Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), State of Ohio, for the Driving under the Influence (DUI) Interceptor Program - FFY2026 and to appropriate funds to cover the costs of the program. The OTSO works to reduce high traffic related crashes to save lives and reduce injuries and economic loss. This program will deter impaired driving, with the use of The Division of Police’s DUI Interceptor, Mobile Breath Testing Vehicle (MBTV),
by assisting in the processing of impaired drivers by responding to the scene of suspected impaired drivers by saving the arresting officer time in processing blood search warrants and chemical testing.
The agreement authorizes reimbursement for the overtime and supplies/materials costs of sworn personnel working in the program. The funding for the agreement is dependent on federal funds from the US Department of Transportation for Federal Fiscal Year 2026 and follows the fiscal year period, October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is necessary to make funds available to acquire the supplies needed for the MBTV, and to be ready for upcoming events. The grant funded activity period started October 1, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $381,222.94 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund for the Division of Police to cover the costs associated with the DUI Interceptor Program- FFY26. This is the first year of this program.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, State of Ohio, to participate in the DUI Interceptor Program - FFY26; to authorize an appropriation of $381,222.94 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the costs associated with this project; and to declare an emergency. ($381,222.94)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police will work overtime on a program to target impaired driving, with the use of The Division of Police’s DUI Interceptor, Mobile Breath Testing Vehicle (MBTV), by assisting in the processing of impaired drivers by responding to the scene of suspected impaired drivers by saving the arresting officer time in processing blood search warrants and chemical testing; and,
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Safety needs to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), State of Ohio, who will provide funds through the DUI Interceptor Program - FFY26 to the City of Columbus, Division of Police; and,
WHEREAS, an appropriation is needed to cover the costs associated with the DUI Interceptor Program - FFY26; and,
WHEREAS, the project period starts October 1, 2025 and ends September 30, 2026 and appropriation authority needs to be available as soon as possible to not lose funding; 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 authorize the Director to enter into the aforementioned agreement for the DUI Interceptor Program - FFY26 and to appropriate $381,222.94 for the project costs which will be reimbursed through the availability of federal funding during the grant funded period from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 which project costs includes the overtime and supplies/materials costs of sworn personnel working in the program, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, State of Ohio, and to accept an award in the amount of $381,222.94, which represents funding for the DUI Interceptor Program - FFY26.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the 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 project period, the sum of $381,222.94 is appropriated in fund 2220 General Government Grants in Obj. Class 01 Personnel and Obj. Class 02 Supplies, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the DUI Interceptor Program - FFY26 as needed upon request by the Department of Safety, Division of Police.
SECTION 4. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 3 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Public Safety, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 5. That, 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. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated in an amount not to exceed the available cash balance in the fund.
SECTION 7. That for 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.