Explanation
This ordinance authorizes a fiscal agency agreement with Go Columbus Agriculture, on behalf of ICANCO Community Development, in support of the South Side Family Farms project, and repeals previously passed ordinance 1967-2026.
After passing ordinance 1967-2026, it was learned that ICANDO Community Development is ineligible to be a grant recipient. Go Columbus Agriculture will serve as a fiscal agent on behalf of ICANDO Community Development to ensure that the work originally authorized in support of South Side Family Farms is performed.
ICANDO Community Development is dedicated to serving disadvantaged, low-income residents of the South Side. Historical disinvestment in this red-lined community has created systemic barriers that many families are unable to overcome, exemplified by a high school student population consisting of ~73% free/reduced lunch participants. Through its growing program, South Side Family Farms, ICANDO has donated at least 2,000 pounds of produce to individuals and local food pantries every year. It now needs to invest in a team of paid staff in order to serve the community in the long term.
For the past five years, ICANDO has provided produce boxes to 240 families and hosted 120-150 community members during educational programs every year. This growing season, it aims to match previous measures of success and offer a new health-centered, culturally relevant community supported agriculture (CSA) box for 40 families on a sliding scale starting at $35/week. ICANDO will additionally offer a summer youth enrichment program where 20 high school juniors and seniors will receive high-level training in agriculture, financial literacy lessons, and individualized career development coaching.
Emergency action is requested in order to expedite the execution of the agreement with Go Columbus Agriculture in order to begin undertaking the assembly and distribution of food boxes for families in need.
Fiscal Impact: Funding in the amount of $15,000.00 is available on existing ACPO013528.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a fiscal agency grant agreement with Go Columbus Agriculture in support of South Side Family Farms; to authorize the expenditure of funds for the payment of reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses; to repeal previously passed ordinance 1967-2026; and to declare an emergency. ($15,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to amend repeal previously passed ordinance 1967-2026 and to instead authorize a fiscal agency agreement with Go Columbus Agriculture in support of South Side Family Farms; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the City Clerk in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the agreement in order to begin undertaking the assembly and distribution of food boxes for families in need; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into a fiscal agency grant agreement with Go Columbus Agriculture in support of South Side Family Farms.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $15,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in utilizing existing ACPO013528, and that any and all of said expenditure may be used for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the distribution of food and beverages associated with the execution of this grant agreement are deemed to be for a proper public purpose.
SECTION 5. That ordinance 1967-2026 is hereby repealed.
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.