Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Facemyer Company for the construction of the Stockbridge Urban Forest Project. The contract amount is $774,699.58, with a contingency of $77,000.00, for a total of $851,699.58 being authorized for this contract by this ordinance.
The Recreation and Parks Department was awarded funds from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund, through the Ohio Public Works Commission, in the amount of $636,000.00, with a grant match of at least $425,000.00, as authorized by Ordinance 2046-2020. This grant and project was to purchase the Stockbridge Elementary School site, demolish the school building, plant native trees to expand the city’s urban tree canopy, and develop a walking path.
The Stockbridge Urban Forest Project acquired the former Stockbridge Elementary School property in the City’s Scioto Southland Community in October 2020. The second phase of this project was to demolish the abandoned school and hard surfaces in 2021 as a first phase of site improvements. This ordinance will authorize the Director to enter into a contract to construct these improvements. It is absolutely necessary that this grant funding be spent in its entirety by December 31, 2022 as to not risk losing the grant funded portion of this project.
The property is adjacent to the City’s existing Stockbridge Park and will provide an additional 11 acres of parkland for the community. Columbus City Schools offered the property for sale and this was a unique opportunity to provide more park space and natural area in a heavily built out neighborhood with a significant deficit in green space. The Stockbridge Urban Forest Project will be the city’s first pilot project to restore urban tree canopy on a large scale in one of the City’s most hard hit communities for trees. Over 2,000 trees of mixed sizes will be planted, along with a one mile walking path. The result can be a unique case study of transforming a derelict property into a significant 22 acre park and natural area.
There was no quorum during the July Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting. Per the present Commissioners this ordinance was requested to be sent thru the legislation approval process in order to avoid a delay with this project. There is August recess for Commission and Council.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (ODI designation status):
Proposals were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Section 329, on May 24, 2022 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on June 14, 2022. This project was also picked up by various local and regional plan rooms and distributed to their membership. Bids were received from the following companies:
Facemyer Company (WBE): $774,699.58
Davey Resource Group (MAJ): Non Responsive
After reviewing the bids that were submitted, it was determined that Davey Resource Group’s bid was non responsive and Facemyer Company was the lowest and most responsive bidder. Facemyer Company and all proposed subcontractors have met code requirements with respect to prequalification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
Principal Parties:
Facemyer Landscaping, LLC
PO Box 304
Sunbury, Ohio 43074
Ada Facemyer, (740) 965-4616
Contract Compliance Number, Tax ID: 005926, 31-1757841
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: March 31, 2023
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested due to the need to complete this project by the grant deadline of December 31, 2022.
Benefits to the Public: Creating the Stockbridge Urban Forest provides a space for urban reforestation, in support of the City’s Urban Forestry Master Plan tree canopy goals. Residents in the neighborhood will benefit from a shaded and biodiverse 11 acre space that doubles the size of the existing Stockbridge Park, creating more space for recreation and respite from increasing summer temperatures.
The Far South neighborhoods of Columbus face significant environmental stresses, including poor air quality, industrial land use degradation, lower than average life expectancy, and some of the City’s lowest tree density at 18% on average. The Stockbridge Urban Forest Project lies within a subset of this area with only 11% tree cover. The area surrounding Stockbridge Park ranks in the 80th to 90th percentile in the Respiratory Hazards Index (U.S. EPA National Air Toxics Assessment), the 80th to 90th percentile in the Proximity to Hazardous Waste Facilities (U.S. EPA Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act Information), and the 80th to 90th percentile in the Toxic Concentrations of Wastewater Discharge (U.S. EPA Risk Screening Environmental Indicators Model). Trees and green space provide proven benefits to urban residents, including improved air quality, water filtration, cooling, and physical health benefits, and mental health benefits.
Community Input/Issues: The Far South Area Commission is in support of the project and preservation of green space is supported in the Scioto Southland Area Plan. On March 6, 2020, a public open house to inform the Urban Forestry Master Plan received input from communities across Columbus, including the Far South. Comments from the Far South community were consistent with their area plan recommendations and the Department’s ongoing engagement with the community. Residents recognize the need for additional park space and street trees in their community. Residents also desire complete street infrastructure and pedestrian connectivity, including policies that result in increased tree plantings to mitigate the impact of the area’s hard surfaces.
Area(s) Affected: Far South (64)
Master Plan Relation: This project supports the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s Master Plan protecting the environmental health and resilience of the City’s waterways, providing long term protection corridors for outdoor experiences, and improved equitable access to trails and greenways.
Fiscal Impact: $851,699.58 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and 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 Facemyer Company for construction of the Stockbridge Urban Forest Project; to authorize the transfer of $851,699.58 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund, to authorize the amendment of the 2021 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $851,699.58 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund and Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($851,699.58)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Facemyer Company for construction of the Stockbridge Urban Forest Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $130,699.58 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 $851,699.58 from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and 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 this contract due to the need to complete this project by the grant deadline of December 31, 2022, 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 Facemyer Company for construction of the Stockbridge Urban Forest 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. That the transfer of $130,699.58 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between projects within the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund 7702 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. 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; P510917-512000; Stockbridge Urban Forest Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $85,000 / $340,000 / $425,000 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P512000-100000; New Development - Misc. (Voted Carryover); $425,237 / ($130,700) / $294,537
Fund 7702; P510917-512000; Stockbridge Urban Forest Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $425,000 / $130,700 / $555,700
SECTION 7. That the expenditure of $851,699.58 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. 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.