Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health has been awarded a grant from the Ohio Department of Health. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $299,550.00 in grant money to fund the Cribs for Kids and Safe Sleep grant program, for the period October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
This project will work to reduce sleep-related infant deaths through the provision of safe sleep environments and safe sleep education. One thousand eligible families will be provided with cribs and safe sleep survival kits. This program will serve all of Franklin County but have a primary focus on the geographic areas with the highest rates of infant mortality and populations of the highest need of this program.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to continue the support of all activities for the Cribs for Kids and Safe Sleep grant program.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Cribs for Kids and Safe Sleep grant program is entirely funded by the Ohio Department of Health and does not generate revenue or require a City Match.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept a grant from the Ohio Department of Health in the amount of $299,550.00 for the Cribs for Kids and Safe Sleep grant program; to authorize the appropriation of $299,550.00 from the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; to authorize the expenditure of said grant funds; and to declare an emergency. ($299,550.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $299,550.00 in grant funds have been made available through the Ohio Department of Health for the Cribs for Kids and Safe Sleep grant program for the period of October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds from the Ohio Department of Health for the continued support of the Cribs for Kids and Safe Sleep grant program; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is submitted as an emergency to decrease infant mortality rates in geographic areas with the highest rates of infant mortality in Franklin County and to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible. Up to date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept these grant funds from the Ohio Department Health to decrease infant mortality rates in geographic areas with the highest rates of infant mortality in Franklin County, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, and safety; 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 $299,550.00 from the Ohio Department of Health for the Cribs for Kids and Safe Sleep grant program for the period October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
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 $299,550.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, upon receipt of an executed grant agreement.
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. 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 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 hereby authorized to transfer appropriations between object classes for the Cribs for Kids and Safe Sleep grant program as needed upon request by the Columbus Public Health department to carry out the purpose of the grant.
SECTION 7. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.