reduce its total loan repayments below that which would be required without sponsoring the WRRSP; and
WHEREAS, this legislation must be approved by City Council and a certified copy must be submitted to the Ohio EPA in order to enter into the WRRSP Agreement with Appalachia Ohio Alliance; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director to execute a WRRSP Agreement with Appalachia Ohio Alliance; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Section 1 of Ordinance Number 1064-2020 is hereby amended to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to execute a Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program Agreement with the Appalachia Ohio Alliance, for the following projects:
Appalachia Ohio Alliance Big Darby Creek Conservation Corridor Scioto River Flyway Initiative Project (Carter and Confluence Properties); $2,258,000
Appalachia Ohio Alliance Fleming Bend Protection and Restoration Project - Scioto River Flyway Corridor Initiative; $2,611,000
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to designate the following Division of Sewerage and Drainage Projects as the Sponsor Projects for the WRRSP project as herein described in Section 1 of this Ordinance. One of the projects below may sponsor both projects. The WRRSP Sponsor Projects are as follows:
Lower Olentangy Tunnel; CIP No. 650724-100000; WPCLF No. CS390274-0362
Central College Subtrunk Extension Phase 3; CIP No. 650003-100000; WPCLF No. CS390274-0376
SECTION 3. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.