Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to execute agreements with and to accept funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to support work performed as part of the FRA-Columbus-PSIP-FY2021 PID 113293 project, also known as the Pedestrian Safety Improvement Program.
The aforementioned project consists of pedestrian safety improvements at various locations within the City of Columbus culminating in the reconstruction of designated intersections, including striping crosswalks, installing pedestrian signal infrastructures, reconstructing curb ramps, and constructing new curb extensions, curb ramps and median refuge islands. While the following list is subject to change, the designated intersections to be improved include:
• Grant Avenue and Walnut Street
• Livingston Avenue and 22nd Avenue
• Livingston Avenue and Wilson Avenue
• Livingston Avenue and Lilley Avenue
• Livingston Avenue and Bulen Avenue
• Livingston Avenue And Hampton Road
• Livingston Avenue And Coburg Road
• Livingston Avenue And Elderwood Avenue
• Neil Avenue and Collins Avenue
• 4th Street and Detroit / 4th Avenue Midblock
• 4th Street and 3rd Avenue
• 4th Street and 4th Avenue
• 4th Street and 13th Avenue
• Lane Avenue between Neil Street and High Street
• Lane Avenue and Waldeck Avenue
• Kinnear Road and OSU Research Center
• Kinnear Road and Graybar Electric Supply
• Harper Road and McKinley Avenue
• Ohio Avenue and Mound Street
Originally, ODOT was to administer construction of the project, and Ordinance 2129-2020 authorized the Director of Public Service to grant consent and propose cooperation with ODOT relative to that effort. ODOT recently asked the Department of Public Service to oversee the construction of the planned improvements and awarded the City up to $1,737,687.00 for that purpose. ODOT will pay 100% of the cost of the improvements, with the City assuming responsibility for any enhancements beyond what ODOT considers necessary for the project. A separate ordinance will be presented to Council for consideration to authorize the award of the construction contract and the expenditure of funds to build the improvements.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
None at this time; a separate ordinance authorizing the expenditure of funds to support anticipated construction costs will be submitted to City Council at a later date.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to facilitate the execution of requisite agreements and the receipt and acceptance of requisite construction funding as soon as reasonably practicable to prevent delays in the construction of these public safety enhancements.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to execute agreements with, and accept funding from, the Ohio Department of Transportation relative to the FRA-Columbus-PSIP-FY2021 PID 113293 project; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Transportation previously proposed improving pedestrian safety at various locations within the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the FRA-Columbus-PSIP-FY2021 PID 113293 project, also known as the Pedestrian Safety Improvement Program, encompasses the reconstruction of designated intersections, including striping crosswalks, installing pedestrian signal infrastructures, reconstructing curb ramps, and constructing new curb extensions, curb ramps and median refuge islands; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 2129-2020 authorized the Director of Public Service to grant consent and propose cooperation with ODOT relative to that effort; and
WHEREAS, ODOT recently asked the Department of Public Service to oversee the aforementioned project and awarded the City up to $1,737,687.00 for that purpose; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to execute agreements with and to accept funding from ODOT to support work performed as part of the aforementioned effort; 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 execute the requisite agreements and the receipt and acceptance of requisite construction funding as soon as reasonably practicable so as to prevent delays in the construction of these public safety enhancements, 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 the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to enter into agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation to facilitate the acceptance and expenditure of federal funds to support the construction of the FRA-Columbus-PSIP-FY2021 PID 113293 project, also known as the Pedestrian Safety Improvement Program.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor be and hereby is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor be and hereby is 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 4. That at the end of the agreement period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by ODOT hereby is authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which those funds originated in accordance with all applicable agreements.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance hereby is 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 of the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.