Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a grant agreement with the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center to support a material assistance fund to meet the increased basic needs of families and individuals experiencing economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement will cover costs from March 1, 2020, to December 30, 2020. The total amount of this grant is $250,000.00 and will be funded from CARES Act funds.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unforeseen needs among Columbus and Franklin County residents. Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center will be acting as a fiscal sponsor on behalf of The Columbus Federation of Settlements (CFS) to support a material assistance fund to meet the increased basic needs of families and individuals experiencing economic hardship resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Each partner organization (Central Community House, St. Stephen’s Community House, Clintonville Community Resources Center, Gladden Community House, & the Godman Guild Association) would have access to CARES Act funds to serve to its clients.
These funds will be the provision of direct services to low and moderate income clients served by members of The Columbus Federation of Settlements. Services will include supporting the community with rent and utility support, food, clothing/uniforms, furniture/appliances, ID support, gas cards, diapers, baby supplies, tuition costs, work supplies, medical copays/deductibles, and alternative living arrangements due to quarantine, funeral costs, and more. Up to 10% of the funds can be used for administrative or staffing costs associated with the delivery of services.
The services included in this agreement cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity to provide.
Emergency Designation: Emergency legislation is requested in order to encumber funds in a timely manner so the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center can expend the funds before the end of the year.
Contract Compliance: the vendor number is 004371 and expires 5/14/2021.
FISCAL IMPACT: Funding is provided to the City of Columbus from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and
Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress and signed into law March 27, 2020 and available in the Department of Development’s CARES Act budget (fund 2207, subfund 220702).
Title
To authorize the Director of Development to execute a grant agreement with the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center for the provision of direct services to low and moderate income clients who have been impacted by COVID-19, or have been exposed, and are served by members of The Columbus Federation of Settlements; to authorize an expenditure up to $250,000.00 from the CARES Act Fund; to authorize the payment of expenses starting March 1, 2020; and to declare an emergency. ($250,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic is causing unforeseen needs among Columbus and Franklin County residents. In addition, human service agencies working to meet those needs have been impacted by unforeseen and unbudgeted costs; and
WHEREAS, expenditure of CARES Act funding will be used by The Columbus Federation of Settlements for the provision of direct services to low and moderate income clients who have been impacted by COVID-19, or have been exposed, and served by members of The Columbus Federation of Settlements in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, the Director of the Department of Development desires to enter into a ten month grant agreement with the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center, which will begin on March 1, 2020 and terminate on December 30, 2020; and
WHEREAS, such expenditures of funds has not been previously accounted for the 2020 budget; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development in that it is immediately necessary to enter into a grant agreement with the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center in order to encumber funds in a timely manner so the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center can expend the funds before the end of the year, all 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 the Department of Development be and is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Clintonville-Beechwold Community Resources Center in an amount up to $250,000.00 for the provision of direct services to low and moderate income clients who have been impacted by COVID-19, or have been exposed, and served by members of The Columbus Federation of Settlements covering expenses beginning March 1, 2020.
SECTION 2. That for the purpose as stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $250,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby authorized in fund 2207, subfund 220702 (CARES Act Fund), Dept. 44-01 (Administration), in Object Class 03 (Services) per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 3. Funds are hereby deemed appropriated and expenditures and transfers authorized to carry out the purposes of this ordinance and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. 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 5. 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.