Explanation
This legislation modifies the Special Revenue Environmental Fund, which was created in 2003 under Ordinance 0754-2003, to cover the costs of litigating public nuisance abatement actions in the Environmental Division of the Franklin County Municipal Court. The Special Revenue Environmental Fund is funded by earmarked fines paid by persons convicted of violating any housing, building, zoning, health, safety, fire, air pollution or sanitation ordinance of the Columbus City Code and has a maximum allotment of $100,000. The cost of litigating public nuisance abatement actions in Franklin County Environmental Court has risen in the 17 years since the creation of the Special Revenue Environmental Fund and those costs also include associated training, equipment, and furniture. It has been deemed necessary and appropriate to modify the Special Revenue Environmental Fund from a maximum allotment of $100,000 to a maximum allotment of $150,000; and to cover the costs of litigating public nuisance abatement actions to include associated training, furniture, and equipment.
Title
To modify the Special Revenue Environmental Fund from a maximum allotment of $100,000.00 to a maximum allotment of $150,000.00; and to cover the costs of litigating public nuisance abatement actions to include associated training, furniture, and equipment.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus created the Special Revenue Environmental Fund in 2003 to cover the costs of litigating public nuisance abatement actions in Franklin County Environmental Court; and
WHEREAS, the Special Revenue Environmental Fund is funded by earmarked fines paid by persons convicted of violating any housing, building, zoning, health, safety, fire air pollution or sanitation ordinance of the Columbus City Code; and
WHEREAS, the Special Revenue Environmental Fund has a maximum allotment of $100,000; and
WHEREAS, the cost of litigating public nuisance abatement actions in Franklin County Environmental Court has risen in the 17 years since the creation of the Special Revenue Environmental Fund; and
WHEREAS, cost of litigating public nuisance abatement actions in Franklin County Environmental Court include associated training, equipment and furniture; and
WHEREAS, it has been deemed necessary and appropriate to modify the Special Revenue Environmental Fund from a maximum allotment of $100,000 to a maximum allotment of $150,000 to cover the costs of litigating public nuisance abatement actions to include associated training, furniture and equipment; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the City Auditor be authorized to modify the Special Revenue Environmental Fund from a maximum allotment of $100,000 to a maximum allotment of $150,000 at any one time with any excess monies reverting to the General Fund.
SECTION 2. That the Special Revenue Environmental Fund shall be for the purpose of providing the necessary monies to institute, execute, and enforce public nuisance abatement actions and foreclosure actions on behalf of the City of Columbus and to fund associated training, furniture and equipment.
SECTION 3. That all monies received by the City from such sources and deposited in said Fund from time to time are hereby deemed to be appropriated and authorized to be expended by the City Attorney for such purposes.
SECTION 4. That from such Fund the City Attorney is continued to be authorized to maintain a petty cash fund in the amount of $500 and to expend there from such sums as the City Attorney deems necessary for the purposes hereinabove set forth.
SECTION 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.