City of Columbus - File #: 1489-2009

• File #: 1489-2009
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 10/28/2009
• In control: Safety Committee
• On agenda: 11/16/2009
• Final action: 11/17/2009
• Title: To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a FY2009 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act Grant Program award from the National Institute of Justice; to authorize the Crime Lab Manager as the official city representative to act in connection with this grant; to authorize the appropriation of $125,000.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the cost of the FY2009 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act Grant activities; and to declare an emergency. ($125,000.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
11/17/2009	1	ACTING MAYOR	Signed
11/17/2009	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
11/16/2009	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass
11/16/2009	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
11/5/2009	1	CITY ATTORNEY	Reviewed and Approved
11/5/2009	1	Safety Reviewer	Sent to Clerk's Office for Council
11/4/2009	1	FINANCE DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
11/4/2009	1	Safety Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
11/4/2009	1	Auditor Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
11/4/2009	1	CITY AUDITOR	Reviewed and Approved
11/4/2009	1	Safety Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
11/2/2009	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
11/2/2009	1	Finance Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
10/30/2009	1	SAFETY DIRECTOR	Reviewed and Approved
10/29/2009	1	Safety Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
10/28/2009	1	Safety Drafter	Sent for Approval
10/28/2009	1	Safety Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved
10/28/2009	1	Safety Reviewer	Reviewed and Approved

Explanation

BACKGROUND: The Division of Police has been awarded funding through the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act Grants Program (competitive) for federal fiscal year 2009. The Coverdell program awards grants to states and units of local government to help improve the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) via the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) administers the program. It has awarded $125,000.00 for the project titled, FY2009 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Act Grant Program. This project will computerize the Columbus Police Crime Laboratory's information management processes and improve the quality and timeliness of its forensic services. The awarded funds are for the purchase and installation of an automated forensic laboratory information management system and the purchase of barcode readers and printers. The system will provide a computerized chain of custody tracking system for evidence and a means of central data collection not currently available. The computerization will reduce employee documentation and report time for casework analysis.

The official city program contact authorized to act in connection with this grant award is Columbus Division of Police Crime Lab Manager, Jami St. Clair. This grant award will help the Crime Lab process evidence more quickly and effectively, thereby, reducing turnaround time.

EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency legislation is needed to complete the acceptance and make the awarded funds available to begin the purchasing process as soon as possible. The grant award period start date is October 1, 2009.

FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes the acceptance of a grant award of $125,000.00 from the National Institute of Justice for the purchase of an automated laboratory information system. There is no fiscal impact on the General Fund budget. No matching funds are ...