Explanation
BACKGROUND:
The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) was awarded grant funding from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office to administer a statewide CarFit pilot program in Ohio. The CarFit program is designed to help older drivers find out how well they currently fit their personal vehicle, highlight actions they can take to improve their fit, and promote conversations about driver safety and community mobility. A proper fit in one's personal vehicle can greatly increase not only the driver's safety but also the safety of others.
As administrators of the program, COAAA will utilize this funding to support a statewide CarFit Coordinator position who will plan and conduct CarFit Event Coordinator and Technician trainings; support and assist with community trainings and events across the state; send regular communication and host quarterly meetings with a statewide network of current CarFit Event Coordinators and Technicians; participate and support the National CarFit Advisory Council, participate on Ohio's Strategic Highway Safety Plan Older Road User Emphasis Area committees; coordinate and oversee reporting information via the CarFit website; track and report statewide process and metrics on CarFit program performance measures.
This Ordinance is needed to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to accept and appropriate $104,398.30 in grant funding from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office on behalf of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging. The purpose of this funding is to cover costs associated with administering the CarFit program including hiring and retaining the statewide CarFit Coordinator. The program period for this pilot began on, and will culminate on September 30, 2025.
Fiscal Impact:
The Ohio Traffic Safety Office has awarded the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging $104,398.30 to administer the statewide CarFit pilot program. This program is fully funded by the Ohio Traffic Safety Office and does not require a City match.
This legislation authorizes the appropriation of $104,398.30 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to accept an award of $104,398.30 from the Ohio Traffic Safety Office on behalf of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging for the purposes of administering the statewide CarFit pilot program; and to authorize the appropriation of $104,398.30 to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund and expenditure thereof; and to declare an emergency. ($104,398.30)
Body
WHEREAS, The Ohio Traffic Safety Office has selected the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging to administer the statewide CarFit pilot program for the period of October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025; and
WHEREAS, The Ohio Traffic Safety Office has awarded the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging $104,398.30 to administer the statewide CarFit pilot program; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to accept and appropriate these funds on behalf of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging to the Recreation and Parks Grant Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, as the administrator of the statewide CarFit pilot program, will be responsible for hiring and retaining the CarFit Coordinator who will plan and conduct CarFit Event Coordinator and Technician trainings, and assist with community training events across the state, in addition to other responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to accept the grant from the Ohio Transit Safety Office and to appropriate said grant funds to avoid delay of services to older adults as the period for the CarFit pilot program began October 1, 2024, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department, on behalf of the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $104,398.30 from the Ohio Transit Safety Office to administer the statewide CarFit pilot program for the period of October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Recreation and 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 fiscal year ending December 31, 2024, the sum of up to $104,398.30 and upon receipt of executed agreement is appropriated to the Recreation and Parks Department, Department No. 51, Fund No. 2286, per accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 ordinance.
SECTION 4. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 5. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part thereof, 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.