Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Trail Connector Project. This ordinance will also authorize the appropriation of grant and matching funds. The grant amount is $4,294,938.00 and the local match amount is $3,470,053.85. This ordinance also authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into contract with Complete General Construction for the Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Trail Connector Project. The contract amount is $6,578,969.16, with a contingency of $658,000.00, for a total of $7,236,696.16. An additional $528,295.69 is being authorized for interdepartmental inspections and fees for this project. There is a total of $7,764,991.85 being authorized by this ordinance.
In 2018, the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department was awarded federal grant funding from the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), administered by Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), to assist towards construction of a trail connection to the Scioto Trail for the Franklinton Community, from West Broad Street to Dublin Road. The project’s grant funding is administered by ODOT under a Local Participation Agreement for Project PID 105736, as authorized by Ordinance 0442-2023. This project will build a pedestrian bridge across the Scioto River, from the Scioto Trail, and continue to West Broad Street along a 10 foot wide trail. This corridor, Franklinton Community, is experiencing a transformation with new dense mixed-use developments of housing and large scale employment centers. This project coincides with major development projects in the West Broad Street and Souder Avenue area of Franklinton, including a new corporate campus on Souder Avenue and McKinley Avenue which is anticipated to bring approximately 2,000 jobs into to the community. City staff began engagement with the community several years ago to address the unsafe conditions for cyclists and pedestrians, including the existing two-lane Souder Avenue roadway bridge over the Scioto River. Connectivity to the regional trail system, as well as upgrading the neighborhood’s walking and cycling network, are listed as the community’s highest priorities. The Department of Public Service (DPS) will provide the construction inspection of the project. The construction of the project is intended to be completed in the summer of 2024.
Vendor Bid/Proposal Submissions (ODI designation status):
Bids were advertised through Vendor Services, in accordance with City Code Chapter 329, on March 31, 2023 and received by the Recreation and Parks Department on April 25, 2023. Bids were received from the following companies:
Complete General Construction (MAJ): $6,578,696.16
Double Z Construction Company (MAJ): $6,723,011.89
After reviewing the bids that were submitted, it was determined that Complete General Construction was the lowest and most responsive bidder. Complete General Construction and all proposed subcontractors have met code requirements with respect to prequalification, pursuant to relevant sections of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.
Principal Parties:
Complete General Construction Company
1221 East Fifth Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43219
Lee Guzzo, (614) 258-9515
Contract Compliance Number: 006056
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: May 10, 2025
Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT)
400 East William Street
Delaware, Ohio 43015
Anthony Turowski, Deputy Director, District 6, (740) 833-8397
Government Agency
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is requested in order to meet the required ODOT Federal grant funding fiscal deadline in June of 2023, securing the grant dollars available for the project.
Benefits to the Public: The Franklinton Community is one of the city’s most disadvantaged areas for safe accessibility to parks and trails. The existing Souder Avenue roadway bridge is a heavily used bike and pedestrian route, with regional trails connecting to it on both banks of the Scioto River. This two lane bridge is recognized widely as one of the city’s most unsafe and narrow crossings. Manual trail counts were conducted and found that the average daily use of the Souder Avenue Bridge by pedestrians and cyclists was approximately 250 uses per day. This equates to roughly 90,000 uses annually. These numbers place the Souder Avenue Bridge connection near the top five busiest counted sections in the Columbus trail system. The Broad Street and Souder Avenue corridor is also experiencing major redevelopment. The neighborhood strongly supports increased safety and access to the regional trail system with leads to jobs, parks, and downtown Columbus. The project will design a new separated facility to accommodate cyclists, runners, and walkers as part of an overall Franklinton Loop network to connect people to and from an underserved community.
Community Input/Issues: The Recreation and Parks Department has conducted extensive outreach for this project, involving public and private stakeholders in the Franklinton Community including Franklinton Development Association,
Franklinton Trade Association, Franklinton Civic Association, Mount Carmel, Cover My Meds, YAY Bikes, Experience Columbus, as well as the Columbus Economic Development, Planning, Public Service, and Health Departments.
Area(s) Affected: Franklinton (54)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks Master Plan by providing expanded and equitable access to greenways, trails, and parks.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance will authorize the appropriation of $4,294,938.00 in grant funds in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283. This ordinance will also authorize a grant match of $3,470,053.85 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702. $3,470,053.85 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 $7,764,991.85 available for this project. $7,764,991.85 is budgeted and available from within the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Voted Bond Fund 7702 to meet the financial obligations of this contract.
Title
To authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Trail Connector Project and accept a grant in the amount of $4,294,938.00; to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Complete General Construction for the Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Trail Connector Project; to authorize the appropriation of $4,294,938.00 in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund ; to authorize the amendment of the 2022 Capital Improvements Budget; to authorize the transfer of $3,470,053.85 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($7,764,991.85)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant in the amount of $4,294,938.00 and enter into an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Trail Connector Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with Complete General Construction for the Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Trail Connector Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $4,294,938.00 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 $3,470,053.85 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 Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and a construction contract with Complete General Construction in order to meet the required ODOT Federal grant funding fiscal deadline in June of 2023, securing the grant dollars available for the project, 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 Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Trail Connector Project. The amount of the grant is $4,294,938.00.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be and is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Complete General Construction for the Franklinton Loop - Souder Avenue Trail Connector Project.
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 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 $4,294,938.00 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 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 8. That the transfer of $3,470,053.71 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 9. 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 Revised Authority / Current Remaining Authority / Change / Amended Revised Authority / Amended Remaining Authority
Fund 7702 / P510304-100000 / Big Walnut Trail (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $1,746 / $1,746 / $1,746 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510306-100000 / Olentangy Trail (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $136,562 / $136,562 / $136,562 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510307-100000 / Camp Chase Trail (Voted Carryover) / $50,108 / $50,108 / $21,719 / $71,827 / $71,827 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510316-100000 / Greenways Projects (Voted Carryover) / $24,004 / $24,004 / $110,427 / $134,431 / $134,431 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510915-512000 / Greenways - Alum Creek Trail - Johnstown Road East Side Connector Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $57,760 / $57,760 / $57,760 (to match cash)
Fund 7702 / P510304-100000 / Big Walnut Trail (Voted Carryover) / $1,726 / $1,726 / ($1,746) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P510306-100000 / Olentangy Trail (Voted Carryover) / $136,562 / $136,562 / ($136,562) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P510307-100000 / Camp Chase Trail (Voted Carryover) / $71,827 / $71,827 / ($71,827) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P510316-100000 / Greenways Projects (Voted Carryover) / $134,431 / $134,431 / ($134,431) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P510904-100000 / Greenways - Alum Creek Trail - Shepard Connector Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $43,625 / $43,625 / ($43,625) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P510909-100000 / Clean Ohio - Noe Bixby Parkland Acq - Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $5,127 / $5,127 / ($5,127) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P510915-512000 / Greenways - Alum Creek Trail - Johnstown Road East Side Connector Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $57,760 / $57,760 / ($57,760) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P512000-100000 / New Development - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $1,315,690 / $1,315,690 / ($1,315,690) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P512000-100000 / New Development - Misc. (Voted 2022 SIT Supported) / $5,517,000 / $5,517,000 / ($1,703,285) / $3,813,715 / $3,813,715
Fund 7702 / P510310-100000 / Franklinton Loop (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $1,766,768 / $1,766,768 / $1,766,768
Fund 7702 / P510310-100000 / Franklinton Loop (Voted 2022 SIT Supported) / $0 / $0 / $1,703,285 / $1,703,285 / $1,703,285
SECTION 10. For the purpose stated in Section 2, the expenditure of $7,764,991.85 or so much thereof as may be necessary to pay the cost thereof, be and is hereby authorized from the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283 and Voted Bond Fund 7702 in object class 06 Capital Outlay per the accounting codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 11. 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.