Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health’s Office of Emergency Preparedness has been awarded funds from Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA), originating from the US Department of Homeland Security, for exercise and training services. This ordinance will authorize the acceptance of these funds and the appropriation of $30,000.00, for the period of June 1, 2023 through May 31, 2024.
The BioWatch program has established a professional network of federal, state, and local public safety partners to support local public health bioterrorism preparedness. Since 2009, Columbus Public Health has coordinated the Columbus BioWatch program and maintained plans for this bioterrorism early detection program. Our primary purpose is to continue collaboration of a coordinated advisory council of local response agencies and provide them with situation awareness for biological threats and hazards. Additionally, we manage and promote bioterrorism preparedness throughout the cities of Columbus & Worthington and Franklin County.
Emergency action is requested in order to meet deliverables of the grant and not delay any exercise and training service programming from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024, and to avoid forfeiture of the grant.
FISCAL IMPACT: Columbus Public Health's Biowatch program will not generate revenue or require a city match. ($30,000.00)
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept Biowatch grant funds from Ohio EPA in the amount of $30,000.00; to authorize the appropriation of $30,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($30,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, funds have been made available through Ohio EPA for Columbus Public Health’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the acceptance and appropriation of the funds; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept funds from Ohio EPA and to appropriate these funds for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; to meet the deliverables of the grant, and to not delay any exercise and training service programming from June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024, and to avoid forfeiture of the grant. Now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Columbus Public Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept $30,000.00 from Ohio EPA for the period of June 1, 2023 through May 31, 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, up to $30,000.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 3. 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 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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 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.