Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus health statistics show an increase in disease associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. To encourage healthy and active living Columbus Public Health has budgeted $20,000.00 in the Health Special Revenue Fund for making grants to non-profit organizations for community gardening projects. City Council wishes to support this project and has made available in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund an additional $6,280.00.
Columbus is a mecca for community gardens. From 12 plots in 2000, to approximately 250 community gardens today, thousands of residents benefit from greater access to nutritious food, community engagement, beautification, food security and multiculturalism. More than 40,000 pounds of fresh produce is donated annually to food pantries and residents who live in food deserts, far from grocery stores. Community gardens are one key tool in the effort to make the healthy choice an easy choice.
The purpose of this ordinance is to appropriate funds in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, authorize the expenditure from the Health Special Operating Fund and Neighborhood Initiatives Fund and to authorize the payment of $26,280.00 to The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Active Living for the management of the 2016 Community Gardening Project.
The Foundation for Active Living is a donor-advised fund that was established by the Columbus Board of Health with The Columbus Foundation in 2008 under the authority of Ordinance No. 1210-2008, approved by City Council on July 14, 2008. Ordinance No. 0493-2011, approved by City Council on April 4, 2011, amended the agreement with The Columbus Foundation by authorizing The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Active Living, to accept funds from the City.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency so as to allow this appropriation and the expenditure to be received by The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Active Living as soon as possible for the development of community gardens.
FISCAL IMPACT: A total of $26,280.00 has been designated for this project. Funding for this ordinance is available in the amount of $20,000.00 in the Health Special Revenue Fund and $6,280.00 in City Council’s Neighborhood Initiatives Fund.
Title
To authorize and direct the appropriation of $6,280.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $20,000.00 from the Health Special Revenue Fund and $6,280.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund to pay The Columbus Foundation, Foundation for Active Living, for the management of the 2016 Community Gardening Projects; and to declare an emergency. ($26,280.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus would like to encourage healthy and active living to address the increase in diseases associated with obesity and sedentary lifestyle; and,
WHEREAS, community gardens are located in food deserts and provide fresh fruits and vegetables to neighbors and food pantries; and,
WHEREAS, $20,000.00 from the Health Special Revenue Fund and $6,280.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund will be expended to The Columbus Foundation, Foundation of Active Living, for the management of the 2016 Community Gardening Project; and,
WHEREAS, the Foundation for Active Living, a donor-advised fund established at The Columbus Foundation by the Columbus Board of Health under the authority of Ordinance No. 1210-2008 and modified by Ordinance No. 0493-2011, is qualified and able to direct the funds for the management of the community gardens in Central Ohio; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to allow the appropriation and expenditure of City monies to The Columbus Foundation as soon as possible 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 from the unappropriated monies in the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, Fund No. 1000, Subfund No. 100018 and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources for the period ending December 31, 2016, the sum of $6,280.00 is hereby appropriated to the Health Dept, Division No. 5001.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $20,000.00 from the Health Special Revenue Fund, Fund No. 2250, Division No. 5001, and the expenditure of $6,280.00 from the Neighborhood Initiatives Fund, Fund No. 1000, Subfund No. 100018 is hereby authorized to pay The Columbus Foundation, Foundation of Active Living, for the management of the 2016 Community Gardening Project, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance as follows:
2016 Community Gardens
Object
Class & Purpose Main Account Program Project No. Section 3 Sect. 4 Sect. 5 Amount
03 - Services-Operation. 63920 HE003 n/a 500109 HE16 n/a $20,000.00
& Maint
03 - Services-Operation. 63920 HE003 n/a 500109 HE16 n/a $6,280.00
& Maint
Total 2016 Community Gardens: $26,280.00
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.