Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance funds a truancy program in partnership with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) of Central Ohio, a non-profit organization located on West Long Street in Downtown Columbus. Since 2001, the YMCA, the Columbus Police Department, and Columbus City Schools have partnered to provide positive alternatives and safe environments to students who have been suspended or are truant from schools. Police officers will transport youth that are truant from school during the day to the YMCA of Central Ohio, who will supervise them until their parent or guardian can pick them up. Staff members at the YMCA will work with the family when they arrive to help identify and resolve any issues that may be present and review the truancy law and its implications to both youth and parents.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance appropriates $50,000.00 within the Division of Police's Law Enforcement Seizure Fund and authorizes a total expenditure of $125,000 ($50,000.00 from the Seizure Fund and $75,000.00 from the General Fund) for this contract with the YMCA of Central Ohio. The YMCA received $125,000.00 from the City in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Emergency legislation is requested so that the program can continue without interruption.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $50,000.00 within the Law Enforcement Seizure Fund and to authorize and direct the Public Safety Director to enter into contract with the YMCA of Central Ohio to provide a safe and supervised environment where Columbus Police Officers can drop off students who are truant from Columbus schools; to authorize a total expenditure of $125,000.00 from the Law Enforcement Seizure Fund and the General Fund; and to declare an emergency ($125,000.00).
Body
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the Public Safety Director to enter into contract with YMCA of Central Ohio, a non-profit group, to partner with the City to continue operations of a truancy program that serves as an early intervention and also provide a safe and supervised environment for youth who are brought to the downtown location; and
WHEREAS, the contract with the YMCA will be for $125,000.00 to run the program over the 2018 school year; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Public Safety Department, in that it is immediately necessary to partner with the YMCA to operate a truancy program to ensure that law enforcement have a safe and supervised location to drop off truants for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized to appropriate $50,000.00 within the unallocated balance of the Law Enforcement Seizure Fund per the accounting codes attached to this legislation.
SECTION 2. That the Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into contract with the YMCA of Central Ohio, a non-profit group, for $125,000.00 in a partnership to run a truancy intervention program.
SECTION 3. That for the purpose stated in section 2, the expenditure of $125,000.00, or so much thereof as necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended to the YMCA Of Central Ohio from the General Fund 1000-100010 and Drug Seizure Fund 2219-221901 in Object Class 03 per the accounting codes in the spreadsheet attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded pursuant to the relevant Sections of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes related to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. 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.