Explanation
BACKGROUND: The Division of Police was awarded funding through the FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program from the National Institute of Justice. This federally supported program seeks to improve the infrastructure and analysis capacity of existing state and local crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis so they can process DNA samples efficiently and cost effectively. Funds have been awarded for additional DNA equipment, analysis supplies, and training analysts in the latest technologies in this ever-evolving field. The cost breakdown for this two-year grant award is as follows: Personnel costs of $219,020.00, DNA testing supplies of $44,300.00, DNA equipment of $94,600.00 and travel and training costs of $8,688.00.
The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this $366,608.00 grant is Crime Lab Manager, Angela Farrington. The grant award start date is October 1, 2025 and ends September 30, 2027.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make the funds available as soon as possible as the grant award effective date was October 1, 2025 and the Division needs to procure the updated DNA equipment and supplies as soon as possible to not lose funding for reimbursements.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an acceptance of the $366,608.00 grant award and the appropriation of those funds from the National Institute of Justice to improve DNA analysis. The City of Columbus received similar awards of $347,439.00 in 2021, $379,664.00 in 2022, $388,271.00 in 2023, $400,919.00 in 2024. No matching funds are required and all grant expenditures will be reimbursed by the grant awarded funding.
Title
To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant award from the National Institute of Justice; to authorize the Crime Lab Manager as the official city representative to act in connection with this grant; to authorize an appropriation of $366,608.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the cost of the FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant activities and expenditures; and to declare an emergency. ($366,608.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police has been awarded funding through a FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant from the National Institute of Justice for personnel costs, DNA testing equipment and supplies, and travel and training; and,
WHEREAS, the Columbus Police Crime Lab needs personnel, equipment, supplies, and training to aid in processing DNA samples more efficiently and cost effectively; and,
WHEREAS, Crime Lab Manager Angela Farrington has been identified as the official city representative to act in connection with this FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant and to provide information as required; and,
WHEREAS, the grant award period begins on October 1, 2025 and ends September 30, 2027; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police, in that it is immediately necessary to accept and appropriate the FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant in order to make funds available for the grant award period, all 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 Mayor of the City of Columbus is hereby authorized and directed to accept a FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant for DNA personnel, equipment, supplies, and training for the Columbus Police Crime Lab.
SECTION 2. That Crime Lab Manager Angela Farrington is designated as the official city program contact, authorized to act in connection with the FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant, and is 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 grant period, the sum of $366,608.00 is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement in Fund 2220 General Government Grants in Object Class 01 Personnel, 02 Materials and Supplies, 03 Contractual Services and 06 Capital outlay per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated in an amount not to exceed the available cash balance in the fund.
SECTION 5. 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 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the FY25 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant, as needed, upon the request by the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police.
SECTION 7. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 8. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated.
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 approves nor vetoes the same.