Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with YWCA Columbus to conduct a community stakeholder engagement process and develop a racial equity plan for the City of Columbus.
Columbus prides itself on being a diverse city that welcomes all people. In August 2020, Columbus City Council created an internal equity team that meets monthly. This internal task force developed project proposals to be implemented and works to provide recommendations and next steps for how Council can work to advance anti-racism and racial equity in Columbus. In addition, the team hosts monthly meetings that include educational components, progress updates from the Steering Committee, and roundtable discussions on topics related to racial equity.
From these conversations evolved the need to create a strategy to engage those most impacted by racial inequity in Columbus. Although Columbus City Council has recognized racism as a public health crisis, we have yet to truly hear the stories of Black and Brown people in Columbus who have been or are currently impacted by systemic racism. By establishing a community-driven engagement process, we can hear directly from our residents, discuss data and invite experts to assess the history of systemic racism, segregation, and other race-based harms in the City of Columbus; explore the present-day manifestations of that history; and ultimately develop a list of recommendations to begin repairing the harms that have been inflicted and necessary for the welfare of the City of Columbus. At the end of this process, Columbus will be able to take steps toward implementing legislation to address the findings.
YWCA Columbus has created a robust action plan to execute over the next two years that includes the following:
-Develop and recruit Community Advisory Participants comprised of community organizations and individuals to develop a trust-centered and community-driven data collection strategy alongside City staff and the Columbus City Council DEIAB manager;
-Explore existing racial equity and community engagement resources and leveraging them;
-Reviewing existing research and plans;
-Develop process for data collection and recommendations for the Racial equity plan;
-Raise awareness and educate the community on the engagement and data collection process for the Racial equity plan.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
This contract is entered into under the provisions of not-for-profit contracting of Section 329 of Columbus City Codes. The YWCA possesses the staff resources and expertise which the city lacks to execute this contract.
Emergency Designation: An emergency exists that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter into this contract to avoid any delay in beginning community stakeholder engagement to create a more equitable Columbus.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with the YWCA Columbus to conduct a community stakeholder engagement process and develop a racial equity plan for the City of Columbus; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $150,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus prides itself on being a diverse city that welcomes all people; and
WHEREAS, in August 2020, Council created an internal equity team; and
WHEREAS, that internal task force developed project proposals to be implemented and continually works to provide recommendations and next steps for how Council can work to advance anti-racism and racial equity in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, by establishing a community-driven engagement process, we can hear from our residents, discuss data and invite experts to assess the history of systemic racism, segregation, and other race-based harms in the City of Columbus; and explore the present-day manifestations of that history;
WHEREAS, YWCA Columbus is a trusted community partner; and
WHEREAS, YWCA Columbus’ mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter into this contract to avoid any delay in beginning community stakeholder engagement to create a more equitable Columbus, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hereby authorized to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with the YWCA Columbus to conduct a community stakeholder engagement process and develop a racial equity plan for the City of Columbus.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $150,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; fund 1000, subfund 100018, in Services-03 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized by Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $150,000.00 is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this contract is entered into under the not-for-profit contracting provisions of Section 329 of Columbus City Codes.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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.