Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a contract with the Foundations Worldwide, Inc. for baby changing stations.
The City of Columbus has created a diaper changing grant program to increase equal access to diaper changing stations throughout Columbus in small businesses and organizations for all parents and guardians in the city. With the help of the the Dadass Podcast and CBUS Dads Blog Council is raising awareness for the need of changing stations in men's rooms and gender-neutral bathrooms at "family friendly" locations throughout Columbus, OH while advocating for the benefits for businesses, families and all.
Foundations Worldwide, Inc. is the leading supplier of children’s furnishings to professional childcare centers, the worldwide leader in supplying cribs and children’s hospitality products to hotels, and a leading manufacturer of wall mounted baby changing stations for public facilities.
Emergency action is necessary to purchase baby changing stations from Foundations Worldwide, Inc. to allow fathers and males to be involved in parenting functions.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a contract with Foundations Worldwide, Inc. for baby changing stations; to waive the competitive bidding provisions of the Columbus City Code; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($25,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus is a city of over 900,000 residents, with over twenty-three percent of the population under the age of 18 and nearly even split between male and female residents; and
WHEREAS, many public facilities only offer changing tables in women’s restrooms, making them inaccessible to fathers and males involved in parenting functions; and
WHEREAS, the National Center for Health Statistics reports that ninety percent of fathers who live with th...
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