Explanation
BACKGROUND: The City of Columbus has been awarded a Federal Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant from the Assistance to Fire Fighters (AFG) Grant Program - COVID-19 Supplemental Program Award, via the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The AFG program provides financial assistance to protect the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards; this FY2020 AFG award will provide financial assistance for the purchase of COVID-19 Supplemental PPE and related supplies for use by Division of Fire during the COVID-19 pandemic. Expenditures for the project will cover the purchase costs of the PPE and related supplies used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. The grant award is for a maximum of $900,000.15, which is comprised of $818,181.95 from the AFG award, with a 10% cost match of the final purchase amount to be made by the City, not to exceed $81,818.20, of non-federal funds. The City will act as Grantee to the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is necessary to make the funds available as soon as possible; the grant award start date was June 24, 2020.
FISCAL IMPACT: All appropriated funds will be reimbursed to the City of Columbus by the AFG award upon the delivery, inspection, and invoicing of eligible purchases/expenditures. The grant has a 10% City cost match of $81,818.20, which is hereby authorized to be expended from the General Fund. The City received AFG Grant Awards of $303,300 in 2018, and $743,000.00 in 2017.
Title
To authorize and direct the Mayor of the City of Columbus to accept a Grant award through the FY2020 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG) program, via the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); to authorize an appropriation of $900,000.15 from the unappropriated balance of the General Government Grant Fund to the Division of Fire to cover 90% of the costs associated with the purchase of COVID-19 related PPE and supplies; to authorize the transfer of $81,818.20 from the General Fund to the General Government Grants Fund to cover the 10% cost match to be made by the City; to authorize the expenditure of $900,000.15 from the General Government Grant Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($900,000.15)
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Division of Fire seeks to enhance the protective health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel, and to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the novel coronavirus in the City of Columbus; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Division of Fire, was awarded funding in the amount of $818,181.95 through the FY2020 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG) (COVID-19 Supplemental PPE Program Award); and,
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus will provide a 10% grant cost match in the amount of $81,818.20 from the general fund via intra/interfund transfers attached to this ordinance; and,
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Fire, Department of Public Safety, in that it is immediately necessary to accept and appropriate the FY2020 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG) (COVID-19 Supplemental PPE Award) in order to make funds available for the grant award period, thereby preserving the public peace, health, property, safety, and welfare; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor of the City of Columbus be and is hereby authorized and directed to accept a FY2020 Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant (AFG) (COVID-19 Supplemental PPE Program Award), via the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $81,818.20 is hereby authorized within the General Fund, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. That the transfer of $81,818.20 is hereby authorized from the General Fund to the General Government Grant Fund, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the Project Period, the sum of $900,000.15 is appropriated in the General Government Grant Fund; this appropriation is effective upon receipt of the fully executed agreement.
SECTION 5. That the expenditure of $900,000.15 is hereby authorized from the General Government Grant Fund, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That the monies in the foregoing Sections shall be paid upon the order of the Director of Public Safety, 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 the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated.
SECTION 9. 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.