Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable Shelter and Services Program Grant, in an amount up to $6,682,210.00, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The grant will be utilized by the Department of Development to provide hotel/non-congregate shelter beds for documented immigrant, immigrants with temporary probationary status, and asylum seekers needing short-term shelter stays. The term of the grant provides for reimbursement of funds expended from October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026.
The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to execute a new grant program to focus on assisting local governments with funding to provide shelter and other quality of life needs to asylum seekers, documented immigrants, and immigrants with temporary probationary/protected services. FEMA/DHS began accepting applications for this program April 12, 2024 and required applications to be received by June 13, 2024. The Department of Development submitted the application and received notice on September 23, 2024 that the City had been awarded $6,682,210.00 of federal assistance.
Emergency Designation
This legislation is submitted as an emergency to allow for the execution of the grant agreement and the appropriation and expenditure of funds so that the City may begin to seek reimbursement of the funding that has already been spent on this effort as well as continue to provide these services for those that qualify.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation requests the appropriation and expenditure of $6,682,210.00 within the General Government Grant Fund (Fund 2220). The grant number shall be determined by the City Auditor.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable grant agreement, in an amount up to $6,682,210.00, from the U.S. Department of Human Services; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure up to $6,682,210.00 for the Department of Development within the General Governmental Grant fund; to authorize the expenditure of funds effective October 1, 2023 through the term of the grant ending September 30, 2026; and to declare an emergency. ($6,682,210.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development seeks to accept and execute a reimbursable Shelter and Services Program Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in an amount up to $6,682,210.00; and
WHEREAS, the DHS Shelter and Services Program grant, will provide hotel/non-congregate shelter beds for documented immigrants, immigrants with temporary probationary status, and asylum seekers; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate, expend, and receive reimbursement for expenditures from the U.S Department of Homeland Security Shelter and Services Program Grant in an amount up to $6,682,210.00 for use by the Department of Development for allowable expenses from October 1, 2023 through September 30,2026; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Departments of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to accept the grant and execute the agreement and authorize the appropriation and expenditure of so that the funds can be fully encumbered and expended within the term of the grant for the purpose of providing shelter and other quality of life needs to asylum seekers, documented immigrants, and immigrants with temporary probationary/protected services, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, 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 Development is hereby authorized to accept and execute a reimbursable Shelter and Services Program Grant agreement, in an amount up to $6,682,210.00, from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of funds be effective from the start date of the grant October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2026 by the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies in Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund) and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the grant period, the sum of $6,682,210.00 is appropriated within Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund), Dept-Div 4401 (Admin), Project/Grant number to be determined, per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the appropriation and expenditure in an amount up to $6,682,210.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 2220 (General Government Grant Fund), Dept-Div 4410 (Housing), Project/Grant number to be determined per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance
SECTION 5. 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 6. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 7. 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 8. That for the 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 passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.