Explanation
BACKGROUND: Columbus Public Health’s Environmental Health Division has been awarded a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. This ordinance is needed to accept and appropriate $28,865.00 in grant money to fund the Air Monitoring Education Project grant, for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019.
The Air Monitoring Education Project will monitor outdoor air quality in selected neighborhood locations and provide educational information to Columbus residents on general levels of criteria for pollutants found. The goal of the project is to use data collected from two neighborhood-based air monitoring sensor stations - together with supplemental information - to increase awareness about outdoor air quality and pollution, it’s possible impacts to people and wildlife, and to offer strategies that can both reduce residents’ individual contribution to air pollution and potential harmful exposures when high levels of pollution are present.
This ordinance is submitted as an emergency to begin the air monitoring education project by the beginning of 2018, as stated in the grant agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT: The Air Monitoring Education Project is entirely funded by the grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and does not generate revenue or require a City Match.
Title
To authorize and direct the Board of Health to accept a grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $28,865.00 for the Air Monitoring Education Project, to monitor outdoor air quality in selected neighborhoods; to authorize the appropriation of $28,865.00 from the unappropriated balance of the Health Department Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($28,865.00)
Body
WHEREAS, $28,865.00 in grant funds have been made available through the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the Air Monitoring Education Project for the period of January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to accept and appropriate these funds from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to monitor outdoor air quality in selected neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, this ordinance is submitted as an emergency so as to allow the financial transaction to be posted in the City's accounting system as soon as possible. Up to date financial posting promotes accurate accounting and financial management; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of Columbus Public Health in that it is immediately necessary to accept these grant funds from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and to appropriate these funds to Columbus Public Health for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare, and to avoid delay in client services; Now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Board of Health is hereby authorized and directed to accept a grant award of $28,856.00 from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the Air Monitoring Education Project for the period January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Health Department's Grants Fund, Fund No. 2251, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $28,865.00 and any eligible interest earned during the grant period is hereby appropriated to the Health Department, Division No. 5001, according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 3. That the monies appropriated in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Health Commissioner and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except upon voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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 6. 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.