Label
RAISE Grant Design
Public Utilities and Economic Development
D. Stephens (x1006) B. Sehlhorst (x1692)
Revised
Title
Authorizing the Mayor to enter into and execute a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (“RAISE”) Grant Agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Transportation for the Connecting Toledo Neighborhoods to Opportunity project; authorizing the Mayor to accept bids and award contracts related to the design portion of the project; authorizing the expenditure of $3,700,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund; authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of $800,000 from the Water Distribution Infrastructure Development Fund; authorizing the appropriation and expenditure of $1,200,000 from the Sewer Distribution Infrastructure Development Fund; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The Department of Economic Development, in collaboration with community and economic development partners, applied for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for the Connecting Toledo Neighborhoods to Opportunity (CTNO) project.
The CTNO project is a comprehensive $52.9 million initiative focused on modernizing public infrastructure in Toledo, Ohio's disadvantaged Junction, Englewood, and Uptown neighborhoods. These historically marginalized, majority-Black communities have endured decades of disinvestment and detrimental transportation policies, particularly the construction of Interstate 75, which effectively isolated them from the city’s downtown core. The CTNO project aims to address these long-standing challenges by implementing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvements, enhancing public transit, and introducing green streetscapes. These upgrades are designed to improve safety, mobility, and connectivity, particularly for the area’s most disadvantaged residents, while also supporting the growth of the Uptown Toledo Social Innovation District. In doing so, the project seeks to foster equitable economic opportunities and revitalize these once-thriving neighborhoods.
In June 2023, the City was awarded a $20 million RAISE Grant for the CTNO project. Toledo Municipal Code §929.21 established the Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure Development Fund (aka the 2% Sewer Fund) and Toledo Municipal Code §933.11 established the Water Infrastructure Development Fund (aka the 2% Water Fund) for the purpose of improving sewer and water infrastructure systems. This is a city project located within the public right-of-way, managed by the City of Toledo and will include project costs such as design and construction. Design work is set to begin in 2025 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Construction will be divided into four phases, beginning in 2027 and concluding in 2030.
This ordinance authorizes the necessary funding to complete the design phase of the CTNO project.
Summary
NOW THEREFORE Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor is authorized to enter into and execute a RAISE Grant Agreement with ODOT and USDOT for the CTNO project upon such terms and conditions shall be approved by the Director of Transportation, Director of Public Utilities, Director of Economic Development and the Director of Law.
SECTION 2. That the Mayor is authorized to prepare plans and specifications and to accept bids and enter into contracts for the design of the CTNO project including such items as labor, materials and professional services necessary for the project upon such terms and conditions shall be approved by the Director of Transportation, Director of Public Utilities and the Director of Law.
SECTION 3. That an amount not to exceed $3,700,000 is authorized for expenditure from the Capital Improvement Fund, Account Code 5040-35000-8CP2402STRDEV for the purposed identified in Section 2.
SECTION 4. That the sum of $800,000 is appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the Water Distribution Infrastructure Development Fund Account Code 6065-35000-4UI3424STDSTD and is authorized for expenditure for design of the CTNO Project.
SECTION 5. That the sum of $1,200,000 is appropriated from the unappropriated balance of the Sewer Distribution Infrastructure Development Fund Account Code 6075-35000-4UI3424STDSTD, and is authorized for expenditure for design of the CTNO Project.
SECTION 6. That the Finance Director is authorized to issue their warrant or warrants against the account codes identified in Sections 3, 4 and 5 above in payment of the obligations authorized in Section 2 upon presentation of the proper voucher or vouchers.
SECTION 7. That the disappropriation of any remaining budget to fund balance is authorized at project closeout.
SECTION 8. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that this Ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property, and for the further reason that this Ordinance must be immediately effective to complete the design for CTNO project by the deadline outlined in the RAISE Grant Agreement.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 11, nays 0.
Passed: September 11, 2024, as an emergency measure: yeas 11, nays 0.
Attest:
Julie A. Gibbons Carrie Hartman
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: September 11, 2024
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor