Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Implement to provide design services for the Italian Village Park Improvements Project. The contract amount is $76,160.00, with a contingency of $13,440.00, for a total of $89,600.00 being authorized by this ordinance.
Italian Village Park is a small 0.835 acre park surrounded by a tapestry of historic Italianate residences, small businesses, restaurants, and galleries. The Italian Village neighborhood and the multistory mixed-use development help characterize the Short North Arts District. The park was created in the early 1980’s through a forward thinking acquisition of undesirable and underutilized lots just a short distance from High Street, resulting in the preservation of a rare sliver of greenspace in a densely built environment. The park has seen several iterations over the years. The last major redevelopment of the park, in 2009, removed shelters, installed additional picnic seating, expanded the lawn, preserved the playground, and installed irrigation for landscaped beds that were to be maintained by the community.
In 2020, The Italian Village Community authorized the use of the Urban Infrastructure Recovery Fund (UIRF) to design and construct improvements to Italian Village Park. A park conditions assessment found that the park has several declining mature shade trees, fragmented spaces with under-realized programmatic purpose, poor circulation, and under-utilized seating and play equipment. The park is also impacted by debris and litter from adjacent alleys. A public survey conducted by the Recreation and Parks Department identified priorities for the design of the Italian Village Park Improvements. These public priorities included the preservation of greenspace in a dense neighborhood, minimizing illegal activity, and enhancing park safety, especially after dark. Maintaining the appearance and upkeep of the park without intense volunteer effort is also desired. These priorities encourage positive social interaction at the park and help align the Italian Village with the arts and culture of the Short North Arts District.
The Italian Village Park Improvements Design Contract includes conceptual design, programming, public engagement, schematic design. It will prepare construction plans and specifications, including any permits required and bidding documents for project construction.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (ODI designation status):
Proposals were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on January 14, 2022 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on February 8, 2022. Proposals were received from the following companies:
Implement, LLC (MAJ)
MKSK (MAJ)
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.
In accordance with City Code, a selection team evaluated the proposals and recommended Implement be selected to perform the work. The firm was chosen based on their referenced projects, experience, qualifications, availability, timeline, and project approach.
Principal Parties:
Implement LLC
1119 Mount Pleasant Avenue
Columbus, OH 43201
Jason Kentner, 614-558-6742
Contract Compliance Number, Tax ID: 033701, 46-0885159
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: October 12, 2022
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested so that final construction documents are ready for bidding in January 2023, keeping the project on schedule.
Benefits to the Public: Italian Village Park is the most significant greenspace in the Italian Village Community. Once both the design and construction of the park improvements has occurred, residents and visitors to Italian Village will benefit from the improved park design. The focus on preserving greenspace, providing recreational opportunities, and creating a gathering space will promote a safe and inclusive environment while becoming an anchor location for the Italian Village Community.
Community Input/Issues: The Italian Village Park Improvements Project is an UIRF funded project and has been presented to the Italian Village Society and Italian Village Commission. It has been accepted by the community members as an important improvement to Italian Village Park. A public engagement survey and community meetings informed the goals outlined in the request for proposals. Throughout the design process, the community will have multiple opportunities for input and feedback on the proposed park improvements.
Area(s) Affected: Italian Village (47)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by improving overall maintenance standards, safety and design of this park. It also helps meet the goal of improving at least five neighborhood parks per year.
Fiscal Impact: $89,600.00 is budgeted and available from 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 Implement, LLC to provide design services for the Italian Village Park Improvements Project; to authorize the expenditure of $89,600.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($89,600.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Implement to provide design services for the Italian Village Park Improvements Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $89,600.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; 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 contract with Implement, LLC so that final construction documents are ready for bidding in January 2023, keeping the project on schedule, 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 Implement, LLC to provide design services for the Italian Village Park Improvements 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. For the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $89,600.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Voted Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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.