Explanation
Background:
Need: The City of Columbus Division of Police has been awarded a 311 Homeland Security and Crisis Management grant through the Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The grant award will provide funding assistance for the implementation and evaluation of the 311 project. The startup of a 311 non-emergency call center will reduce 911 non-emergency calls and begin the process of providing one number access to municipal services and public service agencies.
Emergency Designation:
Emergency legislation is needed for the timely acceptance of the grant award and to expedite making funding available for the project which has already begun its limited award period of one year.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no impact for the General Fund Account. The appropriated funds will be reimbursed and the city's on going investment in equipment and labor for the project is meeting the grant requirements for local support of the project.
Title
To authorize the Mayor of Columbus to accept a 311 for Homeland Security and Crisis Management grant from the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Services, to authorize an appropriation of $300,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the costs of the 311 Grant Project and to declare an emergency. ($300,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The City of Columbus Division of Police has been awarded a 311 for Homeland Security and Crisis Management Grant; and
WHEREAS, the grant funding is for the implementation and evaluation of the 311 grant project; and
WHEREAS, the 311 project requires funding for the acquisition of specialized equipment and services; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operation of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Mayor to accept a 311 for Homeland Security and Crisis Management Grant and to authorize an appropriation for the 311 grant project for the preservation of the public health, peace, 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 311 for Homeland Security and Crisis Management grant award from the Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
Section 2. 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 award period the sum of $300,000.00 is appropriated as follows:
DIV FD OBJ#1 OBJ#3 OCACD GRANT AMOUNT
30-03 220 02 2224 333018 333018 135,000.00
30-03 220 02 2193 333018 333018 135,000.00
30-03 220 03 3336 333018 333018 30,000.00
Section 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 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 4. 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 after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.