Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This ordinance authorizes the City of Columbus, Department of Technology, to modify agreements with Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Franklin County Educational Service Center (FCESC) hereinafter referred to as MORPC and ESCCO. Under the terms of the amended agreement, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the City will reimburse MORPC and ESCCO in federal CARES Act Funding to support broadband connectivity and access to computing devices to support Virtual Education in the 2020-2021 school year and beyond. The City, MORPC and ESCCO entered into MOU (Ord. No. 1793-2020) in which the City will continue to provide federal CARES Act funding to MORPC and ESCCO, under certain conditions, so that MORPC and ESCCO may acquire the broadband connectivity and learning devices needed for the City of Columbus students enrolled in public and chartered school districts in Central Ohio and to achieve the goal of providing sufficient access to enable remote learning devices for all students. The amended MOU attached supports broadband connectivity and access to computing devices to support Virtual Education in the 2020-2021 school year and beyond. No additional funding is being requested for this purpose.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The City has received federal CARES Act money to assist with the funding of municipal operations during and related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding was previously authorized via Ord. 1793-2020, there is no additional funding being requested via this ordinance/legislation. Funds are available to provide to the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Franklin County Educational Service Center (ESCCO) for the above-described purpose in the attached amended MOU.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION:
Emergency designation is being requested so that the said funds may continue to be transferred at the earliest possible date based on the attached amended MOU.
...TITLE:
To authorize the City of Columbus, Department of Technology, to modify agreements with Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Franklin County Educational Service Center (ESCCO) to support broadband connectivity and access to computing devices to support Virtual Education in the 2020-2021 school year and beyond; to authorize the continuation of federal CARES Act Funding to reimburse Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Franklin County Educational Service Center (ESCCO) for the attached amended MOU; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, many City of Columbus students enrolled in public and chartered school districts will be learning virtually during the 2020-2021 school year and beyond; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance authorizes the City of Columbus, Department of Technology, to modify agreements with Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Franklin County Educational Service Center (FCESC) hereinafter referred to as MORPC and ESCCO. Under the terms of the amended agreement, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the City will reimburse MORPC and ESCCO in federal CARES Act Funding to support broadband connectivity and access to computing devices to support Virtual Education in the 2020-2021 school year and beyond; and
WHEREAS, it is important to the City of Columbus, and crucial to the success of all of the City's students, that they have broadband internet access and needed learning devices; and
WHEREAS, the City has available federal CARES Act Funding that can continue be used to assist MORPC and ESCCO with this initiative and has agreed to reimburse MORPC and ESCCO per the amended MOU to support broadband connectivity and access to computing devices to support Virtual Education in the 2020-2021 school year and beyond; and
WHEREAS, the City, MORPC and ESCCO will continue this amended MOU in which the City will provide federal CARES Act funding to MORPC and ESCCO, under certain conditions, so that MORPC and ESCCO may continue to acquire and support broadband connectivity and access to computing devices to support Virtual Education in the 2020-2021 school year and beyond to achieve the goal of providing sufficient access to enable remote learning devices for all students due to the emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Department of Technology in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Technology to modify agreements/MOU with MORPC and ESCCO to enable the City to continue utilize CARES Act Funds to reimburse MORPC and ESCCO for broadband access and learning devices, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, 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 Technology be and is hereby authorized to modify agreements, or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) and Franklin County Educational Service Center (ESCCO) to enable the City to continue to reimburse MORPC and ESCCO in federal CARES Act Funding to support broadband connectivity and access to computing devices to support Virtual Education in the 2020-2021 school year and beyond.
SECTION 2. That for the 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.