...Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health (CPH) has been awarded a grant from pass through agency, University of Washington (UW); primary funding source originates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This funding supports the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $512,389.00 in grant monies to fund the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program, for the period September 30, 2025 through September 29, 2026.
In June 2024, the CDC officially recommended the use of Doxycycline Postexposure Prophylaxis (DoxyPEP) to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Doxy PEP is a way to prevent syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea by taking the antibiotic doxycycline after condomless sex. It's a single 200 mg dose taken within 24 hours, but no later than 72 hours, after unprotected sex. This grant from University of Washington will be used to engage health care providers in using DoxyPEP in their practice, when clinically indicated.
CPH submitted the initial grant application on January 17, 2025 and was working with the University of Washington in the design and ideation phase when the CDC abruptly terminated funding in May 2025. The University of Washington informed CPH on December 4, 2025 that funding was reinstated and awarded CPH $512,389.00 for the grant period starting September 30, 2025 and ending September 29, 2026. This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to avoid being at risk for forfeiture of funds and grant start date of September 30, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program is entirely funded by the University of Washington and does not require a city match. ($512,389.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept grant funds from the University of Washington in the amount of $512,389.00 and any additional funds for the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program following receipt of executed agreement; to authorize the appropriation of $512,389.00, and any additional funds awarded from the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; to authorize the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program; and to declare an emergency. ($512,389.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $512,389.00 in grant funds have been made available through the University of Washington for the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program for the period of September 30, 2025 through September 29, 2026; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these and any additional funds from the University of Washington for the support of the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program following receipt of executed agreement; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department;
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Board of Health to accept these grant funds from the University of Washington and to appropriate these funds to Columbus Public Health due to the grant start date of September 30, 2025, to avoid being at risk for forfeiture of funds; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $512,389.00 from the University of Washington for the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program following receipt of executed agreement for the period of September 30, 2025 through September 29, 2026.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2026, the sum of $512,389.00 based on award letter is appropriated in Fund 2251 The Health Department Grants Fund per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. 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 5. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept any additional grant awards from the University of Washington for the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program for the period of September 30, 2025 through September 29, 2026.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Doxycycline Post-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Study grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health Department.
SECTION 7. 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 8. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Sections 5, 6, and, 7 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 9. That for 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.