Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Safety to pay the City of Columbus' proportionate share for the operation and administration of the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security program (FCEMHS), including the countywide mass notification system. The FCEMHS is responsible for managing the outdoor warning siren system within Franklin County not only by coordinating siren locations but also by providing for their maintenance, relocation, and activation. The Agency's operational activities also include planning for disaster recovery, public education, and exercises.
The FCEMHS is also serving as the lead agency for the implementation and maintenance of a mass warning and notification system designed to meet the needs of forty-two jurisdictions and emergency partners in Franklin County. A mass notification system can reach residents in the form of phone messages, text messages, and email. Other considerations include preferred languages and mechanisms to reach the hearing and vision impaired, and those with other special needs within the community. The city's participation with FCEMHS is in accordance with State law. All activities of the agency are supported by local government funds and some federal grants.
Emergency Designation: Emergency designation will ensure timely payments to FCEMHS.
FISCAL IMPACT: This ordinance authorizes an expenditure of $811,474.04 from the 2020 General Fund operating budget for the administration of the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security program, including expenses for the administration of the countywide mass notification system. The majority of this year's funds, $721,474.04, represents operational and administrative support activities including the mass notification system, and $90,000.00 represents maintenance costs for the outdoor warning sirens. The city spent $793,267.05 on the FCEMHS Program in 2019, $772,424.00 in 2018, $790,424 in 2017, and $761,289.60 in 2016.
Title
To authorize and direct the Director of the Department of Public Safety to pay the City's proportionate share of operational and administrative support activities of the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security program including the mass notification system; to authorize the expenditure of $811,474.04 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($811,474.04)
Body
WHEREAS, the FCEMHS is responsible for managing the outdoor warning siren system within Franklin County not only by coordinating siren locations, but also by providing for their maintenance, relocation, and activation; and,
WHEREAS, at this time each year, the FCEMHS provides local communities with the amount of their proportionate share of the operational and administrative support activities of the agency; and,
WHEREAS, the expenditures associated with this ordinance and the City's participation with FCEMHS is in accordance with State law; and,
WHEREAS, this ordinance is contingent upon the passage of the 2020 General Fund operating budget by City Council; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Safety in that it is immediately necessary to pay the City's proportionate share for operational and administrative support activities of the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security program 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 Director of Public Safety be and is hereby authorized and directed to pay Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security for the City of Columbus' proportionate share of the administration of the agency and outdoor warning siren system maintenance costs.
SECTION 2. That the expenditure of $811,474.04, or so much thereof as may be necessary for said purpose, is hereby authorized from the General Fund 1000-100010 in object Class 03, Contractual Services per the codes in the spreadsheet attached to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That for the 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.