Explanation
This ordinance authorizes Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with Green Columbus to facilitate the ongoing operations of several programs dedicated to environmental stewardship and the revitalization of the city’s tree canopy.
Green Columbus will utilize this grant to continue offering the following programs and activities:1) growing and distributing trees in Linden and Hilltop at the organization’s tree nurseries (with existing low tree canopy cover) 2) hosting a city-wide World Cleanup Day event on September 19, 2020, and 3) increasing small and safe volunteer activities in alignment with public health guidelines for Earth Day Columbus 2021 (including planting pollinator gardens, tens of thousands of new tree seedlings, supporting urban farms, clean-ups, and many more much-needed restoration activities).
The current Columbus Urban Forest Master Plan will call for more trees as well as outreach and expanding educational training in hard to reach neighborhoods. Columbus has the fastest-growing heat island in the nation and is in the top 10 overall. As a result, Green Columbus is increasing efforts to plant trees in Central Ohio. Additional benefits include reduced stormwater runoff and increased biodiversity.
Emergency action is requested in order to provide Green Columbus with the resources necessary to sustain ongoing programming and event planning.
Fiscal Impact: Funding for this grant is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with Green Columbus to maintain programs dedicated to environmental stewardship and the revitalization of the city’s tree canopy; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($25,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the current Columbus Urban Forest Master Plan will call for more trees as well as outreach and expanding educational training in hard to reach neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, Columbus has the fastest-growing heat island in the nation and is in the top 10 overall; and
WHEREAS, Green Columbus is increasing efforts to plant trees in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, this grant will allow Green Columbus to sustain programming dedicated to environmental stewardship and the revitalization of the city’s tree canopy; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in that it is immediately necessary to authorize City Council to enter into a grant agreement to provide Green Columbus with the resources necessary to sustain ongoing programming and event planning; 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 Green Columbus to maintain programs dedicated to environmental stewardship and the revitalization of the city’s tree canopy.
SECTION 2. That the Auditor is hereby authorized and directed to appropriate $25,000.00 within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund to Columbus City Council per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That with regard to the action authorized in Section 1 of this ordinance, the expenditure of $25,000.00 is hereby authorized per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That for 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.