Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns and Dehaven DBA GPD Group to provide professional engineering services for the Champions Bridge Superstructure Replacement Project. The contract amount is $45,669.17, with a contingency of $6,138.97, for a total of $51,808.14 being authorized by this ordinance.
Champions Bridge was part of the Alum Creek Trail Easton Extension Project that started at Innis Park and ended at the Easton soccer fields. During construction of this project in 2015, it was noticed that the superstructure of the bridge had deflected dramatically. Upon investigation, it was determined that there was an error of omission on the part of the design professional. This error has resulted in the bridge needing to be posted for loads lighter that what the federal design required. As a result, emergency vehicles cannot traverse the bridge.
When the error was realized, a review of the entire project took place that resulted in structural changes to other structures that were also part of this trail extension project as well as the project from Airport Drive to Brittany Hills which was also designed by the same professional. Since these events took place, the Recreation and Parks Department has worked diligently with the design professional responsible for the errors, their legal counsel, the City Attorney’s Office, and GPD Group to ascertain the extent of the damage on the Champions Bridge and a method to remedy. GPD Group performed the structural analysis of the bridge and recommended the load posting. GPD Group also served as the Project Engineer on behalf of Righter Company, the contractor who built these two trail extension projects. They were also the firm that determined that it was safe for pedestrians as the Department took action on repairing this bridge.
With a recommendation and cooperation from the City Attorney’s office, the Department wishes to waive bidding and have GPD Group prepare the construction documents for the replacement of the superstructure of the bridge. They have already performed the structural analysis on both the existing and proposed bridge as well as prepared estimates of probable costs for the bridge’s repair. There is not another firm with more familiarity of this project nor any other firm who can provide the value when it relates to preparation of the contract and permitting documents necessary to repair this bridge. It is the intent and desire of the Recreation and Parks Department and the City Attorney’s office to recover the damages for this error of omission which is anticipated to be approximately 1 to 1.2 million dollars once construction of the repairs is complete.
Principal Parties:
Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns and Dehaven DBA GPD Group
1801 Watermark Drive, Suite 210, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Davin Ng, 614-210-0751
Contract Compliance Number, Tax ID: 006560, 34-1334715
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: May 20, 2023
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested as it is imperative that the bridge be repaired as soon as possible since the bridge currently does not have the capacity to carry an emergency vehicle as intended by the original design and this project will relieve the City from the risk of owning a bridge that is not code compliant.
Benefits to the Public: Safety on the section of the Alum Creek Trail between the Easton and Ohio Dominican University will be improved.
Community Input/Issues: The community has expressed the desire for safer parks through public workshops, social media, and direct contact with City staff.
Area(s) Affected: Northeast (41)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by maintaining a trail system that is safe for users.
Fiscal Impact: $51,808.14 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 Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns and Dehaven DBA GPD Group to provide professional engineering services for the Champions Bridge Superstructure Replacement Project; to authorize the transfer of $54,167.16 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund, to authorize the amendment of the 2021 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $51,808.14 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($51,808.14)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns and Dehaven DBA GPD Group to provide professional engineering services for the Champions Bridge Superstructure Replacement Project; and
WHEREAS, that this Council finds it in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $54,167.16 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2021 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 2707-2021 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $51,808.14 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 necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with GPD Group since the bridge currently does not have the capacity to carry an emergency vehicle as intended by the original design and this project will relieve the City from the risk of owning a bridge that is not code compliant, 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 Glaus, Pyle, Schomer, Burns and Dehaven DBA GPD Group to provide professional engineering services for the Champions Bridge Superstructure Replacement 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 this Council finds it in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. That the transfer of $54,167.16 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That the 2021 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 2707-2021 is hereby amended as follows in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this ordinance and future projects.
Fund / Project / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
Fund 7702 / P510303-100000; Greenways - Alum Creek Trail (Voted Carryover); $19,863 / ($19,863) / $0
Fund 7702 / P510309-100000; Greenways - Blacklick Trail (Voted Carryover); $34,305 / ($34,305) / $0
Fund 7702 / P512029-100000; Champions Bridge Replacement (Voted Carryover); $0 / $54,168 / $54,168
SECTION 8. For the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $51,808.14 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 9. 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.