Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus has been awarded a Federal Fiscal Year 2016 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant from the Assistance to Fire Fighters (AFG) Grant program, via the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The AFG program provides financial assistance to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards. The FY16 AFG award will provide financial assistance for the purchase of the mobile trailer with self-contained Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) based interactive driver training simulators for permanent use within the Division of Fire. The Grant stipulates that, after the completion of initial training of all Division of Fire personnel, the mobile driving simulators will also be used to train regional mutual aid fire departments surrounding the City of Columbus, under the direct supervision of the Division of Fire. Expenditures for the project will cover the purchase costs of the mobile interactive driver training simulators equipment, trailer, and training. The grant award is for a maximum of $743,000.00, which is comprised of $675,455.00 from the AFG award, with a 10% cost match of the final purchase amount to be made by the City, not to exceed $67,545.00, of non-Federal funds. The City will act as Grantee to the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make the funds available as soon as possible for the grant award start date of September 1, 2017.
FISCAL IMPACT: All appropriated funds will be reimbursed to the City of Columbus by the AFG award upon the final delivery, inspection, training, and invoicing by the successful bidder. The grant has a 10% City cost match of $67,545.00 which is hereby authorized to be expended from the Safety Voted Bond Fund. The City received AFG Grant Awards of $812,639.00 in 2009, $1,135,370.00 in 2005, $750,000.00 in 2003, and $43,292.00 in 2002.
Title
To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a Grant award through the FY16 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG) program, via the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); to authorize an appropriation of $675,455.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Fire to cover 90% of the costs associated with the purchase of the mobile driver training simulators; to authorize an expenditure of $67,545.00 from the Safety Voted Bond Fund to cover the 10% cost match to be made by the City; and to declare an emergency. ($743,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Division of Fire seeks to enhance the protective health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire-related hazards in the City of Columbus; and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Division of Fire, was awarded funding through the FY16 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG); and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus will provide a 10% grant cost match from Safety Voted Bond Fund for this purchase; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operations of the Division of Fire, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to accept and appropriate the FY16 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG) award in order to make funds available for the grant award period, thereby preserving the public peace, health, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor of the City of Columbus be and is hereby authorized and directed to accept a FY16 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG) program, via the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the Project Period, the sum of $675,455.00 is appropriated in Fund 2220 General Government Grants, and to authorize the expenditure of $67,545.00 within the Safety Voted Bond Fund, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. This appropriation is effective upon receipt of the fully executed agreement. ($743,000.00)
SECTION 3. That the monies in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon the order of the Director of Public Safety, 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 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.
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.