Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation appropriates funding for the joint Ohio State University ("OSU") - Columbus Division of Police ("CPD") Crime Interdiction Security Initiative. A long-standing, mutual-aid collaboration has been in place between both agencies with established guidelines for mutual assistance and use of resources to address criminal activity and emergencies that occur across jurisdictional lines. One of the provisions of the 2023 MOU is that OSU will reimburse the City of Columbus Division of Police for all overtime and benefit costs for sworn CPD officers who work overtime for initiative activities. The standard amount of OSU reimbursement to the City for these costs is $150,000.00 per academic year. However, this amount may be increased based on need and upon mutual agreement by the Parties, as is the case for the 2023-2024 OSU academic year for which the reimbursement total has been increased to $400,000.00.
The initiative activities and timing are determined via collaborative planning by OSU and CPD personnel. Examples of law enforcement activity would include student move-in/out times, the start of academic classes and high profile campus events. The 2023-2024 OSU academic year and the initiative are concurrently scheduled and began August 2023.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is necessary to expedite the appropriation of the funding for the OSU Crime Interdiction Security Initiative in time for the start of project activities that began August 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $400,000.00 for CPD sworn overtime expenditures and benefits for the OSU Crime Interdiction Security Initiative. All funds appropriated are reimbursable from OSU through an OSU-CPD MOU. The 2021-2022 academic year grant reimbursable expenditures were $150,000.00 the 2022-2023 academic year grant reimbursable expenditures were $150,000.00 and the 2023-2024 academic year grant reimbursable expenditures are set at $400,000.00.
Title
To authorize an appropriation of $400,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police; to authorize the Mayor of the City of Columbus to enter into year nine of the OSU Crime Interdiction Security Initiative; and to declare an emergency ($400,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, The Ohio State University and the City of Columbus Division of Police entered into an MOU establishing guidelines for mutual assistance and use of resources to address criminal activity and emergencies that occur across jurisdictional lines; and,
WHEREAS, The Ohio State University will provide reimbursement to the City of Columbus Division of Police for all overtime and benefit costs for sworn CPD officers who work overtime for the initiative activities, up to a maximum of $400,000.00 for the 2023-2024 academic year; and,
WHEREAS, an appropriation is needed to cover the costs associated with the academic year 2023-2024 OSU Crime Interdiction Security Initiative; and,
WHEREAS, funds need to be made available at the earliest possible time because the 2023-2024 OSU academic year and Crime Interdiction Security Initiative activities are concurrently scheduled and began August, 2023; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate $400,000.00 in time for the start of project activities that began August 2023, thereby preserving the public peace, property, health, safety and, welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor of the City of Columbus be and is hereby authorized to enter into year nine of the OSU Crime Interdiction Security Initiative (2023-2024), as allowed under the agreement.
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 2023-2024 OSU academic year the sum of $400,000.00 is hereby appropriated in Fund 2220 General Government Grants in Object Class 01 Personnel per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That this appropriation is to be effective upon approval by Council.
SECTION 4. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Public Safety, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 5. That at the end of the 2023-2024 OSU academic year, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by OSU 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 agreements.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated.
SECTION 7. That for 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.