Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance appropriates $140,696.48 from the Emergency Human Services Capital Fund to the Department of Development and authorizes the expenditure of these funds by directing the Director of the Department of Development to provide grant assistance to:
Columbus Urban League, for $50,000.00 for safety and security measures and facility upgrades at the Mt. Vernon and three Headstart Centers;
Neighborhood House, Inc., for $7,196.48 for the installation of a fire alarm system and plumbing repairs at the childcare facility at 940 Caldwell Place;
Stonewall Columbus, Inc., for $33,500.00 for rehabilitation and repair of the facility at 1160 N. High Street; and
Huckleberry House, for $50,000.00 for the renovation and construction costs of the facility at 1435 Hamlet.
This legislation represents agencies to be funded following the Emergency Human Services application process. The legislation targets those social service agencies, with capital expense needs, that will provide help to families and households through improved facilities and improved access to programs and services by assisting with the capital needs of individual agencies. In addition, the city supports programs and activities so that the greater population is assured access to other community assistance. This funding will allow the process to continue much needed services.
This ordinance is presented as an emergency to allow facility improvements to begin immediately thereby avoiding interruptions in program services.
FISCAL IMPACT: A total of $140,696.48 has been allocated for these grants from the Emergency Human Service Capital Fund.
Title
To authorize the appropriation of $140,696.48 from the unappropriated balance of the Emergency Human Services Capital Fund to the Department of Development; to approve the grant applications of the Columbus Urban League, Neighborhood House, Inc., Stonewall Columbus, Inc. and Huckleberry House; to authorize the Director of the Department of Development to provide grant assistance for emergency capital costs associated with the repair and upgrade of their facilities; to authorize the expenditure of $140,696.48 from the Emergency Human Service Capital Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($140,696.48)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Urban League, Neighborhood House, Inc., Stonewall Columbus, Inc. and Huckleberry House have submitted grant applications seeking financial assistance for capital costs associated with the maintenance of their facilities; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 371.02(c) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, City Council is authorized to allocate up to $300,000.00 annually to assist social service agencies in the city with the capital costs of maintaining their facilities; and
WHEREAS, City Council has reviewed the grant applications of the Columbus Urban League, Neighborhood House, Inc., Stonewall Columbus, Inc. and Huckleberry House and hereby declares that the Columbus Urban League, Neighborhood House, Inc., Stonewall Columbus, Inc. and Huckleberry House have articulated a need for Emergency Human Services Capital Funds that is sufficient to justify approval of said grant; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to appropriate $140,696.48 from the Emergency Human Services Capital Fund to enter into grants with the aforementioned social service agencies for various construction and facility repair efforts; and
WHEREAS, the programs operated by these agencies include homeless assistance and services to individuals with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to appropriate said funds and to enter into grants with the aforementioned social service agencies to allow facility improvements to begin immediately thereby avoiding interruptions in program services, all for the 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 grant applications of the Columbus Urban League, Neighborhood House, Inc., Stonewall Columbus, Inc. and Huckleberry House, seeking financial assistance to address an emergency human service need pursuant to Section 371.02 (c) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, are hereby approved.
Section 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Emergency Human Services Capital Fund, and from any and all sources unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008, the sum of $140,696.48 be and is hereby appropriated to the Department of Development, Department No. 44-05, Fund 232, Project 200001, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 440508.
Section 3. That the Director of the Department of Development be and is hereby authorized to enter into grant agreements with various agencies as listed in Section 5 for construction and repair efforts on agency facilities for a one-year period.
Section 4. That the expenditures authorized herein are in accordance with Section 371.02 (c) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959.
Section 5. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $140,696.48 or as much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Emergency Human Services Capital Fund, Department of Development, Department No. 44-05, Fund 232, Project 200001, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 440508, as follows:
AGENCY AMOUNT
Columbus Urban League - facility improvement and security systems $50,000.00
Neighborhood House - facility repair and safety systems $ 7,196.48
Stonewall Columbus - facility upgrades $33,500.00
Huckleberry House - facility renovations $50,000.00
Total Allocations $140,696.48
Section 6. That for the 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.