Explanation
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this ordinance is to authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with The Legal Aid Society of Columbus in support of the organization’s Reentry Team services.
The Legal Aid Society of Columbus (LASC) is a non-profit organization that provides legal assistance to low-income and qualifying senior residents in the City and surrounding areas. The organization’s Reentry Team is focused specifically on assisting and empowering low-income individuals in overcoming collateral sanctions to criminal records through (1) direct legal representation, (2) leveraging the help of pro bono attorneys and student volunteers, and (3) community engagement and education.
This ordinance will allow for LASC’s Reentry Team to increase their capacity by 67% over the next year, in order to provide for further direct representation of clients, increase capacity for their Clean Slate clinics, and collect statistical information and conduct analysis on demographic trends and needs within the reentry community. This ordinance authorizes the grant agreement, as well as the appropriation and expenditure of $130,000.00 within the Jobs Growth subfund.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested to ensure that The Legal Aid Society of Columbus can immediately begin providing additional Reentry Team services to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Columbus.
FISCAL IMPACT: Total appropriation is $130,000.00 and is available in the 2019 budget within the Jobs Growth subfund, Fund 1000-100015.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with The Legal Aid Society of Columbus in support of the organization’s Reentry Team services; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Jobs Growth subfund, and to declare an emergency. ($130,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, low-income residents in the City of Columbus are in need of reentry services to assist them in overcoming a previous criminal record and join the job market; and,
WHEREAS, The Legal Aid Society of Columbus provides assistance in overcoming collateral sanctions created by criminal records; and,
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council is committed to criminal justice reform and finding avenues by which those in need can lift themselves out of the criminal justice system and into gainful employment; and,
WHEREAS, $130,000.00 is available in the Jobs Growth subfund for appropriation to provide for this need; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of CIty Council in that it is immediately necessary to authorize a grant agreement with The Legal Aid Society of Columbus to allow it to begin providing additional Reentry Team services for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1: That Columbus City Council is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with The Legal Aid Society of Columbus in support of the organization’s Reentry Team services.
SECTION 2: That the City Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $130,000.00 in the Jobs Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015, to Columbus City Council per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3: That the expenditure of $130,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed pursuant to the actions authorized in SECTION 1, is hereby authorized in the Jobs Growth subfund, fund 1000, subfund 100015 per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4: That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this legislation.
SECTION 5: That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is 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.