Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police was awarded additional funding through the FY2023 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act- A grant in the amount of $52,226.87. This is a federal grant program from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Criminal Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice. (OCJS) The Division of Police has been awarded the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act grant award annually since 2003 to fund forensic lab personnel training, lab equipment purchases, and overtime costs to process casework. Funds have been awarded to purchase 10 antistatic kits for precision balances and drug reference standards. The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this $52,226.87 grant award is Crime Lab Manager, Angela Farrington. The grant start date was January 1, 2026 and ends August 31, 2026.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make these additional funds available to purchase new updated crime lab equipment and instrumentation as soon as possible since the grant award period started January 1, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an acceptance of the $52,226.87 grant award and the appropriation of those funds from OCJS to improve laboratory efficiency by replacing outdated equipment and instrumentation. This is a new award granting additional funds to the City of Columbus. No matching funds are required and all grant expenditures will be reimbursed by the grant awarded funding.
Title
To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus, on behalf of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police, to accept a subgrantee award through the FY2023 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act-A via the State of Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services; to authorize Angela Farrington, Crime Lab Manager, as the official city representative to act in connection with the subgrant; to authorize an appropriation of $52,226.87 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the costs of the subgrant project; and to declare an emergency. ($52,226.87)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police was awarded additional funding through the FY23 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act to fund supplies for The Columbus Police Crime Lab; and,
WHEREAS, the Columbus Police Crime Lab has a need for new drug identification supplies to enhance laboratory safety and to improve work efficiency; and,
WHEREAS, Crime Lab Manager Angela Farrington has been identified as the official city representative to act in connection with the FY2023 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act-A and to provide information as required; and,
WHEREAS, the grant award period begins on January 1, 2026 and ends August 31, 2026; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Mayor to accept and appropriate the FY2023 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act grant award in order to make funds available so equipment can be purchased and installed before the grants expiration date of August 31, 2026, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, 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 is hereby authorized to accept the FY2023 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act-A Grant award for the Columbus Police Crime Lab.
SECTION 2. That Crime Lab Manager Angela Farrington is designated as the official city program contact, authorized to act in connection with the FY2023 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Science Improvement Act-A, and are to provide any additional information required.
SECTION 3.That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grant Fund and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purposes during the grant period, the sum of $52,226.87 is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement in Fund 2220 General Government Grants in Object Class 02 Materials and Supplies, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 3 shall be paid upon order of the Mayor; 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 the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the FY2023 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act-A Grant Program as needed upon request by the Department of Safety, Division of Police.
SECTION 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated.
SECTION 7. 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 8. 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.