Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to execute agreements with and to accept grant funds from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), through the Parks and Recreation Improvement Fund.
The City of Columbus, Department of Public Service is engaged in the ASR-Hudson St-I-71 to Cleveland Ave project which will reconstruct Hudson Street from I-71 to Cleveland Avenue. Grant funding in the amount of $735,000 from ODNR has been awarded to the Hudson Greenway Trail that is a part of the larger roadway project. The trail portion of the ASR-Hudson St-I-71 to Cleveland Ave project will construct a trail along Hudson Street from approximately I-71 to Cleveland Avenue that will ultimately connect the Alum Creek Trail to the Olentangy River Trail, as well as provide access to communities and points of interest along the route. Hudson Street is one of the primary gateways into the North Linden and South Linden communities.
This ordinance will authorize the Director of Public Service to accept grant funds from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, to execute those documents necessary to accept the grant, to administer the grant funds in accordance with the terms and conditions of that award, and to refund any unused funds to grantor after the grant period ends if final accounting determines a refund is owed. A separate ordinance will be submitted to Council to expend awarded grant funds and to encumber and expend necessary matching City funds.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Pursuant to the terms and conditions of the grant, the Department of Public Service will be responsible for providing the remaining funds to complete the Hudson Greenway Trail in connection to the larger ASR-Hudson St-I-71 to Cleveland Ave project.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to allow for the execution of necessary grant documents and the acceptance and receipt of grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in accordance with the conditions of that award as soon as possible.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to execute agreements with, and to accept grant funding in the amount of up to $735,000.00 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, through the Parks and Recreation Improvement Fund for the Hudson Greenway Trail in connection to the larger Hudson Street - I-71 to Cleveland Avenue project; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is offering $735,000.00 in grant funding to assist in covering costs associated with the Hudson Greenway Trail in connection to the larger Hudson Street - I-71 to Cleveland Avenue project, administered by the City of Columbus, Department of Public Service; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to execute documents, and any amendments and modifications thereto as may be necessary, with and to accept awarded grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, for the stated purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists within the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to execute the necessary grant documents and the acceptance and receipt of grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources in accordance with the conditions of that award as soon as possible, 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 is hereby authorized to execute documents, and any amendments and modifications thereto as may be necessary, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to effectuate the acceptance of awarded grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for the purpose of supporting the Hudson Greenway Trail in connection to the larger ASR-Hudson Street - I71 to Cleveland Avenue project.
SECTION 2. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 3. 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.