Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into a contract with the Capital Area Humane Society (CAHS) to provide funding to assist with the provision of licensed humane agents to perform animal cruelty investigations within the City of Columbus. The CAHS has increased dispatch coverage in order to help Public Safety with calls for assistance up to seven days a week. These investigations are performed in accordance with Ohio Revised Code section 1717 in order to protect at-risk animals in the community. Consistent with the City of Columbus' public safety efforts, CAHS shall notify the appropriate legal authorities of affirmed animal abuse and neglect and suspected abuse toward humans.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funds for this contract were budgeted at $225,000.00 in the Safety Director's 2017 General Fund Budget within the Department of Public Safety. The City contracted with CAHS for $219,000.00 in 2013 and 2014 and for $200,000.00 in 2015 and 2016.
Emergency action is requested in order to continue seven day dispatch coverage without interruption.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into a contract with the Capital Area Humane Society to assist in the funding of licensed humane agents for the purpose of conducting animal cruelty investigations within the City of Columbus for the protection of at-risk animals in the community, to authorize the expenditure of $225,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($225,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety, through its Director's Office, desires to enter into a contract with the Capital Area Humane Society (CAHS); and
WHEREAS, this contract will allow for dispatch coverage by the Capital Area Humane Society and will assist in the funding of licensed humane agents for the purpose of conducting animal cruelty investigations within the City of Columbus for the protection of at-risk animals in the community, and in the interest of overall public safety; and
WHEREAS, funds for this contract were allocated in the Mayor's 2017 Public Safety recommended budgeted within the Safety Director's Office; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to contract with the Capital Area Humane Society in order to assist in funding licensed humane agents for the purpose of conducting animal cruelty investigations within the City of Columbus 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 the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract with the Capital Area Humane Society to help in the funding of licensed humane agents and calls for assistance up to seven days a week for animal cruelty investigations within the City of Columbus for the period to commence February 4, 2017 through December 31, 2017, in the amount of $225,000.00.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $225,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from the General Fund 1000-100010 in object Class 03 Support of Community Agencies per the accounting codes in the spreadsheet attached to this ordinance.
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.