Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded funds from the Franklin County Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (CEPAC) to support our Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $85,000.00 in grant monies to fund the FY25 CEPAC grant program.
The Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (CEPAC) provides a professional network of individuals who help provide training, exercises and information to industry, responders and the public with regards to chemical awareness and safety. Our primary purpose is to maintain a database of all facilities that store or produce chemicals in reportable quantities. Additionally, we help to provide and promote chemical safety throughout Franklin County and for the City of Columbus.
Emergency action is requested due to the immediate need to bolster emergency response preparedness for chemical disaster; and to avoid forfeiture of the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT: Columbus Public Health's CEPAC program is funded by the Franklin County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), CEPAC and will not generate revenue or require a city match. ($85,000.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept funds from the Franklin County Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (CEPAC) in the amount of $85,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of 85,000.00 to the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($85,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, funds have been made available through the Franklin County Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (CEPAC) for Columbus Public Health’s CEPAC program; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to acceptance and appropriate these funds and any additional funds from the Franklin County Chemical Emergency Preparedness Council (CEPAC); and,
WHEREAS, the City may receive additional funds awarded from the Franklin County Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (CEPAC) for support of the Columbus Public Health’s CEPAC program; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Columbus Public Health’s CEPAC program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept funds from the Franklin County Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (CEPAC) and to appropriate these funds to bolster emergency response preparedness for chemical disaster, to not delay any CEPAC required programming October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025 and to avoid forfeiture of the grant, 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 Board of Health is authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $85,000.00 from the Franklin County Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (CEPAC) for the period October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Department's Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, up to $85,000.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, per the accounting codes attached in this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner, 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 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 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. That the Board of Health is authorized and directed to accept any additional grant awards from the Franklin County Chemical Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council (CEPAC) for the support of the Columbus Public Health Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program for the period October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Columbus Public Health Chemical Emergency Preparedness Program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department to carry out the purpose of the grant.
SECTION 8. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.