Explanation
Background:
This legislation will authorize the City Attorney to accept the 2017 Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Sexual Assault Prosecutors and Victim Advocate Grant from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Office of Homeland Security and Justice Programs. This ordinance will further authorize the transfer of the required matching funds and the appropriation of funds.
This grant partially funds the salary and training costs of two Prosecuting Attorneys and one Victim Advocate for the Prosecution Section of the City Attorney's Office. These individuals assist witnesses and victims of sexual assault through the legal process and provide counseling, referrals, and linkage with agencies and community resources.
Fiscal Impact:
The required matching funds of $2,500.00 are included in the City Attorney's 2017 General Fund Budget. This ordinance is contingent on the passage of the 2017 operating budget via ordinance 2862-2016.
Project period: 01/01/17 - 12/31/17
Federal Share: $7,500.00
Matching funds: $2,500.00
Total Grant Award: $10,000.00
Emergency Designation:
Emergency action is requested to allow the grant activities to commence at the beginning of the grant period.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney to accept a grant from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Office of Homeland Security and Justice Programs, in the amount of $7,500.00 for the funding of the 2017 VAWA Sexual Assault Prosecutors and Victim Advocate program; to authorize the transfer of matching funds in the amount of $2,500.00 from the General Fund; to authorize the appropriation of total funds in the amount of $10,000.00; and to declare an emergency. ($10,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Office of Homeland Security and Justice Programs, has awarded the City of Columbus, City Attorney's Office, a grant in the amount of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) for the 2017 VAWA Sexual Assault Prosecutors and Victim Advocate Grant program; and
WHEREAS, the acceptance of the grant requires matching funds in the amount of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00); and
WHEREAS, the term of the grant is for the period of January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney desires to accept said grant award; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the daily operation of the Columbus City Attorney’s Office in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the City Attorney to accept and appropriate the grant award in order for the services to commence at the beginning of the grant period, for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; and, 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 in the amount Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Office of Homeland Security and Justice Programs, for the 2017 VAWA Sexual Assault Prosecutors and Victim Advocate Grant program, grant #16-WF-VA2-8802.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between Fund 1000-100010 General Operating and Fund 2220 General Government Grants per the account codes to be determine by the Auditor and in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the general Government Grant Fund 2220 and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the grant period, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement in Fund 2220, Division 2401, in Object Class 01 Personnel in the amount of $5,477.27 and in Object Class 03 Services in the amount of $4,522.73, Grant Number to be determined by Auditor, and 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.