Explanation
BACKGROUND: Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, the city of Columbus was awarded $7,403,500 from the U.S. Department of Energy as a formula allocation of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). Funds will be used to develop, promote, implement and manage programs designed to reduce fossil fuel emissions; reduce total energy usage; improve energy efficiency; and create and retain jobs. Use of EECBG funds by the City of Columbus will address these goals with the following activities:
· A revolving loan fund for use by businesses for energy efficiency retrofits
· Bike infrastructure improvements
· Energy efficient retrofit for the central safety building
· Energy efficient lighting at Columbus fire stations
· Participate with the State of Ohio to retrofit the Center of Science and Industry
· Retrofit the Cultural Arts Center with energy efficient lighting
· Retrofit the city's pedestrian signal heads with energy efficient LED technology
· Retrofit homes for low-income households in the Columbus area with energy efficient lighting and appliances.
Ordinance 0868-2009 authorized the city to apply for and accept the grant. Ordinance 1511-2009 authorized appropriations in various divisions and object levels. Final project budgets require an adjustment be made in the appropriations to align funds properly within the city's accounting records.
Fiscal Impact: This legislation will transfer funds from one object level to another with no net impact on the total appropriation.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency so as to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible. Up to date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management.
Title
To authorize the transfer of $122,000.00 between object levels of the General Government Grant Fund to provide Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant funding for approved programs; and to declare an emergency. ($122,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has been awarded $7,403,500 from the U.S. Department of Energy for the implementation of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant programs; and
WHEREAS, an adjustment is needed in the appropriations on the books of the City of Columbus in order to properly align funding for the EECBG programs; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus, in that it is immediately necessary to transfer appropriation between object levels within the general government grant fund, thereby preserving 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 Auditor's Office is hereby authorized to transfer appropriation of $122,000 within fund 220, grant number 459106, from object level 06 to object level 03, OCA number 459110.
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.