Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers in support of its operations and to provide citizens a means to give information to law enforcement agencies to help fight crime.
Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization formed locally in 1977 working to fight crime in Columbus neighborhoods. It operates 24 hours a day, and provides citizens a means to give information to law enforcement agencies while remaining anonymous. Crime Stoppers has recently upgraded to an app-based service (P3 Tips), allowing for the uploading of photos and videos as well as real-time two-way communication with anonymous tipsters.
This funding is needed to support the administrative duties performed by the assistant coordinator and to accommodate the number of tips being received on an annual basis.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Public Safety Initiative subfund.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into contract with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers in support of its operations; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Public Safety Initiatives subfund. ($5,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is a non-profit organization working to help law enforcement agencies in Central Ohio fight crime; and
WHEREAS, the organization operates 24-hours a day and requires funding to accommodate the number of tips being received on an annual basis; and
WHEREAS, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers currently operates with the oversight of a volunteer Executive Director and a volunteer General Board. The office is staffed and directed by a Columbus Division of Police detective functioning as a Coordinator; and
WHEREAS, Council deems it an appropriate use of Public Safety funds to support the organization's efforts; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers in support of its operations; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Public Safety is hereby authorized to enter into contract with Central Ohio Crime Stoppers in support of its operations.
SECTION 2. That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $5,000.00 in the Public Safety Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016, to the Department of Public Safety, Safety Director's Office per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $5,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the action authorized in SECTION 1 of this ordinance, is hereby authorized in the Public Safety Initiatives subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100016 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this contract is entered into pursuant to the provisions of City Code Chapter 329 that relate to not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest date allowable under law.