Explanation
Background:
This legislation authorizes the City Attorney to accept $166,650 in grant funding from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners. Grant funding supports a portion of the total compensation for the Columbus City Attorney’s Grants Manger to continue leading the Blueprint for Safety: Interagency Domestic Violence Response initiative.
This position was previously funded through a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, Office on Violence Against Women. Both the City and the County recognize the ongoing value of this role and the importance of continued investment. The combination of this grant and an allocation from the City Attorney’s General Fund will fully fund the position through the end of 2026.
The Blueprint for Safety initiative is built on a multidisciplinary team approach that coordinates a comprehensive response to domestic violence crimes. This collaborative effort enables our jurisdiction to streamline justice services, close system gaps and create seamless linkages between justice and community provider systems. Blueprint promotes safety, accountability, and opportunities for rehabilitation-with the overarching goal of improving justice outcomes and breaking cycles of family violence.
Fiscal Impact:
|
Award # |
FC BOC Award |
|
TBA |
$ 166,650.00 |
Emergency Action
The grant award was not received until October 2025, despite a start date of January 1, 2025. Therefore, emergency action is required to avoid delays in accessing funds needed to reimburse staff expenses incurred in achieving the goals and objectives outlined in the award contract.
Title
To authorize the Columbus City Attorney to accept $166,650.00 in grant funding from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners to continue implementation of the county-wide Blueprint for Safety Interagency Domestic Response initiative through December 31, 2026; to authorize the appropriation of $166,650.00 in the general government grant fund; and to declare an emergency. ($166,650.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners has awarded the City of Columbus, Office of the City Attorney grant funding in the amount $166,650 to continue implementation of the Blueprint for Safety Interagency Domestic Violence Response initiative; and
WHEREAS, the term of grant funding is for the period January 1st, 2025 through December 31st, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Office of the City Attorney desires to accept the aforementioned grant award; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney's Office because the grant award was not received until October 2025, despite a start date of January 1, 2025, and immediate action is necessary to avoid delays in accessing funds needed to reimburse staff expenses incurred in achieving the goals and objectives outlined in the award contract; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO:
SECTION 1. That, contingent upon an executed grant agreement, the City of Columbus, Office of the City Attorney is hereby authorized to accept $166,650 in grant funding from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners to continue implementation of the county-wide Blueprint for Safety Interagency Domestic Response initiative through December 31, 2026.
SECTION 2. That, contingent upon an executed grant agreement, from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grants Fund number 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $166,650 is hereby appropriated to the Office of the City Attorney, Department 24 according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 3. That, contingent upon an executed grant agreement, 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 4. That funds appropriated shall be paid upon order of the Office of the City Attorney 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. 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 6. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 7. 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.