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 award that requires no city match. The VOCA grant is $372,124.60 award requiring a 20% ($93,031.15) match for a total appropriation of $465,155.75.
Fiscal Impact:
The SVAA grant is a $2,900 award that requires no city match. The VOCA grant award requires $372,124.60 a 20% ($93,031.15) cash match. Matching funds are included in the City Attorney 2019 General Fund budget.
Grant Period: 10/01/19 - 09/30/20
State Share SVAA (2020-SVAA-132922041): $2,900
Matching Funds (2020-SVAA-132922041): $0
Total Grant: $2,900
State Share VOCA (2020-VOCA-132922027): $372,124.60
Matching Funds (2020-VOCA-132922027): $93,031.15
Total Grant: $465,155.75
Total SVAA + VOCA grant awards: $375,024.60
Total combined grant awards + match $468,055.75
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 to accept SVAA and VOCA funding from the Ohio Attorney General in the amount of $375,024.60 to support the victim advocacy services; to authorize the transfer of matching funds in the amount of $93,031.15 from General Fund; to authorize total appropriation of $468,055.75; and to declare an emergency. ($468,055.75)
Body
WHEREAS, the Ohio Attorney General has awarded the Columbus City Attorney's Office grant funding in the amount of $375,024.60 to support victim advocacy services;
WHEREAS, the term of the grant is for the period October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, grant acceptance requires matching funds in the amount of $93,031.15; 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 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:
SECTION 1. That the City Attorney is hereby authorized to accept State Victims Award Act ("SVAA") (2020-SVAA-132922041) and Victims of Crime Act ("VOCA") (2020-VOCA-132922027) funding from the Ohio Office of the Attorney General in the amount of $375,024.60 to support direct victim advocacy services.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $93,031.15 in city match dollars is hereby authorized transferred to object class 10 in Fund 1000.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $93,031.15, or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized from Fund 1000 City Attorney General Operating, Department 24, to Fund 2220 General Government Grants.
SECTION 4. 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 $468,055.75 is hereby appropriated to the Columbus City Attorney, Department 24 according to the attached accounting document.
SECTION 5. 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 6. 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 7. 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 8. 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.