Explanation
BACKGROUND:
Need: This legislation is needed to enter into an agreement with the Office of the Governor's Highway Safety Representative (OGHSR), State of Ohio to participate in the Ohio Safe Commute (2008) program and to appropriate funds to cover the costs of this program. The OGHSR provides federal funds for activities that will have the greatest impact toward crash reduction, responsible driving behavior and associated economic loss reduction. This program will provide increased enforcement presence in designated areas and specific time frames to reduce speed and the number of crashes. It will also focus on quick clearance of incidents in the designated areas and times to aid in keeping the roadways open and available for travel and to reduce possible additional incidents secondary to the original incidents. The agreement authorizes reimbursement for the overtime costs of sworn personnel working in the program. The State and Federal Fiscal Year 2008 runs from October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008. It is expected that the state will offer several limited period agreements to target the areas and times available to participate in these program activities. Funding will need to be made available at the earliest possible time to promote accurate and timely accounting for these activities.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary for the funds to be available for the program activities at the earliest possible time.
FISCAL IMPACT:
All funds appropriated are reimbursable from the State of Ohio; therefore, there will be no effect on the financial status of the General Fund.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Safety to enter into an agreement with the Office of the Governor's Highway Safety Representative, State of Ohio to participate in the Ohio Safe Commute program and to authorize an appropriation of $22,839.60 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the costs associated with the Ohio Safe Commute project and to declare an emergency. ($22,839.60)
Body
WHEREAS, the Division of Police will conduct a project of increased enforcement to reduce speed and the number of crashes and to provide a quick clearance of incidents in designated areas; and
WHEREAS, the Office of the Governor's Highway Safety Representative will provide program funds in the amount of $22,839.60 through the Ohio Safe Commute (St 07-08A) program to the City of Columbus, Division of Police; and
WHEREAS, an appropriation is needed to cover the sworn overtime pay costs of the Ohio Safe Commute (St 07-08A) project; and
WHEREAS, emergency designation is needed to make the program funding available at the earliest possible time for ongoing program activities within the State and Federal fiscal year 2008; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Police, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into the aforementioned agreement to participate in the Ohio Safe Commute (St 07-08A) Program and to appropriate $22,839.60 for the project costs, thereby preserving the public peace, property, health, safety and welfare; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Safety of the City of Columbus be and hereby is authorized and directed to enter into an agreement with the Office of the Governor's Highway Safety Representative to accept an award in the amount of $22,839.60 which represents funding for the Ohio Safe Commute (St 07-08A) project.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grant Fund and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the project period the sum of $22,839.60 is appropriated as follows:
DIV FD OBJ LV#1 OBJ LV#3 OCACD GRANT AMOUNT
30-03 220 01 1127 337043 337043 1,202.60
30-03 220 01 1131 337043 337043 17,179.00
30-03 220 01 1161 337043 337043 3,350.00
30-03 220 01 1171 337043 337043 249.00
30-03 220 01 1173 337043 337043 859.00
SECTION 3. That monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Public Safety; and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. 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.