Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Finance and Management Director to establish purchase orders with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) for the purchase of compressed natural gas (CNG) for fueling use by City of Columbus vehicles. The City of Columbus and COTA have jointly constructed a satellite compressed natural gas fueling facility on COTA's property, located at 1400 McKinley Avenue. This fueling facility is owned and operated by COTA, but is subject to certain access and use rights of the City of Columbus for the purpose of fueling City vehicles. In connection with the construction of this fueling facility, the City and COTA entered into a Facilities Operating Agreement. This seven (7) year agreement was entered into in 2015 and authorizes the City to fuel its vehicles at the facility. This agreement also establishes the cost of the CNG fuel purchased from COTA by the City. The fuel cost is a floating rate based on the following cost elements; natural gas commodity cost, electricity rate at the fueling facility, cost of maintenance of equipment, insurance costs associated with the facility, and certain capital infrastructure costs. The City has been fueling at the COTA site since 2018.
Central Ohio Transit Authority Federal Tax ID# 31-0800546
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $100,000 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund with COTA for compressed natural gas for fueling use by City vehicles. In 2021, the Fleet Management Division expended $770,947.00 for compressed natural gas fuel. In 2020, $642,753.00 was expended.
Emergency action is requested to ensure that purchase orders can be established in a timely manner to ensure uninterrupted fueling services, thereby keeping vehicles in operation.
Title
To authorize the Director of Finance and Management to establish purchase orders with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) for the purchase of compressed natural gas (CNG) for fueling use by City of Columbus vehicles; to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus and COTA have jointly constructed a satellite compressed natural gas fueling facility on COTA's property, located at 1400 McKinley Avenue; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the construction of this fueling facility, the City and COTA entered into a seven (7) year Facilities Operating Agreement; and
WHEREAS, this Facilities Operating Agreement authorizes the City to fuel its vehicles at the facility; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Fleet Management Operating Fund for the purchase of compressed natural gas fuel; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Finance and Management Department, Fleet Management Division, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Finance and Management to issue purchase orders with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) for the purchase of compressed natural gas (CNG) for fueling use by City of Columbus vehicles, allowing for timely fueling of City vehicles, 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 Finance and Management Director is hereby authorized to establish purchase orders with the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) for the purchase of compressed natural gas (CNG) for fueling use by City of Columbus vehicles.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $100,000.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized in Fund 5200 Fleet Management Operating Fund in object class 02 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 2133-2022 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 4. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of Finance and Management, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.