Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Department of Public Service, Keep Columbus Beautiful (KCB) program is eligible to apply for a grant sponsored by The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention in conjunction with its affiliation with Keep Ohio Beautiful. The grant, called "2010 Litter CleanUp Grant", is requesting funding to support a new litter abatement effort targeted at helping neighborhoods remove accumulated trash and debris from the Parsons Avenue Corridor which serves as the gateway into the City of Columbus Southside neighborhoods. The cleanup is meant to focus on grassroots issues such as litter and graffiti to compliment the major revitalization taking place in this area. The cleanup will bring together volunteers from both east and west neighborhoods surrounding the corridor to target blight and improve the area's image.
The Ohio Revised Code (ORC), Chapter 1502, authorizes the Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention (Division), with the approval of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Department), to award grants for the purpose of supporting litter cleanup activities. Grant awards may range up to $2,000 and all proposals must contain an actual litter collection component. No cash match is required, but local financial or in-kind contributions will help to demonstrate a sense of commitment.
Those eligible to apply include Ohio counties, municipal corporations, townships, villages, solid waste management districts or authorities, soil & water conservation districts, Keep Ohio Beautiful affiliates and any agencies of the state as defined in Chapter 119 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Keep Columbus Beautiful is requesting funding from ODNR to develop and support a Parsons Avenue spring cleanup beginning at Livingston Avenue to Marion Road targeted at removing litter and graffiti along the business corridor. Neighborhoods such as Schumacher Place, Merion Village, Ganthers Place, Swain's Corner, Southside Can, Hungarian Village, Reeb Hosack, and more would be the focus of volunteer recruitment to help remove grassroots blight such as litter and graffiti from the area. Grant funds would be used to support this collaborative community improvement effort with litter supplies, such as litter grabbers, gloves, bags, brooms, and rakes.
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to formally apply for the grant and accept it (if awarded); it also authorizes the appropriation of these funds within the General Governement Grant Fund and its expenditure there from that fund.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
None. No city match is required for this grant. No cash match is expected, but local financial or in-kind contributions will help to demonstrate a sense of commitment, and offset the overall cost of the project. KCB resources that will be dedicated to managing/implementing this grant are included in the program's 2009 operating budget within the Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested for this legislation to apply for this funding to meet the application deadline. Applications must be U.S. postmarked or delivered by November 6, 2010.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to apply to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention to facilitate an abatement effort to remove litter from the Parson's Avenue corridor leading into Columbus Southside neighborhoods with highly visible destination areas and accept said grant if awarded; to authorize the appropriation of $2,000.00 within the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $2,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed for this purpose from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($2,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention, called 2010 Litter CleanUp Grant; and
WHEREAS, this grant is designed to facilitate a litter abatement initiative in Spring of 2010 and collaborative efforts with the City of Columbus, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Parsons Avenue Merchants Association, area commissions and neighborhood leaders to recruit area volunteers to remove blighted conditions from Parsons Avenue beginning at Livingston Avenue to Marion Road; and
WHEREAS, Keep Columbus Beautiful must submit an application by November 6, 2009; and
WHEREAS, it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to apply for the grant and accept it if awarded as soon as possible to allow the planning for an effective litter abatement project and miscellaneous sustainable efforts in Spring of 2010; thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to apply to The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention Grant designed to facilitate a new litter abatement initiative in Spring of 2010.
Section 2. That from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010, the sum of $2,000.00 be and hereby is appropriated to the Department of Public Service, Department No. 59-02.
Section 3. That the monies appropriated in Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Public Service Director 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 4. That the City Auditor shall establish accounting codes as necessary.
Section 5. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to expend $2,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed to pay appropriate "2010 Litter CleanUp Grant" program expenses from the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, Department of Public Service, Department No. 59-02, Object Level One Code 02, Object Level Three Code 2200, OCA Code and Grant number to be established by the City Auditor.
Section 6. 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.