Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Extreme weather brought on by climate change is affecting the Columbus region, primarily through very high and very low temperatures. In the past, City Council has provided funding to organizations that served as cooling and warming centers for people seeking refuge. This year, Council has decided to enter into grant agreements with Family Mentor Foundation, GoldHeart Outreach, and Mission Warmth, all non-profit corporations, to provide services to residents during the winter months.
Family Mentoring Foundation will supply buddy boxes to our warming center residents.
GoldHeart Outreach and Mission Warmth will provide rides to warming stations.
Emergency action is requested to allow these organizations to have the resources available to immediately deploy in the case of an extreme weather situation.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds are available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into grant agreements with Family Mentoring Foundation, GoldHeart Outreach, and Mission Warmth for their services during the extreme winter months; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages, and to declare an emergency. ($29,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is a need in the community to provide extreme weather services to unhoused individuals to protect them from dangerous winter weather; and
WHEREAS, The city has partnered with non-profit organizations in the past to provide residents with cooling and warming centers at no cost to residents; and
WHEREAS, City Council and the Administration are developing a plan to establish a protocol for future funding during extreme summer and winter weather events; and
WHEREAS, until such a protocol is established, there is a continued need for support of residents across the city during the winter months; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists insofar as it is immediately necessary to authorize these agreements to ensure the aforementioned organizations can serve residents during the extreme winter months, all 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 City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into grant agreements with Family Mentoring Foundation, GoldHeart Outreach, and Mission Warmth for their services during the extreme winter months.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $29,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to the City Clerk per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $29,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That Columbus City Council deems this expenditure and the distribution of food and non-alcoholic beverages to be a proper public purpose, in that it helps to feed residents who are receiving care during an extreme weather occurrence. Food and non-alcoholic beverage related expenditures will only be allowable from the effective date of this ordinance and shall not exceed $15.00 per meal per served individual per day.
SECTION 5. 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 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all the contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. 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.