Explanation
Background:
This ordinance authorizes the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant from the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) in the amount of $10,000.00 and to appropriate the associated monies into the Recreation and Parks Private Grant Fund 291. This grant is part of the Grow Your Park Program being administered by NRPA. This program is intended to make funds available to qualifying organizations in order to expand community gardens or related programs, resulting in the donation of produce. Columbus Recreation and Parks will utilize these funds to expand their educational gardens at community centers located throughout Columbus. These gardens are used as part of educational garden programs taught at the community centers. These programs educate children and adults about what healthy food is, where it comes from, how to grow it, and how to cook it. Any additional produce grown in these gardens is made available to the center constituents, many of which are from low income families.
Emergency Justification:
Emergency action is requested in order to have the funding available as soon as possible in the current spring growing season. Expansion of the community gardens will result in the greatest benefit to the community if it can be done during the spring growing season.
Fiscal Impact:
This ordinance authorizes the acceptance and appropriation of a grant from the National Recreation and Parks Association in the amount of $10,000.00.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Recreation and Parks to accept a grant in the amount of $10,000.00 from the National Recreation and Parks Association for the expansion of community gardens and related programs; to authorize the appropriation of $10,000.00 to the Recreation and Parks Private Grant Fund 291; and to declare an emergency. ($10,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, The National Recreation and Parks Association has awarded the City of Columbus grant funding for the expansion of community gardens and related programs; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary for the Director of Recreation and Parks to enter into contract with the National Recreation and Parks Association to accept grant funds; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Recreation and Parks Department in that it is immediately necessary to accept amd appropriate said funds as the community gardens will result in the greatest benefit to the community if it can be done during the spring growing season, thereby preserving 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 Director of Recreation and Parks be and he is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant from the National Recreation and Parks Association for the expansion of community gardens and related programs.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Recreation and Parks is authorized to enter into a contract with the National Recreation and Parks Association.
SECTION 3. That the grant award of $10,000.00 be appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement as follows:
:
Grant Title Grant No. OCA Code Object Level 3 Fund Amount
NRPA Grow your Park Grant/OCA to be assigned by Auditor 3336 291 $10,000.00
SECTION 4. 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 legislation
SECTION 5. 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 10 days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.