Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
The Department of Public Service, Keep Columbus Beautiful (KCB) program is eligible to apply for a grant sponsored by The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention in conjunction with its affiliation with Keep Ohio Beautiful. The grant, called "2012 Litter Cleanup Grant", is requesting funding to support a new litter abatement effort targeted at helping Franklinton, the City's founding neighborhood, remove accumulated trash and debris from one of its primary arteries, Sullivant Avenue. The project, named The Sullivant Avenue Litter Bust, is an effort to engage local organizations to host a monthly cleanup on the Avenue. The establishment of an ongoing monthly cleanup will re-build pride in the area and help to motivate neighborhoods and businesses to work together to target blight and improve the area's image.
The Ohio Revised Code (ORC), Chapter 1502, authorizes the Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention, with the approval of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, to award grants for the purpose of supporting litter cleanup activities. Grant awards may range up to $2,000 and all proposals must contain an actual litter collection component. No cash match is required, but local financial or in-kind contributions will help to demonstrate a sense of commitment.
Those eligible to apply include Ohio counties, municipal corporations, townships, villages, solid waste management districts or authorities, soil & water conservation districts, Keep Ohio Beautiful affiliates and any agencies of the state as defined in Chapter 119 of the Ohio Revised Code.
Keep Columbus Beautiful is requesting funding from ODNR to develop and support regular monthly cleanups of a 1.5 mile stretch of Sullivant Avenue beginning at Dodge Park to Central Avenue. The area targeted is both commercial and residential. Grant funds would be used to support this collaborative community improvement effort with litter abatement supplies, such as litter grabbers, gloves, bags, brooms and rakes.
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to formally apply for the grant and accept it, if awarded. This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of these funds within the General Government Grant Fund Fund and its subsequent expenditure from said fund.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
None. No city match is required for this grant. No cash match is expected, but local financial or in-kind contributions will help to demonstrate a sense of commitment, and offset the overall cost of the project.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to apply for this funding to meet the application deadline. Applications must be U.S. postmarked or delivered by November 18, 2011.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Service to apply to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention to facilitate an abatement effort to remove litter from the Sullivant Avenue corridor leading through Franklinton and accept said grant if awarded; to authorize the appropriation of $2,000.00 within the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $2,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed for this purpose from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($2,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Keep Columbus Beautiful program is eligible to apply for the 2012 Litter CleanUp Grant, sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR); and
WHEREAS, this grant is designed to facilitate a litter abatement initiative in Spring of 2012 and collaborative efforts with the City of Columbus, The Franklinton Board of Trade, and The Franklinton Area Commission and neighborhood leaders to engage area organizations to recruit volunteers to remove blighted conditions from Sullivant Avenue beginning at Dodge Park Avenue to Central Avenue.
WHEREAS, Keep Columbus Beautiful must submit an application by November 18, 2011 and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operations of the Department of Public Service in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Service to apply for the grant as soon as possible to meet established application deadlines; thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to apply to The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention Grant designed to facilitate a new litter abatement initiative in Spring of 2012.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012, the sum of $2,000.00 be and hereby is appropriated to the Department of Public Service, Dept-Div 59-02, Object Level One Code 02, Object Level Three Code 2200.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor shall establish accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the monies appropriated in Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Public Service 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 the Director of Public Service be and hereby is authorized to expend $2,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed to pay appropriate 2012 Litter CleanUp Grant program expenses from the General Government Grant Fund, Fund 220, Dept-Div 59-02, Object Level One Code 02, Object Level Three Code 2200, OCA Code and Grant number to be established by the City Auditor.
SECTION 6. 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.