Explanation
BACKGROUND: The need exists to amend Ordinance No. 0668-2024, passed by Columbus City Council on March 18, 2024, which authorized the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a Beneficiary Grant Agreement with the Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $9,467,191.00 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide operating support for CSB’s Emergency Shelter Program and to pay for expenses starting January, 1, 2024.
This amendment will further solidify what are considered operating costs for the CSB pertaining to food and non-alcoholic beverages; and to authorize the advancement of payment on a predetermined schedule.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any disruption of essential services to our vulnerable unhoused residents.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no additional funding required for this ordinance.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: the vendor’s vendor number is 004795 and expires 1/9/2025.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: An emergency ordinance is necessary in order to continue the work that is already in progress, and emergency action is necessary to avoid any disruption in services.
Title
To amend Ordinance No. 0668-2024, passed by Columbus City Council on March 18, 2024, to include the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages as “operating costs” of the Community Shelter Board who serves the public purpose for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and food insecurity; to allow for the advancement of payments on a predetermined basis; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance No.0668-2024, passed by Columbus City Council on March 18, 2024, authorized the Director of the Department Development to enter into a beneficiary grant agreement with the Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $9,467,191.00 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide operating support for CSB’s Emergency Shelter Program and to pay for expenses starting January, 1, 2024; and
WHEREAS, CSB provides emergency shelters for men, women, and children and the shelters operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; and
WHEREAS, surge funding from the City of Columbus in 2021, 2022, and 2023 helped the shelter partners to fill budget gaps and attract/retain high quality staff and this funding will assist with funding shelter operations in 2024; and
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in negative impacts on not-for-profit organizations by reducing traditional funding sources, increasing service needs, and increasing expenses; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of ARPA funding to support negatively impacted not-for-profits is necessary to alleviate the negative impacts caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure of funds has not been previously accounted for in the 2024 Budget; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance allows for the advancement of funds on a predetermined basis; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council acknowledges and defines the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages as “operating costs,” to serve the public purpose for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and food insecurity. Alcoholic beverages are strictly prohibited.
WHEREAS, Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any disruption of essential services to our vulnerable unhoused residents; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Section 1 of Ordinance No. 0668-2024 be amended to read as follows with additions in underline and deletions in strikethrough:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a Beneficiary Grant Agreement with Community Shelter Board (CSB) in an amount up to $9,467,191.00 of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to provide operating support for CSB’s Emergency Shelter Program, and to pay for expenses starting January, 1, 2024, and to pay for meals as part of the shelter program.
That Columbus City Council acknowledges and defines as operating costs inherent to the mission of this non-profit the purchase of food and non-alcoholic beverages for populations experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity, and/or food insecurity. Any or all of the expenditure authorized by this ordinance may be spent toward payment of food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses for such populations. Expenses incurred prior to the creation of a purchase order may be reimbursed. However, in no case may food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses incurred prior to the effective date of this ordinance be reimbursed. City Council declares that the expenditure on food and non-alcoholic beverage expenses authorized by this ordinance to be for a proper public purpose.
SECTION 2. That existing Section 1 of Ordinance No. 0668-2024 is hereby repealed
SECTION 3. 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 which 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 it.