Explanation
The Public Service Department, Refuse Collection Division, Keep Columbus Beautiful (KCB) program as an affiliate member in good standing is eligible for a national grant sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, Incorporated (KAB), and the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. The grant, called "Community Green Space Project" is part of the 2008 Keep America Beautiful's Great American Clean-Up and designed to encourage development of more green space in urban areas-including lawns using smart water practices. The selected site, Goodale Park, met all requirements requested by Scotts Miracle Gro and Keep America Beautiful: open to the public, high visibility and easily accessible for watering and planting. The key factor in the selection was sustainability-ongoing maintenance of the green space after the grant terminates and use of partnerships such as the Franklin Park Conservatory's Growing to Green Program and Columbus Recreation and Parks Department to leverage the scope, size and duration of the project. The Friends of Goodale Park, a non-profit group dedicated to the beautification and maintenance of this area would the recipient and caretaker of the project. Only five $12,000 product and/or cash grants will be awarded. This legislation authorizes the Public Service Director to formally apply for the grant and accept it, if awarded. Additional legislation will be forthcoming for cash associated with this grant.
Fiscal Impact: None. No city match is required for this grant.
Emergency action is requested to allow for application in a timely manner allowing KCB, if awarded, to plan for the development of the green space to be ready to begin by early Spring.
Title
To authorize the Public Service Director to apply to Keep America Beautiful, Incorporated, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company for a "Community Green Space Project" award designed to facilitate beautification of flower beds, lawn area and expand irrigation systems within Goodale Park in the City of Columbus and accept said grant if awarded; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Keep Columbus Beautiful (KCB) program is eligible to apply for a $12,000 product and/or cash grant sponsored by Keep America Beautiful, Incorporated (KAB), and Scotts Miracle-Gro; and
WHEREAS, this grant is designed to facilitate beautification of land within Goodale Park in the City of Columbus with the goal of developing a public green space for year-round use by the community; and
WHEREAS, this grant will continue efforts to remove blight and revitalize urban areas within the City of Columbus and create a safe beautiful and sustained lawn space within an urban setting; and
WHEREAS, the product materials donated for the development of the site will be provided as part of the award from Scott's Miracle-Gro Company; and
WHEREAS, it is immediately necessary to authorize the Public Service Director to apply for the grant in a timely manner and accept it if awarded to allow the planning and development for the beautification of the land to coincide with Spring; 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 Public Service Director be and hereby is authorized to apply to Keep America Beautiful, Incorporated, for a "Community Green Space Project" award designed to facilitate beautification of land within the City of Columbus with the goal of developing a public green space for year-round use by the community and to accept said grant if awarded.
SECTION 2. 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.