Explanation
The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) currently partners with Franklin County Public Health to create an air quality monitoring network that will measure air pollution neighborhood by neighborhood. MORPC has requested funding from Columbus City Council for air quality monitoring equipment. The goal is for MORPC to purchase, calibrate, and deploy sensors by the end of 2024, and they need upfront purchasing capital in order to meet that deadline.
MORPC's air quality monitoring partnership with Franklin County Public Health aims to shed light on environmental justice issues that historically under-served and disinvestment communities face. The project aims to collect more granular particulate matter data than is provided by the Ohio and federal EPA to take appropriate actions in such neighborhoods. MORPC collects data by using low-cost PurpleAir sensors, with the aim to deploy them in homes and businesses in historically marginalized communities. The project is slated to end in Spring of 2026 so a robust, 18-month data collection process is required to better understand and interpret the data. MORPC aims to use the collected data to make recommendations to neighbors, councils, and the city/county government on how we can better protect the air quality and subsequent health of people in Franklin County.
MORPC will lead in the deployments of sensors, as well as community outreach and data collection. Franklin County Public Health will assist with sensor placement and maintenance, as well as health outreach.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter a grant agreement with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure of $10,000 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund. ($10,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) currently partners with Franklin County Public Health to create an air quality monitoring network that will measure air pollution neighborhood by neighborhood across Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, this partnership aims to shed light on environmental justice issues that historically under-served and disinvestment communities face; and
WHEREAS, the project is slated to end in Spring of 2026 so a robust, 18-month data collection process is required to better understand and interpret the data; 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 a grant agreement with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission in support of the Commission's air quality monitoring project.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $10,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018, to the City Clerk per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $10,000.00 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 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 5. 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 6. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.