Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police was awarded funding through the FY2023 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program from the National Institute of Justice. This federally supported program seeks to improve the infrastructure and analysis capacity of existing state and local crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis so they can process DNA samples efficiently and cost effectively. Funds have been awarded for additional DNA equipment, analysis supplies, and training analysts in the latest technologies in this ever-evolving field. The cost breakdown for this two-year grant award is as follows: Hire two (2) police evidence technician’s ($157,542.00), DNA testing equipment and supplies ($212,344.00), travel and training ($14,195.00), and other ($4,190.00).
The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this $388,271.00 grant is Crime Lab Manager, Angela Farrington. The grant award start date is October 1, 2023 and ends September 20, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an acceptance of the $388,271.00 grant award and the appropriation of those funds from the National Institute of Justice to improve DNA analysis. The City of Columbus received similar awards of $342,776.00 in 2019, $309,036.00 in 2020, $347,439.00 in 2021 and $379,664.00 in 2022. 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 to accept a FY2023 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant award from the National Institute of Justice; to authorize the Crime Lab Manager as the official city representative to act in connection with this grant; and to authorize an appropriation of $388,271.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the cost of the FY2023 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant activities and expenditures. ($388,271.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police has been awarded funding through a FY2023 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant from the National Institute of Justice for personnel costs for the 2 police evidence technicians, DNA testing equipment supplies, and travel and training; and,
WHEREAS, the Columbus Police Crime Lab needs personnel, equipment, supplies, and training to aid in processing DNA samples more efficiently and cost effectively; and,
WHEREAS, Crime Lab Manager Angela Farrington has been identified as the official city representative to act in connection with this FY2023 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant and to provide information as required; and,
WHEREAS, the grant award period begins on October 1, 2023 and ends September 20, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate the FY2023 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant award in order to make funds available for the grant award period; 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 and directed to accept a FY2023 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant for DNA personnel, equipment, supplies, and training 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 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant, and is 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 $388,271.00 is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement in Fund 2220 General Government Grants in Object Class 01 Personnel, 02 Materials and Supplies, and 03 Contractual Services, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated in an amount not to exceed the available cash balance in the fund.
SECTION 5. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 3 shall be paid upon order of the Director of the Department of Public Safety, 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 6. 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 7. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.