Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes payment for utility relocation work as needed by AT&T, American Electric Power, Columbia Gas of Ohio, and other utilities (or companies hired by utilities to perform utility relocation work) for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road (FRA-SR317-10.83 PID 95570) project in an amount up to $562,369.54.
The Department of Public Service is currently engaged in the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road project. This project includes safety improvements, partial reconstruction, and resurfacing along South Hamilton Road from south of Refugee Road to north of Groves Road. Facility upgrades include the installation of new curb and gutter, storm water drainage, shared use path, sidewalks, lighting, mast arm traffic signals, full width pavement resurfacing, replacement of the structure over Miller Ditch and utility relocation.
In the course of effecting roadway improvements it is sometimes necessary to force the relocation of utilities from privately held easements or place overhead utilities underground to promote the public health, safety, and welfare, including the economic development of the City. It is necessary to move utilities to complete this project.
The funding request for utilities relocation reimbursement is based upon estimates from the utilities. The utilities will invoice the City for actual costs incurred in relocating the utilities. The amount needed may exceed the amount requested in this ordinance. Additional legislation will be submitted by the Department of Public Service if additional funds are needed to complete the relocations.
2. FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated cost of the utility relocation work is $562,369.54. Funding will be partially funded by a reimbursement grant from the Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) through the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT). This grant has an 80/20 funding split of eligible costs, with ODOT providing eighty percent (80%). Grant number G591703 (Hamilton RD I70 to Refugee Rd PID95570) was established for this grant. The amount of $449,895.63 will need to be appropriated within the grant for this expense.
The twenty percent (20%) local share expense of $112,473.91 is available within Fund 7704, the Streets and Highways Bond Fund. An amendment to the 2022 Capital Improvements Budget and a transfer of cash is necessary to align funding for these project expenditures. Funds are appropriated.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Public Service is requesting emergency designation so as to provide funding for utility reimbursements at the earliest possible time to maintain the project construction schedule.
Title
To amend the 2022 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the transfer of funds within the Streets and Highways Bond Fund; to appropriate funds within the Federal Transportation Grant Fund; to authorize the Director of Public Service to pay utility relocation costs to various utilities for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road; to authorize the expenditure of up to $562,369.54 from the Federal Transportation Grant Fund and the Streets and Highways Improvements Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($562,369.54)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service is engaged in the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road project; and
WHEREAS, the project includes safety improvements, partial reconstruction, and resurfacing along South Hamilton Road from south of Refugee Road to north of Groves Road. Facility upgrades include the installation of new curb and gutter, storm water drainage, shared use path, sidewalks, lighting, mast arm traffic signals, full width pavement resurfacing, replacement of the structure over Miller Ditch and utility relocation; and
WHEREAS, there is a need to relocate utilities so construction on the project can be completed; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Service requires funding to be available for utility relocation expenses for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize an amendment to the 2022 Capital Improvement Budget and a transfer of cash for the purpose of providing sufficient spending authority for the aforementioned project expenditure; and
WHEREAS, funds in the amount of $449,895.63 will need to be appropriated within the Federal Transportation Grant Fund, Fund 7765; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Service to expend $562,369.54, or so much
thereof as may be necessary, to pay utility relocation costs necessary to complete the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road project; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize payment for utility relocation expenses for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road project to prevent construction delays, 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 2022 Capital Improvements Budget authorized by ordinance 1896-2022 be amended as follows to establish sufficient authority for this project:
Fund / Project Number / Project Name / Current / Change / Amended
7704 / P530161-100195 / Roadway Improvements - Stormwater Regional Basins (Voted Carryover) / $1,988,068.00 / ($112,474.00) / $1,875,594.00
7704 / P530103-100052 / Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road (Voted Carryover) / $0.00 / $112,474.00 / $112,474.00
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $112,473.91, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), from Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530161-100195 (Roadway Improvements - Stormwater Regional Basins), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) to Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530103-100052 (Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 ended December 31, 2023, the sum of $449,895.63 is appropriated in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grant Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Grant G591703 (Hamilton RD I70 to Refugee Rd PID95570), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to reimburse utilities for utility relocation work, or to reimburse companies hired by utilities to perform utility relocation work, for the Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road project.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $112,473.91, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7704 (Streets and Highways Bond Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Project P530103-100052 (Arterial Street Rehabilitation - Hamilton Road - I-70 to Refugee Road), Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the expenditure of $449,895.63, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 7765 (Federal Transportation Grant Fund), Dept-Div 5912 (Design and Construction), Grant G591703 (Hamilton RD I70 to Refugee Rd PID95570), in Object Class 06 (Capital Outlay) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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 9. 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 10. 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.