...Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health (CPH) has been awarded a grant from pass through agency, The Ohio Department of Health; primary funding source originates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This funding supports the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $1,000,000.00 in grant monies to fund the implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program, for the period August 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025. The total amount funded for this period is $1,000,000.00 following receipt of executed agreement.
Columbus Public Health (CPH) embraces the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s mantra toward Ending the HIV Epidemic, which is to create “Disruptive Innovation”. CPH will seek to prevent new HIV infections by focusing on four (4) pillars: Diagnosis, Treatment, Prevention and Outbreak Response. This grant specifically focuses on treating HIV to achieve viral suppression, diagnose HIV so all person know their HIV status, prevent infections through PrEP and syringe support programs, and respond to HIV clusters, or outbreaks, within the community.
The Ohio Department of Health has tasked CPH to improve the efficiency of the reallocation of funds, as necessary in order to minimize unused funds to the greatest extent possible, and to maximize the available services to avoid potential penalties, as future funds may not be permitted by Ohio Department of Health. For this reason, it is necessary to authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept any additional awards for the implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program; to authorize the appropriation of any additional awards for the implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to not delay the implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio services to clients and families, and to meet grant deliverables required by the grantor to avoid being at risk for forfeiture of funds.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program is entirely funded by the Ohio Department of Health and does not require a city match.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept grant funds from the Ohio Department of Health in the amount of $1,000,000.00 and any additional funds for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program following receipt of executed agreement; to authorize the appropriation of $1,000,000.00 , and any additional funds awarded from the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency ($1,000,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $1,000,000.00 in grant funds have been made available through the Ohio Department of Health for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program for the period of August 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these and any additional funds from the Ohio Department of Health for the support of the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program following receipt of executed agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary and authorized to allow the City Auditor to transfer and adjust appropriations between object classes for any changes in the estimated award amounts for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health Department;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Board of Health to accept these grant funds from the Ohio Department of Health and to appropriate these funds to Columbus Public Health due to the grant start date of August 1, 2024, to not delay the funding for essential grant personnel and to not delay the implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio services to clients and families, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare, and to avoid delay in client services; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $1,000,000.00 from the Ohio Department of Health for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program following receipt of executed agreement for the period August 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025.
SECTION 2. 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 ended December 31, 2025, the sum of $1,000,000.00 based on award letter is appropriated in Fund 2251 The Health Department Grants Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept any additional grant awards from the Ohio. Department of Health for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program for the period of August 1, 2024 through May 31, 2025.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Implementing Enhanced HIV Prevention and Surveillance for Health Departments to End the HIV Epidemic in Ohio grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health Department.
SECTION 7. 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 8. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Sections 5, 6, and, 7 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 9. That for 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.