Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to support Festa's Connecting to Resources Program. Funds will be used for emergency support to Festa families for food, utilities, and rent who lost SNAP benefits due to their immigration status or who have personal crisis (medical, work, transportation). Some to support staff to vet cases and administer CTR. How it works: Festa staff identify and qualify families in immediate need, then issue food-only grocery gift cards and/or make direct payments for utilities or rent.
Grant funding for the programming may include the purchase of food and/or non-alcoholic beverage items, which serve the public for the purpose of administering programming. Food and/or non-alcoholic beverage purchases will be subject to what is allowable in the grant agreement. Any cost of food and/or non-alcoholic beverage incurred before the effective date of the ordinance will not be reimbursed. Costs will not exceed $15 per person and any purchase of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds are available in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
REASON FOR EMERGENCY: Families are experiencing acute need for assistance finding food, paying for utilities, and making rent payments.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter a grant agreement with Serving Our Neighbors Ministries, Inc. dba Festa; to authorize and appropriation and expenditure from the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to allow food and/or non-alcoholic beverage expenses incurred after the effective date of the ordinance; and to declare an emergency. ($10,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the mission of Festa is to end poverty through life-changing relationships with neighbors and God; and
WHEREAS, Festa helps families find food, utilities, and rent; and
WHEREAS, the families that Festa helps are in greater need now that SNAP funding was paused due to the federal government shutdown; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to authorize grant agreements with Festa to support families in need, in light of reduced funding being received from other sources, all for the immediate 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 City Clerk is hereby authorizes to enter into grant agreements with Serving Our Neighbors Ministries, Inc. dba Festa in support of assistance programs for families in need.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $10,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That per the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $10,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That Columbus City Council deems the expenditure of food and non-alcoholic beverages to be a proper public purpose. Any cost of food and non-alcoholic beverage incurred before the effective date of the ordinance will not be reimbursed. Food and beverage related expenditures will be subject to what is allowable in the grant agreement and shall not exceed $15 per person.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereunto, where 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.