Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to modify a contract with Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW), an Ohio non-profit corporation, in order to extend the contract term and allow reimbursement for expenses incurred since December 31, 2020. No additional funds are being added.
On July 30, 2018, Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 1896-2018 in an amount up to $20,000.00 to purchase a pedestrian footbridge over Slyh Run to create a Safe Route to School passageway from the nearby neighborhood to Cranbrook Elementary School and ten (10) wooded acres surrounding the stream.
On November 18, 2019, Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 2723-2019 to modify the contract by extending the term date for one year to expire on December 31, 2020.
This ordinance seeks to extend the contract term to December 31, 2022 for the purpose of confirming an agreement with Columbus City Schools for FLOW to undertake all maintenance of the footbridge and a Better Together grant from the Columbus Foundation.
Emergency action is requested in order to allow FLOW to complete the Slyh Run pedestrian footbridge project without delay.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no funding required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to modify a contract with the Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) to extend the contract term and authorize reimbursement for expenses incurred since December 31, 2020; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 1896-2018 in an amount up to $20,000.00 to provide a pedestrian footbridge over Slyh Run to connect the nearby neighborhood with a safe route to school to Cranbrook Elementary and access to ten wooded acres surrounding the stream; and
WHEREAS, FLOW is in line to receive a Better Together grant from the Columbus Foundation; and
WHEREAS, support for the project has been received by Columbus City Schools by allowing FLOW to handle all maintenance on the footbridge; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 2723-2019 authorizing a first modification to the contract to extend the end date to December 31, 2020; and
WHEREAS, more time is needed to finalize agreements between FLOW and Columbus City Schools and the Columbus Foundation and to design and construct the footbridge; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance allows a second modification for the extension of the contract term to December 31, 2022 and allows reimbursement for expenses incurred since December 31, 2020; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to extend the end date of the contract to December 31, 2020 in order to complete the Slyh Run pedestrian footbridge 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 the Department of Development is authorized to modify a contract with Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) to allow for the extension of the contract term to December 31, 2022, and authorize reimbursement for expenses incurred since December 31, 2020.
SECTION 2. 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.