Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a grant agreement with the Oho Public Works Commission (OPWC) for the West Franklinton Greenspace Project. This ordinance will also authorize the appropriation of grant and matching funds. The grant amount is $620,000.00 and the local match amount is $327,000.00. There is a total of $947,000.00 being authorized by this ordinance.
In March of 2022, the Department applied for grant funding from the Ohio Public Works Commission Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program, as authorized by Ordinance 0389-2022, to support the West Franklinton Greenspace Project. In July of 2022, the Department received notice that the grant was approved.
Statistics show that the West Franklinton Community has the least amount of public greenspace in Columbus with just 10.8 acres of parkland in a community of over 9,000 residents. The purpose of the project is to acquire 1.1 acres of greenspace in the West Franklinton Community, at West Park Avenue and West Broad Street. The properties would expand the community’s West Park Median to over 5 acres, reaching from Sullivant Avenue to West Broad Street. These sites will become protected passive greenspaces in the City’s most underserved community for parks and open space. The project will add additional public greenspace adjacent to existing parkland, provide open space for trees, and increase passive recreation opportunities.
Principal Parties:
Ohio Public Works Commission
Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program, Clean Ohio Conservation Fund - District 3
65 East State Street, Suite 312
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Government Agency
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to allow the preparation and submittal of purchase contracts for the properties and the funds need to be made available to acquire the properties by the grant deadline of July 31, 2023.
Benefits to the Public: This project will provide park space to the inner city communities of the City. These sites are within rapidly urbanizing and built out areas of the City. Preservation of key parkland space is one of the main missions of Recreation and Parks. Preservation of these properties proposed in this Clean Ohio Fund Project relies heavily upon outside funding assistance to achieve these benefits.
Community Input/Issues: The Franklinton Community has been involved in support of the preparation of the grant. The Franklinton Area Commission, residents, and local businesses will continue to be engaged during the park planning phase of these greenspaces.
Area(s) Affected: Franklinton (54)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by providing equitable and safe access to inner city greenspaces.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance will authorize the appropriation of $620,000.00 in grant funds in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283. This ordinance will also authorize a grant match of $327,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702. $327,000.00 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this grant match. There is a total of $947,000.00 available for this project. Future legislation will be prepared to expend these funds once acquisition is ready to move forward.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a grant agreement with the Oho Public Works Commission for the West Franklinton Greenspace Project and accept a grant in the amount of $620,000.00 with a minimum local match of $327,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of $620,000.00 in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283; to authorize the amendment of the 2022 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the transfer of $327,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($947,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 0389-2022 authorized the Director of Recreation and Parks to apply for funding through the Oho Public Works Commission (OPWC) Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program and OPWC has awarded the City of Columbus a grant for the West Franklinton Greenspace Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant in the amount of $620,000.00 and enter into an agreement with the Oho Public Works Commission for the West Franklinton Greenspace Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $620,000.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize that the 2022 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1896-2022 be amended in order to provide sufficient budget authority for this legislation and future projects; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the transfer of $327,000.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; 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 of Recreation and Parks to enter into a grant agreement with the Oho Public Works Commission (OPWC) in order to allow the preparation and submittal of purchase contracts for the properties and the funds need to be made available to acquire the properties by the grant deadline of July 31, 2023, 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 is authorized and directed to accept a grant and enter into a contract with the Oho Public Works Commission for the West Franklinton Greenspace Project. The amount of the grant is $620,000.00 and requires a minimum of $327,000.00 in City matching funds. There is a total of $947,000.00 available for this project. Future legislation will be prepared to expend these funds once acquisition is ready to move forward.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, the sum of $620,000.00 is appropriated to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. Appropriation effective upon receipt of executed grant agreement.
SECTION 3. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
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 the transfer of $327,000.00 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 8. 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) / $1,427,537 / ($327,000) / $1,100,537
Fund 7702 / P510927-513000; OPWC - West Franklinton Greenspace Grant Match (Voted Carryover); $0 / $327,000 / $327,000
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.