Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) for the Alum Creek Preservation - Sunbury, Agler Road Project. This ordinance will also authorize the appropriation of the grant and matching funds. The grant amount is $717,800.00 and the local match amount is $252,200.00. There is a total of $970,000.00 available for this project being authorized by this ordinance.
The Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) accepted the Recreation and Parks application for the Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation program. OPWC administers statewide grant funding to preserve natural areas and greenway corridors and this ordinance authorizes an application for 2023 Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program grant funds. This grant will be used towards the fee simple acquisition of various sites in Columbus, including a 14.5 acre greenspace along Alum Creek, near Agler Road and Sunbury Road in the City’s Northeast Community. In July of 2023, Recreation and Parks applied for Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Funds for property acquisitions for the project, Ordinance 2103-2023.
This project will acquire three properties in the central area of Alum Creek, near Sunbury Road and Agler Road. For the past 20 years, the Recreation and Parks Department has been acquiring parcels along the 22 mile Alum Creek Corridor, and Clean Ohio Conservation grants have helped fund these efforts. The acquisitions will protect over 1,100 feet of the Alum Creek Riparian Corridor. This corridor is nearly 200 feet wide and includes 12 acres of mature floodplain forest, several forested wetland areas, and several acres of upland meadow. Two of the existing structures and a driveway would be demolished.
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
Emergency Justification: Emergency action is being requested so that the Director of Recreation and Parks can immediately sign the grant agreement and accept the funding to meet the property acquisition deadline of April 15, 2024.
Benefits to the Public: Protection of the City’s high quality waterways, greenway corridors, ravines, and urban forests is of great benefit to current and future generations. These sites are within rapidly urbanizing areas of the city and preservation of key natural sites is one of the main missions of Recreation and Parks.
Community Input/Issues: During the past decade, residents in these communities, and the city at large, have expressed strong priority for more greenspaces, protected stream corridors access to nature, walking paths, and urban forest conservation.
Area(s) Affected:
Northeast (41)
Master Plan Relation: This project will support the Recreation and Parks’ Master Plan by improving access to trails and greenways corridors while providing safe connections to the regional trail network for nearby neighborhoods. It will provide long term protected corridors for walking, biking, and outdoor experiences while improving the equitable access to trails and greenways.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance will authorize the appropriation of $717,800.00 in grant funds in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund 2283. This ordinance will also authorize a grant match of $252,200.00 from the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund 7702. $252,200.00 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 $970,000.00 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 Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) for the Alum Creek Preservation - Sunbury, Agler Road Project and accept a grant in the amount of $717,800.00 with a local match of $252,200.00; to authorize the appropriation of $717,800.00 in the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; to authorize the amendment of the 2023 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance; to authorize the transfer of $252,200.00 within the Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($970,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2103-2023 authorized the Director of Recreation and Parks to apply for funding through the Ohio Public Works Commission (OPWC) Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program and the OPWC has awarded the City of Columbus a grant for the Alum Creek Preservation - Sunbury, Agler Road Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant in the amount of $717,800.00 and enter into an agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission for the Alum Creek Preservation - Sunbury, Agler Road Project; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the appropriation of $717,800.00 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize that the 2023 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1711-2023 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 $252,200.00 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 to immediately sign the grant agreement with the Ohio Public Works Commission to meet the property purchase acquisition deadline, 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 Alum Creek Preservation - Sunbury, Agler Road Project. The amount of the grant is $717,800.00 and requires $252,200.00 in City matching funds. There is a total of $970,000.00 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, 2024, the sum of $717,800.00 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 $252,200.00 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 2023 Capital Improvements Budget Ordinance 1711-2023 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 / P512003-100000 / West Case Road Park Development (Voted Carryover) / $3,058,849 / $1,683,849 / ($71,033) / $2,987,816 / $1,612,816
Fund 7702 / P517000-100000 / Opportunity Projects - Misc. (Voted Carryover) / $181,167 / $181,167 / ($181,167) / $0 / $0
Fund 7702 / P510931-513000 / OPWC - Alum Creek Preservation - Sunbury, Agler Road Grant Match (Voted Carryover) / $0 / $0 / $252,200 / $252,200 / $252,200
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.