Explanation
BACKGROUND
This ordinance authorizes the Administrative Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept a grant in the amount of $25,950.00 from The Supreme Court of Ohio, and to appropriate from the unappropriated balance of the general government grant fund to the Franklin County Municipal Court, the total amount of the grant. This grant will fund the purchase of a mobile video interpretation unit. Franklin County and the City of Columbus have a large population of people with limited English proficiency, and the population is expected to continue to grow. The Court currently employs 2 full-time Spanish interpreters, as well as a full-time Somali interpreter, has contracts with 3 local interpreter agencies to provide additional interpreters or interpreters for other languages, and has access to LanguageLine. However, the number of cases requiring a telephonic interpreter are growing and are increasingly difficult to facilitate, particularly if multiple interpreters are necessary in a hearing.
The mobile video interpreting cart would be a benefit to all of the judges in all of the regular and arraignment courtrooms, especially when the Court has no advance notice that an interpreter may be required. The technology also allows for confidential conversations between parties and attorneys with an interpreter.
FISCAL IMPACT
No general fund resources are needed.
Emergency Justification: The Court seeks approval to amend this ordinance to emergency in order to remain in compliance with the terms of the grant.
Title
To authorize and direct the Administrative Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept a grant award from The Supreme Court of Ohio; to appropriate $25,950.00 from the unappropriated balance of the general government grant fund to the Franklin County Municipal Court, and to declare an emergency. ($25.950.00)
Body
WHEREAS, it is in the city's best interest that the Franklin County Municipal Court upgrade the technology for foreign language interpreters; and
WHEREAS, grant monies from The Supreme Court of Ohio, in the amount of $25,950 are available to provide the needed technology upgrades; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the City to authorize the Administrative Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court to accept the grant, for the public health, safety and welfare; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Administrative Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court be and is hereby authorized to accept a grant in the amount of $25,950.00 from The Supreme Court of Ohio.
SECTION 2. Funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated. That from the unappropriated balance in the general government grant fund, fund 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and appropriated for any other purpose during the months ending September 1, 2016, the sum of $25,950.00 is appropriated to the Franklin County Municipal Court, department number 2501 as noted in attachment Technology Interpreting Grant.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Administrative Judge of the Franklin County Municipal Court 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. At the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grant is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law. 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 the passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.