Explanation
The Office of CelebrateOne and Columbus Public Health have been awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. This ordinance is to accept and appropriate $722,375.00 in grant money to fund the Ohio Equity Initiative for the period July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025. This project will allow CelebrateOne to focus on nine zip codes in Franklin County with the greatest potential to impact the birth outcomes of pregnant African-American women at risk for preterm and low birth weights in Franklin County. It will also cover the Fetal Infant Mortality Review community-based program that identifies local infant mortality issues and develops recommendations and initiatives to reduce infant deaths.
Funds will cover a percentage of the costs of the team managing the project - Senior Manager of Health Equity, Project Coordinator; Senior Manager of Pregnancy and Perinatal Support, Epidemiologist Director of Data and Outcomes, Navigators. In addition, funding will cover other operational expenses including but not limited to: office supplies, outreach materials, professional development, and mileage reimbursement.
EMERGENCY ACTION is requested at this time in order to meet payroll as well as impact the lives and birth outcomes of women and families in Columbus and expend the grant funds by The Ohio Department of Children and Youth.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Ohio Equity Initiative is entirely funded by the grant from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and does not generate revenue or require a City Match.
Title
To authorize the Executive Director, Office of CelebrateOne, and the Board of Health, to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth in the amount of $722,375.00 for the Ohio Equity Initiative Project through June 30 2025; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of up to $722,375.00 from the City’s General Government Grant Fund to cover a percentage of the costs of the team managing the project and to cover other operational expenses including but not limited to: office supplies, outreach materials, professional development, and mileage reimbursement; and to declare an emergency. ($722,375.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $722,375.00 has been made available through the Ohio Department of Children and Youth for the period July 1st, 2024 through June 30, 2025 for the Ohio Equity Initiative; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate up to $722,375.00 from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth for the continued support of the Ohio Equity Initiative; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to expend up to $722,375.00 to support the Ohio Equity Initiative Program deliverables; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is being submitted as an emergency so as to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City’s accounting system as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, up-to-date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of CelebrateOne and Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept these funds on behalf of CelebrateOne to continue support of all activities for the Ohio Equity Initiative, to meet payroll as well as impact the lives and birth outcomes of women and families in Columbus and expend the grant funds by The Ohio Department of Children and Youth, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Executive Director, Office of CelebrateOne, and the Board of Health are hereby authorized to accept a grant award of $722,375.00 from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth for the Ohio Equity Initiative Program from July 1st, 2024 through June 30th 2025.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Fund 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $722,375.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated to the Office of CelebrateOne and the Columbus Public Health Department as per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance. Appropriated upon executed grant agreement.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Office of the Mayor and the Board of Health and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. That the Executive Director, Office of CelebrateOne and the Board of Health are authorized to expend up to $722,375.00 for staff salaries and other services needed to fulfill the deliverables of the Ohio Equity Initiative Program Grant. These expenditures will be made during the program year and will follow the City's procurement rules.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances that may be 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 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.