Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance provides Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) to Friends of the Community Relations Commission, a non-profit organization, to be distributed to a wide variety of community groups and organizations in support of the Mayor's Coalition for a Nonviolent Columbus. Friends of the Community Relations Commission will be responsible for distributing city grant funds, up to a total of $1,000 each to, civic associations, neighborhood block watch groups, faith-based organizations, and non-profits etc. These grants are intended to provide financial support for one time costs for neighborhood-led initiatives that address crime and safety within Columbus neighborhoods. The Department of Public Safety will review grant applications and decide on grant recipients.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to meet grant deadlines and make the funds available immediately for distribution to address crime prevention and safety initiatives.
FISCAL IMPACT: This legislation authorizes the expenditure of $50,000.00 from Public Safety's 2012 operating budget to be distributed by Friends of the Community Relations Commission to community groups who will address crime and safety within Columbus neighborhoods. The Public Safety Director's office budgeted $50,000 in the 2012 General Fund operating budget for the Mayor's Coalition for a Nonviolent Columbus initiative. Public Safety partnered with Crime Stoppers inc. in 2011 for the distribution of approximated $45,000.00 to area groups in support of the Coalition for a Nonviolent Columbus.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of Public Safety to enter into contract with Friends of the Community Relations Commission, a non profit organization, to provide funds to be distributed to community groups and organizations for crime prevention and safety programs, in support of the Mayor's Coalition for Nonviolent Columbus initiative; to authorize an expenditure of $50,000.00; and to declare an emergency. ($50,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Friends of the Community Relations Commission is a non-profit organization working to open doors in Columbus neighborhoods to address issues of ethnic, racial and cultural diversity; and
WHEREAS, the organization has agreed to contract with The Department of Public Safety to distribute grant funds provided by the City of Columbus to area groups and organizations for the purpose of implementing programs that will improve safety, reduce criminal activity and improve the quality of life in Columbus Neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Friends of the Community Relations Commission will retain a negotiated percentage of the grant funds to cover minimal operating expenses in the distribution of the grant; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual and daily operation of the Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to award this contract to Friends of the Community Relations Commission in order to meet award deadlines and reduce criminal activity for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Friends of the Community Relations Commission, a non-profit group, to distribute City grant funds to area neighborhood groups for the purpose of implementing programs that will reduce criminal activity in Columbus neighborhoods.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $50,000.00, or so much thereof as necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Public Safety General Fund, Department/Division No 30-01, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 300111.
SECTION 3. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 as amended.
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 an after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.