Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. to assist the Division of Police in identifying suspicious activities indicative of criminal behavior and reporting them. Community Crime Patrol, Inc. provides teams of patrollers who monitor the residential neighborhoods of the Hilltop area, Franklinton, Merion Village/German Village Area, Olde Towne East/Franklin Park, Northland/North Linden Area, South Clintonville, Weinland Park and Old North Columbus, along with many city parks. These highly-trained citizen patrollers serve as extra "eyes and ears" for the Division of Police and provide critical patrol services at a much lower cost than sworn personnel. The duration of this agreement will be from March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026 or until funds are exhausted. Community Crime Patrol is funded by the City of Columbus and the East Main Street Special Improvement District.
Bid Waiver: This purchase is recommended to be made with a waiver of formal bidding requirements due to the unique nature of the services provided and the established relationship with the vendor.
Emergency Designation: This legislation is presented as an emergency measure to ensure that the community crime patrol program continues without interruption and that patrollers can be paid for their services. It is critical that funds are available as soon as possible to minimize any lapse in services, as the current contract expires February 28th.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the Public Safety Director to enter into a contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. for a total of $375,000.00 for the patrol of selected neighborhoods in the City of Columbus. Funds for Community Crime Patrol were budgeted at $375,000.00 in the 2025 General Fund Operating Budget. Community Crime Patrol was funded at $375,000 in 2022, 2023, & 2024 for patrol activities.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc., a non-profit organization, to provide citizen patrollers to assist the Division of Police in the control and prevention of crime in residential neighborhoods of the Hilltop area, Franklinton, Merion Village/German Village Area, Olde Towne East/Franklin Park, Northland/North Linden Area, South Clintonville, Weinland Park and Old North Columbus, along with many city parks; to authorize the expenditure of $375,000.00 from the General Fund; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of Columbus City Code; and to declare an emergency. ($375,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety's 2025 general fund operating budget allocates funding to contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. for the patrol of City of Columbus neighborhoods such as the Hilltop area, Franklinton, Merion Village/German Village Area, Olde Towne East/Franklin Park, Northland/North Linden Area, South Clintonville, Weinland Park and Old North Columbus, along with many city parks; and
WHEREAS, the Community Crime Patrol, Inc. provides citizen patrollers in these areas who assist the Division of Police in identifying suspicious activities indicative of criminal behavior and reporting them; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety recommends that it is in the City's best interest to waive the competitive bidding procedures of Chapter 329 of the City Code to allow for this agreement due to the unique nature of the services provided and the established relationship with the vendor; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. to ensure the continuation of the program without interruption and that patrollers are paid for their services of disrupting criminal activities, for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, welfare, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. for the purpose of providing citizen patrollers to assist the Division of Police in the identification and reporting of suspicious activity. The contract period will be from March 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026 or until funds are exhausted.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $375,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the General Fund 1000-100010 in object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the spreadsheet attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That this Council finds it is in the City's best interest to waive the competitive bidding requirements of the City Code to allow the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. and does hereby waive the same.
SECTION 6. 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.