Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Office of Violence Prevention OVP to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with The Columbus Urban League to implement Safe Passages program, a targeted, community-based violence prevention initiative designed to protect Columbus youth during the predictable high-risk periods when they are most vulnerable to violence for an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 The contract period is from March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027.
Safe Passages places trained, trusted adults in the right places at the right times - not to police, but to prevent. This agreement offers a practical, data-driven, and measurable response to the City's most urgent public safety challenge: youth-involved violence and delivers specific services to the public that cannot be provided by existing city employees .
Safe Passages program will deliver:
Targeted deployment of trained Violence Intervention Specialists and Community Safety Ambassadors at OVP-designated schools, library branches, and travel corridors.
Coverage during predictable high-risk windows: the first two weeks of school, before and after holiday and seasonal breaks, spring break, the summer transition, and emergent safety events.
De-escalation and mediation that resolves conflict before it escalates, reducing reliance on law enforcement while preserving safety.
Positive youth engagement by staff with lived experience and deep neighborhood roots building trust, reinforcing protective factors, and connecting young people to opportunity.
Real-time coordination with OVP, Columbus City Schools, and Columbus Metropolitan Library through daily logs, incident reporting, and rapid-response protocols.
The Columbus Urban League
Contractor Compliance Number: 006073
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: February 28, 2027
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION:
Emergency action is being requested so that the contract can be entered into in early March to prevent a lapse in violence interruption services being provided to communities in need.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding in the amount of $500,000.00 is available and appropriated for the payment of this expenditure in Fund 63920 within the Office of Violence Prevention OVP as noted in the attached “Then and Now Certificate” as approved by the City Auditor .
Title
To authorize the Office of Violence Prevention OVP to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with The Columbus Urban League; to authorize the transfer of $500,000.00 within the General Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the General Fund; to authorize expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution; and to declare an emergency. ($500,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention to enter into a contract with The Columbus Urban League for services from March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027 related to protecting Columbus youth during the predictable high-risk periods when they are most vulnerable to violence, particularly during unsupervised hours and school transition periods; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $500,000.00 from the General Fund; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred prior to the execution of a purchase order, starting March 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the Office of Violence Prevention to contract with The Columbus Urban League for services related to protecting Columbus youth through its Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program (NVIP), because this vendor has served as a trusted convener, advocate, and service provider for Black residents and under-resourced communities across Central Ohio. NVIP builds on this legacy with a staff model that prioritizes lived experience, cultural competence, and measurable outcomes. CUL is prepared to launch Safe Passages immediately upon award, with infrastructure, partnerships, and supervisory capacity already in place; and
WHEREAS, The Columbus Urban League provided Services to the City of Columbus, and,
WHEREAS, after these services were rendered, the City received an invoice for which a purchase order, with a prior certification of availability of funds by the City Auditor attached, had not been obtained; and,
WHEREAS, Section 5705.41 (D)(1) of the Ohio Revised Code provides that in certain circumstances a political subdivision may authorize payment on a contract executed without prior certification by the City Auditor; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council now has before it a certificate from the City Auditor certifying there was at the time of making the contract and at the time of the execution of such certificate a sufficient sum appropriated for the purpose of such contract and in the treasury or in process of collection to the credit of an appropriate fund free from any encumbrances (a “then and now certificate”); and,
WHEREAS, less than thirty days have passed since the City Council’s receipt of the certificate from the City Auditor; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to satisfy the obligations of the contract;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operations of the Office of Violence Prevention in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention to enter into a contract with the Columbus Urban League for services related to the Neighborhood Violence Intervention Program to ensure these needed services continue, and to present this ordinance for the City Auditor to issue a warrant in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code Section 5705.41 (D)(1) all for the immediate preservation of the public peace, property, health safety and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Office of Violence Prevention OVP is hereby authorized to enter into a service contract with the Columbus Urban League for a community and social services in an amount up to $500,000.00 to implement Safe Passages program a targeted, community-based violence prevention Initiative program and to authorize expenses incurred prior to purchase order execution, beginning March 1, 2026
SECTION 2. That the transfer of appropriation of $500,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized within the General Fund 1000 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of 500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the General Fund, Department 40, Division 4007, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of Columbus City Code Chapter 329.30 relating to awarding not-for-profit contracts.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. 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 7. That City Council hereby acknowledges receipt of the “then and now certificate” from the City Auditor and authorizes and directs the City Auditor to authorize payment to The Columbus Urban League per invoice approved by the Department Director (or designee) in an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 to The Columbus Urban League.
SECTION 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble here to, 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 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.