Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health (CPH) is hosting three farmers’ markets in 2017. The markets in 2017 will be held on July 27th, August 3rd and August 10th at Columbus Public Health’s facility. This ordinance establishes an imprest petty cash operating fund in the amount of $7,500.00 for the three markets, with a breakdown of $2,500.00 for each market, for the reimbursement to farmers who accept the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) services for market customers using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Veggie SNAPs Farmers Market Nutrition Incentive program tokens as payment during the markets.
At each market, the CPH Healthy Food Access Program staff will swipe customer Ohio Directions cards and provide one token for each $1.00 in SNAP benefits they redeem plus a matching Veggie SNAPs token for each $1.00 in SNAP benefits redeemed up to a maximum of $10.00 per EBT transaction. Customers will shop at the markets, using the tokens provided. At the end of each market, the CPH Healthy Food Access Program staff will reimburse the farmers $1.00 for each SNAP token received and $1.00 for each Veggie SNAPs token they have accepted as payment during the market. To facilitate this, a cash box of $2,500.00 will be required at each of the three farmer’s markets. After the market, reimbursement will be submitted immediately. Columbus Public Health will be reimbursed the next day for the SNAP benefits redeemed and will be reimbursed 2-4 weeks after each market for the Veggie SNAPs.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any delays in providing these reimbursement services at each of the farmer’s markets.
Fiscal Impact: To provide the sum of $7,500.00 to create an imprest petty cash fund for the three farmers' markets held at the Columbus Public Health facility.
Title
To authorize the establishment of an imprest petty cash operating fund for the Columbus Public Health farmers' markets to be held this summer; to authorize a transfer within the general fund; to authorize the expenditure of $7,500.00 total at $2,500.00 per market; and to declare an emergency. ($7,500.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus Public Health will host three farmer’s markets at the Columbus Public Health facility; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary to establish an imprest pretty cash fund for the reimbursement to farmers for the SNAP and Veggie SNAPs programs; and
WHEREAS, funding for the imprest petty cash fund will come from the Columbus Public Health Operating Fund Budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Health Department in that it is immediately necessary to create this imprest petty cash fund for reimbursement to the farmers, all for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
SECTION 1. That the imprest petty cash fund for Columbus Public Health is hereby established in the amount of $7,500.00.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor shall transfer appropriations from object level 01 to object level 05 - Other Expenditures, according to the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the City Auditor shall upon receipt of a voucher approved by the Health Commissioner of Columbus Public Health provide the sum of $7,500.00, which is hereby authorized for expenditure from the Columbus Public Health Operating Fund budget.
SECTION 4. That the imprest petty cash fund, as established by $7,500.00 shall be operated by the Columbus Public Health Healthy Food Access Staff, who shall keep an accurate accounting of such monies.
SECTION 5. That the Columbus Public Health Healthy Food Access Staff will submit reimbursement from the SNAP and Veggie SNAPs programs that same day of the farmer’s markets.
SECTION 6. That the auditor has the authority to establish such accounting codes as necessary in order to carry out the purpose of this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That for 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.