Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation is needed to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), State of Ohio, for the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2009 project and to appropriate funds to cover the costs of this project. The OTSO works to reduce traffic related crashes to save lives and reduce injuries and economic loss. This project will target reducing fatal crashes by strict enforcement on speed, aggressive driving behaviors, OVI, seatbelt violations and driver inattention within the interstate system within the City of Columbus and major arterial streets during specific holiday and national mobilization periods. The agreement authorizes reimbursement for the overtime costs of sworn personnel working on the project. The funding for the agreement is dependent on federal funds from the US Department of Transportation for Federal Fiscal Year 2009 and follows that fiscal year period, October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is necessary to make funds available for the start-up of project activities during specified holiday periods in 2008.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $125,943.35 from the General Government Grant Fund for the Police Division, to cover costs associated with the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2009 project that seeks to reduce traffic deaths on the interstate highways due to excessive driving speed. All funds appropriated are reimbursable from the State of Ohio; therefore, there will be no effect on the financial status of the City General Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, State of Ohio, to participate in the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2009 project; to authorize an appropriation of $125,943.35 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the costs associated with the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2009 project; and to declare an emergency. ($125,943.35)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police will work overtime on a project to target reducing fatal crashes by strict enforcement on speed, aggressive driving behaviors, OVI, seatbelt violations and driver inattention within the interstate system within the City of Columbus and major arterial streets during specific holiday and national mobilization periods; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office (OTSO), State of Ohio, will provide funds through the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2009 project to the City of Columbus, Division of Police; and
WHEREAS, an appropriation is needed to cover the costs associated with the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2009 project; and
WHEREAS, the project period is October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2009 and funds need to be available as soon as possible for the specified holiday periods in 2008; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into the aforementioned agreement for the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2009 project and to appropriate $125,943.35 for the project costs, thereby preserving the public peace, property, health, safety and welfare; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized and directed to enter into agreement with the Ohio Traffic Safety Office, State of Ohio, to accept an award in the amount of $125,943.35, which represents funding for the High Visibility Enforcement Overtime 2009 project.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grant Fund and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the project period the sum of $125,943.35 is appropriated as follows:
DIV FUND OBJ#1 OBJ#3 OCACD GRANT AMOUNT
30-03 220 01 1127 339012 339012 $ 7,046.44
30-03 220 01 1131 339012 339012 93,952.52
30-03 220 01 1161 339012 339012 18,320.74
30-03 220 01 1171 339012 339012 1,362.31
30-03 220 01 1173 339012 339012 5,261.34
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Public Safety; 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 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.