Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Public Safety Director to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code and enter into a contract with K.N.S Services, Inc. to install cameras at new locations in each of the five Columbus Police zones to include the Short North area, Downtown and other Columbus neighborhoods. Additionally K.N.S will replace existing cameras and radios that have reached their end of life and are no longer functioning properly. The Department of Public Safety manages the Neighborhood Safety Camera Project consisting of wireless communications, cameras networks, and associated infrastructure deployed across multiple neighborhoods and the downtown area. These new and replacement cameras are part of the effort to bring the Neighborhood Safety Camera program back to maximum operating capacity and expand to needed areas.
Bid Information: K.N.S Services currently services the vast majority of the city's security related cameras and has the necessary manufacturer certifications needed. It is recommended that the competitive bidding requirements of Columbus City Code 329 be waived to allow for the immediate installation of new and replacement cameras and antennas and restore the Division of Police's ability to monitor criminal activities in those areas.
Emergency action is requested in order to get the replacement cameras quickly on line and restore the Division of Police's force multiplier advantage.
Fiscal Impact: This legislation waives competitive bidding and authorizes the Safety Director to enter into contract with K.N.S Services Inc. to expend $1,084,832.00 to purchase and install new and replacement cameras and Poles in City of Columbus neighborhoods. Funds for this contract are budgeted in Public Safety's Capital Improvement Budget.
Title
To authorize the Public Safety Director to enter into a contract with K.N.S Services Inc. to install new and replacement cameras and poles and replace antennas that have been damaged by recent storms and construction activities; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize the expenditure of $1,084,832.00 from the Department of Public Safety's Voted Bond Funds; and to declare an emergency. ($1,084,832.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the city has a need to install new and replacement neighborhood safety cameras and poles that have been knocked down due to car accidents, street construction accidents, and natural disasters like windstorms and lightning; and,
WHEREAS, these destroyed cameras need to be replaced and brought back on line as soon as possible in order for the Division of Police to continue monitoring criminal activities in the affected areas; and,
WHEREAS, the Safety Director wishes to enter into a contract with K.N.S Services Inc. to install new and replacement cameras and antennas to enhance the Neighborhood Safety Camera program; and,
WHEREAS, the Public Safety Director has determined that it is in the best interest of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the City of Columbus and award a contract to K.N.S Services Inc. due to expediency and the company's familiarity with all of the neighborhood safety camera setups; and,
WHEREAS, funding for these new and corrective services are budgeted in Public Safety's Capital Improvement budget; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Public Safety Director to enter into a contract with K.N.S Services, Inc. to install new and replacement cameras and poles and replace antennas that have been damaged by storms and construction activities as part of a comprehensive approach to keeping the public safe, thereby preserving the public health, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Public Safety Director is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with K.N.S Services Inc. to expand the Neighborhood Safety Camera program and also install new cameras as replacements to knocked down cameras and poles and replace antennas that have been damaged by recent storms and construction activities.
SECTION 2. That this Council finds it is in the best interests of the City to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes to enter into this contract, and hereby waives said provisions.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $1,084,832.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in SECTION 1, be and is hereby authorized and approved in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 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