Explanation
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter a nonprofit service contract with Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio to provide upfront financial support for Latino Heritage Month events and programming. Latino Heritage Month is a celebration of the culture of Latin Americans and emphasizes their significant contributions to the City of Columbus. National Latino Heritage Month occurs from September 15 until October 15 annually.
For the second year in a row, Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio has agreed to serve as the fiscal manager for purposes of planning and programming the Latino Heritage Festival. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting and promoting Ohio writers at all stages of their careers so they can develop their talent, share their work, and contribute to the literary community. They work to achieve this objective through specialized programs, events, and resources. As the fiscal manager for grant funding from the City of Columbus, Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio will distribute funds to pay for services associated with event planning, social media engagement, and more.
The nonprofit service contract will include a fee of $11,000.00 to Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio for administrative expenses. To ensure that funds are disbursed in an expedient manner, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion shall issue all funds associated with this ordinance to Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio in advance of Latino Heritage Month-related program administration and fund disbursement. Funds awarded by Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio shall be made up-front to vendors in advance of the services they will render related to Latino Heritage Month. As the fiscal agent, Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio will be responsible for entering into contracts with the various vendors and be responsible for coordinating all ancillary activities associated with running Latino Heritage Month at the express direction and oversight by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to ensure necessary licensure, permits, insurance, etc. are in place to run the event.
Emergency: Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any delay in planning Latino Heritage Month events.
Fiscal Impact: Funding in the amount of $115,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund and another $5,000.00 is available from within the General Fund. The ordinance authorizes the transfer of $5,000.00 within the General Fund from ODI's services to grants.
Title
To authorize and direct the Executive Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio to provide upfront financial support for Latino Heritage Month programming; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund; to authorize a transfer within and expenditure from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($120,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, each year, the United States observes National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15; and
WHEREAS, events will be held around Columbus to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of American residents whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to provide funds to support events conducted by the Latino Heritage Month Committee; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion insofar as it is immediately necessary to authorize the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to enter a not-for-profit service contract with Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio in support of Latino Heritage Month which begins in mid-September, meaning that preparations need to be made as soon as possible to secure professional services and raise awareness of the event; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Executive Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Asociacion de Escritores de Ohio to provide upfront financial support for Latino Heritage Month events and programming in an amount not to exceed $120,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is authorized and directed to appropriate $115,000.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $5,000.00 within the General Fund is hereby authorized per the accounting codes attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That the total expenditure of $120,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
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, 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.