Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes agreement with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA), State of Ohio, for the Homeland Security Grant Program - FY2024 and to appropriate funds to cover the costs of the program. The OEMA works to aid the Columbus Division of Police SWAT Unit and Crime Center for Ohio Homeland Security, investigate and remain a primary responder to terror events within the jurisdiction of the City of Columbus and allows the capability to conduct operations in all of Ohio Region 4. This agreement authorizes reimbursement for updated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is currently reaching its end of life. This equipment includes Hazmat suits, masks, and air tanks for tactical law enforcement operations, terrorist related. The funding for the agreement is dependent on FY2024 State Homeland Security Grant Program funds and follows the fiscal year period.
The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this $91,842.00 grant is Sergeant James Morrow. The grant award start date is September 1, 2024 and ends December 31, 2026.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make the funds available as soon as possible as the grant award effective date was September 1, 2024 and the Division needs to procure the updated PPE as soon as possible to not lose funding for reimbursements.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an acceptance of the $91,842.00 grant award and the appropriation of those funds from the Ohio EMA, for the Homeland Security Grant Program. The City of Columbus received a similar award of $185,000.00 in 2023. No matching funds are required and all grant expenditures will be reimbursed by the grant awarded funding.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Safety of the City of Columbus to accept a subgrantee award through the FY24 State Homeland Security Grant Program from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency; to authorize an appropriation of $91,842.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the costs associated with the State Homeland Security Grant Program; and to declare an emergency. ($91,842.00)
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WHEREAS, the Division of Police SWAT will work as primary responders for the program to prevent and reduce terror events within the jurisdiction of the City of Columbus and all of Ohio region 4, with updated PPE equipment; and,
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Safety needs to enter into an agreement with Ohio Emergency Management Agency, State of Ohio, who will provide funds through the State Homeland Security Grant Program - FY2024 to the City of Columbus, Division of Police; and,
WHEREAS, an appropriation is needed to cover the costs associated with the State Homeland Security Grant Program - FY2024; and,
WHEREAS, the project period starts September 1, 2024 and goes through December 31, 2026 and appropriation authority needs to be available as soon as possible; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into the aforementioned agreements for the State Homeland Security Grant Program - FY2024 and to appropriate $91,842.00 for the project costs, thereby preserving 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 Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency, State of Ohio, and to accept an award in the amount of $91,842.00, which represents funding for the State Homeland Security Grant Program - FY2024.
SECTION 2. That Sergeant James Morrow is designated as the official city program contact, authorized to act in connection with the State Homeland Security Grant Program 2024, and to provide any additional information required.
SECTION 3. 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 purposes during the grant period, the sum of $91,842.00 is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement in Fund 2220 General Government Grants in Object Class 02 Materials and Supplies, per the account codes in the attachments to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. That, at the end of the grant period, any requesting 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 7. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the State Homeland Security Grant Program - FY2024 as needed upon request by the Division of Safety, Columbus Police Department.
SECTION 8. 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 9. 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.