Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with CESO Inc. for preliminary engineering services for the Hoover Reservoir Amenities Project. The contract amount is $41,230.00, with a contingency of $4,750.00, for a total of $45,980.00 being authorized by this ordinance.
The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department manages three reservoirs across central Ohio, including Hoover Reservoir, O’Shaughnessy Reservoir, and Griggs Reservoir. The reservoirs provide countless recreational opportunities to several hundred-thousand Columbus residents per year, including boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and more. Despite the wide range of activities each reservoir provides, all three reservoirs lack an ADA-compliant fishing dock. The Department is seeking to expand the accessibility of the reservoirs to all Columbus residents and is taking steps towards adding a fixed, ADA-compliant fishing dock at the Hoover Reservoir near the Goldsmith Drive parking lot.
The Goldsmith Drive location was chosen as the ADA-compliant dock location due to its low-traffic traffic conditions and proximity to the reservoir. Despite close proximity, anticipated challenges include minimizing impervious surface addition, satisfying ADA-grade for the sidewalk approach to the dock, and identifying successful limits for the dock to account for the seasonal surface water elevations. In addition, whatever is proposed needs to be coordinated with the City’s Department of Public Utilities and other regulatory agencies for permitting. For those reasons, preliminary engineering services will be performed by CESO Inc. to establish project scope for detailed design, identify necessary permits, and estimate final project cost for engineering and construction.
The Department also aims to maintain a high level of service for existing infrastructure at the reservoir. The two existing floating docks at the Walnut Street Boat Ramp are deteriorating structurally. Each floating dock is approximately 110-feet in length and is made of wooden decking over airtight drums. CESO Inc. will identify the scope of repairs needed for the dock abutments, as well as scope for replacing or repairing the docks themselves.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (ODI designation status):
Proposals were advertised to five pre-qualified architecture and engineering firms that were pre-qualified through the bi-annual Request for Statement of Qualification (RFSQ) process through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on October 27, 2020 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on November 10, 2020. Requests for proposals were sent to the following companies:
CESO Inc., Inc. (MAJ)
Mannik & Smith (MAJ)
DLZ (MBE)
Environmental Design Group (MAJ)
Stone Environmental (FBE)
Of note, professional services contracts are quality based selections and not based on price. Costs were not requested nor where they part of this evaluation.
Out of the five requests for proposals sent, only DLZ and CESO Inc. responded. In accordance with City Code, a selection team evaluated the proposals and recommended CESO Inc. be selected to perform the work. The firm was chosen based on their referenced projects, experience, qualifications, availability, timeline, and project approach.
Principal Parties:
CESO Inc., Inc.
2800 Corporate Exchange Drive, St. 400, Columbus
Jeff Tibbitts, tibbitts@cesoinc.vom, 614-942-3016
Contract Compliance Number, Tax ID: 031591, 31-1229907
December 10, 2021
Benefits to the Public: The additional ADA-compliant fixed dock at Hoover Reservoir will be the first ADA-compliant dock at all three reservoirs locations in the city. The fixed dock expands the accessibility of the reservoirs to all Columbus residents. Repairing or replacing the existing Walnut Boat Ramp floating docks system will also increase user safety for the public accessing the Hoover Reservoir.
Community Input/Issues: With over 200 dock customers and thousands of public users, boaters on Hoover Reservoir have regularly requested repairs to the Walnut Street Launch Ramp. There have been improvements to other ramps along Hoover Reservoir within the past ten years and the Walnut Street Ramp is noticeably in disrepair. This ramp has the largest parking lot and serves the largest number of boaters. Most public input has been informal through phone calls and field conversations, but is a frequent topic with the community when discussing Hoover Reservoir.
There have also been recurring requests to Columbus Recreation and Parks, Public Utilities, and the City of Columbus ADA office to create accessible reservoir access. We have had first-hand experience witnessing people struggle on uneven terrain while hoping to enjoy the many recreational activities that Hoover offers. Creating barrier free access to Hoover Reservoir will certainly be appreciated and heavily utilized by Hoover Reservoir’s widespread community.
Area(s) Affected: Citywide (99), Project location is outside of Columbus neighborhood boundaries but will serve all residents of Columbus
Master Plan Relation: This project supports the department’s Master Plan by promoting the use of blueways. In addition, this project provides improved access for different types of watercraft, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Fiscal Impact: $45,980.00 is budgeted and available from and within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this contract.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with CESO, Inc. for preliminary engineering services for the Hoover Reservoir Amenities Project; to amend the 2020 Capital Improvement Budget; to authorize the transfer of $45,980.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund, and to authorize the expenditure of $45,980.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund. ($45,980.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with CESO Inc. for Preliminary Engineering Services for the Hoover Reservoir Amenities Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of 45,980.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2020 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 2521-2020 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $45,980.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department to authorize the Director to enter into contract with CESO, Inc. for preliminary engineering services for the Hoover Reservoir Amenities Project, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare and, 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 CESO, Inc. for preliminary engineering services for the Hoover Reservoir Amenities 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 transfer of $45,980.00 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 6. That the 2020 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 2521-2020 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; P510124-100000; Davis Center Renovation (Voted Carryover) / $632,700/ ($45,980) / $586,720
Fund 7702; P511018-100000; Hoover Reservoir Amenities (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $45,980 / $45,980
SECTION 7. That, for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $45,980.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.