Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with the Community Crime Patrol, Inc. to assist the Division of Police in identifying suspicious activities indicative of criminal behavior and reporting them to the Police Division. Neighborhoods patrolled include the Hilltop, Franklinton, Merion Southwood, the Ohio State University district and on several multi-use trails around the City. The duration of this agreement will be March 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010.
Emergency Designation: This legislation is presented as an emergency to ensure that the community crime patrol program continues without interruption. The current contract expired at the end of February 2009.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $200,000 from the Photo Red Light Fund. The Community Crime Patrol was funded at $433,000 in the General Fund in 2008. A total of $633,000 ($350,000 in General Fund and $283,000 in the Safety Initiative fund) was expended in 2007. There is no financial impact on the 2009 General Fund due to this ordinance.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with the Community Crime Patrol, Inc to provide citizen patrollers to assist the Division of Police in the control and prevention of crime in the Hilltop, Franklinton, Merion Southwood, and OSU areas and to authorize the expenditure of $200,000.00 from the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police's Photo Red Light Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($200,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus has agreed to support the Community Crime Patrol, Inc. program; and
WHEREAS, the program is viewed as an aid in the control and prevention of crime in the Hilltop, Franklinton, Merion Southwood and Ohio State University areas, as well as on several multi-use trails throughout Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Public Safety desires to enter into contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. for the provision of citizen patrollers, who assist the Division of Police in identifying suspicious activities indicative of criminal behavior and reporting them; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. to ensure the continuation of the program without interruption, for the preservation of the public peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Community Crime Patrol, Inc. for the purpose of providing citizen patrollers to assist the Division of Police in the identification and reporting of suspicious activity. The contract period will be March 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $200,000.00, or so much thereof as necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police Division No. 30-03, Photo Red Light Fund, Fund 293, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 293001.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 as amended.
SECTION 4. That for the 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 (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.