Explanation
BACKGROUND: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires the return of all unspent grant funds from the Lead-based Paint Hazard Control Grant Program. A total of up to a maximum of $50,000.00 of funds remain from this grant because of the cancellation of service contracts and lead hazard control projects. This legislation authorizes the City Auditor to make accounting entries as needed to facilitate this payment to HUD and to closeout the grant.
The Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant (LHRD) agreement for Lead-Safe Columbus (LSC) was for the period November 1, 2007 to October 31, 2010, in the amount of $ 4,000,000. 267 units (exceeding the program's goal by 16) were made lead safe, with direct lead based paint hazard control/removal activities at an average cost of $7,940 per unit for a total of $2,119,891. LSC also provided lead based paint inspections and risk assessments for 340 units, 84 more than the goal.
LSC continued to use the "sing-a-long" hand washing CD, produced in English and Spanish, as an outreach tool. In this round of funding over 5000 CD's were distributed at schools, neighborhood pride bike festivals, daycare centers, churches and neighborhoods. In 2010 a 7 month media campaign developed by Murphy Epson and Columbus Policy Works was conducted. Healthy homes tips (based on the 7 Healthy Homes Principles) and a contest featuring prizes from Lowe's were aired daily on three (3) local Radio One urban radio stations, WCKX, WJYD, WXMG. The campaign included staffing a booth at 10 community festivals at which over 21,000 branded healthy homes materials such as information cards, refrigerator magnets and the hand washing CD were distributed.
Under the LHRD grant 198 persons were trained as lead contractor, lead worker and/or lead safe renovators. The number of lead abatement contractors working with LSC went from 18 to 24. LSC continues to improve on efforts to meet its aggressive goal to become the first major city in the country to have no children being lead poisoned in a given year. From 1996 through 2005, Columbus Public Health performed and or monitored through health care providers 91,332 free blood screens. During that time the lead poisoning rate averaged 6.3%. Between 2006 and 2009, Columbus Public Health, performed and or monitored 51,424 free blood screens. In 2009 there were 14,333 kids screened and 85 of those children had elevated blood levels above 10. This is a .59% poisoning rate and proof that the program strategy works.
This legislation is submitted as an emergency as it is immediately necessary to remit unspent LHRD Grant funds to HUD to be in compliance with Federal requirements and closeout the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT: The return of unspent LHRD Grant funds will put the City of Columbus in compliance with Federal requirements and closeout this grant.
Title
To authorize and direct the transfer of remaining balances of various object levels within the General Government Grant Fund, Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to remit up to a maximum of $50,000.00 from the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Program Grant to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; to authorize the expenditure of up to a maximum of $50,000.00 from the General Government Grant Fund; to authorize the City Auditor to make accounting entries as needed in the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the City of Columbus to remit funds from the General Government Grant Fund, that provided funding for the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Program (LHRD), back to the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, this legislation authorizes the transfer of remaining balances within the General Government Grant Fund, Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Grant to provide funding for the Department of Development obligations and expenses relating to the LHRD Grant; and
WHEREAS, funds remain from the LHRD grant because of cancelled service contracts and lead hazard control projects; and
WHEREAS, the return of all unspent LHRD Grant funds will put the City of Columbus in compliance with Federal requirements and closeout the grant; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to remit unspent LHRD Grant funds to HUD to be in compliance with Federal requirements and closeout the grant; and thereby preserving the public peace, health, safety, and welfare; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to transfer up to a maximum of $50,000.00 within the General Government Grant Fund, Fund No.220, Grant Number 447027 as follows:
FROM: Division: 44-01, Object Level One 01, Object Level Three 1101, OCA Code 447027
TO: Division: 44-10, Object Level One 05, Object Level Three 5515, OCA Code 447027
Section 2. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized and directed to remit unspent funds from the Lead Hazard Reduction Demonstration Program, Grant Number OHLHD0174-07 to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Section 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 2, the expenditure of up to a maximum of $50,000.00 from the Department of Development, Housing Division, Department No. 44-10, Fund No. 220, Grant 447027, OCA Code 447027, Object Level One 05, Object Level Three 5515, is hereby authorized.
Section 4. That the monies authorized for expenditure in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Director of the Department of Development to the federal treasury; 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 5. The City Auditor is hereby authorized to make accounting entries to closeout grant number 447027.
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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.