Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with the Franklin Park Conservatory for the administration and implementation of the Franklin Park Master Plan and related capital improvement projects. The amount being authorized by this ordinance is $500,000.00.
Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens requested capital support from the City of Columbus in 2022 to fund three capital projects. This $500,000.00 commitment from the City of Columbus supports starting the full design process for the future renovation of the historic John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse, taking the process from the current concept status, developed by architectural firm AECOM and FPCBG in 2021, into the schematic design phase of the process. It will also support replacing the 30-year-old emergency backup generator that supports building life-safety systems, café kitchen operations, and front desk ticketing operations for continued safe and revenue-generating operations during power outages. Replacement would utilize modern and energy-efficient equipment, provide improved reliability and reduce operating and maintenance costs. Lastly, this commitment will support replacing the 30-year-old greenhouse biome air handler that supports plant collection heating, cooling and air circulation for optimum plant growth as well as visitor comfort. Replacement would utilize modern and energy-efficient equipment and provide improved climate control for plants and people, as well as reduce operating and maintenance costs. The full facility investigation completed by architects at Abbot Studios informed the decision of Franklin Park Conservatory to begin these projects in 2022. These behind-the-scenes projects are in preparation for the full restoration of the 126-year-old, John F. Wolfe Palm House and Dorothy M. Davis Showhouse: the physical backbone of the Conservatory and most iconic building in the Franklin Park Conservatory Joint Recreation District. The replacement projects can be completed in tandem with the design phase leading to full construction, estimated at approximately 20 million and tentatively planned to begin in 2024.
It has been determined that it is beneficial for the Franklin Park Conservatory to perform the administration of these projects to allow for the least disruption to the daily operations of Conservatory business. The funds will be used to reimburse the Conservatory for expenditures in conjunction with these projects as part of the implementation of the Master Plan for the Conservatory and Franklin Park.
Principal Parties:
Franklin Park Conservatory Joint Recreation District
1777 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio 43203
Federal Identification Number: 31-1364884 (Non-Profit Organization)
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested to allow the City to reimburse the Franklin Park Conservatory as soon as possible as plans for the park are moving forward and work has commenced to provide improved reliability of equipment and reduce operating and maintenance costs.
Benefits to the Public: These improvements will benefit the community by enhancing the visitor experience, creating a more attractive destination for Central Ohio residents and beyond. Franklin Park, The Conservatory, and Botanical Gardens are an asset to the entire Central Ohio community.
Community Input Issues: The Community has expressed a desire for cultural enrichment and improvements to parks available to residents through workshops, surveys, and direct contact with staff.
Area(s) Affected: Near East (56) - The entire City of Columbus, Central Ohio, and beyond will benefit from these improvements, adding to the quality of life for citizens and creating an attractive environment for industry.
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by enhancing the quality of life of our citizens. The Master Plan’s focus on creating improved facilities and parks is supported by these improvements.
Fiscal Impact: $500,000.00 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 and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Franklin Park Conservatory for the administration and implementation of the Franklin Park Master Plan and related capital improvement projects in the amount of $500,000.00; to authorize the transfer of $500,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2022 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with the Franklin Park Conservatory for the administration and implementation of the Franklin Park Master Plan and related capital improvement projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $500,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the amendment of the 2022 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1896-2022 in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said contract to allow the City to reimburse the Franklin Park Conservatory as soon as possible as plans for the park are moving forward and work has commenced to provide improved reliability of equipment and reduce operating and maintenance costs; 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 and directed to enter into contract with the Franklin Park Conservatory for the administration and implementation of the Franklin Park Master Plan and related capital improvement projects.
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 $500,000.00 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 2022 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1896-2022 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 / P513000-100000; Acquisition - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $1,927,537 / ($500,000) / $1,427,537
Fund 7702 / P510120-100000; Franklin Park Conservatory Improvements (Voted Carryover); $0 / $500,000 / $500,000
SECTION 7. For the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 8. That the monies in the foregoing Section 7 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Recreation and Parks, and that no order shall be drawn or monies paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
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.