Explanation
Background:
This legislation authorizes the City Attorney to accept State Victims Award Act (SVAA) and Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding from the Ohio Office of the Attorney General, Crime Victims Section. Grant funds support the City Attorney’s Victim Advocacy Services program. Award dollars fund 1) salary for five Domestic Violence Advocates and one Pretrial Services Advocate; 2) professional development for grant staff; 3) and bus passes for victims and prosecution witnesses.
This program guides and supports victims of misdemeanor domestic violence and related crimes as they navigate legal processes and systems. In addition, advocates provide information on victim rights; promote safety planning and connect individuals with community-based services and resources. This ordinance authorizes the appropriation of grant funds and the transfer and appropriation of the matching funds required by the grant award.
The SVAA grant is a $2,900.00 award that requires no city match. The VOCA grant is $400,924.00 award requiring a 20% ($100,231.00) match for a total appropriation of $504,054.00.
Fiscal Impact:
The SVAA grant is a $2,900 award that requires no city match. The VOCA grant is $400,924 award requiring a 20% ($100,231) match. Matching funds are available in the City Attorney's 2018 General Fund budget, subject to passage of 2970-2018.
Grant Period: 10/01/18 - 09/30/19
State Share SVAA (2019-SVAA-132131860): $2,900
Matching Funds (2019-SVAA-132131860): $0
State Share VOCA (2019-VOCA-132131856): $400,924
Matching Funds (2019-VOCA-132131856): $100,231
Total Grant: $504,055
Emergency Action:
Emergency action is requested to allow the grant activities to commence at the beginning of the grant period.
Title
To authorize the City Attorney's Office to accept State Victims Award Act (2019-SVAA-132131860) and Victims of Crime Act (2019-VOCA-132131856) funding from the Ohio Office of the Attorney General in the amount of $403,824.00 to support the victim advocacy services and to authorize total appropriation of $504,055.00; and to declare an emergency. ($504,055.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Office of the Attorney General has awarded the Columbus City Attorney's Office grant funding in the amount of $403,824.00 to support victim advocacy services;
WHEREAS, the term of the grant is for the period October 1, 2018 through September 30, 2019; and
WHEREAS, grant acceptance requires matching funds in the amount of $100,231.00; 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 authorize the acceptance of the award, appropriate the grant funds, and transfer and appropriate the matching funds so that the services may commence, all for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, OHIO
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney's Office is hereby authorized to accept SVAA (2019-SVAA-132131860) and VOCA (2019-VOCA-132131856) funding from the Ohio Office of the Attorney General in the amount of 403,824.00 to support the victim advocacy services.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $100,231.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, is considered the city's matching funds and is hereby authorized to be transferred from the general fund to the grant fund according to the account codes in the attachment. Ordinance 2970-2019 will transfer funds to 2401-1000. The appropriation from 2401-1000 to 2401-2200 is contingent upon passage of ordinance 2970-2018.
SECTION 3. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Government Grants Fund number 2220, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources during the grant period, the sum of $504,055.00 is hereby appropriated to the Columbus City Attorney, Department 24 according to the attached accounting document.
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.