Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes a total appropriation of $755,000.00 within the Public Safety Initiative Fund, part of which will be used to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into a contract with Paul Werth and Associates in the amount of $80,000 to partner with the Civil Service Commission to launch a diversity recruitment initiative to attract female and minority applicants for sworn positions. The City of Columbus seeks to recruit the most qualified applicants for Divisions of Police and Fire. Paul Werth and Associates is already under contract with the Civil Service Commission and Public Safety to help the Division of Fire develop a recruitment plan, perform an audit of previously collected data, and offer recommendations to recruit women and minorities as firefighters. Under this contract, Werth will develop a community plan mainly for Police to recruit and hire the most qualified applicants for the City's Safety Forces.
The Public Safety Department requests the waiver of the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code since a contract is already underway with the Civil Service Commission and the Public Safety Department for recruitment efforts with the Division of Fire. With a Police Officer application and examination process to begin this August, there is not time to seek formal proposals and enter into contract before the launching of a Police Exposition in May 2014. Therefore, Public Safety requests to continue the recruitment momentum and use Paul Werth and Associates for the upcoming Police officer recruit process. The Public Safety Department will initiate a Request for Proposal (RFP) process near the end of 2014 in order to continue recruit efforts using the help of a professional consultant firm in 2015 and beyond.
This ordinance also appropriates funds included in the Public Safety Initiative Fund as part of Columbus City Council's amendment to the 2014 operating budget. The 2014 budget includes $300,000.00 for Diversity Recruiting Initiative for Police and Fire Sworn Personnel, $55,000.00 for technology needs for the License Section of Support Services Division and $400,000.00 for a Fire Recruit class.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is requested in order to kickoff the diversity recruiting campaign by participating in two Police Expositions in August 2014.
Contract Compliance Number for Paul Werth Associates: 31-0726286 expires 2/14/2016
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes a total appropriation of $755,000.00 and expenditure of $80,000.00 within the Public Safety Initiative Fund; to contract with Paul Werth Associates to develop a community recruitment plan to recruit women and minorities as applicants for Public Safety's sworn personnel. City Council included $300,000 to the Safety Initiative Fund as part of the 2014 budget amendments specifically for a diversity recruiting initiative for Police and Fire Sworn personnel, $55,000.00 for technology needs of Support Services and $400,000.00 for Fire recruit class.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $755,000.00 within the Safety Initiative Fund; to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into a contract with Paul Werth and Associates, for the development of a recruitment plan for Public Safety sworn personnel; to authorize the expenditure of $80,000.00 from the Safety Initiative Fund, to waive the provisions of competitive bidding, and to declare an emergency. ($80,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety has recognized the need to recruit more women and minorities as applicants for the Divisions of Police and Fire, and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the Director of Public Safety to enter into a contract with Paul Werth and Associates to develop a recruitment plan to hire the most qualified applicants for the Public Safety sworn personnel positions; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate funds within the Public Safety Initiative Fund to account for both this contract and expenses related to technology needs in the Division of Support Services as well as funds to pay for personnel and uniform costs for a Fire recruit class; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City that competitive bidding be waived for the purpose of contracting with Paul Werth and Associates for this initiative; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract with Paul Werth and Associates for the development of a recruitment plan, thereby preserving the public peace, property, health, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with Paul Werth and Associates to develop a recruitment plan.
SECTION 2. That an appropriation of funds is needed in the Safety Initiative Funds as follows:
DIV 30-01| FUND 016| OBJ. LEVEL (01) 03| OBJ LEVEL (03) 3336| OCA # 310016| AMOUNT $300,000.00|
DIV 30-02| FUND 016| OBJ. LEVEL (01) 02| OBJ LEVEL (03) 2224| OCA # 320016| AMOUNT $55,000.00|
DIV 30-04| FUND 016| OBJ. LEVEL (01) 01| OBJ LEVEL (03) 1130| OCA # 340116| AMOUNT $100,000|
DIV 30-04| FUND 016| OBJ. LEVEL (01) 02| OBJ LEVEL (03) 2221| OCA # 340116| AMOUNT $300,000|
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $80,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and the same is hereby authorized as follows:
DIV 30-01 | FUND 016 | OBJ LEVEL (1) 03 | OBJECT LEVEL (3) 3336 | OCA # 310016 |
SECTION 4. That in accordance with Section 329.27 of Columbus City Codes, this Council finds it is in the best interest of the City of Columbus to waive the provisions of Section 329.06 of the Columbus City Codes to permit the aforementioned contract.
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 for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part thereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from the after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.