Explanation
It is necessary for the Director of Recreation and Parks to submit a Resolution of Support from the Columbus City Council along with the Department's application to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation - Pulling it Together: Managing Invasive Species 2011 Grant. An application is being submitted to the National Fish And Wildlife Foundation - Pulling It Together: Managing Invasive Species 2011 grant
The application is for $ 75,000 to be used to assist and support the Recreation and Parks Department's Honeysuckle Removal Program begun in 2011. The funds will be used to acquire equipment and materials to assist volunteers removing honeysuckle in the riparian corridor of four watersheds, focusing on Columbus' city parks. The application will be for $75,000 grant amount.
The City's matching portion of this grant (equal to grant request) is in the form of in-kind services from volunteer service hours and staff salaries directly involved in invasive species removal. The amount of matching contribution is $75,506.00.
Emergency action is requested so the resolution can be included in the grant application package due October 14, 2011.
Fiscal Impact:
$ 75,000 in grant funding is being applied for and requested from the Pulling It Together: Managing Invasives 2011 grant administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. No City funds are anticipated beyond staff salaries directly involved in the removal of honeysuckle. In-kind hours from Volunteer events directly removing honeysuckle are tracked to provide matching contribution.
Title
To support the Director of Recreation and Parks' grant application for funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the management of invasive species project; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is accepting applications for the Pulling it Together: Managing Invasive Species 2011 Grant; and
WHEREAS, a Resolution of Support from City Council is required for this grant opportunity in order for the application to move forward; and
WHEREAS, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Pulling It Together: Managing Invasive Species 2011 Fund encourages community involvement focusing on the removal of invasive species with education, outreach, and volunteerism, a part of the core mission of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that is immediately necessary to apply for said grant before the deadline of October 14, 2011, and for the preservation of public health, peace, property, and safety; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Recreation and Parks be and he is hereby authorized and directed to submit a grant application in the amount of $75,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Pulling It Together: Managing Invasive Species 2011 Fund.
SECTION 2. That this Resolution authorizes an application only and does not obligate the Department to expend City funds.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this resolution is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its adoption and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after adoption if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.