Explanation
Background:
This legislation will authorize the Domestic Violence Unit within the City Attorney’s Office to accept additional 2017-2018 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds in the form of grant #2018-VOCA-131867903 from the State of Ohio, Office of the Attorney General’s Crime Victim Section. The Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) employs highly-trained DV Prosecutors and Advocates. These Prosecutors and Advocates work with victims of domestic violence crimes to assure legal services are provided in an effective and sensitive manner. Each year, the Unit works with approximately 3,000 victims. Prosecutors and Advocates provide critical legal services, court navigation supports, advocacy supports, safety planning services and connection to a spectrum of resources available in the community. The additional 2017-2018 VOCA dollars will support enhanced advocate services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Funding will be used to secure technology and office equipment, improve physical environment, offset costs to print victim resources, enhance trauma informed service provision, and expand professional development opportunities for DVU staff.
The total grant award is $49,156.35
Fiscal Impact:
The required $12,289.10 in match funds is included in the City Attorney’s 2018 General Fund budget.
Grant Period: 10/01/17 - 09/30/18
Total Grant Award
State Share: $49,156.35
Matching funds: $12,289.09 (20% match)
Total Grant: $61,445.44
Emergency Action:
Emergency action is requested to allow the grant activities to commence immediately, so grant funds are effectively spent before the end of the funding period (grant ends September 30, 2018).
Title
To authorize the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU) within the City Attorney’s Office to accept a Victim of Crimes Act (VOCA) grant from the State of Ohio, Office of the Attorney General, in the amount $49,156.35; to authorize the transfer of matching funds in the amount of $12,289.09 from the General Fund; to authorize the appropriation of total funds in the amount $61,445.44 in the General Government Grants Fund; and to declare an emergency ($61,445.44).
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio, Office of the Attorney General, has awarded the City of Columbus, Domestic Violence Unit within the City Attorney’s Office a Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant in the amount of $49,156.35 to support and enhance victim services provided by Domestic Violence and Pretrial Advocates; and
WHEREAS, the term of the grant is for the period October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018 and funds will be used to secure technology and office equipment, improve physical environment, offset costs to print victim resources, enhance trauma informed service provision, and expand professional development opportunities for DVU staff; and
WHEREAS, the acceptance of the grant requires matching funds in the amount of $12,289.09; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney desires to accept said grant award; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City Attorney's Office in that it is immediately necessary to accept the grant award, appropriate the grant funds; and transfer and appropriate the matching funds so that the services may commence and grant funds can be effectively spent within the funding period, thereby preserving the public health, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO
SECTION 1. That the Domestic Violence Unit within the City Attorney’s Office is hereby authorized to accept VOCA grant funds, from the State of Ohio, Office of the Attorney General, in the amount of $49,156.35 to support and enhance victim services provided by Domestic Violence and Pretrial Advocates (grant #2018-VOCA-131867903).
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $12,289.09, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized between Fund 1000-100010 General Operating Fund and Fund 2220 General Government Grants per account codes to be determined by the Auditor and outlined 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 in the sum of $61,445.44 is appropriated upon receipt of an executed grant agreement in Fund 2220, Division 2401, in object class 02 Materials and Supplies and object class 03 Purchased Services, grant number G241805, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance 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.