Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), State of Ohio, for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program - FFY25 and to appropriate funds to cover the costs of the program. The OTSO works to reduce high traffic related crashes to save lives and reduce injuries and economic loss. This program will target reducing fatal crashes through enforcement activity by uniformed officers for non-impaired driver violations. Examples include speed and restraint violation, driver license violations, and distracted driving within the interstate system in the City of Columbus and major arterial streets during specific holiday and national mobilization periods. The agreement authorizes reimbursement for the overtime costs of sworn personnel working on the program. The funding for the agreement is dependent on federal funds from the US Department of Transportation for Federal Fiscal Year 2025 and follows the fiscal year period, October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of $71,862.63 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund for the Division of Police to cover the costs associated with the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) - FFY25. All funds appropriated, except workers compensation costs, are reimbursable from the State of Ohio. $1,068.58 in Worker's Compensation costs will be covered by a transfer from Police's existing appropriation in their 2024 General Fund budget. FFY24 expenditures were $65,700.72 as of the date of this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, State of Ohio, to participate in the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program - FFY25; to authorize an appropriation of $71,862.63 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the costs associated with this project; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer $1,068.58 within the General Fund; to authorize a transfer of $1,068.58 from the General Fund to the General Government Grant Fund. ($71,862.63).
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police will work overtime on a program to target reducing fatal crashes by enforcement activity by uniformed officers for non-impaired driver violations. Examples include speed and restraint violations, driver license violations, and distracted driving within the interstate system of the City of Columbus and major arterial streets during specific holiday and national mobilization periods; and,
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Safety needs to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), State of Ohio, who will provide funds through the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program - FFY25 to the City of Columbus, Division of Police; and,
WHEREAS, an appropriation and transfer is needed to cover the costs associated with the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program - FFY25; and,
WHEREAS, the project period starts October 1, 2024 and ends September 30, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, Division of Police to accept and appropriate the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program - FFY25 grant award in order to make funds available for the grant award period, thereby preserving the public peace, health, property, and safety; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, State of Ohio, and to accept an award in the amount of $71,862.63, which represents funding for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program - FFY25.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor shall be authorized to transfer within Police’s General Fund budget, the amount of $1,068.58 from Object Class 01-Personnel to Object Class 10-Transfers, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That General Funds in the amount of $1,068.58 are hereby authorized for transfer between the General Fund and the General Government Grant Fund, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government 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 project period, the sum of $71,862.63 is appropriated in fund 2220 General Government Grants in Obj. Class 01, Obj. Class 02, and Obj. Class 03 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program - FFY25 as needed upon request by the Department of Safety, Columbus Police Department.
SECTION 6. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 4 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Public Safety, 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 7. 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 it originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 8. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated in an amount not to exceed the available cash balance in the fund.
SECTION 9. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.