Explanation
The City of Columbus Division of Police has been awarded funding through the FY2005 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act. This block grant is providing funds for training and travel costs for forensic lab personnel related to accreditation, certification, education and training to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science services. It is also funding the purchase of two stereomicroscopes and equipment to enhance the current questioned document analysis processes. The City must act as a subgrantee to the State of Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services according to the federal grant guidelines. Therefore, the Mayor is required to sign a subgrantee award to accept on behalf of the City. The official City program contact authorized to act in connection with this grant is Crime Lab Manager, Jami St.Clair.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is needed to make the grant funds available as soon as possible because of the need to meet registration deadlines for upcoming training opportunities and begin the purchase of equipment processes.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact for the General Fund Account. All funds appropriated are reimbursable from the grant award.
Title
To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a subgrantee award through the FY2005 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act via the State of Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, to authorize Jami St.Clair as the official representative to act in connection with the subgrant, to authorize an appropriation of $25,863.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the costs of the FY05 Coverdell Block subgrant project and to declare an emergency. ($25,863.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus Division of Police has been awarded funding through the FY05 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act for the training of forensic lab personnel and the purchase of specialized lab equipment; and
WHEREAS, advancing technology has created a need for up-to-date training and additional specialized equipment for the Columbus Police Crime Lab and city funds for these purposes are limited; and
WHEREAS, Crime Lab Manager, Jami St.Clair has been identified as the official representative to act in connection with the FY05 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act Block Subgrant and to provide information as required; and
WHEREAS, the grant funds need to be available as soon as possible for training registration and equipment purchases; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Mayor to accept a FY05 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act Block Subgrant for the Division of Police Crime Lab and to authorize an appropriation for specialized training and equipment for forensic lab personnel 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 Mayor of the City of Columbus be and is hereby authorized and directed to accept a FY05 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act Block Subgrant for specialized training and equipment for the Columbus Police Crime Lab.
Section 2. That Crime Lab Manager, Jami St.Clair is designated as the official program contact and authorized to act in connection with the FY05 Paul Coverdell National Forensic Sciences Improvement Act Block Grant Program 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 subgrant award period the sum of $25,863.00 is appropriated as follows:
DIV FD Obj. Level 1 Object Level 3 OCA Code GRANT AMOUNT
30-03 220 02 2206 336032 336032 $400.00
30-03 220 02 2224 336032 336032 $650.00
30-03 220 03 3330 336032 336032 $8,675.00
30-03 220 03 3331 336032 336032 $4,050.00
30-03 220 06 6697 336032 336032 $12,088.00
Section 4. 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 5. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part thereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from the after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.