Explanation
Community Crime Patrol is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support Columbus Division of Police enforcement activities by serving as an additional set of eyes and ears within Columbus neighborhoods. Citizen patrollers equipped only with flashlights and radios walk and bike neighborhoods in an effort to deter crime, build neighborhood awareness of crime prevention techniques, and assist in the apprehension of suspects by alerting police to criminal activity. These highly-trained citizen patrollers are also capable of providing first aid when necessary.
Community Crime Patrol is currently under contract with the city to provide patrol services in the following neighborhoods: the OSU district, Weinland Park, the Hilltop, Franklinton, Merion Village, Olde Towne East, and the North Linden Area. The requested additional funding would allow for Community Crime Patrol to augment services in the Southern Gateway area adjacent to Merion Village, where it is anticipated that citizen patrollers will have a significant impact on deterring petty crime and crimes of opportunity.
Emergency action is requested so that citizen patrol services can begin at the earliest date possible in order to assist the Division of Police with their law enforcement responsibilities.
FISCAL IMPACT: Sufficient funds are available in the Public Safety Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with Community Crime Patrol for the purpose of providing citizen patrol services; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $25,000.00 in the general fund, Public Safety Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($25,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Community Crime Patrol is currently under contract with the city to provide citizen patrol services in a number of area neighborhoods in support of the Division of Police’s overall efforts to reduce crime; and
WHEREAS, there is need for additional citizen patrol services in the Southern Gateway neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Community Crime Patrol will enter into contract with the Department of Public Safety in the amount of $25,000.00; and
WHEREAS, City Council established the Public Safety Initiatives Fund in order to provide funding for programs and initiatives that complement the efforts of the Department of Public Safety and help to secure the safety and well-being of persons and property in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to enter into said contract so that citizen patrol services can begin at the earliest time possible in order to preserve 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 City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $25,000 in the general fund, Public Safety Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016, to Public Safety Department No. 30-01, object class 03, main account 63920, program DS001.
SECTION 2. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Community Crime Patrol and directed to expend said funds to support citizen patrols of the Southern Gateway neighborhood.
SECTION 3. That in regards to the action authorized in Section 2 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $25,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 0758-2016 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of City Code Chapter 329 relating to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 5. That for the reason stated in the preamble here to, 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.