Agenda Item # 6
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
December 11, 2018
Agenda Report # 75
TO: Mayor and Councilors
SUBJECT: Acceptance of State Farmers Market property located at 318
10th Avenue
INITIATED BY: Community Reinvestment Department
Recommendation: Approval is requested to accept the property located at 318
10th Avenue (020 016 006) from the State of Georgia and also to submit an EPA
grant for up to $500,000 and if approved, accept and amend the
Multi-Governmental Fund for the awarded amount.
Background: The property located at 318 10th Avenue is an abandoned Farmers
Market owned by the State of Georgia. The State of Georgia wishes to quit claim
these properties to the Columbus Consolidated Government. On December 1, 2017,
the City received a letter from the Riverdale-Porterdale Cemetery Foundation,
Inc. requesting that we partner with them in acquiring this property to be used
as a park that would connects Riverdale Cemetery to Porterdale Cemetery. They
would also like to eventually construct a columbarium on the site. The letter
states that the Columbus Consolidated Government will have no financial
obligation for the proposed improvements which will be paid for by the
foundation.
Since the receipt of this letter we have been working to obtain title work and
conducting environmental site assessments on the property. The environmental
testing showed the presence of contaminants such as lead, asbestos, petroleum
and underground storage tanks. We currently have the opportunity apply for a
clean-up grant through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which could
provide up to $500,000 towards cleaning up this site. If the City decides to
pursue this grant, there is a 20% match that could be paid for utilizing CDBG
funds. The grant application is due on January 31, 2019, and the City would
need to have title to the property prior to submitting the application. If the
grant is awarded the clean-up process would begin towards the end of 2019.
Analysis: Acceptance of this property will allow the City to apply for a
grant which will assist with the elimination of blight and turn the property
into a park/greenspace area that will connect the cemeteries.
Financial Considerations: The property will be quit claimed to City at no
cost. The Riverdale-Porterdale Cemetery Foundation has stated they will pay for
the property improvements. If awarded the grant from EPA, the City could
provide a match utilizing CDBG funding.
Legal Considerations: Council must approve all real estate transactions.
Recommendations: Approve a resolution to accept the property located at 318
10th Avenue (020 016 006) from the State of Georgia and also to submit an EPA
grant for up to $500,000 and if approved, accept and amend the
Multi-Governmental Fund for the awarded amount.
A RESOLUTION
NO. ________
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE OF 318 10TH AVENUE (020 016
006) FROM THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND SUBMIT AN EPA GRANT APPLICATION FOR UP TO
$500,000 AND IF APPROVED, ACCEPT AND AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND FOR THE
AWARDED AMOUNT.
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia owns the property located at 318 10th
Avenue (020 016 006) and has offered to quit claim this property to the City;
and,
WHEREAS, the property is currently an abandoned Farmers Market, and the
City received a request from the Riverdale-Porterdale Cemetery Foundation, Inc.
to clean-up the site and turn it into a park that connects Riverdale and
Porterdale Cemeteries at no cost to the City; and,
WHEREAS, environmental contaminants were found on the site, and the
City has the opportunity to apply for an EPA clean-up grant that could assist
with the clean-up if the property is acquired by January 31, 2019.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS
FOLLOWS:
The City Manager is authorized to accept the property located at 318
10th Avenue from the State of Georgia and submit an EPA grant application for
up to $500,0000 and if approved, accept and amend the Multi-governmental Fund
for the awarded amount.
______________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held the
_________ day of _____________, 2018 and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of ____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor House voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_________________________________ __________________________
Lindsey Glisson, Deputy Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor
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