Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $657,093.00 of the FY 2025 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) as well as the transfer of appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $35,726.23 of the FY 2024 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Department of Development and authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement - Not for Profit Service Contract in an amount up to $692,819.23 with the Community Shelter Board (CSB) for the administration of the City's Emergency Solutions Grant monies and authorizes the payment of expenses prior to the issuance of the purchase order beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026. Food and non-alcoholic beverages are considered an operating expense of this non-profit organization and those specific expenditures are only reimbursable beginning the date that this ordinance is approved by Council.
Funds will be used to meet the housing needs identified in the Consolidated Plan submitted to HUD. The CSB, a non-profit organization, has been selected because of their history with the City and the homeless service community in the funding and coordination of services to homeless individuals and families, as well as their established administrative procedures to effectively and efficiently implement such services. If at any time during the course of monitoring it is determined that the Subrecipient has a post-award risk assessment score that is moderate-high or high risk it may impose additional contract requirements/regulations also if at any time during the course of the agreement there are any changes or updates to the Federal Rules and Regulations associated with this program those additional requirements shall be added to the agreement to address the higher levels of risk identified or the updated rules and regulations without returning to Council for approval.
CSB will enter into agreements with one or more nonprofit organizations for the provision of emergency shelter to single adult homeless individuals and for the delivery of rapid re-housing program services for homeless families. CSB will administer financial assistance and provide program oversight administration as the services cannot be provided by existing city employees.
This legislation represents appropriation for a part of the ESG portion of the 2025 Action Plan per ordinance 2968-2024.
Emergency Designation: An emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to provide funding to the Community Shelter Board the funding delays have caused a negative impact within the shelters overall funding and these funds will help further support them with funds for already vulnerable population.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this agreement in the amount of $35,726.23 is supported by the 2024 Emergency Solutions Grant (G442304) and the $657,093.00 is supported by the 2025 Emergency Solutions Grant (G442403).
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor number is 004795 and expires 12/10/2026.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $657,093.00 of the FY 2025 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) as well as the transfer of appropriation and the expenditure in an amount up to $35,726.23 of the FY 2024 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Department of Development; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement - Not for Profit Service Contract in an amount up to $692,819.23 with the Community Shelter Board for the administration of the City's Emergency Solutions Grant monies; to authorize payment for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverages residents as it is an operational cost associated with shelters and these expenditures are only reimbursable beginning with the effective date of this ordinance; to authorize the payment of expenditures prior to the start of the purchase order beginning July 1, 2025; and to declare an emergency. ($692,819.23)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus expects to continue as a participating jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, the City is the recipient of Emergency Solutions Grant funds from HUD; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus City Council has approved the proposed 2024 Action Plan, per Ordinance 2993-2023 and the 2025 Action Plan per Ordinance 2968-2024, as required by HUD; and
WHERAS, the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $657,093.00 of the FY 2025 ESG grant as well as the transfer of appropriation between divisions and the expenditure in an amount up to $35,756.23 of the FY 2024 ESG grant is authorized; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus acknowledges and defines the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages as “operating costs”, to serve the public purpose for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, or food insecurity, and that any of the expenditures authorized by this ordinance may be spent toward payment of food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses for such populations; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the Director of Development to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement - Not for Profit Service Contract with the Community Shelter Board; and
WHEREAS, If at any time during the course of monitoring it is determined that the Subrecipient has a post-award risk assessment score that is moderate-high or high risk it may impose additional contract requirements/regulations also if at any time during the course of the agreement there are any changes or updates to the Federal Rules and Regulations associated with this program those additional requirements shall be added to the agreement to address the higher levels of risk identified or the updated rules and regulations without returning to Council for approval; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement-Not for Profit Service Contract with the Community Shelter Board as funding delays have caused a negative impact within the Shelter Boards funding and this funding will help further support providing funds for an already vulnerable population thereby preserving 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 from the unappropriated monies 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, 2025, the sum of $ $657,093.00 is appropriated in Fund 2220 (General Government Grant), Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), Project G442403, in Object Class 03 (Contractual Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $657,093.00, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby authorized within Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund), Dept-Div 44-12 (Housing Stability), Project G442304 in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $35,726.23 is hereby authorized between Division 4410 (Housing) and Division 4412 (Housing Stability).
SECTION 4. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a Subrecipient Agreement - Not for Profit Service Contract with the Community Shelter Board in an amount up to $692,819.23 for the purpose of effectively and efficiently enabling our community to help individuals and families who are homeless resolve their housing crisis through the Emergency Solutions Grant Program monies and authorizes the payment of expenditures prior to the purchase order beginning July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.
SECTION 5. That this Columbus City Council acknowledges and defines as operating costs inherent to the mission of the Community Shelter Board and the Emergency Solutions Grant the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and or/food insecurity. Expenditures are authorized by this ordinance which may be spent toward payment of food and non-alcoholic beverages expenses for such populations beginning with the effective date of this ordinance. City Council declares that the expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses authorized by this ordinance to be for a proper public purpose.
SECTION 6. That the Department of Development if at any time during the course of monitoring has determined that the Subrecipient has a post-award risk assessment score that is moderate-high or high risk it may impose additional contract requirements/regulations also if at any time during the course of the agreement there are any changes or updates to the Federal Rules and Regulations associated with this program those additional requirements shall be added to the agreement to address the higher levels of risk identified or the updated rules and regulations without returning to Council for approval
SECTION 7. 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 and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 9. 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 10. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.