Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Grant. This grant will be utilized by the Department of Development and Columbus Public Health. This grant originated from Ordinance 2808-2023 which expired June 30, 2025. The State of Ohio wishes to allow the City to utilize the remaining dollars from this original grant and have it be terminated on June 30, 2026. The city will be entering into a new agreement since the original grant term expired June 30, 2025 and the Ohio Department of Health is willing to extend the agreement to allow the city to utilize the remaining funding from the original grant.
On October 30, 2023, Columbus City Council approved Ordinance 2808-2023 which authorized the Director of the Department of Development to accept and execute a reimbursable Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Grant, in an amount up to $1,424,543.00, from the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). The grant would be utilized by the Department of Development and Columbus Public Health. The term of the grant was to end on June 30, 2025, however after further review the Ohio Department of Health has offered to extend the grant with the city through June 30, 2026 to utilize the remaining funding.
The ODH-RRP grant has allowed the department to continue to create lead-safe housing in high-risk zip codes by conducting lead-safe renovations on windows, doors, and porches in homes built before 1978. These grant funds have been used in conjunction with other Division of Housing program funds to address both interior and exterior lead issues.
These grant funds have also been used to fund training for aspiring contractors to receive their RRP certification thereby increasing the number of small to medium sized RRP contractors and strengthening the local lead hazard control workforce. In partnership with Columbus Public Health (CPH), grant funds have been used to increase knowledge of the importance of blood lead testing for medical professionals and caregivers. CPH has also increased awareness of lead hazards and prevention practices.
All aspects of Ordinance 2808-2023 that are consistent with this ordinance are still in effect.
Emergency Designation: This legislation is submitted as an emergency to allow for the extension of the grant agreement so that the funds the department may continue to provide lead remediation and further decrease health issues related to continued exposure to lead.
Fiscal Impact: No funds are required.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into and accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Health to utilize the remaining funds from the original grant for the Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair and Painting program; and to declare an emergency. ($0.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Development accepted and executed a Lead-Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Grant agreement from the Ohio Department of Health in an amount up to $1,424,543.00; and
WHEREAS, the ODH-RRP grant, combined with two other grants from HUD, provides $10 million for lead remediation; and
WHEREAS, the term of the grant was through June 30, 2025, however after further review from ODH they have offered to extend the term date of the grant through June 30, 2026; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Director of the Department of Development to enter into and accept the new grant which will extend term end date of the grant and continue the program through June 30, 2026 and allow for the reimbursement of eligible expenses from and after July 1, 2025; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Departments of Development and Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Development to accept and enter into a grant agreement from the Ohio Department of Health to enter into a new agreement with the Department of Health to continue the lead remediation program, which will help decrease health issues related to continued exposure to lead, 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. The Director of the Department of Development to enter into and accept a new grant agreement from the Ohio Department of Health that will allow for the City to utilize the remaining funds from the original grant that expired on June 30, 2025, with a termination date of June 30, 2026, and with eligible expenses authorized for reimbursement from and after July 1, 2025.
SECTION 2. That this ordinance will allow all other aspects of Ordinance 2808-2023 to be in effect so that the department may utilize the remaining funds.
SECTION 3. 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.