Explanation
This ordinance authorizes a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Sister Cities International (GCSCI) in support of the Accra Sister City Youth Ambassador Program.
Four Columbus high school students will receive the Accra Sister City Youth Ambassador Scholarship which partially subsidizes their participation in two programs: The Accra Sister City Sankofa Sojourn and the Sister City Youth Ambassador Training Program.
The Accra Sister City Sankofa Sojourn is an 18-month leadership development program culminating in a two-week study abroad trip to Ghana, West Africa highlighting the Accra Sister City relationship. After the trip, the students will engage in a 6 month “speaking tour” organized by Pan-African Connections (PAC), a locally based international experiential education non-profit. The Sister City Youth Ambassador Training Program (SCYAT) is a 12-month youth civic engagement program focused on public speaking, political education, and international relations. This is jointly organized by PAC and Greater Columbus Sister Cities International.
This program will provide for the second official GCSCI trip to Ghana since formalizing the sister city relationship between Columbus and Accra, and will significantly advance the development of the Sister City Youth Ambassador Program.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Emergency action is requested in order to have funds in place in preparation for travel planning to Accra.
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Sister Cities International in support of the Sister City Youth Ambassador Program; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure of $10,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($10,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus and Ghana formalized a sister city partnership with a delegation of public officials and local ambassadors traveling to Accra in 2015; and
WHEREAS, the Accra Sister City Youth Ambassador Scholarship will provide four high schoolers with a subsidy to participate in the Accra Sister City Sankofa Sojourn and the Sister City Youth Ambassador Training Program; and
WHEREAS, these programs will provide for the second official GCSCI trip to Ghana since formalizing the sister city relationship between Columbus and Accra, and will significantly advance the development of the Sister City Youth Ambassador Program; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily business of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Sister Cities International in preparation for travel planning to Accra; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Greater Columbus Sister Cities International in support of the Sister City Youth Ambassador Program.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $10,000.00 in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to the Department of Development per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $10,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the actions authorized in SECTION 1, 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 contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.