Explanation
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with ICANDO Community Development in support of South Side Family Farms. This ordinance authorizes an upfront payment to ICANDO to support these efforts, as it does not currently have sufficient funds on-hand to await reimbursement for expenses incurred.
ICANDO Community Development is dedicated to serving disadvantaged, low-income residents of the South Side. Historical disinvestment in this red-lined community has created systemic barriers that many families are unable to overcome, exemplified by a high school student population consisting of ~73% free/reduced lunch participants. Through its growing program, South Side Family Farms, ICANDO has donated at least 2,000 pounds of produce to individuals and local food pantries every year. It now needs to invest in a team of paid staff in order to serve the community in the long term.
For the past five years, ICANDO has provided produce boxes to 240 families and hosted 120-150 community members during educational programs every year. This growing season, it aims to match previous measures of success and offer a new health-centered, culturally relevant community supported agriculture (CSA) box for 40 families on a sliding scale starting at $35/week. ICANDO will additionally offer a summer youth enrichment program where 20 high school juniors and seniors will receive high-level training in agriculture, financial literacy lessons, and individualized career development coaching.
City Council is proposing $15,000.00 for these efforts.
FISCAL IMPACT: $15,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency designation is requested in order for ICANDO to ensure immediate service for food distribution to households in need.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with ICANDO Community Development in support of South Side Family Farms; to authorize the expenditure of $15,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; to authorize the expenditure of funds for the payment of reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses; and to declare an emergency. ($15,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, there is need to provide support and resources to our City’s families in need; and
WHEREAS, ICANDO Community Development’s mission is to advance food sovereignty by ensuring equitable access to fresh, culturally-relevant, organic foods among neighbors and communities through sustainable agriculture and education; and
WHEREAS, the organization runs the South Side Family Farms, holistic wellness community-supported agriculture box program to provide for these needs; and
WHEREAS, Council is proposing support of $15,000.00 in support of this program; and
WHEREAS, $15,000.00 is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Clerk's Office in that it is necessary for the Clerk to enter into a contract immediately with ICANDO to ensure immediate service for food distribution to households in need; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Clerk is hereby authorized to enter into an advance payment grant agreement with ICANDO Community Development in support of South Side Family Farms for food access.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $15,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100018, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance, and that any and all of said expenditure may be used for reasonable food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses.
SECTION 3. 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 4. That the distribution of food and beverages associated with the execution of this grant agreement are deemed to be for a proper public purpose.
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 ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.