Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police has been awarded funding through the FY2008 Forensic DNA 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 to the Division of Police to purchase a low temperature freezer for evidence storage and a thermal cycler for processing DNA samples. The cost breakdown for the grant is as follows: equipment $17,000.00, supplies $80,342.28, training $11,100.00, and overtime costs of $11,557.72.
The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this $120,000.00 grant award is Crime Lab Manager, Jami St. Clair.
These grant funds will help the Division of Police Crime Lab to process crime scene evidence more quickly and effectively.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is needed to complete the acceptance and make the awarded funds available as soon as possible for training opportunities and to begin the purchasing processes. The grant award period start date is October 1, 2008.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an acceptance of a grant award of $120,000 from the National Institute of Justice for the purchase of DNA equipment, supplies, and training to improve DNA analysis. There is no fiscal impact on the General Fund budget. 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 FY2008 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program 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; to authorize an appropriation of $120,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the cost of the FY2008 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Grant activities and acquisitions, and to declare an emergency. ($120,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The Division of Police has been awarded funding through a FY2008 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program Grant from the National Institute of Justice for specialized DNA equipment, supplies, training, and overtime funds for Crime Lab DNA Analysts; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Police Crime Lab needs additional DNA equipment, supplies, training and overtime funds to aid in processing DNA samples more efficiently and cost effectively; and
WHEREAS, Crime Lab Manager Jami St. Clair has been identified as the official city representative to act in connection with this FY2008 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program Grant and to provide information as required; and
WHEREAS, the grant award period begins on October 1, 2008; 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 authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a FY2008 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program award, to authorize Crime Lab Manager Jami St. Clair as the official city representative for the grant and authorize an appropriation for the grant, 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 Mayor of the City of Columbus be and is hereby authorized and directed to accept a FY2008 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program Grant for DNA equipment, training, and supplies for the Columbus Police Crime Lab, and overtime funds for DNA Analysts.
SECTION 2. That Crime Lab Manager Jami St. Clair is designated as the official city program contact and authorized to act in connection with the FY2008 Forensic DNA Backlog Reduction Program Grant and 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 $120,000.00 is appropriated as follows:
DIV FUND OBJ LEVEL (1) OBJ LEVEL (3) OCA GRANT AWARD
30-03 220 01 1102 338039 338039 $11,557.72
30-03 220 02 2203 338039 338039 $80,342.28
30-03 220 03 3330 338039 338039 $ 8,000.00
30-03 220 03 3331 338039 338039 $ 3,100.00
30-03 220 06 6697 338039 338039 $17,000.00
SECTION 4. That the monies appropriated on the foregoing Section 3 shall be paid upon order of the Director 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 5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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.