Explanation
BACKGROUND:
This legislation authorizes and directs the Division of Neighborhood Services to enter into an agreement with the Columbus Urban League to support its partnership with the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services to implement the Urban Crime Prevention Initiative (UCPI). The UCPI is a statewide model program based on a successful prototype developed by the Florida Attorney General's Office in conjunction with the Florida Consortium of Urban Leagues. The primary goal of UCPI is to reduce crime in a targeted urban neighborhood.
For Columbus, the targeted area is bounded by Broad Street on the south, Alum Creek on the east, 5th Avenue on the north, and I71 on the west. This targeted area has experienced three times the rate of violent crime according to local data as compared with Bureau of Justice Statistics. The project will focus on the use of exisiting community agencies and groups to implement crime reduction strategies, including an education component.
Council member Kevin Boyce sponsors this legislation. The $20,000 grant represents a portion of the $2 million Public Safety Initiatives fund created by Council in its 2005 budget amendments.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE #: 314379453 (non-profit)
Emergency action is requested to expedite this crime prevention program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
City Council set aside $2 million in its 2005 amendments for Public Safety initiatives. This ordinances taps $20,000 of that amount.
Title
To authorize and direct the transfer of $20,000.00 within the General Fund and to authorize and direct the Division of Neighborhood Services to enter into an agreement with Columbus Urban League, Inc., to support its partnership with the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services to implement the Urban Crime Prevention Initiative (UCPI); to authorize the expenditure of $20,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($20,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) is interested in implementing the Urban Crime Prevention Initiative (UCPI) to help reduce crime in targeted urban areas by partnering with Urban Leagues and municipalities across the state; and
WHEREAS, the OCJS hopes to test the model in Columbus before expanding its implementation elsewhere in Ohio; and
WHEREAS, this targeted area bounded by Broad Street on the south, Alum Creek on the east, 5th Avenue on the north, and I71 on the west has experienced three times the rate of violent crime as compared to data published by the Bureau of Justice Statistics; and
WHEREAS, the UCPI is based on a successful prototype developed by the Florida Attorney General's Office in conjunction with the Florida Consortium of Urban Leagues; and
WHEREAS, the Columbus approach will focus on a collaborative effort through the use of exisitng agencies and neighborhood organizations working with state and local law enforcement; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council believes that both direct and indirect public safety programs are necessary to enhance citizen safety, and that the UCPI can play a critical role in such a comprehensive approach; and
WHEREAS, Council member Kevin Boyce sponsors this legislation and the full Council deems it an appropriate use of a portion of the $2 million Public Safety Initiatives fund created by Council in its 2005 budget amendments; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City, in that it is immediately necessary to support the Urban Crime Prevention Initiative 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 transfer $20,000.00 within the general fund from the Department of Finance, Department 45, OL1 10, OL3 5501, OCA 904508 to the Division of Neighborhood Services, Department 44-05, OL1 03, OL3 3337, OCA 440280.
SECTION 2. That the Development Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to enter into agreement with Columbus Urban League, Inc., to support its partnership with the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services to implement the Urban Crime Prevention Initiative (UCPI), and to expend $20,000 for said purpose from the General Fund, Fund 010, Division of Neighborhood Services No. 44-05, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA 440280.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared 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.