Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) to enter into a grant agreement with St Luke’s United Methodist Church for $20,000.00 in support of The Columbus Violence Reduction (CVR), National Network for Safe Communities (NNSC) evidence-based Group Violence Intervention (GVI) Model.
Evidence indicates that a relatively small number of individuals in gangs or groups drive the majority of violence in troubled neighborhoods. Columbus Violence Reduction (CVR) focuses on these group members at the highest risk of committing violent crime and potentially becoming victims themselves. OVP and CFR are dedicated to keeping our residents Safe, Alive, and Free.
Focus on these high-risk group members involves measures to address trauma, methods to protect group member from harm (such as preventing retaliation, relocation, and emergency housing), and ways to provide low-cost but pressing needs such as transportation, groceries, obtaining State ID, etc. It also offers priority access to traditional services such as job training, housing, education, peer support, and substance abuse counseling. St Luke’s United Methodist Church will partner with the Office of Violence Prevention in providing these types of critical resources.
Fiscal Impact: This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of $20,000.00 in grant proceeds with St Luke’s United Methodist Church in support of the Group Violence Intervention program.
Contract Compliance: St Luke’s United Methodist Church, FID: 237236970, CC-049167, exp. 05-17-26
Emergency action is requested to avoid any delay in providing critical resources to sustain the needed group violence intervention and prevention programming.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention to enter into a grant agreement St Luke’s United Methodist Church; to authorize the transfer of $20,000.00 within the General Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $20,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency ($20,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, evidence indicates that a relatively small number of individuals in gangs or groups drive the majority of violence in troubled neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Columbus Violence Reduction (CVR) focuses on these group members at the highest risk of committing violent crime and potentially becoming victims themselves; and
WHEREAS, focus on these high-risk group members involves measures to address trauma, methods to protect group member from harm, and ways to provide low-cost but pressing needs such as transportation, groceries, obtaining State ID, etc; and
WHEREAS, St Luke’s United Methodist Church will partner with the Office of Violence Prevention in providing these types of critical resources; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Violence Prevention in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with St Luke’s United Methodist Church to avoid any delay in providing critical resources to sustain the Columbus Violence Reduction - Group Violence Intervention program, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with St Luke’s United Methodist Church in support of Columbus Violence Reduction - Group Violence Intervention program.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $20,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized within the General Fund 1000 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $20,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized from the General Fund 1000 in Object Class 05 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon order of the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention, 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 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 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 7. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared an emergency measure and shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.