Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Sanctuary Night in an amount up to $150,000.00 for operations of the outreach programming of its drop-in-center.
Last year in Franklin County, there were 1,880 court cases before Franklin County judges related to soliciting (prostitution). Of these cases, approximately 50% originated on Sullivant Avenue and its adjacent streets and alleys. Sullivant Avenue runs through the middle of our community connecting downtown Columbus through the Hilltop on the west side of Columbus.
Sanctuary Night is a sacred space for women still caught in the cycles of prostitution and human trafficking on the west side of Columbus. Sanctuary Night provides a safe, consistent, environment offering a warm meal, clothing, hygiene items, resources for addiction and support, but mostly a holy place to the women who visit. The term holy in the work of Sanctuary Night is a shared belief that hospitality is a holy act and that life being sheltered is indeed sacred.
EMERGENCY DESIGNATION: Emergency action is requested in order to ensure uninterrupted services.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding will be transferred within the General Fund from the Department of Finance and Management to the Department of Development, Administration Division.
CONTRACT COMPLIANCE: their vendor number and contract compliance are pending.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with Sanctuary Night for the purpose of providing support for operations of the outreach programming of its drop-in-center in an amount up to $150,000.00; to authorize the payment of expenses starting October 1, 2020; to authorize the transfer of $150,000.00 within the general fund from the Department of Finance and Management to the Department of Development; and to declare an emergency. ($150,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a grant agreement with Sanctuary Night with payment for expenses starting October 1, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Sanctuary Night provides outreach programming through its drop-in-center offering a safe, consistent, environment to women still caught in the cycles of prostitution and human trafficking; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to authorize the Director to enter into contract with Sanctuary Night in order to continue to provide outreach programming of a drop-in-center offering a safe, consistent, environment to women still caught in the cycles of prostitution and human trafficking to ensure uninterrupted services, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; and NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with Sanctuary Night, with payment for expenses starting October 1, 2020, in an amount up to $150,000.00 for the purpose of providing support for outreach programming of its drop-in-center offering a safe, consistent, environment to women still caught in the cycles of prostitution and human trafficking.
SECTION 2. That the transfer of $150,000.00 in appropriation or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized within Fund 1000 (General Fund), from Dept-Div 4501 (Financial Management Division), object class 10 to Dept-Div 4401 (Administration), object class 03 (Services) per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance:
SECTION 3. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $150,000.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized in Fund 1000 (General Fund), Dept-Div 4401 (Administration), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 4. That this grant agreement is awarded pursuant to the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of City Code relating to the process for awarding not-for-profit service contracts.
SECTION 5. 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 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That for the 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 approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.