Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Extreme weather brought on by climate change is affecting the Columbus region, primarily through increased precipitation and hotter temperatures. In the past, City Council has paid Franklin County Historical Society dba COSI Columbus and Gateway Film Foundation dba Gateway Film Center to serve as cooling centers for people seeking refuge. This year, Council has decided to reimburse COSI, Gateway Film Center, and Community Development for All People, all non-profit corporations, and all of which served as cooling centers during the heat wave that occurred during the week of June 17, 2024.
The Community Development for All People extended its hours of operations to serve the community as a cooling center Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. the week of June 17, 2024.
COSI allowed the first 2,000 individuals free entry on Thursday, June 20, 2024.
Gateway Theater offered free film screenings on Wednesday, June 19 and Thursday, June 20 from 1pm - 6pm.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funds are available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, subfund 100018.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into grant agreements with Gateway Film Foundation dba Gateway Film Center, Franklin County Historical Society dba COSI Columbus, and Community Development for All People for their services as cooling centers during the week of June 17, 2024; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($71,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The City of Columbus is experiencing hotter summers and increased rainfall as a result of climate change, thereby placing residents in greater danger of health risks such as heat stroke; and
WHEREAS, The City has partnered with Gateway Film Center and COSI Columbus in the past to provide residents with cooling centers at no cost to residents; and
WHEREAS, City Council is developing a plan to establish a protocol for future funding of cooling centers during extreme summer weather events; and
WHEREAS, Until such a protocol is established, there is a continued need for cooling centers across the City; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists insofar as it is immediately necessary to authorize these agreements to ensure the timely reimbursement to the aforementioned organizations for expenses incurred in the course of their service as community cooling centers, 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 City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into grant agreements with Gateway Film Foundation dba Gateway Film Center, Franklin County Historical Society dba COSI Columbus, and Community Development for All People to reimburse the organizations cost associated with serving as community cooling centers during the week of June 17, 2024.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $71,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to the City Clerk per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $71,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all the contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
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.