Explanation
This ordinance transfers $200,000 from SIT Fund 430 to Neighborhood Initiative Fund 018, appropriates those funds, and authorizes and directs the Director of the Community Relations Commission to enter into contract with the Friends of the Community Relations Commission, a not-for-profit organization, to distribute those funds, and with the Coalition for a Nonviolent Columbus, a not-for-profit organization, to administer and monitor those funds. The funds shall be used for a competitive grant program that provides funding for not-for-profit neighborhood organizations to purchase graffiti abatement equipment and materials and to install community murals to avoid graffiti.
The competitive grant program will be available to any recognized community organization, such as an area commission, civic association, neighborhood business association or other recognized not-for-profit organization. Such organization shall be incorporated with the State of Ohio, located in the City of Columbus, and in possession of a valid IRS not-for-profit designation. Total funding shall not exceed $5,000 per organization per calendar year.
These grants are intended to provide financial support for one-time costs, other than operating expenses, for neighborhood led initiatives that address graffiti in neighborhoods within the corporate limits of the City of Columbus. Funding may be utilized for the purchase of materials and/or equipment for graffiti removal by the grantee; and for the purchase of materials and/or equipment to install a community mural by the grantee to proactively dissuade graffiti crimes. Grantee shall be solely liable for soliciting and receiving any necessary legal waivers or approvals to implement the aforementioned activities, and shall hold the city harmless for any damages resulting from said activities.
The Columbus City Council, or its designee, will liaise with the relevant contractors and will approve the final grant recipients, and thos...
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