Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a contract with the Midwest Biodiversity Institute (MBI) for the development of a monitoring and bioassessment plan for Central Ohio watersheds. The plan will support the Division of Sewerage and Drainage’s (DOSD) continued compliance with the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. The contract will run from the date of execution by the City of Columbus through and including December 31, 2023.
The proposed watershed monitoring and assessment plan will mirror existing MBI programs with the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati and one across Northeastern Illinois on behalf of five independent watershed groups. These two programs utilize an integrated prioritization system (IPA) model supported by regularly scheduled watershed monitoring following a rotating basin approach. The proposed plan will work in tandem with an existing MBI contract for biological and chemical assessments of the Middle Scioto and Lower Olentangy Rivers, as well as some monitoring by the Ohio EPA, to provide information about the health of area waterways and to measure water quality improvements resulting from the City’s ongoing operations and capital improvement program (CIP) projects under Blueprint Columbus and at the City’s WWTPs.
The project management includes an inventory of existing sites and assessments and a watershed bioassessment design that will utilize a pollution survey and geometric site selection process to determine monitoring and assessment locations. This ensures watersheds are assessed equitably. These data design and gathering steps will inform the final publication of the plan, which will include goals and objectives, the rationale for the selection of each, a template for the rotating watershed approach, and a detailed annual schedule of the watershed assessments and all associated components.
This ordinance is submitted in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code for not-for-profit service contracts.
SUPPLIER:
Midwest Biodiversity Institute | D365 Vendor #005569 | Federal EIN #31-1559845 | Expires 2/24/2024.
Midwest Biodiversity Institute is a Non-Profit Organization and does not hold MBE/WBE status.
The Institute is not debarred according to the Excluded Party Listing System of the Federal Government or prohibited from being awarded a contract according to the Auditor of State Unresolved Findings for Recovery Certified Search.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$50,000.00 was budgeted within the Sewer Operating Sanitary Fund for this purchase. The project was under development at the time of budget submission and the final cost exceeded initial estimates. The Division of Sewerage and Drainage Administration section budgets miscellaneous funds to cover situations such as this.
This ordinance is contingent on the passage of the 2023 Operating Budget, Ordinance 2937-2022.
$175,624.85 was spent in 2022
$51,410.00 was spent in 2021
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into an agreement with the Midwest Biodiversity Institute for the development of a monitoring and bioassessment plan for Central Ohio watersheds, and to authorize the expenditure of $67,511.27 from the Sewer Operating Sanitary Fund. ($67,511.27)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities has an existing contract with the Midwest Biodiversity Institute (MBI) to assess the biology and water quality in the Scioto River, Olentangy River, and other area waterways to support the Division of Sewerage and Drainage’s (DOSD) continued compliance with the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) program and wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits; and
WHEREAS, the Midwest Biodiversity Institute is a scientific research and education non-profit organization dedicated to the development and application of scientific methods and techniques to evaluate, protect, and restore the environment; and
WHEREAS, DOSD wishes to develop a watershed monitoring and bioassessment plan extending beyond the above-mentioned waterways to encompass Central Ohio watersheds; and
WHEREAS, the proposed plan will utilize data gathered from an inventory of existing sites and assessments and a watershed bioassessment design that will utilize a pollution survey and geometric site selection process to determine monitoring and assessment locations; and
WHEREAS, the contract will run from the date of execution by the City of Columbus through and including December 31, 2023; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is being submitted in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code regarding not-for-profit service contracts; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of $67,511.27, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 6100, Sewer Operating Sanitary Fund, in object class 03, Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Sewerage and Drainage, to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into an agreement for a Central Ohio watershed biological and water quality assessment plan with the Midwest Biodiversity Institute; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Midwest Biodiversity Institute, 4673 Northwest Parkway, Hilliard, Ohio 43026, for the development of a monitoring and bioassessment plan for Central Ohio watersheds, in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code regarding not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $67,511.27, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 6100, Sewer Operating Sanitary Fund, in object class 03, Services, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.