Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus has been awarded a Federal Fiscal Year 2010 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs via the Franklin County Office of Homeland Security and Justice Programs. The JAG program provides funding to allow states and local governments to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and improve the criminal justice system. The City has been awarded $50,000.00 to provide funds to the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Inc. in regards to the operation of an anonymous gun tip line. Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Inc. is a non-profit organization working to fight crime in Columbus neighborhoods. The organization was formed locally in 1977 and provides citizens a means to give information to law enforcement agencies while remaining anonymous. This ordinance is to direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept the subgrantee award and to authorize the appropriation of $50,000.00. The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this grant is R. Lee Roberts, Jr. of the Mayor's Office.
This ordinance also authorizes the Public Safety Director to enter into contract with the Central Ohio Crime Stoppers Inc. for $25,000.00 to provide funds for the operation of an anonymous tips telephone line related to gun crimes.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to meet grant deadlines and to make the funds available for the start of the grant award period, September 15, 2010.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an appropriation of $50,000.00, which is the total grant award, and a contract with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Inc. of $25,000.00. There is no fiscal impact on the General Fund. All appropriated funds will be reimbursed by the grant award.
Title
To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a subgrantee award through the FY10 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs via the Franklin County Office of Homeland Security and Justice Programs, to authorize R. Lee Roberts, Jr. as the official City representative to act in connection with the subgrant, to authorize an appropriation of $50,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Department of Public Safety, to authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into contract with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Inc. for the operation of an anonymous gun tip line, and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Safety, was awarded funding through the FY10 Justice Assistance Grant program to support Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Inc. in the operation of an anonymous guns tip line; and
WHEREAS, R. Lee Roberts, Jr. of the Mayor's Office has been identified as the official City representative to act in connection with the FY10 Justice Assistance Grant and to provide information as required; and
WHEREAS, the total grant award of $50,000.00 will be appropriated and a contract of $25,000.00 awarded to Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Inc. for the operation of an anonymous tips telephone line related to gun crimes; and
WHEREAS, emergency legislation is needed to meet the grant deadlines and to make funds available for the award period, beginning September 15, 2010; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and daily operation of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to accept, appropriate and expend the FY10 Justice Assistance Grant award for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, property, safety and welfare, now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor of the City of Columbus be and is hereby authorized and directed to accept a FY10 Justice Assistance Grant for the Support of Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Inc. in the operation of a tips telephone line related to gun crimes.
SECTION 2. That R. Lee Roberts, Jr. is designated as the official City program contact and authorized to act in connection with the FY10 Justice Assistance Grant and to provide information as 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 purpose during the project period the sum of $50,000.00 is appropriated as follows:
DIV 30-03| Fund 220| OBJ LV 1 03| OBJ LV 3 3337| OCA 331023| GRANT 331023|
SECTION 4. That the Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers, Inc. a non-profit group working to provide citizens a means to give information concerning gun crimes to law enforcement agencies while remaining anonymous.
SECTION 5. That for the purpose stated in section 4, the expenditure of $25,000, or so much thereof as necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Government Grant Fund, 220, Department/Division No 30-03, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 331023, Grant 331023.
SECTION 6. That the monies in the foregoing Section 5 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 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.