Explanation
This ordinance allocates $34,700 from the Public Safety Initiatives fund and directs the Director of Development to contract with the Columbus Urban League to develop a program to address challenges existing in the Columbus African American Male community. The program will access activities and programs available within the community to meet the needs of African American males, particularly with respect to violence prevention, and will develop an action plan that the City and other community leaders should follow to address issues and concerns facing Columbus African American males.
On January 16, 2006 Mayor Michael Coleman and Councilmember Kevin L. Boyce convened an African American male summit. The impetus for this summit was to determine the nature of the issues causing the disproportionate increase in homicide rates, high-school dropout rates, as well as the growing population trends for African American males in the Columbus area. 76% of the murder victims in 2005 were African American males as were 72% of the suspects, while 69% of these suspects were under 30 years old. The Columbus Urban League will evaluate activities and programs that currently exist throughout the community, develop an action plan, host an annual convening of stake-holders, and make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.
The Columbus Urban League will explore at a minimum the following 4 areas:
· Prevention - Coordinate prevention and rehabilitation programs to reduce the incidence of violence for African American males.
· Business - Promote business ownership and entrepreneurial efforts, employ African American males.
· Educational/Social Development - Create opportunities for social development, educational improvement, and mentoring resource access.
· Faith Base - Coordinate services with existing resource opportunities with faith-based organizations, social service agencies, and community entities.
Emergency action is requested to expedite the work of the Commission.
Fiscal Impact:
City Council established the Public Safety Initiatives Fund in its 2006 budget amendments. Sufficient funds exist to accommodate this action.
Title
To direct the appropriation and expenditure of $34,700.00 within the Public Safety Initiatives Fund to the Department of Development for a contract with the Columbus Urban League to develop a program to address challenges existing in the Columbus African American Male community, particularly disproportionate incidences of violence, and to declare an emergency. ($34,700.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council and the Mayor believe that rising crime rates and violence bring extraordinary challenges to African American males in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council and the Mayor believe that to improve outcomes for African American males it is necessary to explore through the Columbus Urban League existing programs and to develop new strategies to reduce violence, promote business ownership and the employment of African Americans males, create opportunities for educational and social development, and which help coordinate services with existing faith-based, social service agencies, and community entities; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus Urban League shall advise community leaders, including the Mayor, Columbus City Council, County Commissioners, the educational community, business, faith, non-profit sectors and philanthropic communities on policies, programs and legislation that can positively impact African American males in Columbus and Franklin County; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate and expend $34,700.00 within the Public Safety Initiatives Fund to contract with the Columbus Urban League to improve outcomes for the Columbus African American male community for the preservation of the public health, peace, property and safety; Now, Therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to appropriate $34,700.00 within the Public Safety Initiatives Fund, fund 016, to the Department of Development, Division of Neighborhood Services, Department 44-05, OL1 03, OL3 3337, OCA 440516.
SECTION 2. That the director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to contract with the Columbus Urban League and expend said funds for the purpose of developing a program to advise community leaders, including the City, on policies, programs, and legislation that can positively impact the African American males in Columbus and Franklin County.
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 its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.