City of Columbus - File #: 0143-2020

• File #: 0143-2020
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 1/8/2020
• In control: Public Safety Committee
• On agenda: 1/27/2020
• Final action: 1/30/2020
• Title: To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a FY 2019 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program award from the National Institute of Justice; to authorize a Crime Lab Forensic Scientist III and Crime Lab Manager as the official city representatives to act in connection with this grant; to authorize an appropriation of $342,776.00 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Police to cover the cost of the FY 2019 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program Grant activities and expenditures; and to declare an emergency. ($342,776.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/30/2020	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
1/29/2020	1	MAYOR	Signed
1/27/2020	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
1/27/2020	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass

Explanation

BACKGROUND: The Division of Police was awarded funding through the FY 2019 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program from the National Institute of Justice. This federally supported program seeks to improve the infrastructure and analysis capacity of existing state and local crime laboratories that conduct DNA analysis so they can process DNA samples efficiently and cost effectively. Funds have been awarded for the hire of a Crime Laboratory Technician, DNA equipment, analysis supplies, and training analysts in the latest technologies in this ever-evolving field. The cost breakdown for this two-year grant award is as follows: Crime Laboratory Technician $146,416.00, DNA testing equipment $62,565.00, DNA equipment technology and supplies $114,900.00, travel $13,275.00, and training $5,620.00.

The official city program contacts authorized to act in connection with this $342,776.00 grant are Crime Lab Forensic Scientist III, Emma Becker and Crime Lab Manager, Angela Farrington. The grant award start date is January 1, 2020 and ends December 31, 2021.

Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make the funds available as soon as possible for the grant award, effective as of January 1, 2020.

FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an acceptance of the $342,776.00 grant award and the appropriation of those funds from the National Institute of Justice to improve DNA analysis. The City of Columbus received an award of $210,159.00 in 2015, $271,726.00 in 2016 and $265,127.00 in 2017 and $265,033.00 in 2018. No matching funds are required and all grant expenditures will be reimbursed by the grant awarded funding.

Title

To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a FY 2019 DNA Capacity Enhancement and Backlog Reduction Program award from the National Institute of Justice; to authorize a Crime Lab Forensic Scientist III and Crime Lab Manager as the official city representatives to act in con...