Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the City Auditor to set up a certificate in the amount of $100,000.00 for various expenditures related to property acquisitions and asset management services. These are unanticipated expenditures that may include, but are not limited to, purchasing properties from the City of Columbus Land Bank, purchasing properties through other means as opportunities become available, surveys, engineering, demolition, inspection, and other services needed to move forward on opportunities to expand parkland and manage such assets. Contracts will be entered into in compliance with the procurement provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329. Expenditures will be in compliance with the City of Columbus Capital Eligibility Requirements.
Ordinance 2467-2022 originally established an auditor’s certificate for the future award of contracts for architectural, engineering, and construction management services. This ordinance will authorize the establishment of a new auditor’s certificate and authorize the Recreation and Parks Department to continue awarding contracts to consultants that have been pre-qualified through 2024, as previously authorized in Ordinance 2467-2022.
Benefits to the Public: Having this funding in place for acquisition opportunities will benefit the community by helping to ensure that new parkland and assets are able to be pursued in a timely manner, helping to meet the demand to provide new parkland for the growing population of Central Ohio.
Community Input Issues: The citizens of Columbus have expressed their desire for new parks and facilities through direct contact with the department, especially in areas that are underserved.
Area(s) Affected: Citywide (99) - The entire City of Columbus is affected by having the funding in place to act efficiently on acquisition opportunities as they become available.
Master Plan Relation: This certificate and resulting projects will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by helping to ensure that the department is able to efficiently pursue new parks and facilities, especially in growth areas and underserved areas.
Fiscal Impact: $100,000.00 is budgeted and available from and within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of these various expenditures.
Title
To authorize and direct the City Auditor to establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $100,000.00 for various expenditures related to property acquisitions and asset management services within the Recreation and Parks Department; to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into multiple future professional service contracts as previously authorized in Ordinance 2467-2022; and to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund. ($100,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary that the City Auditor establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $100,000.00 for various expenditures related to property acquisitions and asset management services within the Recreation and Parks Department; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into multiple future professional service contracts as previously authorized in Ordinance 2467-2022; and
WHEREAS, funding is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of these various expenditures; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operations of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $100,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund, all for the preservation of 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 City Auditor is authorized and directed to establish an auditor’s certificate in the amount of $100,000.00 for various expenditures related to property acquisitions and asset management services within the Recreation and Parks Department.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department is authorized to enter into multiple future professional service contracts as previously authorized in Ordinance 2467-2022.
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 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 6. That the expenditure of $100,000.00 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 attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That this Council hereby recognizes that this ordinance does not identify specific contractors or vendors for the expenditure purposes authorized herein and hereby delegates sole and final contracting decisions relative to the determination of lowest, best, most responsive and most responsible vendor(s) to the Director of Recreation and Parks. All contracts will be entered into in compliance with the relevant procurement provisions of the Columbus City Codes Chapter 329.
SECTION 8. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.