Explanation
Background:
This legislation will authorize the City Attorney to accept a grant award from the State of Ohio, Office of the Attorney General, for the funding of the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Domestic Violence and Pretrial Services Advocates program within the City Attorney's Office. This grant will partially fund three Domestic Violence Advocates, one Pretrial Services Advocate, office furniture, copier and travel/training. This program assists witnesses and victims of misdemeanor domestic violence, stalking and related crimes through the legal process and provides counseling, referrals, and linkage with agencies and community resources. This ordinance will further authorize the appropriation of the grant funds and the transfer and appropriation of the matching funds required by the grant award.
Fiscal Impact:
Grant Period: 10/01/16 - 09/30/17
State Share: $246,146.26
Matching funds: $61,536.57
Total Grant: $307,682.83
Emergency Action:
The City Attorney’s Office is requesting emergency action designation to allow for the uninterrupted continuation of this grant program.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to accept the 16-17 VOCA Domestic Violence and Pretrial Services Advocates grant award from the State of Ohio, Office of the Attorney General, in the amount of $246,146.26 for the partial funding of the Domestic Violence and Pretrial Services Advocates program; to authorize the appropriation of said grant funds; to authorize the transfer and appropriation of matching funds in the amount of $61,536.57 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($307,682.83)
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio, Office of the Attorney General, has awarded the City of Columbus, City Attorney's Office, a grant in the amount of Two Hundred Forty-six Thousand One Hundred Forty-six Dollars and Twenty-six Cents ($246,146.26) for the 16-17 VOCA Domestic Violence and Pretrial Services Advocates Grant, 2017-VOCA-43556954 for the partial funding the Domestic Violence and Pretrial Services Advocates program; and
WHEREAS, the term of the grant is for the period October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the acceptance of the grant requires matching funds in the amount of Sixty-one Thousand Five Hundred Thirty-six Dollars and Fifty-seven Cent ($61,536.57); and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney's Office in that it is immediately necessary to accept the award, appropriate the grant funds, and transfer and appropriate the matching funds so that the services may commence, 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, OHIO
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney is hereby authorized to accept a grant award from the State of Ohio, Office of the Attorney General, in the amount of Two Hundred Forty-six Thousand One Hundred Forty-six Dollars and Twenty-six Cents ($246,146.26) for the 16-17 VOCA Domestic Violence and Pretrial Services Advocates Grant, 2017-VOCA-43556954 for the partial funding the Domestic Violence and Pretrial Services Advocates program.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of Sixty-one Thousand Five Hundred Thirty-six Dollars and Fifty-seven Cent ($61,536.57) is hereby authorized between fund 1000-100010 General Operating and fund 2220 General Government per the account codes to be determined by the Auditor and in the attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. 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 award period the sum of Three Hundred Seven Thousand Six Hundred Eighty-two Dollars and Eighty-three Cents ($307,682.83) is appropriated in fund 2220, General Government Grants, Object Class 01 $287,307.83, 02 $10,375.00 and 03 $10,000.00 per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That 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 5. That funds appropriated shall be paid upon order of the City Attorney 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 6. That at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor 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 7. 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.