Explanation
The purpose of this legislation is to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) for the GreenSpot Backyard Conservation Program for the Fiscal Year 2014.
In 2011, a pilot rain barrel program was expanded through a partnership established by Mayor Michael B. Coleman with Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, local watershed groups, and EarthMinded (a subsidiary of Greif, Inc.). The goal of the program is to improve environmental stewardship and water conservation of the City of Columbus residents through outreach, workshops and educational material.
One of the benefits for residents is the distribution of rain barrels. In order to obtain a rain barrel at a discounted cost, residents were required to attend one (1) of 21 in-person rain barrel workshops. In addition, an online option was designed by the FSWCD to allow participants to view a rain barrel installation video, observe information discussing stormwater and water conservation and take a quiz. Participants were provided with a fact sheet, access to various websites and other backyard conservation tips. The participants were given one reduced-cost rain barrel per household. In 2012, Franklin Soil and Water and partners were successful in dispensing 964 rain barrels.
The 2012 program was a success and the message of water conservation and storm water management was well received by the community. The Department of Public Utilities would like to continue to support the program in 2014.
In 2014, the program will continue to focus on providing rain barrels, conservation and storm water education, outreach and marketing, working with watershed groups such as Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) and Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT), and the promotion of the City of Columbus GreenSpot and Get Green Columbus Initiatives. Furthermore, 50 rain barrels will be distributed to recipients of the City's Low Income Discount Program at no charge. Reflected in 2013 & 2014 budget as 50 Subsidized Barrels, at the conclusion of the 2013 Rain Barrel program 36 low income barrels remain. The GreenSpot Backyard Conservation Program will also reach out to other communities and make efforts to tie into the Columbus Neighborhood Pride program and Area Commissions. Furthermore, project partners will explore methods to reach economically disadvantaged communities and investigate grant opportunities. Opportunities to support other overlapping efforts including GreenSpot, Blueprint Columbus, Central Ohio Rain Garden Initiative, Columbus composting programs and the Columbus stormwater credit program will be included. The program will begin to engage business in Cistern and Green Infrastructure workshop using the existing City of Columbus stormwater credit program, free initial site evaluations, and low cost cisterns as an incentive.
This grant agreement will be from the date of execution through and including December 31, 2014.
SUPPLIER: Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (31-0847446 <tel:31-0847446>)-Non-Profit Organization
FISCAL IMPACT: $48,000.00 is budgeted for the program within the operating budgets of the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Stormwater and Regulatory Management Section and the Division Water. In 2011 the program was limited to City of Columbus residents only. Beginning in 2012, the program was expanded to serve residents of surrounding communities.
$48,000.00 was spent in 2013
$40,500.00 was spent in 2012
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested to authorize the Director of the Department of Public Utilities to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District for the continuation of the GreenSpot Backyard Conservation Program to the residents of the City of Columbus and surrounding communities in order to continue providing rain barrels, conservation and storm water education, outreach and marketing, and to begin to engage business in Cistern and Green Infrastructure workshops without delay.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District for the 2014 GreenSpot Backyard Conservation Program for the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Stormwater and Regulatory Management Section and the Division Water, to authorize the expenditure of $24,000.00 from the Water Operating Fund and $24,000.00 from the Storm Sewer Operating Fund, and to declare an emergency. ($48,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Utilities wishes to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District (FSWCD) for the 2014 GreenSpot Backyard Conservation Program, and
WHEREAS, the goal of the program is to improve environmental stewardship and water conservation of the City of Columbus residents and surrounding communities, and
WHEREAS, the FSWCD will continue to provide education workshops, provide rain barrels at a discounted cost, and work with various watershed groups to promote the program, and
WHEREAS, the program will promote the GreenSpot and Get Green Columbus initiatives as well as providing residents with education on water conservation and stormwater runoff, and
WHEREAS, 50 rain barrels will be distributed to participants of the City's Low Income Program at no cost to the resident, and
WHEREAS, opportunities to support other overlapping efforts including GreenSpot, Blueprint Columbus, Central Ohio Rain Garden Initiative, Columbus composting programs and the Columbus stormwater credit program will be included
WHEREAS, the program will begin to engage business in Cistern and Green Infrastructure workshops using the existing City of Columbus stormwater credit program, free initial site evaluations, and low cost cisterns as an incentive, and
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Utilities wishes to continue supporting the GreenSpot Backyard Conservation Program for the Fiscal Year 2014; and
WHEREAS, the grant agreement will be from the date of execution through and including December 31, 2014, and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities in that it is necessary to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District for the continuation of the GreenSpot Backyard Conservation Program to the residents of the City of Columbus and surrounding communities for 2014, in order to continue providing rain barrels, conservation and storm water education, outreach and marketing, and to begin to engage business in Cistern and Green Infrastructure workshops without delay; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District to provide the 2014 GreenSpot Backyard Conservation Program to the residents of the City of Columbus and surrounding communities for the Division of Sewerage and Drainage, Stormwater and Regulatory Management Section and the Division of Water. The term of this agreement will be from the date of execution through and including December 31, 2014.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $48,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and the same is hereby authorized as follows:
FUND: 675
OCA: 675002
OBJECT LEVEL 1: 03
OBJECT LEVEL 3: 3407
AMOUNT: $24,000.00
FUND: 600
OCA: 601849
OBJECT LEVEL 1: 03
OBJECT LEVEL 3: 3407
AMOUNT: $24,000.00
TOTAL: $48,000.00
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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.