Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The City of Columbus Department of Public Service, Division of Infrastructure Management, frequently must acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for capital improvement projects including various bridge projects throughout the City. To expedite the right of way acquisition process, the following legislation establishes a contingency fund in the amount of $50,000.00 for the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners and acquire such parcels as they are identified.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $50,000.00 are available for this expense in Fund 7704, the Streets & Highways Bond Fund. An amendment to the 2020 Capital Improvements Budget is necessary for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure. Funds are appropriated.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to setup a contingency fund to provide necessary right-of-way acquisition funding and prevent unnecessary delays in the Department of Public Service's Capital Improvement Program.
Title
To amend the 2020 Capital Improvement Budget; authorize the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners, and acquire right-of-way in support of the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program; to authorize the expenditure of up to $50,000.00 from the Streets & Highways Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service, frequently must acquire minor parcels of permanent and temporary right-of-way for various capital improvement projects within the City; and
WHEREAS, a contingency fund in the amount of $50,000.00 is needed to be used by the City Attorney's Office, Real Estate Division, to hire professional services, negotiate with property owners, and acquire such parcels as they are identified in order to expedite the right-of-way acquisition process; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend the 2020 Capital Improvements Budget for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned expenditure; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to establish the contingency fund to prevent delays in the construction of the Department of Public Service’s Capital Improvement Program, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney's Office be, and hereby is, authorized to acquire fee simple title and lesser interests in and to certain parcels of real estate, to contract for professional services, negotiate with property owners and acquire such parcels as they are identified in an amount up to $50,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the 2020 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 2521-2020 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change /C.I.B. as Amended
7704 / P530301-100070 / Bridge Rehabilitation - Annual Citywide Contract (Voted 2019 SIT Supported) / $86,364.00 / $50,000.00 / $39,365.00
7704 / P530301-100078 / Bridge Rehabilitation - Misc. ROW Fund for Bridge Projects 2021 (Voted 2019 SIT Supported) / $0.00 / $50,000.00 / $50,000.00
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $50,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets & Highways Bond Fund) in Dept-Div 5911 (Infrastructure Management), Project P530301-100078 (Bridge Rehabilitation - Misc. ROW Fund for Bridge Projects 2021), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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.