Explanation
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) for the GreenSpot Backyards program for the Fiscal Year 2016.
In 2011, a pilot rain barrel program was expanded through a partnership established by Mayor Michael B. Coleman with Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, local watershed groups, and EarthMinded (a subsidiary of Greif, Inc.). The program has been a success ever since and the message of water conservation and storm water management continues to be well received by the community. The Office of the Mayor wishes to join with the Department of Public Utilities in a collaborative effort to provide the funding necessary to support the program again in 2016.
The goal of the GreenSpot Backyards program is to engage residents on the topic of water conservation and storm water management practices and offer tools to help implement these practices. These tools include a rebate on rain barrels, native plants and trees, compost bins, and rain garden assistance and education.
In order to obtain any of these tools, residents will be required to attend one (1) of six (6) in-person, free workshops or view an online course and pass the quiz with at least a 70% score.
In 2016, the program will continue to focus on providing rain barrels, conservation and storm water education, outreach and marketing, working with watershed groups such as Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) and Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT), and the promotion of other City of Columbus initiatives including GreenSpot and Branch Out Columbus. Furthermore, 50 rain barrels were made available at no charge to recipients of the City's Low Income Discount Program, reflected in 2013 & 2014 budgets as 50 Subsidized Barrels. At the conclusion of the 2015 Rain Barrel program 15 low income barrels remain. Project partners continue to explore methods to reach economically disadvantaged communities.
The program will take advantage of opportunities to support other overlapping citywide stormwater education efforts including GreenSpot, Blueprint Columbus, Gardening for Clean Water, and Grange Insurance Audubon Center’s Backyard Habitat program, City composting programs and the Columbus Stormwater Manual green infrastructure credit and the lawn maintenance program currently in development.
This grant agreement will be from the date of execution through and including December 31, 2016.
SUPPLIER: Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (31-0847446)-Non-Profit Organization
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for the program is budgeted and available from the following sources: $30,000.00 from the Storm Sewer Operating Fund, $24,000.00 from the Water Operating Fund, and $20,000.00 from the General Government Grants Fund. In 2011, the program was limited to City of Columbus residents only. Beginning in 2012, the program was expanded to serve residents of surrounding communities.
$74,000.00 was spent in 2015
$48,000.00 was spent in 2014
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District for the 2016 GreenSpot Backyards Program for the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Stormwater and Regulatory Management Section, the Division of Water and the Mayor’s Office, and to authorize the expenditure of $24,000.00 from the Water Operating Fund, $30,000.00 from the Storm Sewer Operating Fund and $20,000.00 from the General Government Grants Fund. ($74,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Utilities wishes to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) for the 2016 GreenSpot Backyards Program, and
WHEREAS, the goal of the program is to improve environmental stewardship and water conservation of the City of Columbus residents and surrounding communities, and
WHEREAS, the FSWCD will continue to provide education workshops, provide rain barrels at a discounted cost, and work with various watershed groups to promote the program, and
WHEREAS, the program will promote other City of Columbus initiatives including GreenSpot and Branch Out Columbus as well as providing residents with education on water conservation and stormwater runoff, and
WHEREAS, 15 rain barrels will be distributed to participants of the City’s Low Income Program at no cost to the resident, and
WHEREAS, the program will take advantage of opportunities to support other overlapping citywide stormwater education efforts including GreenSpot, Blueprint Columbus, Gardening for Clean Water, and Grange Insurance Audubon Center’s Backyard Habitat program, City composting programs and the Columbus Stormwater Manual green infrastructure credit and the lawn maintenance program currently in development, and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities and the Office of the Mayor wishes to continue supporting the GreenSpot Backyards Program for the Fiscal Year 2016, and
WHEREAS, the grant agreement will be from the date of execution through and including December 31, 2016, and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District for the continuation of the GreenSpot Backyards Program to the residents of the City of Columbus and surrounding communities for 2016, in order to continue providing rain barrels, water conservation and storm water education, outreach and marketing; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, 1404 Goodale Boulevard, Suite 100, Columbus, Ohio 43212, to provide the 2016 GreenSpot Backyards Program to the residents of the City of Columbus and surrounding communities for the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Stormwater and Regulatory Management Section, the Division of Water, and the Office of the Mayor. The term of this agreement will be from the date of execution through and including December 31, 2016.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $74,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 6200 Storm Sewer Operating Fund in the amount of $30,000.00, Fund 6000 Water Operating Fund in the amount of $24,000.00, and Fund 2220 General Government Grants Fund in the amount of $20,000.00 in object class 03 Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinanace.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.