Explanation
1. BACKGROUND:
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to accept a grant in the amount of $49,938.00 from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency's Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) and enter into a Grant Agreement with the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund for the development of a Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program.
The City is developing a Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program that has the potential to address poverty and unemployment within the community and promote the development of small, minority and female-owned businesses through creation of green-collared jobs. The Program has developed a training curriculum structured around livable wage jobs that will be created as a result of the City's implementation of green infrastructure. Graduates of the Program will receive a training certificate that will be recognized by the City and will be offered intense placement assistance in securing a green infrastructure maintenance job, be it with the City or a private entity contracted with the City.
The project will train 60 individuals in green infrastructure maintenance in Summer/Fall 2015 and Spring 2016. Training recruitment will occur through the Columbus Urban League's four-week work readiness training program called New Beginnings, which prepares individuals to enter the workforce. New Beginnings provides "soft skills" training through workshops such as Conflict Resolution and more technical training such as Computer Literacy Training will also be provided. The CUL will identify participants from New Beginnings who have an interest in a green infrastructure-related career and two classes of 30 trainees will participate in a 6 week, 12 hours a week Blueprint Workforce Development Training program covering various topics of green infrastructure maintenance. The classroom work will take place at Columbus State Community College and will be supplemented by field training experience at various public green infrastructure projects to learn how to improve local water quality.
The total project cost is $439,938.00. The amount to be funded from the OEFF Grant is $49,938.00 and the amount of match provided by the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities is $390,000.00. The City of Columbus has contracted with T&M Associates to provide professional services for the design and execution of the Columbus Blueprint Workforce Development Training Program. T&M Associates has subcontract agreements for this project with the various project partners including Columbus Urban League, Columbus State Community College, Regionomics, SIMCO Construction and Williams Creek Consulting. The $49,938.00 in grant funding would be used for additional field training and equipment and give trainees valuable experience applying classroom knowledge which will prepare them for a local job in green infrastructure maintenance.
The Grant award amount is $49,938.00. The City's match commitment is $390,000.00 which will be matched by the contracted direct labor costs from an existing Professional Services Agreement, and anticipated future modification to this agreement, between the City of Columbus and T&M Associates. The grant funds and the City's required match equal a total project amount of $439,938.00.
2. EMERGENCY:
The grant award has been offered to the Department of Public Utilities and it is immediately necessary to accept the grant and appropriate the funds. The Department of Public Utilities is requesting City Council to deem this legislation an emergency measure to allow the Director to enter into the grant agreement as soon as possible.
3. FISCAL IMPACT:
There is a $390,000.00 match commitment for this grant. These matching funds will come from an existing and anticipated future modification of a Professional Services Agreement between the City of Columbus and T&M Associates. This Ordinance requests the authority for the City Auditor to appropriate the proceeds of said Grant for purposes of funding this project work. The grant amount is $49,938.00. The total expenditure from the Storm Sewer Grant Fund (Fund 687) will be $49,938.00.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to accept and enter into a Ohio Environmental Education Fund Grant Agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the development of a Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program; to authorize the matching commitment from a professional services agreement with T&M Associates; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $49,938.00 from the Storm Sewer Grant Fund; and, to declare an emergency. ($49,938.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund has awarded a Grant in the amount of $49,938.00 to the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities for the development of a Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and enter into said Grant Agreement; to appropriate and expend the grant funds; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for this Council to authorize the City Auditor to authorize the use of an existing and future modification of contract EL015364 to meet the grant match requirement of $390,000.00; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Public Utilities is required to be authorized by Council to enter into the Grant Agreement; to accept the Grant money and authorize the use of an existing and future modification of a professional services agreement necessary for the required match; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is immediately necessary to accept and enter into the Grant Agreement so the terms and conditions of the Grant Agreement between the City of Columbus and the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund, are accomplished, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to accept a Grant in the amount of $49,938.00 and enter into a Grant Agreement with the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Education Fund, for the development of a Green Infrastructure Workforce Development Program.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Utilities is hereby authorized to expend funds from an existing Professional Services Agreement with T&M Associates (EL015364) and an anticipated future modification for the match requirement of the grant.
SECTION 3. That the Department of Public Utilities has committed to administer the Grant through grant coordination, grant reporting, grant fund pay requests, and contract administration services.
SECTION 4. That from the unappropriated monies in the State of Ohio, Ohio Environmental Education Grant Fund, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2015, the sum of $49,938.00 shall be appropriated to the Department of Public Utilities, Department 60-15, as follows:
Grant Title: Blueprint Green Infrastructure Maintenance Workforce Development Program | OCA Code: 601500 | Object Level 3: 6621 | Amount: $49,938.00.
SECTION 5. That for the purpose of paying the cost of the aforementioned grant project contract, the expenditure of $49,938.00 is hereby authorized within the Division 60-15 | 687 Storm Sewer Grant Fund | OCA Code: 601500 | Object Level 3: 6621 | Amount: $49,938.00.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to transfer any unencumbered balance in the project account to the unallocated balance within the same fund upon receipt of certification by the Director of the Department administering said project that the project has been completed and the monies no longer required for said project; except that no transfer shall be made from a project account by monies from more than one source.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to establish proper project accounting numbers as appropriate.
SECTION 8. 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 9. 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 approved nor vetoes the same.