Explanation
City Council amended the 2005 budget to create a $2 million Public Safety Initiatives account. The monies are intended for use to address specific public safety challenges that might arise doing the year, as well as provide contingency monies for on-going issues such as fleet needs. Twenty percent of these funds, or $400,000, have already been targeted for deposit in the DROP fund, an account created to address the impact of a state retirement program that eventually will affect the timing of uniformed employee retirements from the city.
This ordinance funds a new initiative by the Central Ohio Animal Abuse and Family Violence Task Force to strengthen linkages between the animal welfare and family violence communities. The objective is to facilitate a multi-disciplinary response to the prevention of family violence by increasing awareness among animal welfare, child welfare, and domestic violence professionals of all types of violence in the home. That should lead to better service for the entire family, including pets, and lead to quicker intervention in the hopes of ultimately ending a cycle of violence that often develops if left unchecked. As victims of violence grow to adulthood, they sometimes replicate the violent behavior experienced as youths. As well, perpetrators of violence sometimes accelerate abusive behavior, changing the target of abuse from pets to humans.
This program follows on the heels of City Council's funding the Capital Area Humane Society annually at $25,000 beginning in 2003 to support animal cruelty investor services. Similarly, that action recognized the connection between animal violence and violence to children and spousal abuse.
Title
To authorize the City Auditor to transfer $86,000 within the General Fund from the Department of Finance to the Office of City Council; to authorize and direct the City Clerk to enter into contract with the Central Ohio Animal Abuse and Family Violence Task Force for the purpose of effecting a multi-disciplinary response to the prevention of family violence; and to authorize the expenditure of $86,000.00. ($86,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, City Council amended the 2005 budget to create a $2 million Public Safety Initiatives account, whose monies are intended for use to address specific public safety challenges; and
WHEREAS, a critical public safety issue in the Columbus community is animal and family violence; and
WHEREAS, considerable evidence exists showing strong linkages between animal and domestic violence, including a recent survey of Franklin County domestic violence victims, which confirmed that many violence victims resist leaving the home for fear that their pet has no appropriate foster care option; and
WHEREAS, the Central Ohio Animal Abuse and Family Violence Task Force works to prevent such violence in a number of ways, including promoting awareness among welfare and violence professionals that any type of violence in the home can signal other forms of abuse, either now or in the future , and either against animals and/or humans; and
WHEREAS, such awareness can lead to quicker action with the hope of ultimately ending the cycle of violence; and
WHEREAS, City Council deems it appropriate to support the work of the Task Force through its Public Safety account; Now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer $86,000 within the general fund from the Department of Finance, Department 45, OL1 10, OL3 5501, OCA 904508 to the Office of City Council, Department 20-01, OL1 03, OL3 3337, OCA 200105.
SECTION 2. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to contract with the Central Ohio Animal Abuse and Family Violence Task Force, for the purpose effecting a multi-disciplinary response to the prevention of family violence, and to expend $86,000 for said purpose from City Council, Department No. 20-01, the General Fund, Fund 001, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 200105.
SECTION 3. Award of this contract meets the procurement provisions of Chapter 329.07(e) and 3901.01 of the Columbus City Code, 1959.
SECTION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law