Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes an agreement with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA), State of Ohio, for the State Homeland Security Program - FY2023 SHSP and the appropriation of funds to cover the costs of the program. The Columbus Division of Fire Hazardous Materials Response Team works as a supporting agency for the Central Ohio Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), working to identify suspicious powders and unknown chemicals at events and incidents around the State of Ohio. The team operates 24/7 and responds with equipment and personnel upon request. The Columbus Division of Fire Hazardous Materials Response Team has been awarded grant funding for equipment purchases. This agreement authorizes reimbursement for three projects: (1) Radiation detection and monitoring equipment $30,970.00, (2) Hazmat high pressure mass spectrometer $103,956.00, and (3) Hazmat Raman/FTIR handheld scanner $145,100.00. The City of Columbus is not required to match this award with any amount of non-federal funds. The equipment purchased through this grant will be utilized for anti-terrorism activities throughout the City of Columbus and Ohio Region 4.
The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this $280,026.00 grant is Firefighter Derek Lotz. The grant award start date is September 1, 2023 and ends December 31, 2025.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make funds available for the grant funded activity period that started September 1, 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $280,026.00 from Ohio EMA to cover the costs associated with the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) - FY2023.
Title
To authorize the Mayor of the City of Columbus and/or Director of the Department of Public Safety to accept a sub grantee award through the FY2023 State Homeland Security Program from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency; to authorize an appropriation of $280,062.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Fire to cover the costs associated with the State Homeland Security Program; and to declare an emergency. ($280,026.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Fire Hazardous Materials Response Team will work as primary responders for the program to prevent and reduce terror events within the jurisdiction of the City of Columbus and all of Ohio region 4, including major large-scale crowded events; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and/or Director of Public Safety needs to enter into an agreement with Ohio Emergency Management Agency, State of Ohio, which will provide funds through the State Homeland Security Program - FY2023 to the City of Columbus, Division of Fire; and
WHEREAS, an appropriation is needed to cover the costs associated with the State Homeland Security Program - FY2023; and
WHEREAS, the project period starts September 1, 2023 and goes through December 31, 2025 and appropriation authority needs to be available as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Division of Fire, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Mayor and/or Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into the aforementioned agreements for the State Homeland Security Program - FY2023 and to appropriate $280,026.00 for the project costs to avoid missing out on grant funding, for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health, welfare, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor and/or Director of the Department Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, State of Ohio, and to accept an award in the amount of $280,026.00, which represents funding for the State Homeland Security Program - FY2023.
SECTION 2. That Firefighter Derek Lotz is designated as the official city program contact, authorized to act in connection with the State Homeland Security Program 2023 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 $280,026.00 is appropriated in Fund 2220 General Government Grants in Object Class 02 Material and Supplies per the account codes in the attachments 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 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 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 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 and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 8. 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 form and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.