Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Health originating from the Centers for Disease Control. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $628,400.00 in grant monies to fund the FY24 Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant Program for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
The Office of Emergency Preparedness writes and maintains the Columbus Public Health Emergency Response Plan. This Plan contains over 50 planning annexes such as infectious disease response and environmental health hazard response and mitigation plans covering the Columbus and Worthington jurisdictions.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to avoid forfeiture of the grant; to meet the deliverables of the grant; and to increase capacity to implement emergency response efforts affecting public health and safety;
FISCAL IMPACT: The program is funded by the Ohio Department of Health and does not generate revenue. The program does require a match of 7.7% from the city, which is budgeted and available. ($628,400.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Health for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program in the amount of $628,400.00; to authorize the appropriation of $628,400.00 from the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($628,400.00)
Body
WHEREAS, grant funds have been made available to Columbus Public Health from the Ohio Department of Health for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds and any additional funds from the Ohio Department of Health for the support of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant program; and,
WHEREAS, the City may receive additional funds awarded from the Ohio Department of Health for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to allow the City Auditor to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness 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 Ohio Department of Health and to appropriate these funds to the Health Department to avoid forfeiture of the grant, to meet the deliverables of the grant, and to increase capacity to implement emergency response efforts affecting public health and safety, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $628,400.00 from the Ohio Department of Health for the period July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Department's Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $628,400.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is appropriated to the Health Department, Department No. 50, according to the attached accounting document.
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 by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is 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 funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That the Board of Health is authorized and directed to accept any additional grant awards from the Ohio Department of Health for the support of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness program for the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.
SECTION 7. That the City Auditor is authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department.
SECTION 8. 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.