Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into agreement that allows the City of Columbus and its agents, employees, contractors, subcontractors, and invitees to enter upon the Ohio State Fairgrounds Property solely for the purpose of conducting the activities associated with the development of a Community Sports Park. This ordinance also authorizes potential future modifications to this agreement as may be needed to advance the project.
In 2019, the City of Columbus executed a development agreement with the Franklin County Board of County Commissioners and the Columbus Crew Soccer Club to keep the franchise in the city. This agreement describes the construction of the new soccer stadium downtown as well as the redevelopment of the Historic Crew Stadium, formerly known as MAPFRE Stadium, and portions of the surrounding State Fairgrounds into a Community Sports Park.
This ordinance authorizes the attached Right of Entry Agreement for the conduct of activities as described which relate to pre-construction planning and design work upon this land. This ordinance will also authorize subsequent modifications to this agreement as necessary to construct improvements upon this land until such time as a lease agreement is executed between the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio.
Principal Parties:
Ohio Expositions Commission via State of Ohio, Department of Administrative Services
4200 Surface Rd, Columbus, OH 43228
Virgil Strickler, 614-644-4070
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to allow immediate entry onto this property so that the design and construction activities for the Community Sports Park Project can proceed in May of 2021 as scheduled.
Benefits to the Public: This agreement is necessary for the development of the Community Sports Park, which will provide recreational opportunities to over 200,000 residents within a 10 minute drive time.
Community Input/Issues: There will be extensive public engagement and involvement associated with the development of the Community Sports Park.
Area(s) Affected: Citywide (99)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving facilities that can be used and enjoyed by the public for many years.
Fiscal Impact: No fiscal action is required at this time.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a Right of Entry Agreement, and subsequent modifications, with the Ohio Expositions Commission, via the State of Ohio, Department of Administrative Services that allows the City of Columbus and its agents, employees, contractors, subcontractors, and invitees to enter upon the Ohio State Fairgrounds Property solely for the purpose of conducting the activities associated with the development of a Community Sports Park; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into a Right of Entry Agreement and subsequent modifications with the Ohio Expositions Commission via the State of Ohio, Department of Administrative Services that allows the City of Columbus and its agents, employees, contractors, subcontractors, and invitees to enter upon the Ohio State Fairgrounds Property solely for the purpose of conducting the activities associated with the development of a Community Sports Park; 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 agreement to allow immediate entry onto this property so that the design and construction activities for the Community Sports Park Project can proceed in May of 2021 as scheduled, all for the preservation of 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 Recreation and Parks is authorized to enter into a Right of Entry Agreement, and subsequent modifications, with the Ohio Expositions Commission, via the State of Ohio, Department of Administrative Services, that allows the City of Columbus and its agents, employees, contractors, subcontractors, and invitees to enter upon the Ohio State Fairgrounds Property solely for the purpose of conducting the activities associated with the development of a Community Sports Park. This Council hereby supports this action.
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.